3 Chapter 3: Ready? Set? Go!

'System, I have decided. From the High tier, I want to purchase the Zushi Zushi no Mi."

[Very well user Rick. Starting research on Zushi Zushi no Mi availability ]

'Wait, availability? You mean that if someone already ate it I can't have it ?'

[Yes user Rick, only one devil fruit of a kind can exist at the same time]

[Research 66%]

' Oh my Goddess! I hope Fujitora hasn't eaten it yet.'

[Research Complete]

[ Zushi Zushi no Mi is available. Transfer to user Rick]

'YEEEESSSSS! I would have been so screwed if it was already taken!'

The reasons why Rick thought this are multiple.

First because from his previous experience he had knowledge about gravity, he didn't want another fruit that he didn't know extensively the physics law behind, no matter how powerful the fruit.

Second because the only other fruit he would have considered is Ener's Goro Goro no Mi, but he got the feeling he should not take it.

He was right, somewhere an author may have cursed and sued him quoting the fearsome "Copyright".

Third, because an Umi Umi no Mi does not exist, and if it did, may have been under copyright too.

Suddenly an odd black purples shaped fruit appeared before him.

'With this I'll be nearly unstoppable… Well time to eat, Itadakimasu!'

Rick took the fruit in his hand and gave it a good look.

'It looks like an apple, very deformed, but still an apple.I wonder what Newton would have said if he knew about the existence of this fruit, and what power it gives'

He bit the fruit and grimaced. Devil fruits are known to have a really bad taste after all and Rick nearly puke after one bite. But he held it and then kept going until there was nothing left.

'I'm never ever eating another fruit in my life.'

Just as he said this, he felt something inside of him. A change, something being born at his body's core, spreading from it to every corner of him.

"I'VE GOT THE POWER !"

People who were minding their own business turned around to look at the origin of such a scream. Setting their sight on a kid jumping in place with his arms up to the sky, they quickly ignore him, thinking it was just a young brat playing. To those that previously witnessed Rick with a focused look and waving his arms they were convinced: that kid has some serious screws loose.

None of them knew the truth.

That at that exact moment, one of the most fearsome and powerful beings in the world was born.

[Zushi Zushi no Mi assimilation by user Rick confirmed. Sleep mode activation in 15 seconds.]

'Wait you're going to sleep? Why?"

[System's AI only exists to help users begin their life in a new world, once the beginner package is bought and the user ready it is not needed anymore.]

'I see. Thank you for your help'

[May you enjoy your new life user Rick.]

[Sleep mode ACTIVATED]

'I wonder why I never knew the system had an AI before …

Anyway, now the questions that matter. Where and When Am I ?

Status ! '

At the thought of "status" a window appeared before him. It was a map of the area. At the center of it was a blue dot representing Rick. Many yellow dots surrounded him.

'That's neet, a map of the area and a display of the living beings around me. It looks like a RPG map, since blue seems to be me, I guess the yellow is for people neutral to me ?

Now where is the info about … There it is.'

At the top right corner of the map Rick could see the name of the location he is and the date.

Logue Town. -2 BGAP.

' So I'm in Logue town! Place of birth and death of the pirate King, Gol D Roger. Hehehe, what a good town to start an adventure indeed. Now what is it with the date?

-2 BGAP ? I guess with the minus the B of BGAP stands for Before, like -52 BC, Before Christ. But what does GAP stands fo....

No way, I'm two years before Gol D Roger is executed? The Great Age of Pirates has not begun yet?

I'll have to wait 20 years to meet Luffy and the Strawhat Crew! Shit!

Wait, wait wait. That means I can witness the death of the greatest man who ever sailed the seas and the birth of a new age!

That's so cool !!! I need to plan for the future'

And planned he did.

Rick's plan to join the marines for a time, to do good deeds and rake Karma points until it was time to meet with Luffy & co. He could have chosen his own path but he wanted to help Luffy become the Pirate King, he wanted to be a part of the protagonists' story of the manga he loved so much.

His decision to join the marines for a while was a very careful one. Pirates train on their own, if they even train at all, or learn on the spot.

By joining the marines he will be trained by people who know what to do, and will get stronger faster.

But first thing first.

'I need to train my power, no one will teach me how to do that, no one can, I need to train my body too.'

And so 18 months of hell began for Rick.