One Piece : Wild Hunt

Though it wasn't his first time flying in the Hind, Thomas couldn't help feeling a little giddy as he peeked over the ship's railing and down at the sea below. He had Caenis standing nearby, and Drake had forced him to tie a thick rope around his waist, but it was hard to feel safe when flying 3,000m above the sea, standing on the open deck of a ship...
Of course, as terrifying as the height was, it was nothing compared to the massive Sea Kings that would occasionally poke their heads out of the water, some nearly reaching the Hind's altitude as they came up to absorb sunlight. The anime and manga simply didn't do the monstrous creatures justice, and even though he had seen several realistic Kaiju-themed movies, Thomas's mind struggled to comprehend what it was seeing right in front of him.
Even the largest Godzilla, standing at 300m, couldn't compare to the size of some of the larger Sea King's heads. A few even looked like they could swallow entire islands, much less the renowned Titan, in a single bite...
Demonstrating that Thomas wasn't alone in his disbelief, Caenis had a fairly skeptical look as she questioned, "There are people in this world that can fight monsters like this? With their bare hands...?"
Smiling wryly, Thomas replied, "If the feats I witnessed in the anime and manga are accurate, then yes. That's one of the reasons I don't want us rushing into things. You and the others are very powerful, but the strongest people in this world are capable of bisecting mountains, destroying small islands, or irreversibly changing the terrain with their awakened Devil Fruit abilities..."
Though he knew Caenis wasn't really afraid, Thomas turned to her with a smile as he added, "Luckily, we have someone like you on our side. Your ability to manipulate the sea and produce tidal waves is a hard counter to many Devil Fruit users, and your durability should put you on par with some of the world's strongest. I just prefer to be safe than sorry..."
Snorting through her nose, Caeni groaned, "There you go again..." before crossing her arms and adding, "Well, with a convenient system like 'Bounties,' it's only a matter of time before we accumulate enough belief to Ascend. Once I regain my strength as a Divine Spirit, nothing in this world will be able to stop me."
While he didn't know how powerful Caenis and the others would be once they ascended, Thomas doubted Zelretch would have given him a power system that was 'useless' in the world of One Piece. He knew that Musashi could theoretically kill anyone, even in her current state, but he couldn't know for certain until she faced off against Mihawk. If even she lost, they were in for a rough journey...
Nodding his head, Thomas replied, "I'm looking forward to it." with a sincere expression and tone. This earned him a disproving look from Caenis, but, as she had already said she didn't mind him behaving like an idiot, she ultimately remained silent...
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After three days of flying through the sky and sailing, the Hind had completed a journey that would have taken even a seastone-coated Marine Battleship, capable of voyaging over the Calm Belt, weeks to complete. However, instead of the Conomi Islands, their first stop was a large, three-story ship with a white fish head on one end and a fin-shaped tail on the other. It was painted a combination of mint green, mustard yellow, and ketchup red, giving it a fairly unusual appearance, but Thomas couldn't help smiling as the Hind pulled up alongside the three other ships present, a large civilian vessel, a Marine ship, and a predominately red caravel bearing a Jolly Roger.
Seeing the Hind pull up alongside them, the pirates that had stayed behind to watch over their ship immediately took an interest in both the vessel and the people onboard.
Though the Golden Hind was fairly small as far as ships in One Piece were concerned, its sleek design and unique features made it stand out like an ornate dagger among a large collection of dull swords. It had an appearance that would make anyone want to possess it, even if there weren't a bevy of beautiful women occupying the deck.
Ignoring their Captain's orders, one of the thirteen Pirates that had been left to watch over their ship pulled out a flintlock pistol and attempted to shoot Thomas. He was the only man present, and his large size, combined with his recent 'glow up' in terms of outfit and appearance, made the group of Pirates believe he was the Captain. The mangey-looking marksman thought that, so long as he could get rid of Thomas, he and his crewmates could claim both the Hind and the women on board as their prizes.
Though Thomas immediately erected a Mana veil around his body, it was ultimately unnecessary as Caenis caught the bullet with her bare hand, scowling as she said, "So much for the rule about not fighting in and around the restaurant."
Rather than his usual wry smile, Thomas had a solemn expression as he said, "Pirates wouldn't be Pirates if they followed the rules..."
Just as Thomas was thinking about asking Caenis to throw him over and onto the enemy's deck, the jarring sound of rapid gunfire sounded from his left as Drake unloaded on the thirteen Pirates. When she was done, she spun her ornate flintlocks around her fingers before blowing the smoke off their ends as she said, "They aren't worth our time."
As one of her abilities as a Captain allowed her to see the Bounties of others, Drake could tell the group of Pirates were utter trash. Thomas needed his 'first blood,' but if it were a completely ordinary person, he might waver or be traumatized by the experience. If he felt it was his life over his opponent's, he would feel 'accomplished' to have survived the encounter rather than feeling guilt.
Before Thomas could say anything, Drake looked to Caenis, ordering, "Hop over and see if they have anything of value worth stealing. Don't worry. Your beloved Master is in safe hands with Benienma, Musashi, and myself protecting him."
Though she didn't like the idea of entrusting Thomas to Drake, Ceanis only hesitated briefly before leaping over to the enemy ship. The East Blue was known to be the weakest of the Four Seas, and, according to Thomas himself, the most powerful Pirate currently in the region was a Fishman with a Bounty of 20,000,000 Bellies. Three months ago, she had sunk a ship that had gotten a little too close to their private island, the Captain on board being worth around 50,000,000 Belly. If Arlong was even weaker than that, Benienma should be able to cut down him and his crew before they even knew what happened. With the added protection of Musashi, Thomas was safe even without her babysitting him.
To make Caenis's job easier, Drake fired grappling hooks from the side of the Hind, piercing the enemy ship and pulling it closer as she turned to Thomas and mused, "Shall we head inside? I'm certain our resident sparrow is eager to see these chefs of 'Baratie' for herself."
Regaining a wry smile, Thomas looked to the entrance of Baratie to see several Pirates and Marines running out. The grappling hooks fired from the Hind originated from their portside cannons, so the sound of explosives had attracted the attention of pretty much everyone inside the floating, fish-themed restaurant. This included the Captain of the Pirate vessel they were currently pillaging, a man with orange hair, a hooked mustache that could give Whitebeard a run for his money, and a similarly hooked beard that looked like he was afraid of letting even a single crumb escape while eating.
Seeing what was happening to his ship, the stereotypically-dressed Captain shouted, "You scoundrels! How dare you attack my ship and crew in neutral waters! Once I get onto your ship, you're dead...!"
While the man and his two remaining men ran over to a small dinghy, the smile on Drake's face revealed considerable amusement as she remarked, "The man in the center has a Bounty of 4,500,000. His two crewmen have Bounties of 1.8 and 1.3 million, respectively. They're all pretty weak, but they're yours if you want to try fighting them."
Though he felt his throat tighten, Thomas replied, "I'll do it..." as he began gathering Magical Energy into his fists. Doing so caused a pale blue light to gather around them, similar to the hazy veil covering his body but 'a lot' more prominent.
While the Marines, restaurant staff, and several guests watched on with curious and somewhat judgmental expressions on their faces, Thomas waited for the trio of men to board the Hind, his expression uncharacteristically severe as he said, "Surrender now, and you'll at least have a chance at life..."
Snorting in contempt, the leader of the trio pulled out a black and white cutlass, a murderous expression on his face as he asked, "Do you fools have any idea who you're dealing with!? I am Gally of the Gally Pirates! The man fated to be the next Pirate King! Even if you throw down your weapons and beg for mercy, I'll skin the lot of you! Men, women, children; it makes no difference...!"
Though he secretly intended to capture Drake and the other females present to 'serve' on his ship, Gally first intended to strike fear into their hearts by dealing with Thomas in the most brutal way he could imagine. He was presently unaware of the fact that every other man on his ship had been killed via shots to the head, so he was lively and full of murderous intent as he charged toward Thomas, shouting, "Eat steel...!"
Surprised by how slow the man was, a skeptical look marred Thomas's face as he side-stepped Gally's excessively telegraphed slash. Part of his training had involved sparring with Chiron, Caenis, and Musashi, so Gally's movements almost seemed...childish in comparison.
Reacting without any input from his mind, Thomas landed a left hook on Gally's face that caused the man's head to spin. He didn't think he put much strength into the blow, but it was apparently enough to kill a 5,000,000 Belly pirate in an instant as Gally's head turned nearly 500 degrees before he plopped to the deck, frothing at the mouth as his body violently spasmed.
Though he felt a sudden and intense urge to vomit, Thomas did his best to remain focused as the remaining two members of Gally's crew, a tall, rotund man that resembled a watermelon and a short, incredibly lanky man with striped hair and a jaw wider than the upper half of his skull. The former wielded a giant club while the latter had six dagger's in between his fingers like some knock-off Wolverine.
With Magical Energy concentrated in his left hand, Thomas caught the watermelon man's spiked club with his open palm. Then, even though he felt it was a little excessive, he redirected it to the side, intersecting the path of the wannabe wolverine. The heavy club smashed into the man's face, but it actually did less damage than Thomas's punch, only breaking his nose and shattering several of his teeth. His watermelon companion wasn't nearly as fortunate...
Though he lessened the concentration of Magical Energy around his fist, the color drained from Thomas's face as he unexpectedly found himself up to his elbow in the rotund man's torso. A pungent smell of iron filled his nostril as the heat and pulsations of the man's insides caused his stomach to flip and twist. Then, despite having sustained no injuries, darkness crept in from the edge of Thomas's vision as he abruptly lost consciousness...
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(A/N: When everyone you train against is exponentially stronger than you, holding back isn't easy...)

Waking less than a minute after he had collapsed, Thomas attempted to jerk to a seated position but found his head pressed down by a tiny yet powerful hand, its owner, Benienma, stating, "Please calm down, Master. You just fainted from shock. Give yourself a chance to recover, dechi..."
Though he relaxed a bit after hearing the familiar voice, a fresh wave of nausea and vertigo nearly overwhelmed Thomas as the aroma of blood invaded his olfactory senses. In response, Benienma did something he never expected, using her apron to cover his face as she supported his head with her tiny yet pillowy thighs.
In the most soothing tone she could manage, Benienma whispered, "It's going to be okay, Master...those men were evildoers who would have wronged many others throughout their life. You should not feel guilty about sending them to Hell..."
As a former torturer from Hell, Benienma had very little compassion for those who lived life at the expense of others. Gally and his crew were far from the worst sinners she had encountered, but the auras that exuded from their bodies were far from righteous. They weren't beyond redemption, but they could always discover it in their next life, once her fellow torturers had finished purifying them of sin...
With Benienma reminding him that there was, in fact, an afterlife, some of Thomas's anxiety waned. That was one of the things that hit him hardest once he came to terms with the fact he wasn't dreaming. Before, he wasn't sure if 'anything' awaited him after death. However, with people like Zelretch existing, alongside the possibility of moving between worlds, he now knew with absolute certainty that someone or something would be waiting to judge him. It was the kind of thing that made a guy want to live on the straight and narrow...
After taking and exhaling several deep breaths, Thomas muttered, "I'm fine now...thanks..."
Though she removed her surprisingly fragrant apron from Thomas's face, Benienma didn't let him rise immediately, stating, "You should stay put for the time being. Taichou can handle negotiating with the Marines and the staff of the Baratie. Master need not push himself, dechi..."
To incentivize Thomas to stay put, Benienma placed her hand on his forehead before running her fingers through his increasingly mane-like hair. He hadn't cut it since his arrival in the world of One Piece, but as it didn't make him look like a homeless person like it did in his previous world, Thomas was letting it grow out. It frequently got in the way, but he was willing to tolerate a few minor inconveniences to look cool...
Closing his eyes, Thomas allowed Benienma to comb through his hair for several minutes until Caenis abruptly returned from searching the enemy ship, landing next to them as she asked, "What happened? Did you take a stray shot or something...?"
Smiling wryly, Thomas rose from Benienma's lap, nearly regretting it immediately as there was still a tremendous amount of blood covering the deck. The nausea he had only recently gotten over returned, but he did his best to maintain a brave facade as he awkwardly replied, "I overestimated the durability of my opponents and ended up making a bit of a mess..."
Looking around at the bloodied deck, Caenis's eyes narrowed as she remarked, "I can see that." Then, with an 'approving' smile, she added, "Congratulations on your first kill. You might not think it now, but it will get easier with time. Also, don't let the deaths of this trash bother you. You know damn well what would have happened if we were too feeble to protect ourselves."
Punctuating her words, Caenis waved her hand in a seemingly casual manner that produced a strong, persistent gust of wind that gradually removed the blood from the deck. Her Divine Core of the Sea God(B) gave her the Sub-Skills Authority of Water and Authority of the Ocean. The former, as its name implied, allowed her to manipulate water. The latter sounded similar but manifested as an authority over weak-willed sea creatures, ocean currents, and storms. Once she reached her final Ascension, she would even be able to produce continental hurricanes and smite foes with divine lightning.
Once the deck was slightly cleaner, Caenis met Benienma's gaze as she said, "I'll take over from here. The only thing of note on the enemy ship is a few barrels of fresh water and poor-quality ale. They have a fully-stocked larder, but the only items inside are dry biscuits, canned beans, salted beef, and some dried tangerines. If they have any actual treasure on board, I couldn't find it."
As she didn't possess EX-Rank Luck or the coveted Golden Rule Skill, Caenis decided to return early and leave the more thorough search to Drake. She didn't mind hauling things over, but it seemed like a waste of time. The only thing of value on the enemy ship appeared to be the ship itself.
After shooing the petite sparrow girl away, causing the feathers on Benienma's apron to become visibly ruffled, Caenis sat down in a surprisingly girly manner, smacking her meaty thigh as she said, "If you're still feeling dizzy or nauseous, come and put your head down. I'm sure you would prefer my thighs over some brat's."
With the feathers around Benienma's collar ruffling to the point it appeared she had a fluffy mane, Thomas half-expected her to get in an Iaido, sword-drawing stance. She clearly didn't approve of Caenis's attempts to supplant her care but didn't lash out. Instead, she turned her attention to him, ostensibly awaiting his response.
As tempting as Caenis's offer was, Thomas didn't want to see the two at odds with one another. He also felt it would be kind of pathetic if he continued lying in the middle of the deck and letting someone comfort him, so he said, "Thanks, but I'm mostly okay now. If anything, I need to get up, walk around, and get some fresh air..."
Following his words, Thomas forced himself to stand, fighting against the weakness in his knees. When he attempted to stand upright, his guts felt as though they were twisting about, the color draining from his face as he adopted what he intended to be a reassuring smile but came across as someone in desperate need of a toilet.
Staring at Thomas with furrowed brows, Caenis remarked, "There is a difference between bravery and folly. Pushing yourself during training is fine; pretending you're okay when you're not is just stupid."
Rising to her feet, Caenis stepped in before Thomas could respond, wrapping her arm around his body to support him as she ordered, "Put your arm over my shoulder. I'll help you over to the sick bay. And no, this isn't up for debate. Say something stupid, and I'll carry your dumb ass like a princess..."
Swallowing the words that were about to leave his lips, Thomas did as Caenis instructed, linking his arm around her shoulders and letting her walk him over to Asclepius's laboratory-like examination room. He felt like he 'needed' to push through the discomfort he was feeling, but he wasn't going to protest if someone like Caenis insisted he takes it easy or receives treatment...
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While Thomas was receiving treatment, Drake had a smile on her face as she sat across from a fairly tall man with brown skin, pink hair, thick eyebrows, a scar on his right cheek, and metal bolts seemingly drilled into his knuckles. He was presently out of uniform, wearing a pinstripe suit over a dark blue dress shirt, but he was actually a Commissioned Officer in the Marines, specifically holding the Rank of Lieutenant. This was the third-lowest Rank an Officer could have, but as he hailed from Marine Headquarters, the pink-haired man was extremely proud of his status, flaunting it every chance he got.
Despite Drake informing him that they were the ones attacked, the pink-haired man, Lieutenant Fullbody, 'insisted' that she accompany him for a meal so they could discuss the matter in greater detail. His intentions were as transparent as a glass of water, but Drake humored him to see how far he was willing to exploit his authority. The moment he crossed the line, separating himself from the 'naive fools' that just wanted to protect their friends, family, and the innocent masses, she would shoot him square in the forehead.
While waiting for their meals to arrive, Fullbody openly ogled Drake's substantial cleavage as he asked, "So, you and your crew are Bounty Hunters? If that's true, why have you set sail with a black flag? Even children understand the implications of doing so..."
Adopting a sly smile, Drake mused, "You should consider familiarizing yourself with the ordinances you're intended to uphold. There are no statutes outlining the color and appearance of a ship's flag, only that it is easily identifiable and doesn't misrepresent their association to any publically recognized organization or group."
As he didn't appreciate being lectured about Marine bylaws, the smile on Fullbody's face faded as he restated, "I'm a Lieutenant from Marine Headquarters. You would do well to remember that when you speak to me. Depending on the contents of my report, both you and your crew will be labeled as Pirates for the rest of your lives..."
Maintaining her smile, Drake narrowed her eyes in amusement as she questioned, "Is this the reason you became a Marine, Lieutenant? To lord your status over others and threaten them with false accusations? You must suffer from the world's worst 'handicap' if you need to resort to threats to have your way with women..."
Understanding what Drake was insinuating, Fullbody's already furious expression turned into a cold glower as he practically growled, "Only a Pirate would dare speak against a Marine Lieutenant like this..."
Shrugging her shoulders, Drake replied, "My crew has never attacked a civilian vessel, confronted the Marines, or assailed a coastal city. If you want to label us as Pirates just because your feelings are hurt, feel free to do so. Just know that your stupidity will jeopardize the lives of countless Marines. My crew won't just hold out their wrists and accept being apprehended for crimes we never committed. You can take your tyranny and shove it up your ass, Lieutenant Foolhardy."
Slamming his fist on the table with enough force to shatter it, Fullbody rose to his feet, bellowing, "You've crossed the line, wench! Now both you and your crew can rot in Impel Down...!"
Rolling her eyes, Drake was about to cripple Fullbody when a glass of wine suddenly flew by the pink-haired man's face, followed by a loud and gruff voice shouting, "The Marines have no jurisdiction here, and I won't tolerate violence against women in my restaurant! You and your men are no longer welcome here, Lieutenant Fullbody...!"
Accompanying the voice, a tall, elderly-looking man with blonde hair, a braided mustache, a peg leg, and a comically tall Chef's hat walked over with an enraged look on his face. Drake had noticed him among the people watching the 'show' earlier, but now that she was seeing him up close, her sapphire blue eyes narrowed at the number floating above his head. It was hazy, unlike the pure white Bounties of others, but the number 87,000,000 floated above his head...
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After a quick examination from Asclepius, Thomas was informed that he was in shock, the symptoms of which were low blood pressure, an increased heart rate, and a debilitating degree of nausea bordering on incontinence. Instead of providing him medicine, however, the taciturn God of Medicine provided him a cup of cocoa and told him to lay down on Caenis's lap. Trying to suppress the effects of shock with medical intervention could leave sequelae in the form of mental trauma, so his 'prescription' for Thomas was hot chocolate and a thigh pillow...it was surprisingly effective...
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(A/N: Drake is about to ignite a powder keg...)

With Drake insisting every 'active' member of the crew be on deck while they were sailing, a precaution against any attacks and the like, Thomas joined Atalanta in the crow's nest, enjoying the feeling of the sea breeze and wind blowing through his hair.
Though she ordinarily got a little testy when people invaded her space, Atalanta stood next to Thomas with a calm and focused look as she also enjoyed the breeze. At the same time, her cat-like eyes scanned the sea and horizon for any signs, alert for any signs of danger.
While they rarely converted with one another, Thomas liked to think he was on good terms with Atalanta. She occasionally appeared in his room and never failed to join him whenever he went on a run. The only other people she got along with were Benienma and Beethoven, the former for providing her with delicious food and the latter because of her music.
Deciding to try his luck, Thomas asked, "Are you happy to be setting sail? I know my selfishness caused Astolfo a bit of hardship..."
Instead of responding with words, Atalanta combed through her wild, unkempt bangs as she offered a curt, "Nn..." in response. She usually wasn't sociable, so if it were a yes or no question, she would generally nod in affirmation or frown in apparent disagreement.
Catching Thomas a little by surprise, Atalanta eventually stated, "I'm going to miss the jungle...I prefer the tranquility of forest over residing in human settlements..."
As someone who had literally abandoned his world due to how fed up he was with the backasswards, increasingly toxic society he had been born into, Thomas was sincere as he replied, "Yeah, it was challenging at the beginning, but I enjoyed training outdoors and camping. It felt a lot more 'natural' than living within a city and abiding by laws that only situationally apply to those who created them..."
Nodding her head, Atalanta softly muttered, "Laws that only apply to the masses are suppression. I hate people who cheat and tell others what to do for personal benefit..."
As someone who had been forced into marriage by a father who had abandoned her to die as an infant, Atalanta wasn't particularly fond of society and its control mechanisms. That's why she had no misgivings about becoming a Pirate, even if it was only in name.
Not wanting to overstay his welcome, Thomas waited a few minutes before saying, "Well, I'll get out of your hair. See you later, Atalanta..."
Instead of trying to stop Thomas from leaving, Atalanta offered a curt "Nn..." while keeping her gaze on the seas. She didn't mind Thomas's presence, as they had similar ideals, but his persistent 'arousal' was a distraction. He had never attempted to seduce or proposition her, but she could smell the arousal oozing from his body whenever they were together...
Unaware of Atalanta's thoughts, Thomas climbed down the mast and walked over to the bow. As usual, Drake was standing on the bowsprit rather than at the helm, a wide smile on her face as she stood with her arms crossed, hair swaying, and coat flapping in the wind.
Not wanting to disturb Drake as she actively piloted the ship, Thomas simply observed her for a while before turning his gaze to the crystal clear, sapphire-blue waters below. The thought that monsters the size of islands could be lurking within the depths beneath caused his heart to race. He knew the majority of Sea Kings lived within the Calm Belt, so the closer they got to the windless stretch of sea, the more anxious yet excited he became.
Though he had seen Sea Kings in anime and manga, Thomas still had trouble imagining how the massive behemoths would look in the real world. The Going Merry was small enough to sit on the nose of a Sea King, resembling a speck. If something similar happened to the Hind, Thomas was certain it would be a 'very' memorable experience...
Interrupting Thomas's reverie, Caenis walked over wearing her usual attire, a black bikini veiled by tight-fitting blue jean shorts and a white windbreaker, saying, "Hey, sorry about my little outburst at breakfast. If you want to learn carpentry and shipbuilding, I don't mind teaching you the basics."
As he was no longer surprised by Caenis's periodic bouts of sincerity, Thomas just offered a friendly smile as he said, "I'm looking forward to it." He didn't have much of an interest in carpentry or shipbuilding, but if Caenis was the one teaching him, he was more than willing to learn.
Nodding in approval, Ceanis moved to stand next to Thomas, leaning against the bow close enough that their elbows occasionally touched as she brashly stated, "With how long we spent on it, I was starting to think we might never leave that shithole of an island behind. Are you looking forward to getting your dick wet with those girls you have your eyes on?"
Smiling wryly, Thomas insisted, "I just want to help and get to know them. I certainly wouldn't mind if things developed that way, but I'm pretty satisfied with how things are. The two of us might never be a couple, but I don't mind if things stay this way for the next couple of years..."
Furrowing her brows, Caenis softly groaned, "There you go being all sentimental again...you know I hate that, don't you?"
Nodding his head, Thomas replied, "Yeah, yeah, I know. It's just, until I actually start sleeping with other women, I can't help feeling a little attached to the way things are..."
Rolling her eyes, Ceanis surprised Thomas by leaning into him slightly as she remarked, "Whatever. So long as you don't go proposing to me or acting all lovey-dovey in the future, I don't mind if you behave like a fool. At this point, I've just about given up on you behaving sensibly..."
Before Thomas could respond, Drake looked over, shouting, "Oi! If the two of you are going to flirt, take it somewhere else. You're ruining my ambiance with your chatter."
Though Thomas was going to insist they weren't flirting, Ceanis beat him to the punch, asserting, "Mind your own business, scarface! We'll fuck right here on the deck if we feel like it...!"
Scoffing in response to Caenis's words, Drake remarked, "You might be an animal, but our Master isn't anywhere near as bold. Now, shove off before I toss you overboard and force you to swim."
Despite being 'much' weaker than Caenis, Drake wouldn't even bat an eye if a tidal wave large enough to blot the horizon was about to crash down on her. Before her death, she even insisted on being buried in her armor, sword in hand, and nearly a hundred boxes of ammunition buried alongside her. Others feared the abyss of the afterlife, but she embraced it willingly, eager to begin her next adventure.
With her eyes shifting from aquamarine to a faint shade of crimson, Caenis was tempted to throw Drake from her own ship. Instead, she grabbed Thomas's arm rather forcibly, saying, "Let's blow this joint..." before dragging him away without waiting for his response. She was pretty bored since Musashi was polishing her swords, so she planned to have Thomas keep her company.
Though Caenis's actions were somewhat forceful, Thomas didn't mind them too much. Rather, he not-so-secretly enjoyed it when she acted a little possessive of him. It made her seem like a tsundere, even if her glowing red eyes were far more evocative of a yandere...
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As most ships steered clear of the Calm Belt, for good reason, the Hind didn't encounter any other vessels as they drew nearer to the implicitly restricted stretch of sea.
With the Sun having already begun its descent toward the horizon, Drake directed the Hind toward an island that Astolfo had scouted during one of her expeditions. Its northernmost tip actually extended into the Calm Belt a few hundred meters, but it was fairly safe as the seabed was too shallow for a Sea King to get anywhere near it. There were a few amphibious species that could walk on land, but they had no reason to attack an uninhabited island whose largest animal was a species of SUV-sized crabs that moved so slowly they had grass and other plants growing from their shells.
After Benienma and Asclepius confirmed the crabs were safe to eat, Thomas received his first cooking lesson, silently observing the petite sparrow Oni as she demonstrated the process of making a dish known as Kani Nabe, Crab Hot Pot. He apparently wasn't ready to move on to preparing ingredients and cooking, so Benienma had him watch as she explained each step in meticulous detail. She would quiz him on what he learned later, so Thomas did his best to pay attention from start to finish.
Fortunately, while he would never dare to call himself a chef, Thomas had spent an inordinate amount of time watching shows on the Food Network when he was younger. He also really enjoyed anime such as Shokugeki No Souma, Toriko, and even the parody show where some of the characters from Fate Stay Night lived fairly ordinary lives.
Had he not read the most recent chapter of One Piece a few hours before his abrupt encounter with Zelretch, Shokugeki No Souma could have been a serious contender for the world Thomas decided to isekai into. He doubted he would be able to enroll in Totsuki, not without a cheat and some age regression, but the foodgasms displayed in the anime and manga had earned it a place in Thomas's Top 10 worlds he would like to reincarnate or isekai into.
While the food Benienma cooked had never caused anyone's clothes to explode or disintegrate, each dish she prepared gave the feeling of home cooking prepared by someone who cared. She even stated that her food tasted as good as it did because she put her heart into it and seasoned it with love. It sounded a little cliche, but, as someone who had starved and frozen to death in her first life, Benienma had a slight obsession with ensuring others never suffered a similar fate. She took cooking and hospitality 'very' seriously, so Thomas made sure to pay close attention to everything she taught him...
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Shortly after dinner, Drake invited Thomas into her quarters to look at the magical diorama that served as their map. Instead of being a flat piece of paper spread out across a table, it was a holographic display that allowed Drake to zoom in so close that they could make out the individual trees, plants, and buildings that Astolfo had seen during her travels. It made Thomas think of a futuristic version of Google Earth, as the only aspects of the scene that were high-definition were those that had been observed by Astolfo directly.
As they would be sailing within 300km of it during their journey, Drake zoomed in on the Desert Kingdom of Alabasta, asking, "This is one of the places you mentioned in the guidebook you provided, right? Want to make a stopover and deal with that Crocodile fellow while we're in the area?"
While it was a fairly tempting offer, Thomas didn't hesitate to reply, "I don't want to 'derail' the Straw Hat's journey that much. Once we save Cocoyasi Village, we'll either search for Weatheria or sail over the Red Line and enter the North or West Blues. The North Blue is known to be the 'most dangerous' of the Four Seas, and it's also the location of the Germa Kingdom. We should be able to increase our fame fairly rapidly there. As for the West Blue, it's the domain of the Happo Navy and the presumed location of the Jewel Ice Sheet. With Astolfo's ability to find whatever she's searching for, the vast horde of treasure is practically waiting for us to come and pick it up."
Though she gave a curt nod, Drake argued, "That's good and all, but if we intend to become Shichibukai, exposing and eliminating one of the existing Warlords is probably the best course of action. That Crocodile fellow seems like the most sensible person to eliminate, as it places us in the good graces of a benevolent Kingdom and gives you a chance to impress upon their Princess. I know you don't want to interfere with these 'Straw Hats' too much, but this isn't their journey. If you weren't going to make the most of the situation, what was the point of coming to this world?"
As Drake's argument was fairly compelling, Thomas took a moment to consider his response before saying, "It's not a bad idea. However, the Kingdom of Alabasta is where the Straw Hats meet and initially recruit Robin. I wouldn't mind recruiting her as a member of 'our' crew, but it would jeopardize our status as Shichibukai. The safer option would be to have Musashi defeat Hawkeye once he appears in East Blue. If she is elevated to the status of 'Strongest Swordswoman,' our crew would be an obvious candidate for the position of Shichibukai once Luffy and Co defeat Crocodile."
While he wasn't absolutely certain that Musashi could defeat Mihawk, Thomas had 'a lot' of confidence in her ability. Her Heavenly Eye and 'State of Nothingness' practically made her invincible if she decided to take a battle seriously.
Nodding her head a second time, Drake said, "Then we'll go with that. Just make sure you don't get too caught up in what the Straw Hats are doing that you forget to enjoy our journey, okay? If you just wanted to see what they would accomplish, you could have done so back in your previous world. Now that you're a resident of this one, you should be more...daring."
Punctuating her words, Drake sat on the edge of her desk and raised her left leg with a mischievous smile adorning her face. His physique and appearance had improved tremendously since their arrival in this world, so she wouldn't mind 'accompanying' him for a short while.
Though he felt his throat tighten, Thomas earned a twinkle-eyed smile from Drake as he asked, "Is there nothing else...?"
Resisting the urge to telepathically slam and lock the doors to her cabin, Drake mused, "You've grown..." before spreading both of her legs and asking, "Are you 'sure' you want to leave...?"
Inhaling a deep breath, Thomas controlled his almost instinctual urge to say yes. Instead, he adopted the most serious expression he could manage, stating, "You're a stunning woman, Drake. But even I have my pride..."
Finished with what he had to say, Thomas did his best to appear resolute as he departed the captain's cabin with Drake staring at him with a massive grin on her face. She wasn't even remotely offended by his refusal. Rather, by resisting her enticement, Thomas's value as a man increased substantially within Drake's mind...
...
..
.
(A/N: Thomas is playing with fire...)

Chapter 19: First Blood