16. Resolve

"True freedom, huh".

Hearing Darren's melancholy voice, the man also looked at sky as he clenched his fists, "I want true freedom! A freedom everyone deserves!".

Darren looked at him, a boys face flashed in his eyes, seeing the yearning and the little smile, he realised for once he had an actual reason to grow stronger, a reason for his existence.

Smiling underneath his mask, he took it off as the young man's face went through several changes, "y-y-y-you're Darren Rees?!!" Shouting the young man pointed at Darren as he started panting.

"Calm down" Darren patted him on the shoulder, Darren was taller than him, the man stood at only 5'9. Taking some deep breaths he looked feverishly at Darren, realising he told all this to the real Darren made him excited.

"So Darren-san will you join our cause?", "first before I answer, just say Darren I'm younger than you, I'm 15".

The boys eyes widened as he realised that Darren was actually younger than him, but due to his excitement and Darren's imposing aura he referred to him as an older person.

"Sorry, my names Evan" sticking his hand out, Darren then shook it as he put on his mask.

"About joining the revolutionary army, I'll think about it for now, so don't go jumping to conclusions".

'I'll fully investigate them before I join them, although the cause is noble, I must make sure that they are doing it for the betterment of the world, not just for them to control the world after they succeed with my help'.

"It's getting late, I have a hotel booked so you can come along, and what are these plans to attack Water 7?".

"We planning on using the Aqua Laguna that happens every to aid our help in destroying the capital".

'Smart, using a natural force to minimise the amount of destruction they have to do, and they can also focus on the more important tasks'.

"That is a pretty decent plan, so when is the Aqua Laguna happening?".

"It's happening a week and 2 days" Evan replied back.

"A week and 2 days? That's enough time for my boat to be built, good". Darren and Evan then walked into a hotel as Darren rented two rooms.

"See you tomorrow".

"Thank you Darren-san and see you tomorrow too" Evan replied with a smile. Going into his room, Darren found it to be tidy and pleasing to the eye, the window view was beautiful, he could see the moon and the busy nightlife.

Opening up the window, Darren took off his mask as he breathed in, looking into the moon, he felt a tear roll down his face.

"Huh? Tears?, I wonder why" Darren then wiped it as he smiled closing his window, taking a shower, his heart beat as he couldn't stop smiling.

"It really feels great having a purpose, I feel… alive!" Finishing up the shower Darren sat down in the centre of the room, in his mind he simulated battles with Kizaru, Aokiji and Akainu.

Out of the 5 fights he had with Kizaru he won all of them, out of the 5 fights with Aokiji, he won two whilst losing two, the final fight could be considered a 'draw', since both him and Aokiji died after a few days of battling in his mind.

Now when he fought against Akainu, his devil fruit was useless, although his physical strength was remarkable and haki was strong, he lost all 5, in the final battle he had used his new martial arts Fish-Man Thai, although the battle lasted a lot longer he still ended up losing.

Gritting his teeth Darren woke up from within his mind.

"Fuck! I hate the fact that I lost to Akainu 5 times!". Getting up from his seat he stretched as he calmed himself down, he decided to sleep this off, getting into his bed Darren went straight to sleep.

Waking up in the morning, Evan knocked on Darren's door, Darren then opened it as he walked out.

"Good morning Darren!".

"Good morning Evan, sorry for the wait you ready?".

"Yes! And thank you for helping me".

"No worries, we're friends now". Hearing Darren say friends, Evan smiled happily, "ok let's go", Evan then followed Darren downstairs.

After paying the clerk, Darren took him to a bar as they ordered food, eating whilst speaking about random things, they both enjoyed this period of having fun.

Soon they got up as Darren payed. "I'll train you abit before the capital attack".

"Thank you". Darren the grabbed Evan as he took him towards the furthest island away from government surveillance.

"We'll train here until my boat is finished, although you won't improve instantly, your skills should improve". Evan nodded earnestly, "ok let's begin, what weapon do use?".

"I use swords mainly".

"Ok, let's practice swordsmanship together".

*CLANK* *CLANK*

As they clashed Evan tried his hardest as instructed by Darren, Darren although didn't use swords in his battles, he still was a skilled sword user, so he quickly realised Evans shortcomings.

"No, not like that, bend your knees abit more".

"No, swing with the intention to kill first strike!".

"No, your posture is all wrong!", seeing that Evan was a barbarian when it came to the sword as all he did was swing, Darren knew he had a lot on his plate.

"I'll teach you from the beginning, so today don't think about resting!". Evan hearing that felt like he wanted to cry.

So for the next two days Darren corrected Evans stances and his swing forms, after etching them into Evans brain, his attacks became a lot more lethal as he struck closer and closer to vital areas.

"Perfect!" Darren said smiling, he realised the satisfaction of seeing someone you taught get better was amazing. Evan continued until the end of the second day, he realised this training with Darren was a once in a life time opportunity.

"Tomorrow we'll practice you're combat skills along with adding them to you're newfound strength".

"Ok Darren! Man it feels great being able to use all of my strength". "Haha, no one taught you properly how to swing a sword so it was expect".

"Ouch, that's a low blow Darren" Evan said as he jokingly hit him on the shoulder. Darren laughed as he handed him a piece of meat, they both sat around a campfire as Darren had made Evan hunt the animals on this island for his sword training.

"But I never asked Darren, what do want to do with your life?" Evan said as the atmosphere changed.

"Hmm, I'd like freedom, true freedom just like you", realising that's all he wanted to say Evan didn't ask another question.

"I sincerely hope you join our cause Darren-san", Darren then turned and looked at him, staring into his eyes he said "you want me to help you along with the Aqua Laguna plan right?".

Seeing his attentions seen through Evan confessed, "yes! Darren you would be our strongest helper if you decide to help us overthrow the capital, even the CP9 won't be able to do anything!".

'His pretty insistent on my helping'. Darren then replied "for now, I won't help any side, I'll see how it goes and please don't ask again".

"Sorry Darren! Thank you for the meal" Evan then got up as he went to the corner to sleep. Darren then continued his haki training along with his devil fruit training, he had a bunch of ideas he wanted to test out.

Condensing snow, he hardened it until it became ice, he then continued hardening it until they became ice mirrors, "this takes awhile to condense its pretty much useless in battle".

Darren wanted to jump through the ice mirrors like Haku from Naruto, but it seemed he already had run into an obstacle.

"I need to be able to condense them quickly otherwise this brilliant idea will stay an idea." Finishing up for the day, Darren then mapped out Evans training tomorrow before going to bed.

'Well it's been long since I've fought so i might join in heh'.