The Wolf's Instinct - One piece: The Devil Fruit Gamer

The area around the Thousand Sunny was silent again, the adrenaline of the battle replaced by the profound, heavy presence of Silvers Rayleigh. Leo stood before his mentor, slightly winded but proudly defiant.

"So," Rayleigh chuckled, adjusting the hood of his robe, which now hung loosely around his neck. " So, you have decided to be a pirate."

"Yes," Leo confirmed, grinning widely. "But there is still time. I will go with Luffy to the New World, and then I'll create my own crew there. The Grand Line needs some competition."

"I see. A wise choice," Rayleigh mused, taking a small sip from his silver bottle. "But remember, the Grand Line is the den of monsters. You need to plan every move you take; otherwise, they will eat you alive."

Leo's Inner Monologue: I know more than anyone about the New World. I will be fine—I have the whole script! (except for some islands, obviously).

Rayleigh's eyes, however, were not on Leo. They were fixed, with intense curiosity, on the silent figure of Sekiro, who stood like a statue, the Tenseiryū sheathed at his side.

"Where does your friend come from, Leo?" Rayleigh asked, his voice low and serious. "Which place would forge a swordsman with such stillness?"

Leo felt a small pang of panic. What do I say? The System didn't give me a cover story! "I-I don't know," Leo stammered. "We met a month ago. He doesn't know where he came from."

Rayleigh raised an eyebrow, clearly seeing through the poor lie. He walked closer to Sekiro, his gaze dropping to the beautiful, indigo-sheathed blade.

"Is your friend from Wano by any chance?" Rayleigh inquired, the question loaded with centuries of knowledge.

Leo froze for a moment, feeling his heart pound in his chest. Why did he mention Wano? Was it because of the sword?

He forced a laugh, trying to play it off. "Haha, Wano? Where's that? I don't know anything about it."

"Yes, Wano," Rayleigh said, running a finger along the sheath of the sword. "It is an isolated country in the New World that is not affiliated with the World Government. It is the land of samurai and legendary swordsmiths."

Your friend's katana looks like it came from that land."

Leo quickly explained the truth about the sword, hoping it would satisfy the legendary pirate. "Oh, I gave him that sword. I took it from a supernova named Apoo, who said some Shimotsuki Kozaburō forged it after defeating him."

Rayleigh let out a soft whistle. "Ah, the Supernova's tale. You need to be careful, Leo. Many strong enemies will seek that sword now."

Rayleigh then shifted his gaze entirely to Sekiro. "So, do you know how to coat your blade?"

Sekiro finally spoke, his voice dry and foreign. "Coat your blade?"

"Yes," Rayleigh said, waiting patiently. "The spiritual strength of the soul. Can you coat your will onto your blade?" That is called haki.

Sekiro stared at the ground for a long moment, processing the abstract concept. He slowly unsheathed the Tenseiryū and closed his eyes.

Leo watched, confused. No, no, Sekiro hasn't trained Haki! He can't possibly know how to do this!

Then, the miracle happened. Sekiro's concentration was absolute. A faint, glossy black sheen—the unmistakable armor of Armament Haki—began to flow over his right arm, slowly coating his hand and then the entire length of the silver-blue blade. The Haki was denser, heavier, and more controlled than Leo's own.

Sekiro opened his eye, the black, armored blade held steady. "Is this Haki?"

Rayleigh let out a deep, astonished laugh, clapping his hands together. "Yes! That is Haki! And you just instinctually summoned it without a single day of training! Your will is extraordinary!"

Leo was completely speechless. Well, the System told me when he was summoned that the concept of Haki and Devil Fruits would be transferred into his mind, but still... He didn't just learn it; he mastered the coating instantly! He's a natural-born master! I spent six months getting to 15% mastery!

Rayleigh chuckled, knowing the truth of the spirit. "Come on. Let's go to Shakky's Bar. We need a proper drink after that excitement."

Rayleigh turned back to Leo. "How old are you, Leo?.

I need to know your drinking age."

Leo quickly calculated. I was 26 in my previous life. Based on my appearance now, I should be around 22. "I'm 22," Leo said.

"Okay then," Rayleigh smiled. "You can drink. Let's go."

Leo suddenly remembered his duty. "Wait! What about the Thousand Sunny and Kuma?"

"Don't worry," Rayleigh said, waving a dismissive hand. "I will come back later to check on both of them. No Marine force will dare approach this Grove after three Vice Admirals were thrashed so publicly. Let's go.

Leo looked at Rayleigh, completely perplexed. "How did you know that, Rayleigh-san?

Rayleigh says, "Do you think I will not know what is happening on this island and who is doing it?"

Leo grinned, placing a hand on Sekiro's shoulder. "Understood, Rayleigh-san. We've caused enough chaos here. Let's go."

Chapter 51 - The Wolf's Instinct