Chapter 4: Dino Mode
This reminded him of his life in the orphanage back in his previous world. Yes, Dino had been an orphan. Although he never had luxuries or parents to care for him, he wasn't alone back then. The real loneliness came after leaving the orphanage, when he lived by himself without any friends. Even surrounded by people, he felt completely isolated, and his life became a chaotic mess.
He remembered dying suddenly from exhaustion, both mental and physical. When he woke up, he found himself in this new world with a Devil Fruit in his hand. How did he know it was a Devil Fruit? The mysterious spiral patterns covering its surface were unmistakable.
At first, he thought he'd been transported to the world of One Piece. He devoured the Devil Fruit in three bites, forcing down the disgusting taste. The flavor made him want to gag, but he pushed through and ate the entire thing to ensure he got the complete power.
Soon after consuming it, he understood exactly which Devil Fruit he'd eaten: the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, the strongest Paramecia-type Devil Fruit in existence. Back then, he imagined himself becoming as powerful as Whitebeard, and the excitement nearly overwhelmed him.
Anyone who knew about Whitebeard understood his legend. Even Roger couldn't take away Whitebeard's title as the World's Strongest Man. That title belonged to him alone, even when he was over seventy and needed IV drips just to stay alive.
However, after eating the Devil Fruit, Dino decided to keep a low profile. He went to practice in the deserted mountains, developing his abilities away from prying eyes. He remembered Whitebeard's techniques: air quakes, sea quakes, earthquakes. The power didn't need complicated moves, just raw destructive force.
Power meant everything. As long as he continued developing the Devil Fruit's abilities, he could grow stronger. Right now, he could only release the tremor power through his hands, but he'd seen Whitebeard release it from any part of his body, blasting away enemies before they could even get close.
That became one path to strength. The other was continuously increasing the frequency and amplitude of the vibrations. He spent half a month practicing and gaining basic control over the Tremor-Tremor Fruit when Makarov found him and invited him to join Fairy Tail.
That's when he realized he hadn't traveled to the world of One Piece at all, but to Fairy Tail, which had a similar adventurous style.
Of course he knew Fairy Tail. Although he couldn't remember many plot details due to how long ago he'd watched it, his busy work schedule, and all the new anime that had come out since, he would never forget the name of a show that had touched him so deeply. He'd even heard it was getting a sequel.
"Dino, don't think you've won! That was just a fluke. I'll definitely beat you next time!" Mirajane seemed to still be brooding about getting knocked away during their earlier scuffle.
"Sister Mira, you shouldn't think about fighting while you're eating."
"Fine! I'll take you on anytime!" Dino said with a smile. Now that he'd come to Fairy Tail, the best way to fit into the guild was through friendly combat.
Natsu jumped up excitedly beside him. "You can't have a fight without me! Want to start right now?"
Makarov shouted loudly, "Settle down, you brats! Get to bed after you finish eating!"
"Yes!"
"Honestly, the moment I take my eyes off you, someone starts a fight. At this rate, you'll tear down the guild sooner or later!"
"Dino, come here. This is the Fairy Tail emblem. Where do you want it stamped?" Makarov asked.
Dino thought for a moment, then pulled off his shirt. "Put it on my back. I want to be someone who can carry this emblem with pride."
Makarov's eyes lit up at those words. He flashed a toothy grin and said, "Kid, you've got ambition! Let's see if you can really carry this emblem in the future!" He picked up the stamp and pressed it firmly onto Dino's back.
That evening, Dino settled into the boys' dormitory at Fairy Tail. "I never expected to end up in Fairy Tail. The world here is smaller than One Piece, but it's just as dangerous. The black dragon Acnologia is probably as strong as an Emperor-level threat, and Zeref has power comparable to the most dangerous villains I've heard of."
"From what I remember, there are hints about even deeper mysteries. Zeref and Mavis being cursed by the god Ankhseram, the Twelve Spriggan with time magic, the lost Dragon Slayer magic, and before the Dragon era there was probably an age of gods. Sounds like there's a whole hidden history waiting to be uncovered."
"Forget it, no point overthinking this. Tomorrow I start my life as a Fairy Tail mage. After all, I have the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, the power of the World's Strongest Man. Whatever comes, I'll face it head on. If there's no 'Strongest in the World' title in this world yet, then I'll just have to claim it myself."
Three years passed in what felt like the blink of an eye since Dino arrived in this world.
"ATTENTION! ATTENTION! All residents of Magnolia! This is an emergency announcement!"
"Dino Maxim is approaching the city! Dino Maxim is approaching!"
"All residents, please prepare for potential seismic activity! If you feel tremors, remain calm! Do not panic! Do not jump from buildings! Move to open areas when possible! If you are indoors, take shelter under sturdy furniture or in doorways!"
"Repeating! Please prepare for seismic activity! Stay calm during tremors! Do not jump from buildings! Seek open ground! If indoors, take cover under tables or in reinforced areas!"
"Activating Dino Mode!"