CHAPTER 9 : CLASH AND STRATERGY

**CHAPTER 9: Clash and Strategy**

Buggy called out to Zoro, "Are you here for my bounty?"

"No, I'm here for my captain," Zoro replied.

"Then come!" Buggy shouted as he attacked Zoro. But Zoro swiftly dodged and cut Buggy into three pieces. Zoro watched as Buggy lay flat on the ground.

"That's it," Zoro said as he turned his back towards Luffy. "Let's go."

"Watch out!" Alex shouted, but he was a bit late. A severed hand had already pierced Zoro's chest, with blood gushing out of it.

"I told you," said Alex, wondering how he forgot such important details.

The fight continued with Luffy battling Buggy and Alex fighting against Buggy's first mate, Mohji the lion tamer. Nami was fending off the weaker Buggy Pirates. Alex, despite upgrading his strength by 30 points, recognized his weakness while dodging Mohji's attacks.

Despite his weakness, Alex continued to dodge until he could no longer hold out. He decided to flee towards the town. As he ran, he came across the village mayor and the dog, Chouchou. Thinking of a plan, he suggested that the mayor encourage the villagers to fight the lion with him. The villagers and Chouchou, understanding and showing resolve, joined Alex in facing off against the lion and Mohji.

After a long battle, Alex lay exhausted on the ground, while Zoro was not-so-quietly sleeping inside a restaurant, saying he would recover after sleeping. Although the logic wasn't great, it was whatever.

During the battle between Luffy and Buggy, Buggy revealed he was a former crewmate of Shanks, shocking Luffy. In the process, Buggy pierced Luffy's hat with his knives. Enraged, Luffy declared he would teach Buggy a lesson and succeeded in doing so. The battle ended as Nami tied up parts of Buggy's body, rendering him handicapped.

"Wait, tie him up. Let's exchange his bounty," Alex suggested to the crew.

"Okay, but I will take half of the money," declared Nami.

Alex responded, "If you become our navigator, we'll give you all the money we have."

Nami's eyes turned into Bailey signs as soon as she heard this. Remembering Alex telling her they were not pirates, she decided to join them.

After another day of resting, the crew came to the shore and prepared to leave. Alex opened his panel.

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NOTIFICATION*

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Knowing the process, he continued.

<-------------------------------------------------------- >

POINTS RECEIVED

NEW CREW MEMBER: NAMI 1,000

DEFEAT ENEMIES: PIRATE SOLDIERS X 146 = 1,460

 LION TAMER = 50

 BUGGY THE CLOWN = 100

TOTAL: 10,230 + 2,610 = 12,840

<--------------------------------------------------------- >

(Hmm, I didn't get much from Nami. Is it because she's not that powerful or her potential isn't that great?)

(And... I didn't defeat that many soldiers. Maybe it's accumulated by the whole crew?)

(If that's the case, then I have to find more pirate groups with as many pirates as possible.)

Alex thought to himself as he opened the SHOP.

(Hmm... let's see. First, I need to enhance my physical strength and then my mind. Fundamentals need to be solid.)

Alex continued searching for good items. Suddenly, his eyes landed on an item.

<------------------------------- >

NANO BOTS! 1000

<------------------------------- >

Finding it interesting, he continued to check its details.

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BASE OF THE 'RULER'S SET': ENABLES USER TO EQUIP SET'S ITEM. MODIFIES THE HUMAN TO ITS LIMIT WITH NO FUTURE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. GIVES BASIC SPEED, STRENGTH, ENDURANCE AND RECOVERY ENHANCEMENT'S

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(Isn't this what I need? This is perfect. No need to worry about physique training, and I can just focus on mind and external powers.)

Alex pressed BUY. As soon as he clicked, a syringe appeared in his hand with a pink liquid inside it. Without thinking, he injected it into his arm. As the liquid flowed through his blood vessels, his body slowly started to shake, first his hands, then his legs. His vision became blurry.

Slowly, his vision became brighter and clearer than before. Alex started sweating profusely, producing a bad odor that even made Luffy suspicious.

"What's that smell? Looks like someone overcooked something," said Luffy.

"Let's take a break. Let me rest and freshen up," said Alex as he went into the town.

After a day's worth of waiting and bathing repeatedly, Alex felt fresh like never before, as light as a feather and filled with strength. He decided to check his stats.

STATS

**Physique - 100**

**Mind - 30**

**Haki - threshold armament**

**Abilities - ruler's physique**

(Is 100 the max physique limit for normal people? What about Garp? Is his over 100? I'll find that out later.)

(My mind increased to 30. It must be from fighting different people and the physical change.)

(Huh! I'm at my armament haki threshold. Just a little more spiritual strength, and I can awaken it. My physique should be enough.)

(And last, 'ruler's physique.' Is this the baseline for the 'ruler's set' I saw before? But it's a little expensive. For now, let's focus on other items.)

(I have around 11,840 points left. Maybe I'll find more good things like this.)

He wondered as he kept scrolling down, looking for something.

"FOUND IT."