Progress

(??? POV)

How could I have fallen into the hands of these people? Ugh... I pray my sisters found a way to escape. I bought them some time to return and warn the rest of our crew on the ship. If only I had heeded the elder's advice and stayed put, instead of recklessly wandering around with my sisters. It's all my fault.

How do these people even navigate the calm belt? It should be impossible; only our ship has that capability. As I recollect, my sisters and I sneaked away from the ship to explore the island It's our first time ever leaving our home island, and we were full of curiosity. Without noticing how much time had passed since we snuck out, we arrived at the other side of the island and saw a ship docking not far from the beach.

We tried to get closer to see, but someone spotted us, and that's when things started to go wrong. I told my two sisters to get back first because I needed to buy them time to run. I managed to hold them off for a while and even killed two of the pursuers. But I got distracted, and one of them shot me in my leg with a sea stone bullet. My whole body grew weaker, and I couldn't use my devil fruit either. After that, someone hit my head from behind, and I passed out.

Now I've woken up in this cell, and both of my hands are shackled with sea stone cuffs. I don't know how long I've been captured, but what I know is that I'm on their ship, and it's moving.

I don't know what will happen to me now.

Can I get out from here? Can I get to see my sisters again? I hope someone could come to save me...

.....

(3rd POV)

On one of the islands in the Calm Belt, a particular place harbored dangerous beasts and unpredictable weather. Presently, the island seemed to be in the midst of autumn. The leaves on the towering trees surrounding the forest were transitioning from green to various hues — yellow, orange, red, purple, and brown.

Close to the forest, a resounding noise echoed. A girl, sporting multiple arms emerging from her sides, lunged at the boy before her. The boy, anticipating her attack, prepared for a defense.

"Cien Fleur: Tobu Shigan!" A hundred arms unleashed sharp, compressed air shockwaves from each finger thrust, each enveloped in a thin layer of Busoshoku Haki. The onslaught surged towards the boy.

"Tekkai!" He fortified his muscles, utilizing Busoshoku Haki to withstand her assault. Multiple air shockwaves collided with his body, pushing him backward with a metallic clang rather than inflicting harm.

He continued to be propelled until he halted a few meters from his original position. However, it appeared the girl was gearing up for a final strike.

"Fufufu, please take this onee-chan's palm strike, Vanze-chan." She executed the attack, teasing him as she did.

"Mil Fleur: Gigantesco Mano!" Suddenly, a colossal arm emerged, pointing skyward before assuming a palm strike pose and descending toward the boy named Vanze.

"No way! Let me be the one to return the favor, Robin." Vanze, eyes fixed on the descending giant palm, abruptly vanished using Soru.

The palm descended, hitting the ground and creating a small pit, while Vanze reappeared behind Robin.

"Taste my ultimate attack, Robin. Spank!" He playfully struck Robin's buttocks with his palm, prompting a yelp.

"Ah! Vanze! You're being naughty again," Robin scolded, glaring at him.

"No, I'm not. I'm only disciplining a girl who dares to tease me during our sparring session," he replied with a hint of justice in his tone. Robin simply rolled her eyes in response.

"So... How's the outcome of my training so far?" Robin inquired.

"Hmm... Firstly, you can engage in close-quarters combat with me without falling behind, all while utilizing Kenbunshoku Haki from the start — that's commendable. Your fruit development is remarkable, especially the last two attacks. However, in those final moves, your fighting pace slowed. You deployed Busoshoku Haki despite recently learning it, and the giant arm is draining your stamina. Otherwise, you could have evaded my slap using your Kenbunshoku Haki," Vanze provided a detailed analysis from their recent sparring session.

"Huft... I only wanted to gauge my strength after three years of training. It seems I still can't keep up with you," Robin expressed her feelings after hearing Vanze's assessment.

"Nonsense! Let me tell you, in the West Blue, your current strength can surpass most individuals. I'm only ahead because I started training earlier, so in my view, you're already strong, and we're only 11 years old this year. We have plenty of time to train; just be patient." Vanze was determined to elevate Robin's strength compared to the original timeline.

Vanze only shared half of the truth. As a high human with an adaptability skill, it made sense that Robin couldn't catch up with him.

"Um, I need to train my body and stamina later. But for now, I'll head home, Vanze. I've expended all my energy in today's spar, so I'll get some rest. Take care while you stay here."

"Yes, rest up at home, Robin. You've earned it. I'll stay here a bit longer, and I'll be fine. Be cautious on your way back," Vanze said as he watched Robin depart. Once he couldn't sense her presence anymore, he vanished into the deeper reaches of the forest.

.....

(Vanze POV)

Swish...

Finally, I arrived at the safe zone. It's the same place where I fought the giant ape three years ago. After I finished challenging most of the animals around here, it became a safe zone. But I still haven't explored beyond the lake until now.

'Anyway, please show me my status, Seele. It's been three years since I last checked it, after all.'

[ You should check it more often, Vanze. Wait a sec. ]

 [ Status

Name: Ryujin D. Vanze

Age: 11

Race: High Human

Title: 'Freak'

Condition: Healthy

Tier: 7 - Enhanced Individuals

Stats:

Strength: A -

Agility: A +

Endurance: B +

Intelligence: B +

Vitality: A

Luck: ???

Skill:

1. Kamigami no Gigan or All Seeing Eyes of God (Active)

2. Adaptability (Passive)

3. Haki:

- Haoshoku Haki or Conqueror's Haki (Intermediate)

- Kenbunshoku Haki or Observation Haki (Intermediate)

- Busoshoku Haki or Armament Haki (Intermediate)

4. Rokushiki (Master):

- Soru

- Geppo

- Rankyaku

- Shigan

- Tekkai

- Kamie

- Rokuogan

5. Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū or Flying Heaven Govern Sword-Style (Beginner)

Equipment:

- a black sunglasses ]

'Comparing my current stats to three years ago, I've certainly leveled up. But it's becoming tougher to make further improvements.'

[ The higher your strength, Vanze, the more challenging the improvement becomes. It will take time. ]

'So perhaps I need a more intense battle. Let's delve even deeper into the forest for training later.' Real combat experience is what I need now. I also acquired a sword skill from a gacha, but I never honed it, and its origin remains a mystery. After all, my focus has been on mastering all the Rokushiki techniques.

'I'm also stuck on how to take my haki to the next level. Future sight can only be learned from intense fighting, as far as I know. Emission and internal destruction or Ryuo, I don't have any idea how to do it. And let's not talk about Haoshoku haki.' The way to the top is still a long way, huh.

'Do I need to get beaten by Teacher Kaido just to make an advancement in my haki? Just like one of the memes on the internet says: one stick Ryou, two stick Haoshoku infusion, three stick awakening.' Damn, he is much a better teacher compared to Rayleigh now that I think about it. But I'm not a masochist.

[ Hahaha, why not try it, brother? I can't help you with that, but maybe Teacher Kaido can. ]

'How can you be so cruel to me, Seele? How...' This little shit is enjoying my suffering. If only I could see it once being demonstrated by a haki master with my KG on, I could figure out the rest of it by myself. Oh well, let's just move on to the next topic.

'How many gacha tickets are left, Seele?'

[ If you don't use any, you'll have 124× random tickets left. But you used 60 tickets to pull the gacha for the last three years. Now you still have 64× random tickets and 2× blue tickets left. ]

'Yeah, I remember that time. Most of the pull is still full of trash, and it keeps piling up in my inventory.' What did I expect from a random pull? Should I pull the blue one? I still have two tickets for it. Nah, let's focus on haki first. I don't want to get distracted by adding more skills.

[Ding!

Quest: ???

Note: You will get teleported to the quest location.

Rewards:

Mall Unlocked

Rainbow ticket 1x

Accept / No ]

'Wait... What!? Nani the fuck is this!? Seele, could you explain to me what's happening?' A quest suddenly pops up, but there's no info in it, and the rewards are incredibly tempting. Suspicious...

[ I don't know; it should be the same regular quest. It's just without a description on it, and you can choose to accept it or not. ]

'If I choose not to, what will happen?' The mall is crucial, but the quest is unknown.

[ Nothing; the quest will simply disappear. I suggest you wait before deciding to accept it or not, Vanze. It's not like it will be gone if you just ignore it for now. ]

'Good... Let's ignore it for now. I don't know where it would take me and what it wants me to do. What if the quest sent me to Impel Down or worse, Marijoa? I'll be fucked.' Yeah, no fucking way I'm going to these damned places for now. I don't like courting death.

'Oh right, I remember. I also need to go to Vuldia Island to buy some clothes for Robin and myself. The season on this island always changes randomly; that's why we need more clothes.' I can rock Vegito's outfit every day, but not Robin. Let's go back and see if Robin is still resting or if she's reading something instead...

(3rd POV)

Meanwhile, after Robin parted ways with Vanze and made her way back home, she began to hear the distant murmur of conversation not far from the beach. It should only be Vanze and herself on this isolated island, sparking her curiosity to investigate the source of the sound.

"Damn those women. We only captured one of them, but they've been chasing us for three days in the calm belt," one of the voices complained about their predicament.

"We're fortunate our ship is superior to theirs. The boss mentioned it's a prototype crafted by someone for the Marines. However, he found it unworthy, and the Celestial Dragon gave it to him as payment after delivering the slaves," another voice explained, revealing that their ship was capable of sailing in the calm belt.

"Perhaps because it's a prototype, this ship is small and lacks cannons. Damn, it even has several holes from those barbarian attacks," Robin continued to eavesdrop on their conversation while maintaining a discreet distance.

"What did you expect? They're from a formidable tribe in the calm belt, after all. We're lucky to have kidnapped one, even if she's just a teenager."

"But we lost all the other slaves due to their attack. I hope we can secure a substantial payment after delivering this one." Robin now realized they were slave hunters. Though she wanted to confront them, her energy had been drained during her earlier sparring with Vanze.

"Haha, we will. Even though all the slaves are dead, the special packages are still safe and soun...!? Who's there?" One of the men tried to reassure his partner upon hearing a sound behind the giant tree beside them.

'Oh no! I stepped on a branch. They're heading my way. I can't run to our house because they're in my path; I can only try to fight them.' Robin attempted to muster her last reserves of strength to confront the two individuals. Little did she know that one of them possessed something that would render her abilities useless.

.....

After a while, Robin can be seen with handcuffs made of sea stone. The fight did not last for long because she is already tired, and they brought her devil fruit nemesis with them.

Now confined on their ship, one of the captors engaged in conversation with their leader.

"Boss! Look at what we found in the forest. A beauty embryo, hahaha," the man declared proudly, presenting the recently captured girl.

"Haha, what a surprise. But where is Bick? Wasn't he supposed to accompany you?" The boss inquired, scanning the surroundings for his missing subordinates.

"Uh... He's dead. This chick killed him with her devil fruit. Fortunately, I had a sea stone bat with me and subdued her."

"Damn it, we don't have many crew members left after escaping those women. We need to exit the calm belt; how is the work? Is it finished yet?" The boss queried, expressing his frustration. The expedition had cost him dearly, with losses in goods and crew.

"We've already finished cutting down wood to patch up several holes in the ship, and we can set sail before dawn, boss," the man reassured the boss regarding their progress.

"Good, we can't return to the Grand Line using the same route. So, we'll have to sail through the West Blue first; Vuldia Island is close from here. And toss her into the same cell as the other one," the boss decided after assessing their situation. A detour was necessary to evade pursuit and make their way back.

"Yes, Boss Borg." The man then led Robin out of the boss's quarters and ushered her to the cell room situated just below the deck.

Opening the door to the room, numerous cells and handcuffs filled the space. He pulled Robin to the room's edge, where two individuals were confined, and unlocked one of the cells, revealing a girl with anger flashing in her eyes.

"Go on in there, you little shit!" He pushed Robin into the cell and finally locked her in.

"What are you looking at!? Hehe, you should be honored. You can serve the Celestial Dragons after you become their slave later." After he is done with his job in here, he is heading back toward the deck and leaving the two girls in the cell full of darkness.

.....

"Hey? Have you also been abducted by them? Do you know our current location?" The girl with long, silky black hair suddenly asks Robin questions.

"Yes, and we're on an uninhabited island in the calm belt near the West Blue Sea," Robin calmly informed her, leaning against the wall without displaying much concern about their predicament.

"What, near the West Blue!? Sigh... We won't be able to get out. What's your name, and why are you taking this so calmly?" The girl beside Robin inquired, puzzled by Robin's demeanor.

"I'm Robin, and I believe we'll be out before dawn," Robin stated, continuing to gaze at the cell beside her.

The person confined beside them had all limbs shackled to the wall; even the eyes and mouth were sealed. Yet, in the darkness, a faint spark of fire occasionally flickered from behind the person.

Meanwhile, the girl with black hair stared at Robin with even greater confusion after hearing her statement.

"Huh? How can you say that? Didn't you say it's an uninhabited island, and you're stranded here?"

"I say it is uninhabited, but I never say I was stranded. I've been living here for 3 years with my partner; he'll come and save me." Robin clarifies what she means to the girl. She believes her friend will come find her and maybe bring destruction to the scum above her.

"Someone is here with you? You seem to trust him enough to save you from those people upstairs, Robin." The girl expressed doubt about the person Robin was talking about.

"Of course, he's very strong after all. Vanze will definitely come find us and obliterate those scum," Robin spoke with confidence in her tone.

Robin was correct; if Vanze discovered what happened to her, those slave hunters would be walking dead men. If he can use a galaxy impact like Garp, he will be spamming it toward them.

"Really? He should be the same age as you, right? I doubt he can do it," the black-haired girl responded to Robin, finding it improbable for someone of their age to possess such strength.

"Just wait... It should take an hour or two before he comes, I think. I'm going to take a nap while we're waiting for him. I'm still tired after sparring with Vanze. Oh, and what's your name?" Robin stopped trying to persuade the girl about Vanze, deciding to let her witness it with her own eyes later. As she prepared to take a nap, Robin expressed curiosity about the girl's name.

The girl remained silent for a while before finally revealing her name.

"Hancock... My name is Hancock."

.....

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(Note: This is an AU universe so something will be different compared to the OG universe. Goda still not finished cooking his OP after all.)