"What the hell did you just swear at me?" Eli Winters frowned, clearly displeased. "Don't think I won't hit you just because you look cool."
Truth be told, Eli had recognized him the moment the man appeared. The familiar loose sandals, the wild mop of white wavy hair though now shorter and that small, wiry frame hiding a terrifying power. It was unmistakably Rayleigh, the Dark King himself.
"Swear at you? Kid, I'm about to punch you," Rayleigh snapped, suddenly lunging forward with a fist aimed straight at Eli's handsome face.
"Whoa, you're seriously coming at me? Fine then, don't blame me for what happens next!" Eli shouted back, his voice sharp and charged with energy. "Heavenly Dragon's Wrath Claw of the Sky!"
Lightning danced around him as he shot forward like a bolt, his hands forming claws aimed right at Rayleigh's midsection.
"You little brat! So vicious at your age?" Rayleigh's eyes widened. His closed fist suddenly relaxed changing shape mid-strike. Two fingers shot out like twin vipers lunging from a nest, aimed directly at Eli's eyes.
This was the Twin Dragon Technique a deadly move that traded one's safety for the chance to strike at the opponent's most vulnerable point.
But Eli didn't flinch. Instead, he chuckled darkly. "Heh… Low Blow Kick!"
Before Rayleigh could react, Eli pulled his claw attack back and clapped his palms together, catching Rayleigh's fingers in between with perfect timing. Then, in one fluid motion, his right leg swept upward like a tornado
aimed straight for Rayleigh's lower half.
A moment later, a howl of agony echoed through the air.
"AAAAAHHHH—!"
The world froze. Every man present instinctively crossed his legs and grimaced. Even the wind seemed to pause out of sympathy.
With that single, unspeakable strike, the duel one that could only be described as barbarically magnificent ended abruptly. Rayleigh collapsed to the ground, clutching his groin in despair.
Later, inside a quiet cabin, Eli, Rayleigh, and Fisher Tiger sat together around a round wooden table. The tension of the earlier fight had completely vanished; now, the three of them looked more like drinking buddies than opponents.
Rayleigh was holding a bottle of Maotai a rare and exquisite liquor pouring himself a full cup before taking a delicate sip. His eyes fluttered closed in pure bliss.
Eli sighed. "Seriously? You look like a creep right now. It's just alcohol, old man."
"You know nothing, brat," Rayleigh retorted, giving him a disdainful look. "This kind of rare spirit deserves to be savored. Every drop is art. It's wasted on you."
Eli smirked. "Oh really? You mean the wine that I brought? The one that only I have?"
Rayleigh froze mid-sip. "Uh…" A moment of silence passed as the reality sank in. Damn it he'd been too drunk to remember the kid was his only supplier.
"Heh, come on, kid," Rayleigh said at last, smiling awkwardly. "Uncle was just kidding, don't take it to heart, eh?"
Tiger couldn't help but laugh at the two. After downing a drink of his own, he asked, "So, what are your plans now?"
"I'll stay here with you for a bit," Rayleigh replied. "Once we reach Sabaody Archipelago, we'll part ways."
Eli smiled faintly as both turned to him. "I won't be joining you. My crew is waiting for me."
"When will you leave?" Tiger asked.
"Tomorrow," Eli answered, glancing at his half-empty cup. "But tonight let's drink till we drop."
"Ha! Now that's what I like to hear!" both Rayleigh and Tiger roared with laughter.
And so they did. The three of them drank deep into the night, the sound of their laughter mingling with the ocean breeze. When Eli finally stumbled back to his room, his cheeks flushed from the liquor, he leaned against the window and looked out at the moon.
He thought of Big Pan and the others his friends, his companions and felt a soft pang of longing. Day by day, his bond with this world was growing stronger.
Shaking off his drowsiness, Eli sat down to review the spoils of his recent adventures.
From the five treasure vaults he'd looted in Mary Geoise, he'd found plenty of gold and jewels but not much of real value. Three Devil Fruits (two Zoans and one Paramecia, the Bubble-Bubble Fruit), a fine-grade sword, and a strange puppet-like automaton of unknown purpose. Not bad, but not great either.
Still, he'd discovered three pairs of Seastone handcuffs, which would make imprisoning Devil Fruit users far easier in the future.
He knew the truth ordinary Celestial Dragons didn't possess true treasures. Their wealth was privilege, not power.
His real reward came from his system's "Location Check-In." The prosperity points alone totaled 26,000, the most he'd ever received a testament to how obscenely rich Mary Geoise truly was.
On top of that, he earned five vials of mysterious potions, two gleaming rail cannons, and a jade Life Gourd.
Purification Elixir: Removes negative effects from objects (ineffective on Devil Fruits).
Annihilation Railgun: A high-tech weapon from a science planet. Capable of obliterating a mid-sized island in one blast. Takes three days to recharge and can store up to five shots.
Life Gourd: Generates one drop of Life Water per year. Each drop restores the user to peak condition. Note: Feed it well, and it may produce more.
"Haha! My system really loves me!" Eli laughed aloud, his grin wide and boyish. The Life Gourd alone was worth more than any treasure one drop of Life Water could literally save a life.
The Purification Elixirs might even help fix Mo Tai and Simon's long-standing issues, while the railgun well, that was just overkill, but still cool.
Satisfied, Eli opened his status panel one last time before drifting off to sleep.
Name: Eli Winters
Age: 12
Strength: Admiral Level
Speed: Admiral Level
Willpower: King Level
Devil Fruit: Modified Space-Space Fruit
Mastery: 38%
Haki:
Observation: Supreme
Armament: Advanced (Internal Destruction, Flowing Sakura)
Conqueror's: Supreme (Infusion Mastery)
Haki Techniques: Six Paths of Kings
(Dragon Path, Tiger Path, Bear Path, Whale Path, Bull Path, Eagle Path)
Fruit Abilities:
Spatial Slash, Chaotic Rift, Storage Space, Dual Kamui (Phase, Shift, Traverse, Warp), Instant Transmission, Space Lock, Dimensional Walk, Void Banishment, Space Gate.
Space Arts:
Radiant Cross
Dimensional Crush
Swordsmanship: Great Swordmaster Level
Techniques: Piercing Strike, Aerial Slash, Phantom Blade, Breaker Form.
Combo Technique: Judgment of the Sky Hunter
Power Level: King Tier (Equivalent to Yonko, though true Kings vary in strength.)
Companion: Kung Fu Panda, Big Pan
Haki: Advanced Observation & Armament, Intermediate Conqueror's
Martial Art: Eight Desolate Staff Techniques
Ultimate Moves: Tremor, Martial Burst, Layered Wave, Circle Dance, Shadow Strike
Power Level: Admiral Tier
Prosperity Points: 83,559
Special Items:
Life Gourd, Two Rail Cannons, Five Purification Elixirs, Various Treasures, Seven Devil Fruits.
The next morning, sunlight spilled into the cabin. Eli rose, refreshed and ready. On the deck, Rayleigh and Tiger were already waiting.
Farewells were always bittersweet.
"Hey, kid," Rayleigh said, patting Eli's shoulder. "Got any more of that wine from last night?"
So much for sentiment.
Eli resisted the urge to slap him. "In my room," he replied flatly.
Once the old man confirmed his prize was safe, he waved dismissively. "Alright, brat. See ya. Don't die out there."
Typical.
Tiger embraced Eli warmly. "I hope we meet again in the New World."
"We will," Eli said, smiling. "It won't be long."
"Take care."
"Take care."
With that, Eli boarded a small boat. After sailing a short distance, he vanished teleporting across the sea.
Moments later, he reappeared at the gates of the Germa Kingdom home once again, and one step closer to destiny.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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