Chapter 2: The Awakened Human-Human Fruit
[Devil Fruit Enhancement System - Main Panel]
[Host: Jock Ian]
[Age: 18]
[Height: 290 cm]
[Devil Fruit: Zoan Type, Human-Human Fruit]
[Development Level: B+ (Initial Awakening)]
[Current Enhancement Options: Fruit Skills, Overall Quality]
[Fruit Skills: Physical Enhancement, Mental Enhancement, Visual Enhancement, Auditory Enhancement, Tactile Enhancement, Gustatory Enhancement, Olfactory Enhancement, Cardiac Enhancement...]
[Overall Quality: Conqueror's Haki, Armament Haki, Observation Haki, Navy Six Styles, Hand-to-Hand Combat, Swordsmanship...]
[Daily Task: Execute 100 Punches (Incomplete). Reward: Enhancement Points]
[Current Accumulated Enhancement Points: 1050]
Listening to the system's chime, Ian's mind drifted back eight years.
Eight years ago, he had crossed worlds, arriving in a small town in the East Blue as a ten-year-old boy. Simultaneously, the Devil Fruit Enhancement System had activated. The beginner's reward was a single Devil Fruit.
Dreaming of a powerful Logia, a mythical Ancient Zoan, or a versatile Paramecia, Ian had eaten the freely-given fruit without a second thought.
Zoan Type... Human-Human Fruit?
No suffix!
After seeing the exact information on the system panel, Ian was stunned.
Based on his understanding of this world, wasn't the standard, no-suffix Human-Human Fruit the exclusive property of Tony Tony Chopper?
He had eaten it first!
The burning question remained: when a regular human eats the Zoan-type Human-Human Fruit, what are they then? Still human?
From a purely ability standpoint, it wasn't completely useless.
At the very least, he learned "how not to swim."
And he unlocked three forms: "Human Form," "Human Form," and... "Human-Human Form."
Ian had been speechless.
What could he do? He was already here. He didn't dare to delete his character and start over. Dying here meant a permanent game over, which was far worse!
He remembered what a certain teacher-figure often said: "Don't rely too much on your Devil Fruit. True strength lies in Haki!" It didn't seem so bad. At least he had the [Enhancement System], giving him a much higher starting point than the natives.
Before the age of fifteen, Ian diligently completed his daily tasks every single day. He occasionally scrapped with passing thugs, bandits, and small-time pirates to earn a handful of points. Through these fights, he realized a crucial rule: the stronger the opponent, the more points he gained. For weaker foes, it was more efficient to just grind out the daily tasks.
He allocated his points with a 30/70 split, favoring Overall Quality over Fruit Skills, because the system panel back then wasn't what he saw now. The [Fruit Skills] section only showed two main categories: Physical Enhancement and Mental Enhancement.
But as he gradually invested points, strange and bizarre new paths unfolded... Enhancement options for the five senses appeared on the panel! Relying on these enhanced fruit skills, Ian finally discovered the true path for a human to unlock the Human-Human Fruit's potential: breaking the limits of the human body!
From then on, he focused on strengthening his fruit skills, and gradually...
He became incredibly strong!
He had a head of iron and arms of steel!
He could see for miles!
He could hear a pin drop!
He once wondered if he'd actually eaten the "Calabash Brothers" model of the Human-Human Fruit.
At fifteen, wanting to accelerate his point accumulation and find the most comfortable and logical development path, Ian used his clean background, glowing recommendations from his neighbors, and a letter from the town mayor to proudly enlist in the Navy, assigned to the 16th Branch in the East Blue.
In the weak seas of the East Blue, Ian's arrival was a dimensional-level attack. In just over two years, he not only racked up immense military achievements by wiping out countless pirates, but he also rose meteorically through the ranks, being appointed Commander of the Branch Base and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
It was after this period of intense strengthening that his Human-Human Fruit finally experienced its Initial Awakening. The ability to control his own senses evolved and strengthened into the power to control the senses of others. From that moment, he embarked on the path of "One for All, and All Senses Under My Control"!
...
Back inside the tavern, Ian allocated his points according to his current "Fruit 7, Overall 3" ratio, this time choosing to enhance his [Overall Quality].
[Ding!]
[Observation Haki Enhanced. 1000 Enhancement Points Consumed!]
[Observation Haki level has been significantly improved. Current Level: (Intermediate)!]
"Sigh, the pirates in the East Blue are still too weak. What a pathetic 'Overlord'! He was only worth 80 points, not even enough to cover the cost of a drink," Ian muttered to himself. He felt in his pocket, pulled out five hundred Berries, and placed them on the counter to cover his tab.
Stepping out of the pub, he was met by a disciplined scene.
"Salute!"
"Lieutenant Colonel Ian, fine work!"
"Lieutenant Colonel Ian, fine work!"
"..."
Hundreds of naval soldiers, having secured the perimeter and dispersed the gawking civilians, stood at attention in neat rows outside the tavern. As Ian emerged, they saluted in unison.
"Salute, salute, is that all you do all day?" Ian grumbled, pulling at his coat collar. "If you lot moved faster, maybe I wouldn't have to work so hard! What a troublesome bunch! Report on the status of Krieg's remaining forces at the port!"
He scanned the ranks. "Nami! Where is she? Where did she go?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Ian, I'm here, I'm here! Excuse me, please let me through!"
From the back of the formation, a girl with short orange hair, dressed in a naval uniform, hurried up to Ian. She had a petite but well-proportioned figure, and her large, lively eyes sparkled with intelligence.
A year ago, Ian had eradicated the Dragon Pirates that were entrenched in Cocoyashi Village. He saved the village and the surrounding towns, earning the deep affection of the locals. Nami, who held a profound hatred for pirates, chose to join the Navy to follow the hero she admired, becoming Ian's personal navigator.
This talented navigator, who in another life would have followed a different path, had been intercepted by Ian, setting her on a completely different course.
"Lieutenant Colonel Ian, the twenty pirate ships the Krieg Pirates brought into the harbor have been fully secured. Over seven hundred pirates have been subdued or killed. The total value of the seized treasure is—"
"Wait! What treasure?" Ian interrupted, his face a mask of pure confusion.
Nami caught on immediately and smoothly corrected her report. "My mistake, sir. The Krieg Pirates are known as the poorest pirate crew in the East Blue. There was no treasure aboard their ships, only vicious pirates, all of whom were bravely eliminated by Lieutenant Colonel Ian!"
Ian nodded, a satisfied look on his face as he reflected on the battle's aftermath. "Ah, what a truly harrowing fight." He then turned his attention back to the marines. "Learn from Nami! Learn from her efficiency, her professionalism, and her quick wit!"
His tone shifted to a bark. "You have ten minutes to run back to the harbor! Anyone who's late gets to swim back to the base! You all move so slowly. I have to wait around just to watch you mop up. Haven't you learned anything from my diligent example?"
He paused for dramatic effect. "Have any of you ever seen the training grounds at three in the morning? Extra drills for everyone today! Also, send a few men inside to fetch the 'sleeping' Overlord of the East Blue. Everyone else... RUN!"
After Ian's characteristic torrent of orders and complaints, the Marines snapped into action, breaking formation and sprinting towards the port. At this branch, Ian's word was absolute law; no one dared to disobey.
"Let's head back, Nami. Oh, and remember to deposit today's... modest earnings into my private storage."
"Understood, Lieutenant Colonel Ian!"
Watching Ian's retreating back as he strolled away, Nami's cheeks flushed a light pink. She bit her lip softly, her eyes filled with a mixture of deep admiration and a touch of shyness, whispering to herself:
"The training grounds at three in the morning? Even Lieutenant Colonel Ian hasn't seen that..."
"At three in the morning... isn't he usually in my room, going over maps..."
Ian, walking ahead, heard her perfectly clearly. A knowing smile touched his lips, and he began to hum a cheerful little tune.
This was the East Blue.
This was Ian's paradise.