One Piece : Wild Hunt

To prevent any misunderstandings, Thomas used the time Shirou took preparing tea to change his clothes and revert to his original form. When the latter returned, carrying tea and snacks, he barely even batted an eye at the change. Instead, he offered everyone a cup of tea before sitting opposite the group and remarking, "I had thought your behavior didn't match your appearance. I take it you were planning to infiltrate Amazon Lily...?"
Nodding his head, Thomas answered, "I'm searching for a Caster Card to compliment my Mana-Mana-no-Mi. We were able to track one or more to this location."
Narrowing his eyes, Shirou chose to be a little more forthright, revealing, "The cards you seek belong to my little sisters. If you can help us gather the remaining cards, lending you a Caster Card is not impossible..."
After blinking in surprise, Thomas's expression became increasingly wry as he asked, "By 'sisters,' do you mean Illya, Chloe, and Miyu...?"
Narrowing his eyes further, Shirou remarked, "You sure know a lot for someone 'unrelated' to our circumstances..."
Maintaining his wry smile, Thomas shook his head and revealed, "First off, my name is Thomas. And in the world I originate, you and your sisters are fictional characters from an anime. I never really got into it, but anyone who is a fan of the Fate Series is at least tangentially aware of the Kaleid series you originate from."
As he was aware of the existence of the infinite multiverse and parallel worlds, Shirou's reaction to Thomas's words was a tired sigh. One Piece actually appeared in the Weekly Shonen Jump of his world, but he didn't have time for such childish hobbies as a kid. As a result, nearly everything he knew about it was second or third-hand information.
Setting aside his lamentations, Shirou met Thomas's gaze and asked, "So, how do you want to do this? Do you want to explain your circumstances first, or should I start...?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Thomas replied, "I don't mind sharing, but I've explained my circumstances to several people in a very short period. It would be nice to hear someone else's story for a change..."
Nodding his head, Shirou took a moment to drink from his cup of tea before muttering, "My sisters and I managed to flee to this world thanks to a failsafe within the Kaleidosticks, powerful magical items that use the Second Magic to link parallel and alternate realities..."
Staring at his bandaged left hand, Shirou's expression became somber as he revealed, "Our world was on the verge of collapse after we failed to prevent the opening of Pandora's Box. At the very last moment, we were transported to the domain of the man who created the Kaleidosticks, the wielder of the Second Magic, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg..."
Interrupting Shirou's account, Thomas remarked, "I was also transported to this world by Zelretch around fifteen, maybe sixteen months ago. My world wasn't in danger of being destroyed, though. I just...wandered into his dimension on accident."
Waiting until Thomas had finished speaking, Shirou replied, "I see..." in a calm, ostensibly uncaring tone. Then, as if he hadn't been interrupted, he continued his account, explaining, "During our encounter, we were able to broker a deal with Zelretch. He promised that if we were able to assemble the 63 Install Cards scattered throughout this world, we would be given a chance to rewrite the fate of our own. That was three years, five months, and seventeen days ago..."
"..."
Feeling a little unnerved by Shirou's 'intensity,' Thomas fell silent for several seconds. The former had clearly been through a lot, so much so that it appeared he was on the verge of giving up completely. And who could blame him? Depending on their power and who was in possession of them, assembling all 63 Install Cards would be a monumental task...
"Do you at least have a way to track or locate the cards?" asked Thomas.
Nodding his head, Shirou replied, "So long as we're within a few hundred kilometers, the Kaleidosticks can pinpoint their location. The problem is that this world is enormous, the weather is nonsensical, and there are no dependable maps. And don't even get me started on the corruption of the World Government..."
Recalling the incident that had transpired at Sabaody more than a year prior, a hateful glint appeared in Shirou's eyes. Because they didn't bow like everyone else, a wayward Celestial Dragon abruptly shot him before attempting to take his sisters as 'pets.' When they defended themselves, the Marines dispatched an Admiral to capture them. If not for the timely intervention of Silvers Rayleigh, the First Mate of the former Pirate King, they may have suffered a fate worse than death.
Feeling that Shirou's situation was a 'little' more fucked up than his own, Thomas's expression became awkward as he said, "Sounds like you've been through a lot..."
Adopting a faint smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, Shirou replied, "So long as I can restore some semblance of normalcy to those girls' lives, I'll never give up. Even if my body breaks and I become someone completely different."
Preempting Thomas's response, Vivi's lilac eyes seemed to glitter as she remarked, "You really care about your sisters, don't you? As an only child, I'm a little jealous."
Nodding in affirmation, Shirou asserted, "It isn't the world I'm fighting to restore. It's those girls' home..."
Bringing her hands together, Vivi's expression resembled that of a fangirl that had just encountered their idol. Fortunately, just as Thomas's brow began to twitch, a faint ringing sound echoed throughout the room, much like a quiet doorbell.
Exhaling a sigh, Shirou rose to his feet, muttering, "Speak of the Devil, and he shall appear..." as he did so. Then, with a forced smile, he asked, "Have the three of you eaten recently?"
Before Thomas, Vivi, or Astolfo could respond, a girly, high-pitched voice called out, "Onii-chan, we're hoooooome~!" before the sound of footsteps could be heard reverberating through the floor.
Shortly following the shout, a young girl with red eyes and pale, nearly white hair came running into the living room wearing what could best be described as a fur-lined bikini. She initially had a happy smile on her face, but the moment she saw Thomas, she immediately covered her body and issued a startled, "Kyaaaaaa~!?" before hiding in the hallway she had just emerged from.
Following the girlish scream, a similar but markedly deeper voice teased, "What's wrong, Illya? Did you catch Onii-chan streaking~?" before a girl with bronze skin, glowing golden eyes, and pale pink hair peeked into the living room.
Spotting Thomas, Vivi, and Astolfo, the dark-skinned girl's eyes widened as she remarked, "Oh, we have guests? How rare."
Contrasting the skittishness of Illya, the dark-skinned girl entered the living room without shame, proudly sporting a black bikini and a hot pink sarong. Shortly after, a girl with raven-black hair and amber eyes followed suit, her pale and petite frame veiled in a marginally more modest purple swimsuit, accented by dark purple frills.
After observing Thomas's reaction to make sure he didn't possess any 'untoward' thoughts regarding his sisters, Shirou gestured toward him, revealing, "This is Thomas and his companions. Like us, he comes from a different world..."
Showing no sense of personal space, the dark-skinned girl approached within a few centimeters of Thomas, smelling him before narrowing her eyes and remarking, "You have a lot of Mana..."
Smiling wryly, Thomas explained, "I ate the Mana-Mana-no-Mi, so I'm able to generate and emit Mana at the expense of stamina..."
Adopting an impish smile, the pink-haired girl replied, "Oh? Is that so~?" while leaning a little closer. When Thomas promptly leaned away from her, she snickered mischievously before pulling back and combing a few loose strands of hair behind her ear as she said, "My name is Chloe. Chloe von Einzbern. It's nice to meet you, Oji-san."
Raising his brows, Thomas parroted, "Oji-san...?" before frowning as he added, "I'm not 'that' old..."
Before Chloe could say anything else, Illya emerged from the hallway to grab her by the wrist, shouting, "Please give us a few minutes...!" before dragging her and raven-haired girl, Miyu, away. Trailing behind them was a dark blue magical wand that looked like it originated from a magical girl anime. Another, colored pink, flew into the living room, hovering in front of Thomas to ask, "You have the imprint of the Creator on your body. Did you form a contract with him...?"
Though it was weird to be talking to a magic wand with the voice of a woman, Thomas nodded his head and replied, "Yeah. In exchange for helping him out with something later on, he gave me the opportunity to realize my dream."
"I see, I see..." replied the magical wand. Then, despite not having a face, Thomas got the impression it was smiling as it asserted, "Then you're like my sister and me, a convenient tool to be used at our Creator's whim! My name is Magical Ruby, by the way! And my sister is Magical Sapphire! Feel free to address me as Ruby-senpai from now on~!"
Smiling wryly, Thomas replied, "I'll pass. I'm not too good with honorifics and the like. Also, even if it turns out to be true, I don't consider myself a pawn of Zelretch. At least not yet."
'Shrugging' with her wing-like attachments, Ruby replied, "Yeah, yeah, believe what you will. The moment you signed a contract with that old monster, you basically became his slave. Even if you take your life or use something like the Ruler Breaker to try and nullify it, it won't free you from the contract. You'll just become something like a Heroic Spirit, serving at our Creator's behest until you've fulfilled your purpose."
Largely finished with what she had to say, Ruby turned around and flew away, adding, "There's a reason you're here right now~" before departing the living room in the direction of Illya, Chloe, and Miyu.
In the wake of Ruby's departure, Thomas furrowed his brows, muttering, "I never thought a stick could be so annoying..."
Nodding his head, Shirou replied, "Yeah, Ruby can be kind of...intense at times. Her sister is a lot easier to deal with."
Shifting his gaze to Shirou, Thomas asked the question at the forefront of his mind, specifically, "So, what's the deal with those three? Didn't you mention you've already been here for three and a half years? They seem a little...young. And those outfits..."
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Shirou explained, "It's the traditional wear of Amazon Lily. As for their appearances...it's the result of something called Chrono Dysplasia. Outsiders are not bound by the same 'rules' as people native to this world. While we need to eat, sleep, and recover from injury, we do not age in the conventional sense. Unless your circumstances are even more different from our own, the same should apply to you."
To help Thomas understand, Shirou pointed out, "You mentioned that the world we originate from was an anime back in your world, correct? When you watch anime, you can rewind, fast forward, rewatch episodes, or even skip to the end whenever you want. It's kind of like that. From an outside perspective, time within another universe doesn't really exist. Every reality has its own Temporal Axis, and each person is bound to the flow of time in their host reality. In other words, unless your reality is somehow linked to this one, you shouldn't age."
Smiling wry, Thomas replied, "Well, that's convenient..." before looking to Vivi and musing, "Looks like I don't have to worry about becoming an old man while you're still young and beautiful..."
Returning a smile, Vivi replied, "I like older men. A bit of salt and pepper in your hair and beard would suit you."
Not wanting to be left out, Astolfo appended, "She's right. Older men give off a more 'dependable' feeling. Besides, so long as you're young at heart, it doesn't matter how old you are~!"
Exhaling a light chuckle, Thomas was about to remark that the duo were too good for him but was interrupted by Shirou asking, "Do the three of you have any food allergies? I'm about to start preparing lunch for Miyu, Illya, and Chloe. You're welcome to join us."
Since they still had much to discuss, Thomas nodded his head, replying, "Sounds good," while Vivi raised her hand and sheepishly revealed, "I'm allergic to certain types of shellfish..."
"I'll keep that in mind," replied Shirou. Then, just before departing for the kitchen, he looked back at Thomas and said, "Chloe is a very promiscuous girl, and she is naturally drawn to sources of Magical Energy. Please be on your guard..."
Without waiting for Thomas's reply, Shirou turned around and departed the living room. In his wake, Thomas exhaled a sigh before shaking his head and muttering, "Of course, they would be lolis..." as he visualized Zelretch laughing his ass off.
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(A/N: The Kissing Demon has entered the chat.)

Shortly after Shirou's departure, Illya, Chloe, and Miyu returned to the living room wearing markedly more 'conservative' clothing. Chloe was toeing the line with a choker, a sleeveless black crop top, and a pair of blue jean short-shorts, but it was a significant improvement compared to the black string bikini she wore previously.
Seeing no signs of Shirou, Miyu, accompanied by her floating magical wand, asked, "Is Onii-san preparing lunch...?"
Nodding his head, Thomas replied, "Yeah, he left just a few minutes ago. You should be able to find him in the kitchen."
Without another word, Miyu departed to help Shirou prepare lunch while Chloe practically dragged the nervous-looking Illya into the living room, asking, "So, what did you say your names were?" after taking a seat.
Adopting a somewhat forced smile, Thomas replied, "My name is Thomas, Thomas D. Jensen. These are..."
With Thomas looking toward her, Vivi adopted a more sincere smile as she said, "My name is Vivi. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintances."
Immediately following Vivi, Astolfo practically shouted, "And I'm Astolfo, one of the Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne! Nice to meet'cha~!"
Though Illya was a bit taken aback by Astolfo's vigor, a nervous chuckle emanating from her throat, Chloe was far more composed, responding, "I'm Chloe, and this is my cousin, Illya."
Following Chloe's introduction, the magical wand hovering next to Illya moved forward to perform a pirouette as it cheerfully appended, "And I've already introduced myself as the marvelous Magical Ruby~!"
Pushing Ruby aside, Chloe said, "Now that we've got the introductions out of the way, let's get down to business. Those markings on your hand are Command Spells, aren't they? That makes you a Master. And if that's the case, there should be a Holy Grail somewhere in this world, right...?"
As it wasn't something he could keep secret if he planned to work with the displaced quartet, Thomas replied, "Yeah, though it's somewhere on Laugh Tale, the final island. Why, are you thinking you can use the Grail to assemble the remaining Install Cards...?"
Spreading her hands in apparent helplessness, Chloe replied, "That would be nice, but I can't imagine you or your Heroic Spirits would simply hand it over. What I'm more interested in is your status as a Master. I want you to form a contract with me."
Surprised by Chloe's request, Illya broke free from her nervous silence, exclaiming, "Chloe!? What are you thinking!? You can't just form a contract with someone we just met...!"
Furrowing her brows, Chloe crossed her arms and retorted, "I don't want to hear it, Illya. You and Miyu have become complacent, and Shirou is on his last legs. We've only collected a single card in the past year, so one of us 'has' to venture outward. We can't keep hiding here and waiting for the Kuja Pirates to locate the cards for us...!"
Pointing to Thomas, Chloe added, "This guy here is our ticket to success. He has a ton of Mana and a Heroic Spirit that can apparently locate Install Cards across vast distances. How else would they know to look for them here...?"
Instead of directly supporting Chloe's argument, Thomas said, "Calm down. I already told Shirou that I would help you assemble Install Cards in exchange for lending me one of your Caster Cards. There's no need for you to contract or travel with me."
Slamming the table that was separating them, Chloe exclaimed, "You're wrong! We've been in this world for three and a half years and have yet to collect even half of what we need to restore Miyu's world! Someone from our group needs to get out there, and I'm the best choice...!"
Before Thomas could try and talk her down, Illya exclaimed, "Stop being selfish, Chloe! We all promised to stick together, no matter what...!"
Adopting a serious expression, Chloe replied, "We also promised to do everything in our power to help Miyu restore her world, but we've spent the last year and a half just sitting around, getting all buddy-buddy with the Kuja Tribe. At this rate, it would take decades for us to collect all the Install Cards, and that's if our enemies come searching for us in the first half of the Grand Line."
Directing her gaze to Thomas, Chloe asked, "You're able to track down and locate Install Cards, right?"
Though he didn't want to get caught up in the twin-like girls' squabble, Thomas eventually replied, "Yes, but collecting them is another matter. I empathize with your girls' plight, but I'm not really looking to 'speed-run' my way through this world. My goal is to reach the pinnacle with my own strength, so while I intend to use the Install Cards to expand my skill set, I don't plan to prioritize collecting them."
Shrugging her shoulders, Chloe replied, "That's fine by me. I'm just tired of sitting around on my butt, waiting for some action. There isn't much to do here besides hunting, fishing, and fighting in the arena, so a change of scenery would be nice."
As beneficial as it would be to have someone intimately familiar with Install Cards and Magecraft among his allies, Thomas didn't hesitate to shake his head, stating, "If all you want is a change of pace, set sail with the Kuja Pirates. You don't need to form a contract with me to travel the Grand Line."
Without missing a beat, Chloe replied, "Yeah, but traveling with you lets me catalog any Install Cards you uncover while also keeping tabs on any we lend out to you. Even if you're super trustworthy, we're fighting for the fate of an entire world. If you were in our situation, would you sit back and entrust everything to a person you just met...?"
Nodding his head, Thomas admitted, "You make a fair point..." before crossing his arms and adding, "But you fail to account for one important factor..."
Tilting her head to the side, Chloe asked, "And what might that be...?"
Though it made him feel like an asshole, Thomas replied, "I didn't come to this world to help you and your friends restore yours. I don't mind handing over any Install Cards we happen to find, but having you accompany us would be a perpetual reminder of your plight, affecting every decision we make along the way. We have enough on our plates as is. We don't need that kind of stress in our lives..."
Finding herself at a loss for words, Chloe plopped onto the sofa and fell silent, staring at Thomas with a blank look on her face. The presence of Vivi and Astolfo had led her to believe that Thomas would be a fairly easy mark that she could influence with a bit of 'enticement.' She didn't expect him to respond with such a...reasonable argument.
Inserting herself into the conversation, Ruby said, "Now, now, no need to make a decision right this instant. We're all ultimately on the same side, so &nbsp;I'm certain we can reach an agreement that benefits both parties."
Floating in front of Thomas, Ruby 'stared' at him with the tiny gemstones he assumed were her eyes, asking, "You seek the Caster Cards to expand your understanding and capabilities with Magecraft, correct? While that's certainly a possibility with prolonged use, the knowledge and experience associated with the cards disappear when they're 'unincluded.' If it were possible to retain the abilities of the Heroic Spirits invoked by the Install Cards, Illya and Miyu would have the combined might of every card we've collected over the past three and a half years."
Before Thomas could respond, Ruby explained, "When 'included,' Install Cards integrate the knowledge and experience of the user with the Heroic Spirit they invoke. The integration is so seamless that you'll feel like their knowledge and experience have 'always' been a part of you. However, the moment you uninclude the card, that sensation will vanish. Your memories of the battle will remain, but attempting to focus on them is tantamount to recalling specific aspects of a dream."
Floating over to Illya, Ruby coiled atop the befuddled girl's head like a snake, adding, "That's where we come in. If someone else includes the card, you can learn the skills directly from them. Chloe has even inherited the knowledge and experience accumulated by the Einzbern Family over the past 800 years. That includes knowledge of the Third Magic, Heaven's Feel. With your Mana-Mana-no-Mi, you may be able to complete the ritual and gain access to the Root, freeing you from the control of our Creator."
Blinking in surprise, Thomas asked, "Seriously?" in a disbelieving tone. The reason Zelretch was powerful was because he had gained access to the Second Magic, Kaleidoscope. If he could acquire the Third, he would be among the most powerful beings across all realities. Thus, while it was certainly a possibility, Thomas couldn't help thinking Ruby was talking out of whatever sufficed as her ass...
Understanding Thomas's skepticism, Ruby shrugged her feathery appendages and said, "With enough Mana, anything is possible. You just so happen to have access to a functionally infinite supply and an ageless body. If you put your nose to the grindstone and apply yourself, there is nothing you can't do."
Furrowing his brows, Thomas adopted a serious expression. As thankful as he was to Zelretch, the elderly vampire's 'interventions' had given him a strong desire to break free from the man's control. He seriously doubted he could become the wielder of a True Magic, but giving up without trying was the same as renouncing his freedom. In the worst-case scenario, he could even end up like the 'original' Shirou, serving as Zelretch's personal Counter Guardian for an eternity...
Though he couldn't help feeling he was walking directly into Zelretch's trap, Thomas nodded his head, meeting Chloe's gaze as he said, "Fine. I still plan to do my own thing, but Ruby makes a lot of good points. So long as you don't try and dictate my actions, I don't mind if you accompany us on our journey..."
Pumping her fists, Chloe responded with a triumphant "Yosh~!" before adopting a broad smile as she said, "Now we just need to form a contract. My body practically hemorrhages Magical Energy, so I need to constantly resupply."
While he had never watched the Fate Kaleid anime, Thomas had acquired Chloe in FGO and seen several GIFs associated with the series. Just to be certain, he asked, "And how, exactly, do we form this contract...?"
Leaning over the table, Chloe replied, "It's embarrassing to say out loud. Why don't you lend me an ear...?"
Interrupting before Thomas could call Chloe out, Illya stammered, "N-N-Now, hold on just a minute! We still need to discuss things with Shirou-nii and Miyu! You can't just go making decisions on your own! And Ruby, why are you encouraging them...!?"
Shrugging her feathery appendages, Ruby sighed before saying, "Chloe is right. It's been nearly a year and a half since we settled here, and you and Miyu have become complacent. You even started treating Miyu's Onii-san as your own..."
Flying over to Thomas, Ruby hovered above his head, asserting, "I'm pretty sure this big fella was sent here to remind us that there are worlds beyond this one. If we're going to save Miyu's world and stop Darius, we can't stay here, waiting for things to change. Don't forget that Rin, Luvia, Tanaka, and countless others are waiting for us..."
With a clearly conflicted look on her face, Illya replied, "I know all of that, okay? It's just that even with the Grade-8 Archer Card, we couldn't defeat a Marine Admiral. If we appear on the open seas again, the Marines might send one to try and capture us. Then everything we've worked so hard to obtain will be lost..."
Exhaling another sigh, even though she didn't have a visible mouth, Ruby responded to Illya's words by stating, "And this is why Chloe wanted to go alone. You haven't given up, but you've allowed yourself to be weighed down by despair. At this rate, we can only achieve our goals by relying on 'external' factors."
Plopping down on Thomas's head, Ruby asserted, "My Creator must have sent this man here for a reason. With the power of the Mana-Mana-no-Mi, he could be the key to defeating the Admirals, overthrowing the Celestial Dragons, and collecting the remaining Install Cards."
Resisting the urge to grab Ruby from his head, Thomas flatly remarked, "I'm right here, you know..."
Leaning forward to look Thomas in the eye, Ruby asked, "Am I wrong? If your desire is to stand at the pinnacle of the world, you'll naturally have to depose those already there. Our goals are aligned, so be a good boy and let big sister Ruby do all the talking, okay?"
Raising her 'face,' Ruby looked toward Illya, her voice making it sound as though she was smiling as she said, "Don't worry. Illya can be pretty slow to act, but she's fairly reliable when she does. She just needs someone to give her a light push. What do you think, Shirou-san~?"
In response to Ruby's words, Shirou emerged from the hallway with a wry smile. What he said next all but forced the matter of Thomas lending them a hand...
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(A/N: We lost power for a few hours just when I was going to start writing. It's still storming, but I'll see about releasing a few more before the next reset.)

After reluctantly accepting Astolfo's and even Vivi's offer to help him change into something more 'appropriate' for his new form, Thomas had the former fly them over to the central island with a stone-faced look on his face.
As he couldn't help feeling a 'little' curious, Thomas had checked himself out in a mirror provided by Astolfo. What he found left him at a complete and utter loss for words as he was way hotter than anticipated. Not only did his female form have large, perky tits, a toned body, and a voluminous ass, but it also had somewhat 'heroic' features, similar to Yang from RWBY or Leone from Akame ga Kill.
Thomas had always had a thing for the big sister type women who liked tearing shit apart with their bare hands, so he couldn't help thinking his reflection was hot. This left him feeling confused and at a loss as he had never considered, not even in his wildest dreams, that he would find any version of himself attractive...
Fortunately, after a few flattering remarks that made Thomas increasingly uncomfortable, Vivi and Astolfo realized it probably wasn't a good idea to keep talking about his appearance. Even Vivi couldn't help feeling he was being a little dramatic, as he could change back whenever he wanted, but she didn't speak her thoughts aloud and just tried to be supportive.
After reaching the main island, Thomas asked, "So, what now...?" while directing his attention to Astolfo. He suspected they would have to enter Amazon Lily proper, but he wanted to be certain before trespassing upon a nation famous for its fierce female warriors.
Bringing her finger up to her chin, Astolfo tilted her head to the side and responded, "I'm not entirely sure?" after several seconds of deliberation. Then, in response to Thomas's deadpan, she exhaled an awkward laugh before clarifying, "My intuition is telling me there are Install Cards all over the island. I'm not sure which is the best to go to first."
"Ah, I see..." responded Thomas before crossing his arms. His breasts got in the way, but he did his best to ignore them as he considered the most suitable course of action.
Shaking his head, Thomas decided to forgo a more comprehensive plan, stating, "We'll seek out the closest one and then decide what to do from there. Amazon Lily has a battle arena, so we should be able to acquire the card without resorting to killing. We'll see how things play out."
As she wasn't particularly fond of killing, Astolfo adopted a broad smile and replied, "Okay~!" before bringing her fingers up to her temples as if she was trying to focus her mental energies. Her ability to locate things wasn't a power she could actively control, but she could influence it by focusing her intent.
After several seconds of looking like she was straining her last brain cell, Astolfo perked up and pointed 'away' from the central mountain, stating, "It's not the closest, but there's an Install Card all on its own over in that direction. Should we check it out~?"
Nodding his head, Thomas replied, "Sounds like a plan," before taking the initiative to step forward and lead the way. The island wasn't very large, and the mountain at its center served as a suitable landmark, so he was fairly certain he wouldn't get lost. Thus, with Astolfo and Vivi following close behind, Thomas made his way into the jungle surrounding Amazon Lily, eager to punch something. Fortunately, he didn't have to wait long...
As could be expected from an island filled with fierce warriors, Amazon Lily was full of dangerous plants and animals. Thomas and co hadn't even entered the jungle for more than three minutes before a massive leopard, more than 7m in length, attempted to pounce on them from the canopy of a giant tree. Its speed was swift, and its power was immense, but Thomas was aware of its presence in advance, thanks to Astolfo pointing it out.
The moment the colossal leopard leaped at them, Thomas jumped up to meet it, shouting, "Your pelt is mine...!" before decking the much larger creature in the snout. Unfortunately, its momentum carried it forward, causing it and Thomas to crash into the ground before the latter kicked it away with a feminine grunt.
Before the leopard could recover its senses, Thomas charged at it like an enraged berserker. The leopard hissed and batted him away with a fierce swipe, but Thomas bounded back instantly, firing a concentrated blast of magical energy into its soft underbelly to limit its mobility before beating it with his fists.
Seeing Thomas's 'berserk' state, an awkward smile developed across Vivi's face as she asked, "Does he always get like this when he's stressed out...?"
Adopting a wry smile of her own, Astolfo replied, "Yes, but this is also the way he 'wants' to fight. He wants to be able to beat people like Kaido in a contest of strength, so he goes all out when fighting against wild animals or people he knows to be powerful."
"Ah, I see..." replied Vivi, a thoughtful expression developing across her face. She had never met Kaido, but she was aware of the existence of the Four Emperors. Kaido was known as the 'World's Strongest Creature,' so Thomas would need extraordinary strength and durability to match him. Imagining her future 'husband' possessing such tremendous might made her feel a little...excited.
Noticing the faint blush developing through Vivi's cheeks, a teasing smile blossomed across Astolfo's face. She wasn't nearly as 'enthusiastic' as Benienma, but she was starting to see how Vivi would make a good 'first wife' for Thomas. Even when the latter was rampaging, his fists and body covered in blood, Vivi looked at him like a maiden in love...
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Though it weighed well over a thousand kilograms, Thomas emerged on the opposite side of Amazon Lily, dragging the leopard he had beaten to death. The smell of its blood caused several other monstrous animals to attack them, but the only creature of note was a giant boar that died after he sank his arm into its eye socket and released a blast of magical energy into its incredibly durable skull.
Looking around the cliffside clearing, Thomas didn't notice any obvious signs of habitation, asking, "Are you sure someone lives around here...?"
Stepping forward, Astolfo emulated Thomas's action of looking around before pointing toward a rocky outcrop that towered several meters over its surroundings, saying, "The card is in that rock. Maybe the person who owns it has a secret hideout~?"
Seemingly in response to Astolfo's words, a figure emerged from the base of the monolithic stone structure as if it were a hologram. More surprising was the fact that it was a young man with auburn hair tainted by patches of white. 'Most' surprising was that Thomas recognized who the man was, just not from the world of One Piece...
Catching the weary-looking man by surprise, Thomas tentatively uttered, "Shirou Emiya...?" in a faint tone, his expression a mixture of disbelief and shock.
Since he could sense the Mana exuding from Thomas's body, Shirou's expression became serious as he grimly remarked, "You're not from this world," before directing his steely gaze to Astolfo as he asked, "Tell me, why have you come here...?"
Raising his hands to show he wasn't there to pick a fight, Thomas replied, "Calm down. I don't mind answering your questions. But before that, are you going to be okay? You look like shit..."
With more than half his body covered in brown, scar-like tissue, a large cut over his left eye, and predominately white hair, the Shirou in front of Thomas looked like he had gone through a dozen Holy Grail Wars, losing each of them. Most of his body was wrapped in red bandages, and there was a powerful stench of antiseptics exuding from his body.
Sensing no hostile intent from his 'guests,' Shirou relaxed his body but didn't completely lower his guard, answering, "I'm...fine. The past few years have just been a little rough, that's all. Now, tell me, why are you here? Are you fighting to restore your world as well...?"
Blinking in surprise, Thomas parroted, "You're fighting to restore your world...?" in a confused, questioning tone.
Realizing that their circumstances were drastically different, Shirou exhaled a sigh of relief before adopting a wry smile as he remarked, "At least we won't have to compete to see whose world gets saved. I have enough weight on my shoulders as is..."
Before Thomas could ask what he was talking about, Shirou preempted him, questioning, "I'm guessing you came here in search of Install Cards? How many have you been able to collect so far...?"
After a moment of deliberation, Thomas shook his head, admitting, "I've been in this world for over a year but only recently learned about Install Cards. One of our enemies owns two of them, so we came here in search of the means to defeat him."
With a skeptical look on his face, Shirou shifted his gaze from Thomas to Astolfo, asking, "If you only recently learned about Install Cards, why is there a Heroic Spirit standing next to you?"
Waving her hand, Astolfo reacted with a playful "Yahoo~" while Thomas went on to explain, "Before I was sent to this world, I was granted a Devil Fruit known as the Mana-Mana-no-Mi and nine Class Cards to summon a 'crew.' Astolfo here was summoned using the Navigator Card."
Crossing his arms and biting the nail of his thumb, Shirou adopted a serious and thoughtful expression as he contemplated what he had just heard. The presence of a Master capable of sustaining nine Heroic Spirits was a game changer...
Interrupting Shirou's thoughts, Thomas asked, "Aren't men prohibited from trespassing Amazon Lily? Does the Kuja tribe know you're hiding out here...?"
Leaving Thomas at a complete loss for words, Shirou regained a wry smile as he replied, "I'm friends with the ruler of Amazon Lily, Boa Hancock. She gave me permission to encamp here while my..."
Instead of continuing what he was about to say, Shirou changed topics, asking, "You said you know the location of two Install Cards? If you tell me where they are, I'll help you deal with whoever possesses them. So long as they aren't an Admiral or one of the Four Emperors, I should be able to handle them."
Raising his brows, Thomas asked, "Seriously? Just how strong are you? Do you have a Bounty...?"
Nodding his head, Shirou's expression became melancholic as he replied, "I went on a bit of a rampage around a year ago and acquired a Bounty of 713,000,000 Berries after killing several Celestial Dragons. I was originally up for a position as a Shichibukai, but those bastards..."
Allowing his words to trail off, Shirou once again changed the topic, his expression becoming serious and firm as he said, "If your presence in this world is independent of the Install Cards, please don't get in the way of me collecting them. The fate of my world hinges upon those cards, so if you seek to collect and hold onto them...I'll have no choice but to cut you down..."
Furrowing his brows, Thomas remarked, "Man, you're one edgy bastard, you know that? And don't worry, I already have my own adventure going on. I might make use of the Install Cards, but I don't mind handing them over once I've picked up a few useful skills."
Sensing no lies in Thomas's words, Shirou hesitated for a few moments before half-turning towards the rock face he had emerged from, saying, "Please, come inside. I'll make tea for you and your friends, and then we can talk."
Without waiting for Thomas's reply, Shirou stepped through the rock face as if it didn't exist. Moments later, Thomas, Vivi, and Astolfo followed after him to find a cozy Japanese-style villa within, complete with an attached forge, a bathhouse, and a small bamboo forest...
...
..
.
(A/N: O_O...)

Chapter 57: Compounding Troubles