I didn’t ask to be reincarnated in ONE PIECE!

Another month passed as I continued my training with Jiro. My body had grown accustomed to the pain, though I still sometimes felt like I was being put through a meat grinder each time he decided to teach me a new fighting technique. But despite the grueling mornings spent sweating and getting thrown around like a ragdoll, I could tell I was improving. My punches were faster, my kicks stronger, and the swordplay—well, let's just say I wasn't throwing swords at trees anymore.

On top of all that, I was still working as a fisherman so I was earning some berrys. The smell of fish had become a permanent companion, sticking to me like a second skin. I couldn't decide whether it was a curse or a badge of honor, but one thing was for sure: I was starting to hate fish.

But what kept my spirits high was the news I had overheard a week ago. Word was starting to spread about the Devil Fruit being auctioned off in the next town over, and I had learned a little bit more about it.

Apparently, the fruit was called the Kaze Kaze No Mi. It was a Logia-type Devil Fruit that gave the eater the ability to create, control, and transform into wind at will, making the user a Wind Human.

Which was pretty cool, but hearing the fruit is being auctioned here. Does that mean that Monkey D Dragon doesn't have the wind wind fruit as we assumed in my world!? Well whatever his fruit is, it's going to be a powerful one for sure.

"Hey! Lucius! Get your lazy ass over here!"

I winced. I recognized that voice. It was Boro, the old fisherman who always seemed to have a bone to pick with me. The guy was as tough as nails and twice as stubborn, and the worst part? He was a decent fisherman, which meant I had to endure his sarcasm on the daily. Still, he was one of the few guys on the island who actually respected the work I did.

"What now, Boro?" I grumbled, wiping the sweat off my brow as I walked over to him. "I already spent the whole damn morning hauling fish. My back feels like it's about to snap."

Boro let out a dry laugh. "Tough luck. You're gonna need to get used to it. Anyway, I got information that some pirates around 10-9-8 million berrys are here, as well as some bounty hunters."

He said as I raised an eyebrow.

My interest piqued. "Are they Big names?"

Boro's face darkened. "Well some are, Bellmay Pirates, Black Soul Pirates, Nathan "The Hitman" and more, not the kind you see on the docks, either. These guys are the real deal of North Blue. Rumor has it some of them are looking to bid on that fruit, and if that happens, you could have a problem."

I showed a confused look. "Why are you telling me that?"

Boro sighed. "Well you're going to participate in that tournament, so thought I should let you know after all you've been working hard."

Boro said as I smiled, guess this old man cares about me huh? Yuck.... that sounded so bad but some names sound familiar Don krieg and Captain Kuro, victims for God Usopp.

But the mention of those pirates made me uneasy. The last thing I wanted was to get involved in a pirate's scheme, especially with something as dangerous as a Devil Fruit up for grabs, not a paramecia but a logia at that.

_________________________

The next few days were a blur of training and fishing, and despite my exhaustion, I felt more prepared than ever. My body had gotten used to Jiro's grueling routines, and my swordplay was improving by the day. It wasn't just the physical aspect of the training either. Jiro had taught me to think, to anticipate my opponent's moves before they made them, and how to create openings where there were none.

I was beginning to realize that the world wasn't going to just hand me what I wanted. If I wanted that Kaze Kaze No Mi I had to earn it. And the tournament was the perfect opportunity to show the world what I was made of.

As I continued my training, I couldn't shake the feeling that something big was coming. Something dangerous. Jiro had a way of making everything seem like it was going to be okay, but I could see the concern in his eyes whenever the topic of the auction came up.

"Kid," Jiro said one afternoon after a particularly brutal sparring session, "you're getting better. But this tournament... it's not going to be a walk in the park. You're going to face people with real power. You need to keep your wits about you."

I nodded, though the weight of his words didn't hit me until later. The tournament wasn't just a competition—it was going to be a battlefield.

___________________________________

The night before the tournament, I found myself sitting alone on the dock, staring out at the ocean. My muscles ached from training, but the real battle was tomorrow.

The Kaze Kaze No Mi, pirates, bounty hunters... it felt like I was about to step into something bigger than I could handle. But I don't have a choice. It's my one and only ticket to a devil fruit.

That's when I heard a voice behind me.

"Well, well, if it isn't the famous Lucius."

I whipped around to find a man standing there, leaning casually against a nearby crate. He was tall and muscular, with short black hair and a dark, serious look in his eyes. He wore a long coat that was just slightly too big for him, and his posture suggested he was no stranger to a fight.

"And you are?" I asked keeping my guard up.

"I'm Finn." He said with a smile as he jumped on top of a crate and sat down folding his legs. I looked at him as I stood up.

"You here for the devil fruit as well?" I asked the obvious as he chuckled.

"Not really, I'm just here to have fun." He said with a smile as I looked at him weirdly.z

"Well what do you want from me?" I asked confused.

Finn smiled, a sharp, calculating grin.

"Nothing. Yet. But I'll give you a warning. The auction won't happen so be ready for the tournament. If you're not careful, the tournament might end before you even get to that fruit. Stay smart, stay safe, and remember: not everyone is your ally."

And just like that, Finn disappeared into the shadows, leaving me to contemplate his words.

What a weird guy. I sat down near the edge of the dock looking at the dark ocean, thinking. "The auction won't happen" which likely means there won't be bids for the fruit, which seems favorable for me but what does he mean the tournament might end before it even starts!?

As I was in my thought.

.....

"HEY! WATCH OUT!"

I turned just in time to see Bananas—yes, that damn monkey—dashing at me with a freshly stolen fish in hand. Before I could even react, he flung the fish at me like a missile. The next thing I knew, I was dodging a flying fish that nearly took my head off.

"YOU LITTLE—!"

Bananas cackled and took off across the dock, his furry little legs a blur.

I sighed deeply, rubbing my forehead.

"Some things never change."

_______________________________

As finn had said the auction was called much to the people who wanted to bid on it, meaning they had to fight for it.

There was about 40 people for the tournament as the first few fights went down, it became clear that Finn had been right.

There were people here—dangerous people—who weren't just here for the fight. They were here for the Kaze Kaze no Mi. And that meant they'd do anything to get their hands on it.

To be continued.....

Next Round: Lucius vs Jason!