Chapter 10: The Sea Restaurant's Chef
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: NEW ADVENTURE PATH INITIATED. NEXT TARGET: OPEN SEA (POST-BARATIE). RECOMMENDED ACTION: INTEGRATE NEW SKILLS & ESTABLISH SANJI. SECONDARY GOAL: MINOR SKILL ACQUISITION FROM ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS.]
"Baratie was a success! Mihawk's power is mine, or at least a tiny, terrifying sliver of it. Now it's time to let Sanji officially join, practice my new, terrifying blade insights, and maybe get a few more minor, practical skills from the East Blue's less glamorous dangers before the Grand Line. No more major deaths for a bit. Just consolidating and preparing for the true chaos."
The aftermath of Mihawk's brief, terrifying appearance on the Baratie left everyone shaken, except perhaps Luffy, who was too busy celebrating his victory over Don Krieg. Zoro, however, was visibly devastated by his loss to Mihawk, consumed by a quiet, burning resolve. And me? I was buzzing with the exhilarating, if phantom, sensation of absolute non-existence, and the quiet hum of Supreme Swordsmanship (Fractional) now residing in my mind.
"Chef!" I called out to Sanji, who was busy kicking a surviving Krieg pirate off the Baratie's deck with elegant precision. "Magnificent kicks! Truly! But have you considered... joining a crew that properly appreciates your culinary genius? And your devastating legwork?"
Sanji, ever the gentleman (and a complete simp for Nami), just smoothed his tie. "I only serve beautiful ladies, not idiotic rubber men and their suspiciously suicidal first mates."
"Oh, but we have a beautiful lady!" I said, gesturing to Nami, who was busy counting bottles of alcohol she'd managed to "acquire." "And I'm not suicidal, chef. I'm just... intensely dedicated to personal growth. Through unconventional means. Like, say, getting casually extinguished by the world's strongest swordsman. It's a niche market, but someone's gotta do it."
Sanji stared at me, his cigarette dangling from his lips. He'd seen me disappear and reappear after Mihawk's attack. It had clearly shaken him more than he let on. "You really just... stood there? And let him...?"
"Yep!" I said cheerfully. "Best decision I ever made! Now I can cut things. Anything, actually. With a toothpick, if I'm feeling fancy. It's truly revolutionary for my cleaning habits."
Eventually, after a heartfelt farewell to Zeff and the other chefs, Sanji officially joined the Straw Hats. His inclusion immediately elevated our onboard dining experience from "Luffy's questionable hunting" to "gourmet meals." And his chivalry provided endless comedic fodder.
As we sailed away from the Baratie, the East Blue stretching before us, I took time to practice my new skill. It wasn't about wielding a sword; it was about the concept of cutting. I could feel the inherent weakness in objects, the invisible lines of severance. I'd pick up a piece of driftwood, and with a mere flick of my finger (infused with a fraction of Mihawk's power), it would cleanly sever, as if by an invisible blade.
"That's terrifying," Usopp muttered, watching me effortlessly slice through a small, discarded fish with a single, rubbery, chopping motion of my hand. "You're like a human guillotine."
"It's called efficiency, Usopp," I replied. "Now, how about we try that target practice again? I bet I can hit that seagull's left wing from here. With a pebble." My Basic Marksmanship combined with the Precision Strike (from Zoro's accidental death) and now the fractional Supreme Swordsmanship meant my aim was rapidly becoming inhuman.
The days that followed were a blend of training and low-stakes adventure. Luffy would constantly try to get me to "stretch real far!" or "turn into smoke!" Sanji would try to cook me elaborate meals, and I would, inevitably, find some way to annoy him. Nami would constantly check my pockets for her "missing" treasure. And Zoro… Zoro was quietly training, pushing himself harder than ever, his resolve hardened by Mihawk's overwhelming power. He wouldn't spar with me directly with live blades anymore, but he watched my movements with new interest.
My compass, meanwhile, was humming with a steady, directional pull towards Reverse Mountain, the gateway to the Grand Line. The 'desire' for Robin was a constant, faint whisper, but it was growing stronger with each passing mile.
We encountered a few minor challenges. A small, but aggressive school of carnivorous fish tried to attack the Merry. Luffy, Sanji, and Zoro easily dispatched them. But I, ever the opportunist, decided to get in on the action.
"Hey, little fishies!" I yelled, stretching an arm into the water. "Who wants to take a bite out of an immortal?!"
A particularly large, toothy fish snapped at my arm. It wasn't a lethal blow, but it was a strong, tearing bite that clamped down with surprising force. My rubbery skin stretched, but its sharp teeth almost got through. It was a close call, a death by being torn apart. My vision flickered, just for a moment.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: NEAR-DEATH EVENT RECORDED. KILLER: CARNIVOROUS FISH. ABILITY ACQUIRED: SHARP TEETH RESISTANCE (MINOR). REVIVAL NOT REQUIRED. CONTINUING.]
"Sharp Teeth Resistance? Okay, not a full death, but a near-death still counts for a minor bonus. Useful for avoiding paper cuts. Or, you know, being gnawed to death by angry piranhas. Every little bit helps. The system is quite efficient."
I pulled my arm back, a victorious grin on my face. "See, guys? Even getting almost eaten by a glorified guppy teaches you something!"
Nami just rolled her eyes. "You're really going to die on purpose for that?"
"It's called diversified portfolio management, Nami-swan," I said with a shrug. "You never know when a minor resistance to sharp teeth will come in handy."
We made a few more stops at various small, nameless islands for supplies and minor encounters. At one point, I deliberately provoked a very old, very cranky gorilla on a jungle island, letting it pummel me until my system registered another minor acquisition: "Primate Agility (Minor)". This allowed me to clamber through trees with surprising ease, and perform a passable (if still clumsy) gorilla impression.
My life had become a bizarre, self-imposed training montage, where every potential threat was an opportunity for improvement. I was constantly pushing the boundaries of my immortality, finding new and inventive ways to get 'killed' and expand my chaotic skillset.
As the sun began to set on our final day in the East Blue, the silhouette of Reverse Mountain loomed larger, a testament to the colossal challenges ahead. My compass was now humming with a steady, undeniable pull towards its peak. The whisper of Robin's presence was no longer a distant echo, but a faint, intriguing hum, promising a future reunion.
"Alright, crew," I said, gazing out at the setting sun, feeling the weight of the vast ocean and the promise of a new adventure. "Tomorrow, we enter the Grand Line. Get ready for chaos. Get ready for danger. And get ready for me to die. A lot. For science. And for ultimate power. It's going to be glorious."
Luffy just laughed, his characteristic "Shishishishi!" echoing across the deck. Zoro sharpened his swords, a determined glint in his eye. Sanji lit a cigarette, a smirk playing on his lips. And Nami, despite her exasperation, looked at the looming Red Line with a mix of fear and excitement. They were ready. And so was I. The East Blue had been my crucible, forging a ridiculously overpowered, strategically suicidal, and eternally annoying First Mate. The Grand Line wouldn't know what hit it.