The morning sun beat down on the deck of Ban's stolen Marine vessel as he lounged against the mast, one leg propped up and a bottle of sake dangling from his hand. Three days had passed since he'd raided the Marine base on Mirrorball Island, and sailing alone had proven to be... peaceful. Almost too peaceful.
"This is boring as hell," Ban announced to the seagulls circling overhead. One of them squawked back, which he took as agreement. "No fights, no treasure, no excitement. Just water, water, and more water."
He'd been following the Log Pose toward Gecko Islands, but the damn thing indicated he still had several days of sailing ahead. Ban was starting to understand why pirates traveled in crews, at least then you'd have someone to talk to or fight with to pass the time.
The ship itself was well-stocked, he'd give the Marines that. Enough food and water for a couple weeks, a small armory of rifles and swords, and even some maps of the East Blue. Ban had spent the first day familiarizing himself with the layout of this sea, memorizing island names and positions.
Shells Town, Orange Town, Syrup Village, Baratie, Arlong Park, Loguetown, each name represented a potential stop, a potential challenge, a potential treasure. The thought made him grin.
A distant sound caught his attention. Ban sat up, his enhanced hearing picking out something that definitely wasn't waves or seagulls. Voices. Multiple voices, and the distinct sound of wood creaking under strain.
"Finally," he muttered, standing and stretching. "Some entertainment."
The source became visible a few minutes later, a large merchant vessel, its sails torn and smoking, listing badly to one side. Two smaller ships circled it like sharks, their black flags unmistakable even from a distance.
Pirates.
Ban's grin widened. "Now we're talking."
He adjusted his course to intercept, taking note of the situation as he drew closer. The merchant ship was clearly doomed; its deck was crawling with attacking pirates, while the crew tried desperately to defend their cargo. The two pirate ships bore similar flags: a skull with crossed cutlasses over a red background.
"Red Cutlass Pirates," Ban read the name painted on the nearest ship's hull. "Creative."
As he approached, several pirates noticed the Marine vessel and panic rippled through their ranks. Some abandoned the merchant ship entirely, rushing back to their own vessels. Others raised weapons, clearly preparing for a fight.
"Marines!" someone shouted. "The Navy's here!"
"Kill them!" another voice roared. "Don't let them interfere!"
Ban laughed as he steered his ship alongside the nearest pirate vessel. "Hate to break it to you boys, but I'm not with the Marines! I just stole their ship!" He grabbed a rope and swung across the gap between vessels with casual grace, landing on the pirate ship's deck with a thud. "The name's Ban, and I'm here to steal your stuff!"
The pirates stared at him, this white-haired man in tattered clothes who'd just announced his intentions with a smile. Then the first one raised a pistol and fired.
Ban tilted his head, letting the bullet whiz past his ear. "Rude. Don't you introduce yourself before shooting someone?"
He moved.
The first pirate went down to a punch that cratered his face. The second one, Ban grabbed and tossed overboard like garbage. The third managed to swing a sword, but Ban caught the blade with his bare hand, ignoring the cut that immediately began healing, and yanked the weapon away.
"Snatch," he said, placing his hand on the pirate's chest. The man's strength flowed into Ban, and he collapsed.
"What the hell is he?!" someone screamed.
"Devil Fruit user!"
"Forget the merchant, kill this bastard!"
More pirates rushed him, and Ban welcomed them with open arms and closed fists. His fighting style was brutal and efficient, no wasted movement, every strike calculated to disable or destroy.
Within minutes, half the crew was down. The rest were backing away, fear evident in their eyes.
"Come on," Ban taunted, twirling the stolen sword. "I haven't even warmed up yet. Where's your captain? At least let me fight someone interesting!"
"You want me?" a deep voice rumbled. "Then you've got me."
A massive man emerged from the ship's cabin. He had to be seven feet tall, built like a mountain, with a thick red beard and scars crisscrossing his bare chest. Two wickedly curved cutlasses hung at his sides, and his eyes held the kind of cruelty that came from years of violence.
"Captain 'Red Blade' Reddy," the man announced. "Bounty of 8,000,000 Berries. And you just made the last mistake of your short life, boy."
Ban's grin never wavered. "Eight million? That's it? And here I thought you'd be impressive." He pointed the stolen sword at Reddy. "Let's see if you're worth that much."
Reddy's face twisted with rage. "I'll cut you into pieces!"
He charged with surprising speed for his size, both cutlasses flashing in complex patterns. Ban had to admit the pirate captain had skill; his technique was solid, but it simply didn't match up to what Ban had faced off against in the past.
Ban parried the first strike, dodged the second, and stepped inside Reddy's guard to deliver a devastating punch to the ribs. He felt bones crack under his knuckles. Reddy stumbled back, shock replacing anger on his face.
"Impossible," Reddy gasped. "That should have-"
"Should have what?" Ban interrupted, his red eyes gleaming with predatory amusement. "Hurt me? Killed me?" He laughed. "Trust me, I've survived worse than you can imagine. Your turn."
He attacked, and it was like watching a natural disaster in human form. Ban's fists and feet moved in a blur, each strike precisely placed to cause maximum damage. Marcus tried to defend, but it was useless. Within seconds, the pirate captain was on his knees, blood streaming from a dozen wounds.
"Eight million Berries," Ban mused, standing over the defeated captain. "Guess the Marines don't value you very highly. Can't say I blame them." He looked around at the remaining pirates, all of whom were frozen in terror. "So, who's in charge now?"
Silence.
"No one? Perfect." Ban walked to the ship's railing and looked at the merchant vessel, which had stopped burning but was clearly in bad shape. "Hey! Anyone alive over there?"
A nervous face appeared at the merchant ship's railing, a middle-aged man in a captain's uniform, bloodied but breathing. "Y-yes! We're alive! Are you... are you here to help us?"
"Help?" Ban considered. "Nah, not really my style. But I'm not going to rob you either, these pirates already did that." He gestured to the unconscious forms littering the deck. "Consider them a gift. Do whatever you want with them."
"Who are you?" the merchant captain called out.
"Name's Ban," he replied cheerfully. "Remember it, because I'm going to be famous." He turned back to the pirates, still conscious enough to listen. "Now then, where do you keep your treasure? And don't lie, I'm not in a patient mood."
One of the pirates, a skinny man with a bandana, pointed a shaking hand toward the cabin. "B-below deck. Captain's quarters. There's a chest."
"See? That wasn't so hard." Ban walked toward the cabin, stepping over groaning bodies. "You boys just stay put. Try to follow me, and I'll make your captain look healthy by comparison."
The cabin was surprisingly well-furnished for a pirate ship. Marcus had clearly been living comfortably off his raids. Ban found the chest easily, a large iron-bound box with a heavy lock. He grabbed it with both hands and simply ripped the lock off, the metal shrieking in protest.
Inside was a respectable haul: stacks of Berries, some jewelry, a few interesting-looking maps, and what appeared to be a Devil Fruit catalog with illustrations.
"Not bad," Ban said, dumping the contents into a sack he'd brought. "This'll keep me supplied for a while." He paused, looking at the Devil Fruit catalog with curiosity. So these were the fruits that granted powers. Interesting, but according to what he'd learned, they also took away your ability to swim. No thanks. His immortality and Snatch ability were more than enough.
He emerged from the cabin to find the pirates exactly where he'd left them, too terrified to move. "Good boys," he said mockingly. "Now, I'm going to take my new treasure and be on my way. You all just sit tight and think about your life choices."
Ban swung back to his Marine ship with the grace of an acrobat, landing smoothly on deck. He gave the pirate ship a casual salute. "Thanks for the loot! Let's do this again sometime!"
As he sailed away, he could hear the merchant captain shouting gratitude and the pirates cursing his name. Ban just laughed, already counting his haul and planning his next move.
Two days later, Ban finally spotted land. According to his maps, this should be Gecko Islands, a small archipelago in the East Blue known for its fishing industry and relatively peaceful population. Boring, but a good place to resupply and maybe hear some interesting rumors.
The main port town was called Gecko Port, creative naming at its finest. Ban docked his Marine ship at one of the public piers, drawing immediate attention from the locals. A Marine vessel wasn't unusual, but the fact that it was being sailed by a single white-haired man in ragged clothes definitely was.
"You there!" A local marine officer approached, flanked by two subordinates. He was young, maybe mid-twenties, with the kind of earnest face that screamed 'rookie.' "That's a Marine vessel. Identify yourself!"
Ban hopped off the ship with his sack of treasure over his shoulder. "Name's Ban. I stole this ship from Captain Nezumi's base on Mirrorball Island a few days ago. Nice vessel, by the way. The Marines have good taste."
The marine officer's face went through several shades of red. "You... you're the one who attacked the base?! We received the report-you're wanted for assaulting Marine personnel and theft of military property!"
"That's me," Ban agreed cheerfully. "Also, just robbed the Red Cutlass Pirates yesterday. Took all their stuff. That Reddy guy was pretty disappointing, honestly. Expected more from an eight-million Beri bounty."
The officer was sputtering now, hand on his sword hilt. "You're under arrest! Men, apprehend him!"
The two subordinate marines hesitated, clearly having heard enough to know this white-haired stranger was dangerous. Ban appreciated their survival instincts.
"Here's the thing," Ban said, his tone conversational but his eyes hardening. "I don't feel like being arrested today. Too much paperwork, too little fun. So how about you boys step aside, I go into town to sell some stuff and get supplies, and we all pretend this conversation never happened?"
"Absolutely not!" The officer drew his sword, his hands shaking but his determination clear. "Justice will prevail!"
Ban sighed. "Justice, huh? You really believe that?" He set down his sack and cracked his knuckles. "Alright then, officer. Show me this 'justice' of yours."
The officer charged with a battle cry that was more brave than smart. His sword came down in a textbook overhead strike that Ban sidestepped casually. He grabbed the officer's wrist, applied just enough pressure to make him drop the sword, then delivered a light tap to the solar plexus that sent the man stumbling back, gasping for air.
"You've got spirit," Ban admitted. "But you're way out of your league." He looked at the two subordinates, who were backing away slowly. "Smart boys. Tell your boss when he wakes up that Ban says hello."
He picked up his sack and walked past them into town, leaving the officer wheezing on the dock and his subordinates torn between helping their superior and calling for backup.
Gecko Port was a decent-sized town, bigger than Mirrorball's settlement. The streets were clean, the buildings well-maintained, and the people seemed relatively prosperous. Ban spotted several shops that looked promising, a general store, a weapons dealer, and, most importantly, a tavern.
First stop: selling his stolen goods.
The local pawn shop was run by a nervous man named Hachi, who took one look at Ban's pirate jewelry and immediately started sweating. "This... this is from the Red Cutlass Pirates. How did you-"
"Took it from them," Ban said simply. "They don't need it anymore. You buying or not?"
"I... yes, but..." Hachi's eyes darted to the door. "If anyone finds out I bought stolen pirate goods..."
Ban leaned forward, his red eyes catching the light in an unsettling way. "Then don't tell anyone. I get money, you get merchandise to resell at a profit, everyone's happy. Simple business."
Hachi swallowed hard and nodded. "Right. Simple business." He examined the jewelry with shaking hands. "I can give you 500,000 Berries for the lot."
"Make it 600,000 and you've got a deal," Ban countered.
"Deal!"
Money exchanged hands, and Ban left the pawn shop considerably richer. Next, the general store for supplies, food, water, sake, and some actual clothes that weren't falling apart. The shopkeeper there was more composed, treating Ban like any other customer, though his eyes lingered on Ban's white hair and muscular build.
"You a bounty hunter?" the shopkeeper asked while packaging Ban's purchases.
"Pirate," Ban corrected. "Just starting out, actually. Any good rumors going around? Interesting places to visit, powerful people to fight, treasures to steal?"
The shopkeeper blinked, clearly not expecting such honesty. "Uh... well, there's talk that Buggy the Clown's crew was spotted near Orange Town recently. He's got a 15,000,000 Beri bounty.
"Buggy, huh?" Ban remembered seeing that name on the wanted posters. "The guy with the red nose?"
"That's him. Devil Fruit user, the Bara Bara Fruit. Makes him immune to cutting attacks because he can split his body apart."
Ban's grin widened. "A Devil Fruit user. Now that sounds fun." He paid for his supplies and headed for the door. "Thanks for the info, old man. I think Orange Town's going to be my next stop."
"Wait," the shopkeeper called out. "You're really going after Buggy? Kid, that's suicide. He's got a whole crew, cannons, and that Devil Fruit power. What've you got?"
Ban looked back over his shoulder, his expression somewhere between amused and dangerous. "I've got time, old man. And that's all I need."
The tavern was called the Laughing Gecko, and it was already crowded despite being early afternoon. Ban pushed through the door and immediately felt at home, the smell of alcohol, the sound of rough voices, the atmosphere of barely contained violence. This was his kind of place.
He ordered sake and found a seat in the corner where he could watch the room. Most of the patrons were fishermen and merchants, but there were a few that stood out, harder men with weapons and the bearing of fighters. Bounty hunters, probably, or pirates laying low.
"Did you hear?" a voice from the next table carried over. "The Marines are going crazy. Someone attacked a base on Mirrorball, stole a ship, and beat up Captain Nezumi and his entire garrison."
"No way," another voice replied. "Nezumi's a bastard, but he's not weak."
"I'm telling you, it's true! And get this, the guy who did it took down the Red Cutlass Pirates by himself a couple of days later. Beat Captain Reddy so bad the man's in a coma."
"Bullshit. Nobody's that strong in the East Blue except maybe Don Krieg or Arlong."
Ban smiled into his sake cup, enjoying the gossip about himself. This was how reputations were built, stories spreading from island to island, growing with each retelling. By the time he reached the Grand Line, people might actually have heard of him.
"Excuse me," a young voice interrupted his thoughts. Ban looked up to find a kid, maybe sixteen, with messy brown hair and determined eyes. "Are you Ban? The one who attacked the Marine base?"
The tavern went quiet. Everyone was suddenly very interested in Ban's answer.
"Depends," Ban said casually. "Who's asking?"
"My name is Taro," the kid said, his voice shaking but steady. "You attacked Captain Nezumi's base. That man... he's corrupt. He takes bribes from pirates, extorts local businesses, and hurts people who can't fight back. The Marines won't do anything about it because he's got connections."
"Sounds like a real piece of work," Ban agreed. "But I didn't attack him for noble reasons, kid. I needed a ship and he had one. Simple as that."
"I know," Taro said. "But still... you hurt him. Made him look weak. For that..." The kid bowed deeply. "Thank you."
Ban studied the kid for a moment. There was genuine gratitude there, mixed with the kind of anger that came from personal experience. Nezumi had probably hurt someone this kid cared about.
"Don't thank me," Ban said, his tone less mocking than usual. "I'm not a hero. I'm a pirate who takes what he wants and doesn't give a damn about law or justice. I hurt Nezumi because he was in my way, not because he was corrupt."
"Even so," Taro straightened up. "You did what no one else could. That means something."
Before Ban could respond, the tavern door burst open and marines flooded in, at least a dozen, led by a lieutenant with a scarred face and cold eyes. This one looked more competent than the rookie at the docks.
"There he is!" the lieutenant barked. "Ban, the pirate who attacked Mirrorball Island! You're under arrest!"
Ban sighed and downed the rest of his sake. "And here I was having a nice drink." He stood up, causing several patrons to scramble away from the potential combat zone. "You know, I gave your friend at the dock a chance to walk away. You sure you don't want the same option?"
"We're not the dock patrol," the lieutenant growled. "We're combat-trained Marines. Surrender now or we will use force!"
"Force it is," Ban said cheerfully.
The Marines moved in coordinated fashion, clearly more experienced than Nezumi's garrison. Three came at Ban from different angles while others aimed rifles from the doorway. Good tactics.
Too bad tactics didn't matter much when your opponent was immortal.
Ban ducked under the first sword strike and drove his fist into the Marine's gut, folding him in half. The second Marine's attack he blocked with his forearm, ignoring the cut, and responded with a headbutt that sent the man reeling. The third managed to land a solid kick to Ban's ribs, good form, actually, but Ban just grinned and grabbed the man's leg.
"Snatch," he said, and the Marine's strength flowed into him.
Gunshots rang out. Bullets hit Ban in the shoulder, the side, the leg. Each impact hurt, a sharp burning pain, but Ban had felt worse. So much worse. And more importantly, the wounds were already healing, flesh knitting back together at a visible rate.
"He's not going down!" one of the marines shouted, panic creeping into his voice.
"What the hell is he?!"
"Keep shooting!"
Ban waded through the barrage of bullets like they were rain, closing the distance to the riflemen with terrifying speed. His fist connected with the nearest Marine's jaw, sending teeth flying. Another he grabbed by the collar and tossed into his companions like a bowling ball.
The lieutenant came at him from behind, sword aimed for Ban's neck in what would have been a killing blow on anyone else. The blade bit deep, blood spraying, and for a moment, the lieutenant looked triumphant.
Then the wound healed. Completely. In seconds.
"What..." The lieutenant's face went white. "What are you?"
Ban grabbed the sword still embedded in his healing neck and yanked it out, blood running down his chest before the wound sealed shut entirely. He looked at the lieutenant with those eerie red eyes, still grinning.
"Immortal," he said simply. "I'm immortal."
He delivered a punch that sent the lieutenant crashing through a table and into unconsciousness. The remaining Marines took one look at Ban, standing there covered in blood from wounds that no longer existed, grinning like a madman, and ran.
Ban let them go. No point fighting people who'd already lost.
"Holy shit," someone in the tavern whispered. The patrons were staring at him with a mixture of awe and fear. Even Taro looked shocked, though there was also something like admiration in the kid's eyes.
"Well," Ban said, brushing off his new clothes. "That was fun. Bartender, another round! And a round for everyone else, I'm feeling generous!"
The tension broke, and the tavern erupted into nervous laughter and excited chatter. Ban had just taken down a dozen trained Marines without breaking a sweat, and more importantly, he'd done it while laughing.
As Ban returned to his corner with fresh sake, Taro approached again, this time with less hesitation.
"You really are immortal?" the kid asked.
"Yep," Ban confirmed. "Can't die, can't stay injured. Been this way for a long time."
"That's... incredible." Taro's eyes shone with the kind of wonder that came from seeing something impossible. "With power like that, you could do anything. Save anyone. Be a real hero."
Ban's expression softened slightly, but his voice remained firm. "Listen, kid. Immortality isn't a gift, it's a curse dressed up as a blessing. Yeah, I can't die. But everyone else can. Everyone I've ever..." He paused, old pain flickering across his face before his grin returned. "Point is, I'm not hero material. Heroes put others first. I put myself first. Remember that."
"But you're not cruel," Taro insisted. "You let those Marines go. You could have killed them."
"Why bother? They were already beaten." Ban took a long drink. "I'm not cruel, but I'm not kind either. I'm selfish. I take what I want, fight who I want, and go where I want. If that accidentally helps people sometimes, great. But don't mistake me for someone who cares about justice or peace or whatever ideals the Marines pretend to stand for."
Taro was quiet for a moment, processing this. Then he asked, "What do you want, then?"
Ban's grin widened, showing teeth. "The One Piece. The Grand Line. The New World. I want to see how strong I can get, how much treasure I can steal, how many powerful bastards I can fight. I want freedom and adventure and all the excitement this world can offer." He raised his cup in a mock toast. "I want to live, kid. Really live, for the first time in decades."
"Then I hope you find it," Taro said simply. "And... thanks again. For Nezumi."
Ban watched the kid leave, then turned his attention back to his sake. The tavern was buzzing with conversation now, everyone talking about the white-haired pirate who couldn't die, who'd taken down Marines like they were nothing, who spoke of the One Piece with casual confidence.
Good. Let them talk. Let the word spread.
Ban was going to shake this world to its foundations, and he was going to enjoy every second of it.
That night, Ban prepared to leave Gecko Islands. The Marines would be calling for reinforcements, and while he could handle anything East Blue could throw at him, there was no point sticking around. Orange Town and Buggy the Clown awaited, and after that, who knew?
As he loaded his supplies onto the ship, Ban noticed something tucked under a crate on the dock, a newspaper, dated yesterday. The headline caught his attention:
"MARINE HERO GARP RETURNS TO EAST BLUE"
Ban picked it up, scanning the article. Vice Admiral Garp, legendary Marine, hero of the Navy, one of the strongest fighters in the world, was reportedly visiting his home sea for personal reasons.
"Garp, huh?" Ban mused. "Now that sounds interesting. A real challenge, not these low-level grunts."
He tucked the newspaper away for future reference. Maybe their paths would cross, maybe they wouldn't. Either way, Ban had a feeling his time in East Blue was going to be anything but boring.
As he cast off from the dock, Ban took one last look at Gecko Islands. The town was quiet now, most people asleep, but he could see a few lights still burning. Maybe Taro was up, dreaming of adventure. Maybe the Marines were planning their next move. Maybe word of his deeds was already spreading to other islands.
Ban didn't know and didn't particularly care. All that mattered was the open sea ahead, the wind in the sails, and the promise of more challenges to come.
"Buggy the Clown," he said to the night sky. "Let's see if you live up to that fifteen million Beri bounty. And if you don't..." His grin turned predatory. "Well, I'll just take your treasure anyway."
The ship sailed into the darkness, carrying an immortal pirate toward his next adventure. And somewhere in the East Blue, in Marine Headquarters, a report was being filed about a new threat, a white-haired man with unnatural abilities who'd attacked two Marine installations, defeated a pirate crew single-handedly, and showed no fear of death.
The report recommended immediate action and assignment of a substantial bounty.
Ban's legend was just beginning.
The sail to Orange Town took four days, and Ban spent most of it experimenting with his stolen Marine ship. The vessel was solid, not particularly fast or maneuverable, but sturdy enough to handle the East Blue's waters. He'd need something better eventually, especially for the Grand Line, but for now it would do.
On the morning of the fourth day, Orange Town came into view. Or rather, what was left of it.
Ban's eyes narrowed as he approached the harbor. The town looked surprisingly intact, no smoke, no obvious damage. Either Buggy hadn't arrived yet, or Ban's timing was perfect. The harbor had a few civilian vessels and one larger ship with a Jolly Roger featuring a red clown nose.
"Buggy's already here," Ban muttered, steering his ship toward the docks. "Good. I was worried I'd have to wait around."
The town itself seemed strangely empty as Ban walked through the streets. Shops were closed, shutters drawn. A ghost town. The citizens had either fled or were hiding from Buggy's crew.
"Smart people," Ban mused. "But where's the fun in that?"
He found Buggy in the town square, sitting on a throne made of stolen furniture while his crew, maybe twenty pirates, lounged around. The Clown Captain himself was exactly as described: blue hair in pigtails, flamboyant orange coat, painted face, and that prominent red nose.
"Well, well," Buggy said, noticing Ban's approach. "A visitor! And is that a Marine uniform? Wait, no, you're wearing rags. What are you, some kind of hobo?"
"Pirate, actually," Ban replied cheerfully. "Name's Ban. I heard you've got fifteen million Berries on your head and a treasure worth stealing. Figured I'd come take both."
The square went silent. Buggy's crew stared at Ban like he'd just announced he could fly. Then Buggy started laughing—high-pitched and theatrical.
"Did you hear that, boys? This nobody just said he's going to rob Captain Buggy!" More laughter from the crew. "Kid, do you have any idea who you're talking to? I'm a Devil Fruit user! I've sailed with legends! I could kill you with one hand!"
"Fifteen million seems low for all that bragging," Ban observed. "The last guy I fought had eight million and he was pretty pathetic. You better be worth the extra seven million, red-nose."
Buggy's laughter cut off instantly. His eye twitched. "What. Did. You. Just. Say. About. My. NOSE?!"
"I said it's red," Ban replied innocently. "That's just a fact—"
"KILL HIM!" Buggy screamed. "KILL HIM NOW!"
[Rooftop overlooking the square]
Nami watched the scene unfold with a mixture of horror and fascination. She'd been in Orange Town for two days, carefully scouting Buggy's operation and looking for his treasure vault. The plan had been simple: wait for an opening, steal the treasure, escape before anyone noticed.
Then this white-haired lunatic had walked into the square and basically asked to be killed.
"What an idiot," Nami muttered, even as she watched Ban dodge the first wave of pirates with casual ease. "You don't just challenge a Devil Fruit user head-on. That's suicide."
But Ban was moving with a confidence that suggested he knew exactly what he was doing. Every dodge was minimal, every counter-strike precise. Within thirty seconds, five of Buggy's crew were on the ground.
"Okay, maybe not a complete idiot," Nami amended, her mind already working. If this Ban could keep Buggy distracted, she might have the perfect opportunity to find that treasure vault. "Keep the clown busy, white-hair."
Ban was enjoying himself. Buggy's crew was stronger than the average East Blue pirates; they had coordination, training, and actual combat experience. Enough to be entertaining.
He caught a sword strike on his forearm, letting the blade bite deep, then grabbed the swordsman and used Snatch. The pirate's strength flowed into Ban as the man collapsed, weakened.
"What the hell did he just do?!" someone shouted.
"He's bleeding, hit him while he's hurt!"
More attacks came, some landing. A bullet grazed Ban's shoulder. A club hit his ribs. A knife stabbed into his side. Ban let them hit, partly to test his healing, partly because the shocked expressions when his wounds closed were hilarious.
"He's... he's healing!"
"What kind of Devil Fruit is that?!"
"Forget what kind, just kill him!"
Ban grinned, blood already drying on his clothes as the wounds disappeared. "Not a Devil Fruit. Just good genetics." He cracked his knuckles. "But thanks for the warmup. Now let's get serious."
He tore through the remaining crew with brutal efficiency. Within ten minutes, Buggy's entire crew was groaning on the ground or unconscious.
Ban looked up at Buggy, who'd watched the entire fight from his makeshift throne. "So, Captain. Your turn?"
Buggy stood slowly, his painted face showing genuine anger now. "You know what? I was going to make this quick. But now?" His hand suddenly detached from his arm, flying through the air toward Ban with a knife clutched in its fingers. "Now I'm going to make you suffer! Bara Bara Festival!"
The hand moved fast, the knife aimed for Ban's throat. Ban caught it mid-flight, squeezing until the fingers spasmed and dropped the weapon.
"Ow ow ow!" Buggy screamed, his detached hand flying back to reattach. "That hurt, you bastard!"
"That's the point," Ban replied. He gestured at Buggy with a 'come on' motion. "Is that all your Devil Fruit does? Split apart and fly around? I've seen more impressive party tricks."
Buggy's whole body split apart, torso separating from legs, arms flying independently, his head hovering above it all connected by that mysterious Devil Fruit power. "You think you're clever? My Bara Bara Fruit makes me immune to cutting attacks! And with all my parts moving independently, you can't defend from every angle!"
His body parts swarmed Ban from multiple directions, each armed with a blade.
He caught Buggy's right arm, used Snatch to weaken it, then grabbed the floating torso out of the air. The other body parts faltered as Buggy's strength drained away.
"No!" Buggy's head shouted. "Let go!"
Ban held the torso with one hand and plucked Buggy's head out of the air with the other. "Got you."
"This isn't fair! Put me down!"
"Tell me where your treasure is," Ban said conversationally, "and I'll consider putting you down gently instead of punting your head into the ocean."
Buggy's eyes widened with genuine fear. "You wouldn't! I'd drown!"
"Devil Fruit users can't swim, right? Yeah, I know." Ban grinned. "So. Treasure?"
"Fine! Fine! It's in the building at the end of the square, the old tavern! There's a vault in the basement!" Buggy's head was practically crying now. "Just don't throw me in the water!"
"See? That wasn't so hard." Ban tossed Buggy's body parts onto the ground in a heap. "Stay there and think about your life choices."
"Hey! That was a pretty good fight!"
Ban turned to see two figures approaching. A young man in a straw hat and red vest, with a huge grin on his face. And beside him, a tall man with green hair and three swords at his waist, looking considerably more serious.
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy! That's Zoro! We were coming to fight Buggy too, but you beat us to it!"
"Luffy," Ban repeated, noting the straw hat.
"You're strong!" Luffy said enthusiastically. "You beat Buggy all by yourself! Want to join my crew?"
"Luffy," Zoro sighed. "You can't just ask everyone to join."
"Why not? He's strong!"
Ban laughed. "Thanks for the offer, kid, but I work alone. Don't need a crew, don't want the responsibility." He looked at Luffy with genuine interest though. "But you're interesting. What's your deal? Why become a pirate?"
"I'm going to be King of the Pirates!" Luffy declared without hesitation. "I'm going to find the One Piece and become the greatest pirate in the world!"
The conviction in those words made Ban pause. This kid, who couldn't be more than seventeen, was declaring he'd reach the top with absolute certainty. No doubt, no hesitation. Just pure, unwavering belief.
It reminded Ban of someone. Several someones, actually.
"King of the Pirates," Ban said slowly, then grinned. "That's a hell of a dream, Straw Hat. I like it." He pointed at Luffy. "Here's the thing though, I'm after the One Piece too. Not for the title, just for the challenge. The ultimate treasure, the greatest heist. That sound like a problem?"
"Nope!" Luffy said cheerfully. "When we both get to the end, we'll see who finds it first! That'll be fun!"
Zoro shook his head but smirked slightly. "You're both insane."
"Probably," Ban agreed. He looked at Zoro. "Three-sword style, right? That's unusual."
"Santoryu," Zoro confirmed. "And you? What's your fighting style? You healed from every hit Buggy's crew landed. Devil Fruit?"
"Nope. Just immortal." Ban said it casually, like discussing the weather. "Can't die, can't stay injured. Been this way for a long time."
Both Luffy and Zoro stared at him.
"That's so cool!" Luffy exclaimed. "You can't die? Like, ever?"
"Ever," Ban confirmed. "Trust me, I've tested it. Extensively."
"That's..." Zoro frowned, processing this. "That's a bigger advantage than any Devil Fruit."
"It has its downsides," Ban said, and something dark flickered across his face before his grin returned. "But yeah, it's pretty handy in a fight."
A groan from behind them reminded them that Buggy was still conscious. The Clown Captain's head was glaring at them with pure hatred.
"You three... I'll remember this... I'll hunt you all down..."
"Yeah, yeah," Ban said dismissively. "Get in line." He looked at Luffy and Zoro. "So, you guys came here for Buggy too. You after his treasure?"
"We need supplies and a better ship," Zoro said. "Whatever treasure he's got would help with that."
"Fair." Ban considered for a moment. "Tell you what—I'll split it with you. I beat Buggy, but you two showed up ready to fight him too. That counts for something."
"Really?" Luffy's eyes lit up. "You'd share?"
"Don't need all of it," Ban shrugged. "Plus, if we're both going after the One Piece, may as well start off friendly. We'll be rivals eventually, but no reason to be enemies now."
Zoro studied Ban carefully. "You're not like most pirates."
"I'm not like most people," Ban corrected. "Now, let's find this treasure before Buggy's crew wakes up and causes more trouble."
[The Vault]
Nami had found the vault five minutes ago and was working on the lock when she heard footsteps behind her. She spun, hand going to her staff, then froze.
Ban stood in the doorway with luffy and zoro.
"Need help with that lock?" he asked.
You're that girl from that ship Luffy Snickerd.
Yes, she sighed, but let me focus on this vault
"I've got it," Nami said tersely, turning back to her work . Her mind raced. This guy had just beaten Buggy. If he wanted the treasure, there was nothing she could do to stop him. Unless-
The lock clicked open.
"There," Nami said, pulling the vault door open to reveal rooms filled with treasure. Gold, jewels, Berries, and valuable artifacts. Years of Buggy's pillaging. "I opened it, so I have first claim."
Ban walked past her into the vault, examining the haul with an appreciative whistle. "Not bad. Buggy's been busy." He looked at her. "You're the thief I saw on the rooftop earlier, right? Nami?"
She blinked. "How did you know my name?"
"Lucky guess. You look like a Nami." He shrugged. "Tell you what, you did open the door, and I did beat Buggy. How about we split it?"
Nami stared at him. "You... want to split it? Just like that?"
"Why not? I don't need all of it. Take what you want, I'll take what I want, everyone's happy." Ban started loading a bag with gold and Berries. "Unless you want to fight me for it. Fair warning, though, I'm immortal and I've been fighting for a very long time."
"No fighting," Nami said quickly. Immortal? What the hell kind of power was that? "Splitting works. Splitting is good."
They loaded their shares in tense silence, Nami carefully selecting the most valuable pieces while Ban seemed more interested in quantity than quality. She managed to pocket a few extra items, and got the distinct impression he noticed but didn't care.
"So," Ban said as they worked. "Professional thief, talented lockpick, good instincts to stay hidden during the fight. What's someone like you doing in the East Blue? You could be stealing from nobles in the Grand Line."
"I have my reasons," Nami said carefully. Then, because some part of her was curious about this strange man, "What about you? You're clearly too strong for the East Blue. Why aren't you in the Grand Line already?"
"Just started my pirate career about a week ago," Ban explained. "Thought I'd warm up here before tackling the real monsters." He grinned. "Plus, I'm new to this whole world. Still learning the rules."
"New to this world?" Nami frowned. "That's a weird way to put it."
Before Ban could respond, shouting erupted from outside. Buggy's crew was waking up, and from the sound of it, they'd found their captain's scattered body parts.
"Time to go," Ban said, hoisting his bag. "You got a ship?"
"Small boat," Nami admitted.
Why don't we all ride to the next island together, Ban asked.
Why not both Luffy and Zoro answered
Nami hesitated. Traveling with these powerful, unpredictable pirates seemed risky. But ban just proven he could flatten an entire crew, and Buggy would definitely want revenge...
"Just to the next island," she said firmly.
"Works for me."
They made it to the docks as Buggy's crew was organizing a pursuit. Ban and Nami loaded their treasure and cast off, and they were already out of cannon range by the time Buggy's reassembled form appeared at the dock, screaming curses at them.
"YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS! I'LL HUNT YOU DOWN! I'LL MAKE YOUR BOUNTY HIGHER THAN MINE!"
"Looking forward to it!" Ban called back.