Gossip and Getting Ready

( 3rd POV )

On a secluded island in the Calm Belt, the last traces of winter clung to the land, with the snow slowly melting into streams that trickled through the forest. The air, once sharp and biting, now carried the warm promise of spring, revitalizing the once-dormant plants. Leaves sprouted from the trees, and wildflowers began to bloom across the island's expanse, creating a tapestry of vibrant green and splashes of color.

The sounds of birds returning filled the sky, and the atmosphere was alive with nature's renewal. But by the shore, nature's peaceful serenity was violently interrupted.

Two figures stood locked in combat, their clashing powers tearing through the once tranquil setting. Yamato, the Oni princess with her long white hair flowing wildly behind her, brandished her massive kanabo, her red horns glowing under the afternoon sun.

Across from her stood Azel, a towering man with large, black wings and flames flickering across his back like a living aura. Each swing of their weapons shook the earth, sending shockwaves that left deep craters in the ground, the intensity of their fight creating whirlwinds that scattered sand and debris.

"Hah! Take this, Azel! Mahoroba!" Yamato shouted, her voice filled with excitement. She had been waiting for a chance to let loose, and now, with her kanabo infused with frost energy from her devil fruit, she swung it with all her might in a wide arc. The freezing power of her attack chilled the air around her, leaving a frosty trail in its wake.

The winged guy, Azel also didn't want to be outdone by the girl. He pulled out his giant nodachi and prepared for his counterattack. Azel's eyes narrowed in response. "Be careful, Yamato. Enbū!"

With a quick, fluid motion, he imbued the sword with his Lunarian fire energy, bringing it down in a fierce, vertical slash. The heat from his blade clashed against the cold of Yamato's kanabo, causing a spectacular explosion of fire and ice that lit up the battlefield.

The impact was devastating. Sparks of fire and ice danced across the landscape, carving a deep trench in the sand between them. The winds from their clash whipped around the beach, sweeping up sand and scattering it like a violent storm. The earth groaned under the pressure, and for a moment, the world stood still before—

Boom!

The ground trembled from the force of the blast, sending both combatants skidding backward. As the dust began to settle, both stood a few meters apart, panting from the exertion, eyes locked in fierce determination.

Yamato grinned wildly, the thrill of the fight coursing through her veins. "Not bad, Azel. I knew you wouldn't disappoint," She twirled her kanabo over her shoulder, eager to charge in for another round.

Azel chuckled, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow. "You're as reckless as ever, Yamato. But don't think I'll go easy on you next time," he replied, flames still dancing along his back, but even he couldn't deny the fun of it.

Just as they prepared to clash again, a calm, yet authoritative voice interrupted their battle. "Azel, Yamato, enough."

The woman who just called them was tall and slender with long black hair, exuding a regal presence. She was such a beauty and wore a V-neck black dress with one sleeve and a half chest area in white, in addition to a purple sash at the waist and a black cape with a pink interior and golden shoulder pads, along with black heels.

[Pic]

"Did you both forget that we need to pack up?" the woman asked, crossing her arms. "Vanze said we're setting sail as soon as he's done. And Yamato," she continued, raising an eyebrow, "I know you dragged Azel into this just so you could fight. So let's go back."

Yamato meanwhile laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head. "Hehe, I guess I got a little carried away... But we were just getting started! You are no fun Hancock." She complained while fuming at the newcomer called Hancock.

Azel sheathed his nodachi, letting out a sigh as he glanced at Yamato. "I told you this wasn't the best time for a spar," he said, though there was no real annoyance in his voice. He was the tallest person in the group right now. Dressed in a brown coat over his suit giving him a gentleman appearance, especially with his shoulder-length white hair.

[Pic]

Yamato meanwhile laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head. "Hehe, I guess I got a little carried away... But we were just getting started! You are no fun Hancock." She complained while fuming at the newcomer called Hancock. 

"Alright, alright, I get it," Yamato relented, slinging her kanabo onto her back.

Yamato was a tall girl for her age and wore a sleeveless white garment with a diamond-shaped design on both sides and indigo, wisp-patterned bottom half. She wore a pair of red hakama pants and sandals, while there was also a large purple and white nio-dasuki behind her back. She wore that purple thing because she thought it looked cool, just like Oden used to wear.

[Pic]

Hancock shook her head, a small smile playing at her lips. "Sigh... You never change, Yamato. But, that personality of yours makes us could never get upset with you." Hancock said while watching at Yamato's antics. The three of them walked toward the houses not far from the shore.

As the three of them began to walk back toward the capsule houses by the shore, the atmosphere shifted from the intensity of battle to a more relaxed calm. The sky above them was a brilliant blue, the sun now hanging lower on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the island.

"I'll go ahead and make sure everything's packed," Azel said, stepping ahead of the group. His tall frame cut a sharp silhouette against the fading light as he made his way toward one of the houses, leaving Yamato and Hancock to trail behind.

The two girls also entered the houses that belonged to them, and as they enter the house, inside, sitting leisurely on a plush sofa, was another woman, her eyes skimming across the pages of a book.

"How did the sparring go for you, Yamato?" The woman asked the two girls while still reading her book. She was a beautiful woman with cerulean blue eyes. She wore a blue tank top covered with a black jacket on her upper body. She wore tight jeans on her legs that showcased her beautiful figure more, and she was also putting orange sunglasses on top of her head.

[Pic]

Yamato, still riding the adrenaline from her battle with Azel, let out a spirited laugh. "Un! It was a great workout, but Hancock had to stop me. She said we need to pack, so I'll do it now before you start scolding me!" There was a playful edge to her voice as she bounded toward her room, eager to avoid Robin's potential reprimand.

Robin smirked, closing her book gently. "You and Azel almost destroyed the shore again, didn't you?" Her tone was teasing, but there was a hint of reprimand buried beneath.

"If I hadn't stepped in, the whole area would've been leveled by now, they don't know how to restraint themselves." Hancock remarked as she took a seat across from Robin, folding her arms with an exasperated sigh. Her long black hair fell elegantly over her shoulder, as she grumbled about the chaos left in Yamato's wake.

Before Hancock could finish, Yamato had already disappeared into her room, her heavy footsteps signaling her haste.

Robin chuckled, glancing at Hancock. "Fufufu, didn't you do the same yesterday, Hancock? We've all developed quite the habit of sparring a bit too intensely. It's a good thing Vanze's new power lets him restore whatever we destroy, otherwise this place wouldn't last more than a week." She closed her book and started to tease her friend.

"Robin, you also caused it with your gigantic attack. But I didn't cause any damage today. Besides, we're leaving the island soon. I'm trying to be responsible," Hancock just rolled her eyes at Robin's statement. She wondered why her friend always enjoys teasing others. After spending a lot of time together, the two of them, including Yamato, could be considered sisters with their understanding of each other.

She flicked her hair to the side, her expression softening into one of mild frustration. "Anyway, where is he? Shouldn't we set sail already? What an unreliable guy, hmph...!" The charm aura she excludes is no joke. If it were another person, especially another guy, they would not be able to escape from Hancock charms. They would either become her licking dog or get petrified directly by her powers.

Robin saw her friend's attitude and couldn't help but giggle; she was aware of her real feelings towards Vanze after all. "Ara~ why are you sulking about Vanze, Hancock? Aren't you always acting coy and lovey-dovey towards him when you guys are together, fufufu."

Hancock's cheeks flushed a soft pink as she crossed her arms defiantly. "W-What are you talking about?" she snapped, though her voice lacked its usual venom. "And what about you, Robin? You act so bold toward him as the time goes by, like some… older sister, always spoiling him with that calm demeanor of yours. And Vanze always enjoy it with an idiot expression on his face, Hmph!" Her tone shifted as she tried to shift the attention away from herself, but Robin remained unbothered by her provocation.

Robin simply smiled, closing her eyes. "I'm not gonna deny my action toward him. Vanze is such an excellent man after all. He helped us from our tragic fate, he helped us lift the devil fruit curse, always teaching us a better way of getting stronger, and most importantly, he always so caring to us. After living together for so long, of course, I will also eventually fall for him, and I can feel he has the same feeling towards us." Robin's answer made Hancock's cheeks even redder, and she held her cheek while daydreaming about something involving Vanze.

But she suddenly snapped out of her fantasy and looked at Robin with a wry smile. "But he never confirmed that with his own. Why has he never answered to our feelings until now, I wonder?" Hancock could also feel that Vanze liked them, but they had never done anything to confirm their relationships.

Robin sighed softly, her gaze growing thoughtful. "It's not that he doesn't want to, but he is afraid. You must know that he likes all of us, including Yamato, so he can't bear to confess to only one of us and hurt the others. It's impossible to let him choose, so he didn't continue to pursue any of us. But what he didn't know is that we, the girls, have already talked with each other about the solution for it, right Hancock? Fufufu." Robin explained her guess about Vanze and why he still had not taken action with any of them.

For your information, Vanze is not an herbivore guy, even though he is a virgin in his past life. But in this new life, he vowed to never live a life full of regret, but he can't really choose one of them. Just like Robin has guessed, he likes all of them.

As a self-proclaimed 'a man of cultured,' he even has some kind of a Pokedex filled with his waifus' information, and all three women in his group are included in it. So, rather than face the hard rejection or their heartbroken faces, he chooses to bide more time for him.

"Hmph! You must thank me for agreeing to the so-called solution of yours. If I'm not convinced by you back then, I would rather keep fighting to have him all for myself. But I also realize how unrealistic it is, especially if you think about his dream about exploring the world. He will surely be able to take down a lot of maiden hearts." Hancock said while feeling irritated when remembering their talk in the past about the so-called solution.

Thankfully, she already accepted it and thought it was not so bad of a plan. The solution Robin proposed to her is the typical HAREM route. How original.

A year ago, Robin approached Hancock to talk about the issue with Vanze. At first, Hancock was angry with jealousy, even though she knew Robin also liked him; her pride combined with Haoshoku haki she possessed didn't allow the idea of sharing. So, they always bickered and tried to get Vanze's attention.

But as time goes on and thinking about the advantages of the plan Robin is telling her, she gradually accepted it but with a condition that every woman who wanted to join needed to be tested by her first.

Heck, they even dragged the clueless Yamato with them. Yamato just being Yamato thought that the harem part was amazing. The part where she would always be together with her sisters and the man she likes almost made her directly confess to Vanze at that time. Thankfully, the other two girls managed to stop her and educated her more about adult relationships.

"So, let's just give him some time; if he still doesn't do anything by the next year, we will directly confront him. But I think he won't leave us hanging for that long, fufufu." Robin told her idea to Hancock.

Just then, Yamato emerged from her room, having overheard the entire conversation through her Kenbunshoku Haki. "Yes! Let's all confess to him together later!" she declared with her usual bluntness, completely unbothered by the delicate nature of the topic.

Hancock's eyes widened in exasperation. "Yamato, you…"

Robin giggled softly, clearly enjoying the dynamic between the three of them. "Oh, Yamato. You always cut straight to the point, don't you?"

"Sometimes, I wonder where you get your innocence and confidence to confess to Vanze directly, Yamato." Hancock stared at Yamato weirdly, despite having live together for years, she always left baffled by the younger girl.

"Hmm? I just think that if I like someone, I should tell them honestly about it. Never beat around the bush, just go for it. Also, I think someone as good and powerful like Vanze is normal to have more women." Yamato shared her opinion about the topic regarding their harem plan. Her innocence and confidence were so natural, it was hard not to smile in her presence.

"As expected from you, Yamato. Maybe that's also the reason Vanze always likes taking care of you so much, fufufu." Robin giggled after listening to Yamato's honest reply.

While the women kept gossiping with each other in their living room, outside the house, Azel had already packed up his things and even returned the house back to the capsule form. Now, he wondered whether he need to call the girls first or call his leader deep inside the forest.

.....

( Vanze POV )

Sigh...

I exhale slowly, feeling the familiar pull of reality dragging me back as I break free from my zen meditation. My eyes flutter open, greeted by the soft rustle of leaves from the surrounding trees. The forest is serene, with the lake's surface shimmering under the evening sun, casting dappled reflections onto the shore where I sit cross-legged. This place has become my sanctuary—the shore nestled deep within the heart of the island, has become my training ground.

I shift slightly, feeling the weight of my black katana resting across my lap. The blade's cold metal hums against my skin. Like a monk deep in meditation, I sit here daily, honing not only my physical strength but my mental clarity.

Living and training on this island for five years now, it feels like an eternity. Three years ago, I had the urge to leave, but fate had other plans. Suddenly my Kami Gigan and black sword underwent unexpected improvements. Now, my KG can finally see the origin of the devil fruit, so I scan all of my devil fruit in my possession to determine if it's good or not and voila, I even found an unexpected surprise.

I remember that day vividly—my KG pulsed with energy as I scanned through the fruits I had accumulated over the years, each one more mysterious than the last. And then, hidden away in a crate, there it was—a Paramecia Devil Fruit, discarded like a piece of trash among Kaido's treasures. I almost laughed at the irony. Kaido, obsessed with Zoan-type fruits, had likely thrown this one aside without a second thought. The fruit itself—a simple green apple-like thing with swirling patterns—didn't seem remarkable at first glance

I think it make sense if Kaido ignores this paramecia fruit. But honestly, I even doubt there is an illustration of it in the devil fruit encyclopedia book, maybe only the Gorosei know about this fruit.

Paramecia, Toki Toki no Mi.

Damn, if not for my KG to identify this fruit I myself wouldn't know about it. Because back in my old world there is no official illustration of this fruit from Goda himself. Luckly for me, I always triple check my inventory.

Next, I finally pull out the devil fruit that Grandma always saved for me. I scan it and find another thing that puzzles me. It is a Zoan called Akuma Akuma no Mi model: Diablo. I guess from the vitality radiating from it; it's also a Mythical Zoan type. But Diablo? Even the name "Diablo" sends a shiver down my spine. The OG One Piece never showed this kind of thing.

Then there's the third one—a fruit I gave to Azel. The Hito Hito no Mi model: Fallen Angel. Fitting for him, honestly. He now can even control a black flame as easily as breathing. The way his powers grew after consuming it was terrifying, but it made me proud to see how far he'd come. As expected from a Lunarian. There are also other fruits, but let's leave them for now.

But it's not the end of it. Now let's talk about the black sword. It's a very sharp katana, and after trying every method to identify this thing, I only succeed after meditating, trying to contact the sword with methods like from cultivation novels or like a Zanpakuto from Bleach.

I keep trying to make contact with it while also mastering the sword skills I acquired long ago, and finally, I catch a glimpse of what it can do. It has a separation and devouring attribute. I test the separation part, and it can even remove the curse from a devil fruit. If I'm not wrong, the katana should be able to cut through anything, even the very fabric of space itself, like Yamato from Devil May Cry.

But wielding such power comes at a cost. The sword drains me, pulls energy from my body and the surrounding environment, feeding on my strength as if it's alive. The first time I activated its power, the little bastard almost sucked me dry. It feels like the sword is slowly awakening, but I'm not yet capable of unleashing its full potential.

In the end, because all of that shit happened, and I even ate two devil fruits, so I extend my stay here just to train my new abilities. But now, as the days blur into each other, I'm stuck as fuck. I couldn't breakthrough! And the frustration gnaws at me.

"Seele, show me my status, please."  Let's check my overall stats.

[ Wait a sec, Vanze. ]

[ Status

Name: Zavros D. Vanze

Age: 16

Race: High Human

Title: 'Freak'

Condition: Healthy

Tier: 6 - Continental Warriors

Stats:

Strength: B -

Agility: A -

Endurance: B

Intelligence: B

Vitality: B +

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 (Advanced)

- Busoshoku Haki or Armament Haki (Advanced)

4. Rokushiki (Master)

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

6. Toki Toki no Mi (Intermediate)

7. Akuma Akuma no Mi model: Diablo (Beginner)

Equipment:

- Unnamed Black Katana ]

'Hmm... For my tri-haki, I've already mastered emission, future sight, and lastly, my Haoshoku Haki is also capable of damaging inanimate objects and structures around me. I feel so close to attaining Ryuo and Haoshoku infusion, but it always fails, damn it.' Maybe I really need to experience those attacks on my own if I want to master it.

My two devil fruits are also stuck in their development, and yes, I can eat two because I already separated the curse with power card from store, and thanks to my adaptability. It sounds awesome right? but NO. 

My Zoan ability is the most troublesome. It had become a nightmare. I didn't want to get into the gory details, but to put it bluntly, I can't access the true form of the fruit. Even a partial transformation comes with risks. Great risks. It felt like I was playing with fire. No—worse. It was like I was unleashing something primal, something that I had no control over.

If you wondering why? It is because I lost my fucking control!!!

Yes, you heard me right. I lost control. My mind flashed back to that day in the inner forest, deep within the island's heart, pushing my limits, when the Zoan's primal energy surged through me, overtaking my mind and body. My vision faded, and all I could remember was a raw, primal fury coursing through my veins. Even my adaptability couldn't suppress it. 

When I came to, the once-lush forest was reduced to a barren, scorched wasteland. Trees were nothing but charred husks, animal's bones everywhere, the hills had been flattened, and even the volcanic mountain where I tempered my body... gone. All of it. The devastation spread as far as the eye could see—a dead zone devoid of life. It's like an apocalypse had struck the island.

My heart raced as panic gripped me. I was terrified, not of the destruction, but of the thought that I might have hurt Robin and the others. The mere possibility of causing harm to them gnawed at me.

But, thankfully, Azel had noticed something was wrong. His instincts must have flared up, because he'd managed to get everyone away from the area before my rampage consumed the inner forest. He led them to the shore, far enough from the disaster that I didn't end up hurting anyone I cared about. That was the only thing that saved me from spiraling into despair that day.

Ever since then, I refused to touch that power. I wouldn't let it out again, not until I was stronger. Now, the best I could manage was a partial transformation—like my limbs turning to that demonic form—but even that took all my focus.

If I let my guard down for even a second, the fruit's will would start to take over, and I wasn't ready to deal with that again. I suspect my Zoan is even harder to control compared to others because it contains some kind of energy attribute which I can't fully use yet.

My other Devil Fruit, thankfully, was more flexible, thanks to the power card erasing the limitations. It allowed me to manipulate time to an extent. I'd developed techniques that made me faster, or I could imbue time energy into my attacks, slowing my enemies, etc.

My ultimate move, a thirty-meter area where I could stop time for three seconds, was powerful but limited. Against someone like Garp, it would barely slow him down. 'Za Warudo on a discount,' I grumbled with a half-smile. At least it was useful against most opponents. But that's it, if I want to go even further, I need to awaken the paramecia fruit first.

'Overall it's not too shabby, right, Seele?'

[ Well, you can definitely survive from an admiral for now. But you can't survive from the girls if you keep avoiding them. ]

'Damn... I'm too focused on reviewing my status just now.'

In this life, I had been blessed—or cursed, depending on how you looked at it—with strength, power, and even handsomeness. But romance? That was an entirely different beast. I knew they had feelings for me. Robin, Hancock, Yamato—they had all shown me affection in their own ways. But what was I supposed to do with that?

I want to say, 'Only children make a choice while adult take them all.' But I'm afraid they'll slap the hell outta me... 

Imagining Robin slapping me with her giant palm, Hancock kicking me in the balls, and Yamato smashing her kanabo straight to my head is just giving me a chill.

[ You're overthinking it again. ] Seele said, her voice laced with a hint of amusement. [ For girls, as long as you're honest about your feelings, you've got a chance. ]

I rolled my eyes 'And where did you learn all of that, little miss?'

[ You guess... ]

'Sigh, whatever...' With a deep sigh, I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind. I had more pressing matters to focus on. I need to go back because today we will finally set sail in this world.

I pulled out my trusty mp3 player and hooked it up to my Bluetooth speaker. With a grin, I cranked the volume and let the legendary opening song blast across the forest. Not long after, the legendary intro start playing.

'Wealth. Fame. Power. The man who had everything in this world... The Pirate King, Gold Roger.'

The iconic words echoed through the forest, and a nostalgic rhythm followed. Using Soru, my feet moved quickly as I headed back to where the others were, the music playing loud enough for them to hear.

It was time to begin the next chapter of our journey.

.....

----------

A/N: Please donate your power stones and leave more reviews for my story, I appreciate it and thank you for your support!