The trader ship had arrived at a quiet port city, one that was tranquil on the surface. Small homes clustered along the shore, and a bustling marketplace smelled of fresh fish and spices. Danger was here, Solian realized.
There was an outlaw on this island.
His system had already told him the details:
Target: One-Eyed Drego
Bounty: 2,000,000 Berries
Threat Level: Low
It wasn't a big bounty, but to Solian, this was his first true test.
As he walked through the town, he focused on building strength within him. His training had already made him more disciplined, but now he required more. He scanned his system and discovered that he had 2 System Points that he could spend.
He breathed slowly. In order to have any hopes at all about actual combat, he had to get stronger.
He placed both skills in Devil Fruit Mastery.
Heat ran through him as if he was standing under the sweltering sun during summer. His flame mastery was more acute, and something inside him shifted—an intrinsic understanding of what he could do.
New Skills Unlocked:
Basic Flame Projection: Is able to shoot controlled flames.
Short-Distance Rift Step: Can teleport up to 3 meters.
Experimenting, he cracked his wrist, and a small flame danced across his palm before vanishing.
He grinned.
"Alright… I'm fine now."
At sundown, he applied his system's directions to a cliff wall on the town's edge. The ocean salt air and burned wood scent mingled. In the distance, a campfire smoldered, surrounded by the outlines of a handful of men.
One-Eyed Drego sat large in the center, spinning a coin.
He grinned.
Solian dropped to the ground behind a rock, observing them. Six pirates in total. One lone target.
His heart pounding in his chest. No practice this time. No safety net. He could get killed if he didn't succeed.
Drawing in a deep breath, he came out of the shadows.
The drinking and laughter around the campfire stopped suddenly.
Drego raised an eyebrow. "Well, well… what do we have here? Another fool looking to get robbed?"
Solian grinned. "Actually, I'm here to collect your bounty."
For a moment, there was absolute silence. Then there was laughter.
"You?" Drego snapped his knuckles. "You ain't no Marine, kid. Just some lost kid looking for trouble."
Solian didn't say a word. He lifted his hand. A spark of fire burst above his palm, swirling into a blazing sphere.
The laughter stopped.
One pirate cursed, "What the hell…?"
Solian fired.
The flame burst forward, striking Drego's shoulder and sending him stumbling backward. His coat caught fire, and he cursed, beating at the burning material.
"What the—?! He's got a Devil Fruit!"
The other pirates leaped to their feet, swords flashing.
Solian vanished in an instant, reappearing three meters to the side to avoid a knife tossed at him.
His teleportation worked.
He grinned, his confidence surging.
"That's right," he declared, cracking his knuckles. "And I'm just getting started."