Chapter 6

The scene was picturesque: a big, round sun hung high in the sky, framed by a sea of blue and dotted with fluffy white clouds. Seagulls chirped overhead while the gentle breeze of the seawaves brushed against the small boat as it ventured leisurely on the sea.

"I'm hungry!" Luffy lay sprawled on the boat's side, his tongue sticking out like a dog's.

Nami's expression darkened like ink on the side. "Damn it, are you a pig?! You've eaten all our supplies. It's only the fourth day at sea, and you've devoured enough for a month!"

Nami beat Luffy angrily, and he dared not even to protest. He was keen on recruiting Nami, so he could only tolerate her tyranny.

Meanwhile, Seph reclined on the boat, gently swinging his Odachi blade 'Masamune' over the surface of the sea, slicing through it effortlessly.

Zoro watched him carefully, his eyes shining with enlightenment and understanding as he cast envious glances towards Masamune.

"It can still be done like this? Wonderful!"

Today marked the fourth day since the incident in Shells Town. Coby had already joined the Marines, while Seph succeeded in recruiting Nami. However, Luffy had been stripped of all his captain privileges and reduced to the lowliest status. After all, Nami was too precious, and Luffy was willing to sacrifice himself to please her.

This turn of events should have been a cause for celebration, but Seph never anticipated the treacherous nature of the sea.

Seph is alright; he can still harness the power of sunlight, moonlight, and the ambient energy around him to be self-sufficient.

He had always assumed that traveling between islands would take only hours or a day at most, but he had been deceived by the anime. They hadn't even considered buying supplies, believing that the generous villagers had sponsored them with enough for a month. Little did they know, the supplies were meant for humans, not monsters like themselves.

Seph looked at the still-fuming Nami. "Nami-chan, how much longer until we reach the island?"

Nami finally calmed down. "It should be about an hour..."

Seph sighed in relief, then turned to Zoro and offered high praise. "Zoro, your talent is remarkable. You've barely scratched the surface of the Iron-cutting realm."

Zoro blushed in embarrassment. "I always thought my swordsmanship had reached its peak. Who would have thought I'm not even a swordsman..."

Seph looked to the side, offering comfort to Zoro.

"It's not your fault. The East Blue is relatively weak, and your stagnation in improvement is likely due to the lack of strong opponents. With your talent, once we enter the Grand Line, you'll be like a fish entering the sea. Your swordsmanship will advance rapidly, and your strength will grow alongside it. After all, the Grand Line is teeming with talented and powerful individuals..."

Zoro's eyes shone with anticipation as he gazed at Seph in awe. Over the past four days, his respect for Seph had only grown. Seph's proficiency in Kendo was nothing short of extraordinary. Not only was Seph improving at an astounding rate, but Zoro had also gleaned significant insights from observing him.

Previously, Zoro would have resorted to extreme measures, even risking his life, to grasp the iron-cutting realm. Yet, after just four days of observing Seph, Zoro had managed to touch its edges effortlessly. His current strength even surpassed that of the typically indolent Luffy.

Nami, her hair tousled by the sea breeze, brushed it aside and suddenly announced, "Guys, get ready, the island is in clear sight!"

Luffy, who had been lying down weakly, sprang to his feet with renewed energy. "Finally, an island! Yosh, Seph, Zoro, get ready to explore!"

Seph and Zoro exchanged puzzled glances. Zoro couldn't help but voice his confusion, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "What is there to discover? Didn't Nami and Seph mention that this is the stronghold of the infamous Buggy pirates? We're here to defeat them..."

But Luffy paid no heed, his mouth watering as he muttered, "I wonder how much delicious meat awaits us out there!"

Seph remained composed. He glanced at Nami, who seemed to be losing faith in their captain and contemplating escape. He quickly interjected, "Zoro, our next opponent is a Devil Fruit user. He's the bane of swordsmen. If we confront him, don't use the sharp edge of your sword. Use the blunt side instead..."

This successfully diverted Nami's attention, surprising her. Zoro, taken aback, licked his lips in interest. "Nemesis?"

Seph was momentarily speechless. "Buggy is a Devil Fruit user. The Bara Bara no Mi is a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that allows the user to split their own body into pieces and control said pieces however they wish. Hence, your sword will only cut him into pieces, playing into the effect of his ability. He's also known as the immortal Buggy. Even Hawkeye, renowned as the Greatest Swordsman, would struggle to cut him. So, put away your delusions..."

Zoro broke out in a cold sweat. "Buggy is that formidable?"

Nami seemed intrigued. "Seph-kun, you're quite knowledgeable!"

Seph breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Nami was deceived.

Meanwhile, Luffy continued to jump happily in anticipation. As the boat approached, the sight of a devastated town came into clear view, casting a somber mood over the crew, even cooling Luffy's excitement as he gazed upon the ruins with a serious expression.

Swish...

Boom!

Suddenly, a gigantic artillery shell was launched from a platform on the other side of the island. The massive cannonball detonated upon impact with the town, pulverizing buildings within a radius of kilometers.

Zoro, Nami, and Luffy watched the destruction with solemn eyes, while Seph sighed heavily.

'These characters in One Piece are truly ruthless,' Seph mused. 'Even someone like Buggy, a volatile killer, can be whitewashed...'

[Sign-in Detected! An Upcoming Plot Scene... Would you like to sign in?]

[Sign-in Detected! An Upcoming Plot Scene... Would you like to sign in?]

[Sign-in successful.]

[Congratulations to the host for acquiring: Clothes Custom.]

Clothes Custom: With this ability, you can create any kind of clothing imaginable. Your creativity is the only limit, allowing for unlimited possibilities in fashion and attire. [0 cost.]

...

"Captain, they're having a banquet over there. If you're hungry, you can join them," Seph pointed in the direction from which the huge cannonball had come. Luffy followed his gaze and spotted smoke rising in the sky, indicating the location of the gathering.

Nami looked at Seph in surprise.

"How did you know this?" she asked.

"I have sharp eyes and ears. I could even hear Buggy toasting his crew and admiring the cannonball power," Seph replied calmly.

Zoro and Nami's expressions became even more shocked. "Are you really human?!" they exclaimed.

Luffy laughed happily. "Shishishsishi... Seph is reliable!" he chimed in.

Nami added from the side, "I didn't expect you to have other talents besides your pretty appearance."

Seph's face turned dark. "How rude?! I'm strong, okay? I just don't like violence," he retorted.

Nami recalled his naked body and blushed in embarrassment. Her eyes misted as she muttered, "It's really strong..."

"Let's go then, my sword is eager for some blood," Zoro declared, his hand resting on the hilt.

Seph intervened, guiding Zoro in the right direction. "Zoro, where are you going? You're walking in the wrong direction," he pointed out.

Zoro blushed in shame, retorting loudly, "I know!"

Observing Zoro's misdirection, Nami couldn't help but express her disbelief, "Are you an idiot?"

Seph sighed and pulled Zoro along to prevent him from losing his way again.

Luffy found amusement in the situation, laughing joyously. "Woahhaha! Zoro is an idiot!" he exclaimed.

Zoro, feeling the sting of being called an idiot by Luffy, fumed with anger. "Damn it! To be called an idiot by a big idiot like Luffy is even more hurtful!"

Joining in the laughter, Seph and Nami continued toward Buggy's hideout.

As the hideout came into clear view, Nami proposed her plan. "Guys, I'll sneak away. You attract the attention of the Buggy pirates for a moment. After I retrieve my stolen treasure, we'll retreat! Got it?"

The three men nodded perfunctorily, which briefly darkened Nami's mood. Nevertheless, she didn't comment and quickly slipped away.

Seph addressed Luffy and Zoro, "Go fight, I'll cheer you on!"

Zoro and Luffy smirked in agreement.