4 Steel and Smoke
Two days at sea taught me more about the Grand Line than any amount of reading could have. The weather was insane. One hour, we sailed through calm waters under clear skies. The next, a storm appeared from nowhere, forcing us to reef the sails and lash everything down while rain came at us horizontally. Then, just as suddenly, it stopped—leaving us in fog so thick I couldn't see the bow from the wheel.
"Welcome to Paradise," Kael said dryly as we navigated through yet another weather shift. "Where the ocean actively tries to kill you."
"How did anyone survive this before Log Poses?" I muttered, checking our heading for the tenth time.
"They didn't. That's why most of the East Blue pirates die in the first week." He adjusted the sails. "We're lucky—we've got experience and a Devil Fruit user. Most crews have neither."
He wasn't wrong. I'd been using my metal powers to reinforce the ship during rough weather—creating temporary struts and supports from absorbed metal scraps. It was exhausting, but it kept us from capsizing.
Training continued between weather events. Kael drilled me relentlessly on combat basics, and I practiced new applications of my Devil Fruit.
I discovered I could create thin wires from my fingers—perfect for binding or cutting. I could also superheat small portions of my metal body by concentrating, though it drained stamina fast. Most useful, I learned to partially transform—keeping most of my body human while turning specific parts to metal.
"That's smart," Kael observed as I demonstrated, turning just my forearms to chrome while keeping the rest normal. "Saves stamina and lets you fight longer."
"Exactly. Full transformations are powerful, but they burn through energy too fast." I shifted back to normal. "I need to be efficient."
"Good thinking. Most Devil Fruit users just spam their powers until they collapse." He threw a punch at my head without warning.
I hardened my jaw into steel on instinct. His gauntlet connected with a loud CLANG, bouncing off harmlessly.
Kael grinned. "See? You're getting faster. That was pure reflex."
My jaw ached despite the metal transformation, but he was right—I hadn't consciously decided to harden it. The response had been automatic.
"How long until I can match someone with Haki?" I asked.
"Months. Maybe years. Haki takes time to develop, and even longer to master." Kael sat on the deck. "But you've got an advantage—Logia intangibility buys you time to learn. Most people don't have that luxury."
"Unless they have Seastone."
"Or Haki. Or just overwhelming force." He shrugged. "No power is perfect. You just have to make yours work better than theirs."
On the second night, I was on watch when Kael joined me at the wheel.
"Can't sleep?" I asked.
"Thinking." He leaned against the railing, staring at the stars. "About that bounty. Twenty-five million for your first poster—that's high. Means the Marines are taking you seriously."
"Is that bad?"
"Depends. High bounties attract attention. Some of it good—crews might want to recruit you. Some of it bad—stronger Marines will come hunting."
"What was your bounty? When you were hunting?"
Kael smiled slightly. "Never had one. I was careful. Turned my catches in through intermediaries, never left witnesses. The Marines knew my name, but they couldn't pin anything criminal on me."
"Why not join them officially?"
His expression darkened. "Because they're corrupt. Not all of them—there are good Marines out there. But the system is rotten. I saw too many officers take bribes, let criminals go free, or worse… become criminals themselves while wearing the uniform."
"Like Captain Nezumi?"
Kael shot me a sharp look. "How do you know about Nezumi?"
Shit. Too specific.
"Heard the name in a tavern once," I said quickly. "Something about a corrupt Marine captain in East Blue."
"Yeah, he's one of the worst. Takes bribes from pirates, turns a blind eye to slavery, probably worse." Kael spat over the railing. "Men like him are why I quit."
I filed that away. In the original story, Nezumi worked with Arlong and eventually got exposed by Nami. But that wouldn't happen for months yet.
Note to self: stop referencing things I shouldn't know.
"Well, corrupt or not, they're coming after us now," I said. "We need to be ready."
"Agreed. Which brings me to a question—what happens when we run into someone we can't beat? Someone with Haki or Seastone?"
"We run."
Kael blinked. "Just like that?"
"Just like that. I'm not interested in suicide stands or fighting to the death for pride." I met his eyes. "Survival comes first. Pride is expensive. We fight when we can win. We run when we can't."
"Ruthlessly practical."
"It's kept me alive so far." I adjusted our heading slightly. "Besides, every fight we run from today is one we can win tomorrow when we're stronger."
Kael nodded slowly. "I can work with that philosophy. Better than the idiots who charge every Marine they see."
We sailed in comfortable silence for a while. The stars were incredible out here—more than I'd ever seen back home, spread across the sky like diamonds.
"Hey, Fenris," Kael said eventually. "What's your actual goal here? You said power, but… power for what? To become a Yonko? To find One Piece? What drives you?"
I thought about how to answer that.
I can't tell him I know the future. Can't explain that I'm trying to position myself before the world goes insane. So what do I say?
"Freedom," I said finally. "Real freedom. Not the kind where you run from the Marines your whole life, always looking over your shoulder. I want to be strong enough that no one can touch me. Rich enough that I never have to worry. Connected enough that I have options."
"That's… surprisingly modest."
"Is it? Most pirates want to be King of the Pirates or the strongest in the world. I just want to be untouchable." I smiled. "Though I wouldn't say no to finding One Piece along the way."
Kael laughed. "Fair enough. Alright, I can get behind that goal. Untouchable. I like it."
[New Skill Unlocked: Leadership - Rank E]
[Your words inspire crew confidence. +2% crew morale]
The system notification appeared briefly in my vision. Interesting—apparently, just talking to Kael about goals counted as leadership development.
I'll need to remember that. Building crew loyalty isn't just about paying them—it's about giving them something to believe in.
"Land ho!" Kael suddenly called, pointing ahead.
I squinted into the darkness. There—a dark shape against the horizon. An island.
"That's it," I confirmed, checking the Log Pose. "Our destination."
"What's it called?"
"The map Vargus had just labeled it 'Gray Rock Island.' Small population, mostly smugglers and refugees from other islands."
"Sounds like another lovely vacation spot."
"We're not here for vacation. We need information and possibly new crew." I began preparing to adjust the sails. "But we approach carefully. If Marines are here, we need to know before we dock."
Kael grabbed the spyglass and scanned the approaching island as the sun began to rise. "I see the harbor… looks quiet. A few ships, nothing military. Some buildings that might be a town. And… wait."
"What?"
"There's smoke. Lots of it. Coming from the town."
I grabbed the spyglass. He was right—thick black smoke was rising from multiple buildings. Even from this distance, I could see the orange glow of fire.
"Pirates?" Kael suggested.
"Maybe. Or Marines. Or just an accident." I lowered the spyglass. "Whatever it is, we need to be careful."
"Want to skip this island entirely?"
I considered it. The smart move would be to sail past, find another island without complications.
But something made me hesitate.
If there are people in trouble… if there's an opportunity here…
"No," I decided. "We go in. But we stay ready to leave fast if needed."
Kael nodded. "Your call, Captain."
We approached the harbor cautiously, keeping the ship ready for quick departure. As we got closer, the situation became clearer.
The town was under attack.
Pirates—maybe thirty or forty of them—were ransacking buildings and herding civilians into the town square. They flew a flag I didn't recognize: a black skull with crossed hammers.
"Forge Pirates," Kael identified, reading the flag. "Small-time crew. Captain's got a bounty around thirty million. They raid small islands, steal everything valuable, sometimes take slaves."
"Marines?"
"If there were any here, they're either dead or fled." Kael's expression was grim. "This island's probably too small to have a permanent garrison."
I watched through the spyglass as pirates dragged a young woman from a building. She fought back, but they just laughed and hit her.
I could sail away. This isn't my problem. Getting involved risks exposure.
But I remembered what I'd told Kael about freedom. About being strong enough to have choices.
What good is power if I only use it to run and hide?
"Fuck it," I muttered. "We're intervening."
Kael looked at me in surprise. "Seriously? There's like forty of them."
"I've got a Logia fruit. You're a trained fighter. And they're distracted." I started toward the shore. "Besides, if we help these people, they'll owe us. Information, supplies, maybe even crew."
"Plus it's the right thing to do?"
"That too." I grinned. "Come on. Let's go ruin some pirates' day."
We anchored the ship in a secluded cove away from the main harbor and approached on foot. The town was small—maybe a hundred buildings, a few hundred residents. The pirates had corralled most of the civilians in the central square.
The Forge Pirates' captain was easy to identify—a massive man, easily seven feet tall, with a war hammer slung over his shoulder. He was laughing as his crew looted.
"Alright, you lot!" he bellowed. "Hand over all your valuables and no one else gets hurt! Resist, and—" He gestured to a burning building. "—well, you saw what happened to the last guy who tried."
"This is despicable," Kael muttered beside me. We were hidden in an alley, observing.
"It's about to get worse for them." I assessed the situation. "Here's the plan: I'll create a distraction. Draw them away from the civilians. You evacuate as many people as you can, then join the fight."
"You sure you can handle forty pirates alone?"
"I've got thirty seconds of intangibility and a very bad attitude. I'll manage." I transformed my hands into blades. "Give me two minutes, then move."
Before Kael could argue, I stepped into the square.
"Hey!" I called out. "You with the hammer! Yeah, you, you oversized asshole!"
Every head turned toward me.
The captain squinted. "Who the hell are you?"
"Me? I'm Chrome Demon Fenris." I let my entire body ripple into liquid metal, the morning sun reflecting off my chrome surface. "And you just made a very big mistake."
Recognition dawned on several pirates' faces. Apparently, my bounty poster had spread.
"That's him!" someone shouted. "The metal Logia! There's a twenty-five million bounty on his head!"
The captain's eyes lit up with greed. "Well, well. Boys! Forget the valuables! We've got ourselves a real prize! Take him alive!"
Perfect. All attention on me.
Twenty pirates charged. I smiled.
Time to show them what a Logia could really do.
I went fully liquid, my body dissolving into chrome that spread across the ground like mercury. Swords passed through me harmlessly. Guns fired, bullets splashing through my liquid form.
Then I reformed in the middle of their group, both arms extending into blade-whips that lashed out in a wide circle.
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
Eight pirates went down screaming, blood spraying.
"He's a monster!"
"Get back! Regroup!"
I didn't give them time. I flowed forward, my body shifting between liquid and solid. A pirate swung an axe—I hardened my shoulder into steel and let it bounce off, then drove a chrome blade through his thigh.
Another came from behind. I sensed him through vibrations in the ground—a trick Kael had taught me—and liquified my back. His knife passed through, and I reformed with a spike extending backward that caught him in the gut.
"STOP PLAYING AROUND!" The captain bellowed, pushing through his crew. "Move aside! I'll handle this!"
He swung his massive war hammer in a devastating arc. I went intangible—
—and felt the weapon pass through me. But this time, something was different. The hammer had a Seastone tip.
Not enough to fully nullify my powers, but enough to disrupt my intangibility for a split second.
Shit. He's prepared.
I solidified behind him, creating distance. "Nice hammer. Compensating for something?"
The captain grinned, revealing golden teeth. "Heard rumors about a metal Logia. Figured Seastone might come in handy." He hefted the hammer. "Thirty million bounty, by the way. Captain Klaus of the Forge Pirates. And I'm about to turn you in for a nice payday."
"You can try."
Klaus charged with surprising speed for his size. His hammer came down like a meteor. I dodged—barely—and felt the wind of its passage.
Can't go intangible against that hammer. Have to fight solid.
I hardened my arms into steel and attacked. We traded blows—his hammer against my chrome blades, each impact sending shockwaves through my body. He was strong. Really strong.
But I was faster.
I flowed around his swings, striking at joints and gaps in his defense. My blades drew blood from his arms, his legs, his torso. Death by a thousand cuts.
"Hold still, damn you!" Klaus roared, swinging wildly.
"No thanks!" I liquified and reformed behind him, driving both blade-arms into his back.
He screamed, dropping to one knee.
I was about to finish him when I heard Kael shout: "FENRIS! MARINES!"
I looked up and cursed.
A Marine ship had entered the harbor. And not just any ship—I recognized the design. A captain's vessel.
Standing at the bow was a figure in a white coat with the word "JUSTICE" emblazoned on the back.
Captain Smoker.
No. Not Smoker. This guy was different—younger, with a scarred face and a massive iron club in his hands.
But the intent was the same. He was looking right at me.
"CHROME DEMON FENRIS!" the Marine Captain bellowed. "By order of Marine Headquarters, you are under arrest! Surrender now or be destroyed!"
Klaus, still on his knees, started laughing. "Looks like neither of us is getting paid, kid."
[New Quest: Trial by Fire]
[Defeat or escape from Marine Captain Ryker]
[Reward: +1500 EXP, Combat Mastery upgrade, 1500 SP]
[Warning: This opponent possesses Armament Haki]
Haki. Of course.
I assessed quickly. Klaus was wounded but still dangerous. The Forge Pirates were regrouping. The civilians were still trapped. And now a Marine Captain with Haki was about to land.
I need to control this situation. Fast.
"Kael!" I shouted. "Get the civilians out of here! Find boats, whatever—just go!"
"What about you?"
"I'll buy time!" I turned back to Klaus and the Marines. "Now move!"
The Marine ship was docking. Captain Ryker leaped from the deck, landing with enough force to crack the stone beneath his feet. Behind him, a squad of Marine soldiers followed.
"Forge Pirates!" Ryker barked. "You're all under arrest as well! Drop your weapons!"
Klaus spat blood. "We were here first, Marine! The metal brat is ours!"
"The only thing you're getting is a cell in Impel Down." Ryker's club began to turn black, covered in Armament Haki. "Last chance. All of you. Surrender now."
Silence fell over the square.
Then Klaus laughed and charged at Ryker. "LIKE HELL!"
The two powerhouses collided with a thunderous crash. Klaus's Seastone hammer met Ryker's Haki-coated club, and the shockwave shattered windows.
Perfect. Let them fight each other.
I used the distraction to slip away, flowing into liquid form and sliding through the chaos toward where Kael was evacuating civilians.
"How many?" I asked, reforming beside him.
"Maybe half. The others are trapped in buildings or too scared to move." Kael was helping an elderly man toward the docks. "That Marine—"
"I know. Haki user. We can't fight him head-on."
"So what's the plan?"
I thought fast. "We can't leave these people. But we can't fight a Captain with Haki either." An idea formed. "The Forge Pirates' ship. It's still in the harbor. We take it, load the civilians, and get out while the Marines and pirates kill each other."
Kael's eyes widened. "That's… actually brilliant. And insane."
"Same thing in the Grand Line." I turned to the nearest civilians—a group of maybe twenty. "Listen up! We're getting you off this island! Head to the harbor, that big ship with the hammer flag. We're stealing it!"
"Who are you?" a woman asked.
"Someone who's not going to let you die here. Now move!"
They moved.
The next fifteen minutes were chaos.
While Klaus and Ryker fought their titanic battle—destroying half the square in the process—Kael and I herded civilians onto the Forge Pirates' ship. It was larger than ours, a proper frigate with three masts.
The pirates who'd stayed to guard it tried to stop us. They failed.
I absorbed every metal weapon they had, growing stronger with each sword, gun, and piece of armor. My metal mass had to be over 300 kilograms now. I felt like a walking tank.
Kael handled the stragglers with brutal efficiency, his gauntlets pulverizing anyone who got close.
"That's everyone!" he called from the dock. "Let's go!"
I was about to follow when I saw her.
A young woman, maybe twenty, with dark hair and intelligent eyes. She was trapped under a fallen beam near one of the burning buildings, struggling to free herself.
Leave her. You've done enough. The Marines will save her.
But something made me hesitate. Maybe it was the desperate look in her eyes. Maybe it was the fact that she'd been trying to help other civilians before getting trapped.
Damn it.
"Get the ship ready to sail!" I shouted to Kael. "I'll be right back!"
"Fenris, we don't have time—"
I was already running.
The heat from the burning building was intense. The beam pinning the woman was massive, probably several hundred pounds.
"Hold still," I said, gripping it.
Instead of trying to lift it, I absorbed it. The wood was reinforced with iron bands—perfect. The metal flowed into me, and the beam crumbled to ash.
[Metal Absorbed: Iron Reinforcements (15 kg)]
[Metal Mass: 318 kg]
The woman scrambled free, coughing. "Thank you! I thought I was—"
"Save it. Can you run?"
"Yes, but—"
"Then run. That ship in the harbor. Go. Now."
She nodded and sprinted toward the docks.
I turned to follow—
—and found Captain Ryker standing between me and escape, his club resting on his shoulder. His white coat was splattered with blood, and Klaus was unconscious behind him.
"Going somewhere, Chrome Demon?"
Shit.
"Just leaving. Nothing personal." I tensed, ready to transform.
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that." Ryker's club turned black with Haki again. "You've attacked Marine-affiliated towns, murdered bounty hunters working under Marine contracts, and now you've interfered with an official operation. Your bounty just went up."
"How much?"
"Fifty million. Dead or alive." He took a combat stance. "I prefer alive, but I'm not picky."
Fifty million. Great.
I heard the Forge Pirates' ship casting off—Kael was leaving without me, exactly as he should.
But that meant I was alone with a Haki user.
"You seem like a reasonable guy," I said, backing up slowly. "How about we both walk away? You got Klaus. I'm leaving the island. Everyone wins."
"Except the Marines you've embarrassed. Except the people you've killed." Ryker advanced. "No, this ends now."
He charged.
I went fully liquid, but his club—coated in Haki—connected anyway. Pain exploded through my metal body as the Haki disrupted my Logia intangibility.
He can hit me. Even when I'm liquid.
I barely reformed in time to dodge his follow-up swing. The club shattered the ground where I'd been standing.
This wasn't like fighting Klaus or Vargus. Ryker was on a completely different level.
I needed a new strategy.
He's strong. Experienced. Has Haki. What do I have that he doesn't?
Then it hit me.
Mobility.
I couldn't beat him in a straight fight. But I didn't have to.
I liquified completely and flowed across the ground away from him, moving like mercury toward the harbor. Ryker followed, but I was faster in liquid form.
I reached the dock just as the Forge Pirates' ship was pulling away. Twenty feet of water separated me from safety.
"FENRIS!" Kael was at the railing. "JUMP!"
I reformed, ran three steps, and leaped.
For a moment, I hung in the air over the water—where a Devil Fruit user became helpless.
Then I crashed onto the deck, rolling.
"GO! GO! GO!" I shouted.
The ship's sails caught wind. We pulled away from the dock just as Ryker arrived. He stood there, watching us escape, his expression unreadable.
Then he pulled out a Den Den Mushi and made a call.
Calling for backup. Or updating my bounty. Or both.
I collapsed on the deck, exhausted. Transforming that much had drained me completely.
Kael knelt beside me. "You alright?"
"Barely. That Captain… he had Haki. I couldn't beat him."
"But you escaped. That's what matters." Kael helped me up. "Come on. Let's check on our passengers."
The refugees—about forty-five people total, including the woman I'd saved—were huddled on the deck, looking scared and confused.
"Thank you," the woman said, approaching me. "You saved us. All of us."
"Don't thank me yet. We're not safe." I looked at the group. "Listen up! You're all on a stolen pirate ship with two criminals. The Marines are going to label you as accomplices if they catch you."
That caused worried murmuring.
"But," I continued, "we're heading to a safe island. When we get there, you can leave if you want. Or you can stay. Your choice. But right now, we're all in this together."
The woman stepped forward. "I'm staying. I'm a doctor. You'll need one." She extended her hand. "Dr. Aria Chen."
I shook it. "Fenris. This is Kael."
"I know who you are. Saw your wanted poster." Aria smiled slightly. "Chrome Demon. Fitting, given what I just saw."
"And you still want to stay?"
"You saved my life. And you saved everyone here when you didn't have to." Her expression hardened. "The Marines certainly weren't going to help. So yes, I'm staying. Consider it payment."
[New Crew Member Available: Dr. Aria Chen]
[Accept? Y/N]
I looked at Kael. He shrugged. "We need a doctor."
"We do," I agreed, turning back to Aria. "You understand what you're signing up for? We're wanted. We're going to make enemies. This isn't going to be safe."
"Nothing in the Grand Line is safe. At least with you, I'll have a purpose." She met my eyes. "So yes. I'm in."
I smiled. "Welcome aboard, Dr. Chen."
[Quest Update: The Chrome Path]
[Recruit 2 more crew: 1/2]
[Defeat a Marine Captain: 0/1] (Escaped but did not defeat)
[Level Up! → Level 5]
[All Stats +5, Haki Prerequisites Met]
[New Skill Available: Observation Haki (Basic) - Cost: 2000 SP]
I looked at the notification in surprise. Haki was available now? That was… incredibly valuable.
But it would also drain all my System Points.
Worth it. Haki is essential for surviving the Grand Line.
[Purchase Observation Haki (Basic)? Y/N]
I selected yes.
Knowledge flooded my mind—how to sense presences, how to feel intent, how to see attacks coming. It wasn't mastery, just the foundation. But it was a start.
"Fenris?" Kael asked. "You zoned out."
"Sorry. Just… processing." I stood straighter. "Alright. New plan. We've got a bigger ship, a doctor, and about forty-five civilians who need safe passage. Let's find them a home, then figure out our next move."
"Where?"
I thought about the Grand Line map. "There's an island called Greenrest about a week's sail from here. Small community, off the main routes. They'll take refugees."
"And after that?"
I looked at my crew—Kael, Aria, and this stolen frigate full of people we'd saved.
"After that?" I smiled. "We start hunting."
"Hunting what?"
"Opportunities. Power. Everything we need to survive what's coming."
Because somewhere out there, the Straw Hats were being born. The Warlords were making their moves. The Yonko were watching.
And I was going to carve my place in this world, one piece of chrome at a time.
[END CHAPTER 4]