One Piece: Path to Power

[2779 words]

Quick clearing up: His weapon is NOT included in his strength level since it is not a part of his body and only affects his power output, which is why he's still only Mid-Tier Yonko. ​​

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[6 Days Later]

(3rd POV)

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In the New World sits an island with a rather distinct appearance.

The size of the island was rather small but the giant skull erected out into the sky was the real knocker.

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This is the Pirate Island of Hachinosu!

The future base of Blackbeard many decades later!

[A/N: Island Image]

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A rather loud atmosphere resounded the island as constant violent booms and bangs went off.

Blood stained the ground as it cracked in drought while the skies themselves were covered with black clouds.

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The men here were the absolute scum of the seas.

They killed, massacred, pillaged, raped, robbed, ravaged and destroyed.

They were the strongest and the worst men in the New World.

Tens of thousands of them gathered all over Hachinosu.

The main activities were the following:

1. Eat

2. Drink

3. Sleep

4. Party

5. Fight

6. Kill

7. Sex

8. Massacre

.

If a normal human were to speak on this island they would immediately feel shellshocked. Whether it was the reeking smell of death or the endless corpses lying about, it was truly a despairing sight.

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[Muerta Bar]

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A small broken-down bar sat near the core of the island.

"Hey, did you get the message? The big bosses are comin'!" A pirate exclaimed as he drank some rum.

"That's right… I'm sorta 'fraid!"

The man shook his head, "You should be! I was there in the Angelic War and the Dawn War when Shiki-sama and Linlin-sama fought! They're monsters!"

.

"What division are you guys in?" The man asked.

The one being asked unfurled a sheet of paper.

"Hmm, I'm in Division 4."

.

The man grumbled, "You lucky idiot! You got to be in Shakky-Oneesama Division!"

"Yayayaya! I haven't seen her though, I hear she went to Sabaody Archipelago recently."

He then asked, "What about you?"

He took a quick sip of his drink, "I'm in Division 2 with Shiki-sama."

.

*Thud*

A green-haired man joined the conversation.

"Ayy boys, I got into Division 8, you know who's in charge of it?"

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One replied with a nod, "It's the new Tragedy, Captain John!"

-------

They then went on with some side-talk after a loud commotion went off.

*Gasps and Murmuring*

.

"Oyy, what's happening?" A 9-foot tall woman asked.

"T-They are returning. One by one!"

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[The South Coast of Hachinosu]

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A ginormous ship made of cake and other foods docked on.

"Hey… isn't that?"

"I-It is…"

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"Ma-MA-Mam-Ma!"

A towering woman with a curvaceous figure walked out from the ship.

Long pink hair, beautiful face and voluptuous body.

Another 30 or so shadows emerged of varying heights, though they all had rather young faces.

.

A spectator's eyes widened, "B-Bounty of 2.63 Billion Berries, The Third Division Commander - the 'Evil Spirit' Charlotte Linlin!"

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[Near the East Coast]

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*THUD!*

The ground cracked apart as a shadow landed from the sky.

It was a man with golden hair and a cigar in his mouth, he stood nearly 8 feet tall.

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"JIHAHAHAHA! It's been a while since I've smelled this much blood!"

.

A man who was sleeping nearby awakened with fear as he muttered, "The Second Divison Commander - 'Golden Lion' Shiki!"

His friend nearby nodded with fright, "A bounty of over 3 Billion Berries!"

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[The North Coast]

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A man was fishing in the sea as all his money was robbed by a higher-up in his division.

His name is Chiron.

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"Binkusu no sake wo, todoke ni yuku~"

"Umikaze kimakase namimakase~"

"Shio no-"

.

Chiron was singing away as he saw a large silhouette on the distant horizon.

"Hmm?"

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It was a giant ship followed by many, many more.

1 Galleon with over 20 smaller ships.

*Thud*

The ramps fell upon the beach one by one.

.

Chiron was afraid to move, afraid to sing and afraid to breathe as the men walked off.

Thousands of them appeared, talking, laughing, joking around.

.

*Gulp*

Chiron gulped as one giant ramp fell only 40 meters in front of him.

An equally tall man walked off.

.

He had glorious blond hair, a distinct mustache and a pirate hat.

He carried a rather tall and beautiful glaive.

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"Oy, brat, is Xebec back yet?" The man asked with a deep voice as he eyes Chiron.

.

The man talking was Edward Newgate, the First Division Commander of the Rocks Pirates!

A bounty of 2,989,046,000 Berries!

[A/N: His new look]

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[Skull Rock]

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Slowly but surely the pirates began to gather here from all over the island.

The word was out that all 3 Titans had arrived!

.

Whitebeard was making his way inside of the giant skull until he paused.

His eyes narrowed as he looked up, to the very top of the skull.

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"What's wrong, Newgate-san?" One of his division mates asked.

Whitebeard used his Haki, "Someone out of the ordinary…"

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"Hmm? The Golden Lion and the Evil Sprit are not here so who could it be?" The man asked once more.

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"Gurarara! Make some space, you all!" He yelled out.

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And instantly, the flocks of pirates jumped back, clearing an open platform.

A large circle around 400 meters wide was created with Whitebeard at the center.

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The pirates spectating looked up and saw the black shadow so incredibly far up as they heard a noise.

*VWOOOOO*

The air was screaming!

And the shadow, it was getting bigger!

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*FWOOOO*

The air howled once more as the shadow came closer and closer, cutting through the wind.

.

*Crash*

Boom!

The ground nearby started to break into cobweb-like patterns as the nearby town area was shaking from the impact.

The cracks extending from the center of the circle all the way to the pirates standing almost half a kilometer away!

.

The dust cleared.

"Gurarara!"

Whitebeard's distinct laughter resounded the area as the pirates identified the man.

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Black hair with red streaks, tall frame reaching higher than 10 feet!

A young man with a rather handsome face, though his blazing red eyes caused everyone watching to take a deep gulp.

He had a regal attire dawned with intrinsic patterns.

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"T-That is the 'Sin Incarnate'!" A pirate yelled out.

*Thud*

A drunk man instantly sobered up as he fell to the ground.

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Other whispers went off.

"The youngest to ever get a bounty surpassing the 2 billion mark!"

"The one behind the West Blue Massacre and the Amethyst Kingdom Crisis!"

"He's also the one who disarmed the Admiral Candidate Zephyr!"

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"The Fifth Division Commander - Einar D. Damien!"

…

Ignoring all the noise, the 2 men at the center eyed one another.

And instantly, silence prevailed.

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Nothing but deep breathes and loud gulps were heard as they waited.

Alas, the silence ended.

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"GURARARARA!"

"RAHAHAHAHA!"

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"Newgate-Ossan, you grew a mustache now?" Damien commented.

The man chuckled, "That's right, but I go by Whitebeard now!"

Whitebeard then narrowed his eyes with a large smirk, "Kid, you've grown a lot stronger now. You'll catch up to me soon…"

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Damien hummed at the words as his eyes drifted elsewhere.

"Ossan, that weapon of yours…"

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Whitebeard finished his words, "This is Murakumogiri of the Saijō Ō Wazamono."

[A/N: Murakumogiri Image]

.

These words brought many of the spectators to gasp in shock as well.

The swordsmen mixed in the audience were especially solemn, their weapons were buzzing in their hands.

---

"Hehe, you know, Ossan. When I went to Wano Kuni, I met an old man who helped me forge a weapon…" Damien slowly spoke up.

Whitebeard squinted his eyes in curiosity.

.

"And since then, I have yet to clash blades with a worthy foe to truly test it out."

With the words out, Damien extended his left hand to the left.

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*VWOOOO*

The air started to corrode and quiver as some raging sword energy flooded around.

A large, unique weapon materialized in the Sin Incarnate's hand.

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It had a beautifully designed wooden staff-like handle that was connected to a rustic sword body with a menacing skull.

Which was then followed by 2 large crimson-clawed blades that spiralled around each other as they exuded an eerie red mist.

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*Gasp*

The nearby men weren't ignorant of the feeling.

The dread.

They felt the same coming from Whitebeard's weapon, though it was far less conspicuous with its supremacy.

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Newgate's eyes widened as his mind clicked, "It was you! The one who brought down the 13th weapon. Gurarara!"

Damien gave a simple nod.

*Feeee*

He then traced his fingers over the 2 blades as the wind howled around them,

"This is Ryūshi, the blade that shall render all to dust!"

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Whitebeard's Murakumogiri started to pulse with impatience as it felt the presence of Damien's weapon.

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"Hehe, there isn't much to be said now." The blond-haired man said.

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*FWWWM*

Both weapons were coated by a thick armour of Armament Haki as a red bubble started to cover them.

And then they charged.

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Boom!

It was a loud bang as if a bomb had gone off that filled the area as the pirates watched with unblinking eyes.

They saw 'The Earthshaker' and the 'Sin Incarnate' race towards each other as the ground underneath them started to crumble away.

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Whitebeard grabbed his glaive with both hands as the weapon was raised over his shoulder. The blade edge shining black.

Damien similarly grabbed his weapon as his Ryushi blazed the air in a slight inferno.

.

Whitebeard was twice Damien's height so the sight was rather imbalanced, yet both carried great power in their attack.

The 2 blades then clashed...

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BOOOOOOOM!

An island-shaking explosion went off as the 2 Supreme Grade Weapons pushed forth with endless momentum, neither giving an inch to the other.

Countless cracks started to form around the 2 men as the ripples of energy were sent out, echoing through the entire sea.

The spectators were lifted from their feet as many ended up being thrown into the air while the remaining tried to hold their ground.

The black clouds above exploded in the wake of the duel while black lightning rain down upon the island.

The newer recruits were knocked out instantly!

.

No fruit power apart from Ryushi's residual effects as the 2 weapons continued their clash.

BOOOM!

Alas, the first exchange ended!

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*GRRRRG*

Damien's feet dug into the ground as he was pushed back.

Whitebeard was also in a similar condition.

.

The red-eyed youth was pushed back 8 meters whereas the giant man was only pushed back 2 meters.

Damien felt a powerful and sharp buzzing feeling all over his body, aiming at his will and corroding it away.

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'This sharp current courses through my body… it's the Infusion of Haki!' Damien concluded.

And it was true, the ability to fully coat your attacks in Conqueror's Haki was certainly something he was lacking and it was visible in their clash.

.

"Again!"

Damien roared out, though this time he leaped into the air as his blade ripped the atmosphere apart.

He brought down Ryushi with enough power to crush mountains as it smashed upon the powerful Murakumogiri in Whitebeard's hands.

BOOOOM!

Another earth-shaking clash went off as the 2 blades resumed their discord.

*SREEEEECH!*

Ryushi was angry. The spirit residing within Damien's weapon was of the same grade as Whitebeard's weapon yet it couldn't go through!

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BOOM!

Damien was pushed back once more as he landed, lacking any scratches yet still not giving in.

.

"Again!"

This time he started to fuel every ounce of his Haki in his weapon as it started to seeth in anger, exploding into a crimson fury!

Whitebeard did not change his approach.

He twirled around his naginata as it sliced the air and met Ryushi head-on once more.

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*CLASH!*

BOOOOM!

Damien's eyes blazed in persistence as his body started to fuel with separate power, swirling within his mind.

Though the youth felt it, the buzzing destruction of Whitebeard's Haki had started to decrease!

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Newgate who was greatly impressed by Damien's power started to feel the sudden change as his eyes widened.

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"Gurarara! Not bad, kid!"

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*FWOOOO*

Many tornados raged out of the clash as everything within a few kilometers was starting to turn into rubble as the earth cracked in their wake.

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**Thud**

"Jihahahaha! That red-eyed brat has gotten a lot stronger!" A voice called out.

Shiki landed on the far left of the duel.

His hands went out as he calmed the battle down with his Haki.

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"Ma-MA-Mam-Ma! His seed will give me a powerful child!"

Big Mom also landed though on the opposite side as she eyed the duel.

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Both of them contained the island-shattering energy being released, after all, it would probably cause a little too much destruction.

As for the pirates… around 800 had already died, 2100 were injured and the rest were lucky enough to be unharmed yet shocked by the ongoing fight.

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BOOOM!

'This feeling…! I'm tapping into Infusion... though it's barely the tip of the iceberg.' Damien thought in his head.

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Both Newgate and Damien stood around 100 meters away from one another.

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"Kid, this will end it!" Whitebeard declared.

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Damien used his Grandmastery over Observation as he saw the man's weapon.

A powerful sheet of Haki wrapped with Emission.

The Emission was gently flowing around but there was something more.

Crackles and sparks of raging tides amidst the sea of Haki, the Infusion of Supreme Will!

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Damien replicated what he could.

His Ryushi started to swim in Haki as he added small strands of his Will.

His left hand clenched the weapon as the final drops of Haki flooded in.

It was very small and thin, but it was there! A simple coating of Conqueror's Haki!

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Boom!

The crater widened as the 2 rushed forwards once more.

Whitebeard's eyes shined red as his Murakumogiri was brought down from above as a green arc of blade energy followed closely, ripping and tearing everything.

Damien's Ryushi raged and rampaged forwards, not allowing themselves to be pushed back once more!

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*Crack!* *Rumble!*

The ground underneath had long turned to dust as the two blades pushed forth.

Though something odd happened.

The 2 weapons seemed to have stopped in mid-air, they locked in space with a small gap between them yet were releasing enough energy to level mountains!

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Katakuri who was watching from behind the powerful presence of Big Mom was shocked to the very core.

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"T-They're not even touching!"

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As for Whitebeard, he had seen this happen many times before.

When he duelled the likes of Xebec, Shiki & Roger.

It wasn't even close to as turbulent as he felt from fighting the stated above, but it was certainly mind-boggling on its own coming from someone so young!

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A wide smile was plastered on both of their faces as the repulsion ended and the blades finally connected.

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BOOM!

Both were pushed back once more.

Whitebeard, went back 2 and a half meters, and Damien, 6 and a half.

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The duel had ended.

Whitebeard, Shiki, Big Mom and Damien then heard something before any of them could speak up.

..

"Haaah, Huuuh, heeeh," Deep breathes went off as a man with a great rush and before the Commanders.

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The man collapsed on the ground as he carried a single piece of paper in his hands.

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"Hmm?" Shiki raised an eyebrow towards the man.

Damien walked towards the unconscious messenger and picked up the note.

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"What is it, kid?" Newgate asked.

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Damien summarized the note, "Hmm, it's a report written in blood by one of our Pillars. They seemed to be asking for backup."

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*Clank* *Clank* *Clank*

A man walked out from Skull Rock.

He had a full-body silver armour while carrying a matching axe and shield.

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"This man is from Division 6." The armoured man said.

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"Andor-san!" Damien greeted him.

It was the 7th Division Commander - Silver Axe!

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He nodded in greeting, "You have gotten truly powerful, Damien-kun. My axe is no longer worthy of your blade."

Shiki asked, "6th Division? Where were they sent?"

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Silver Axe answered right away, "Shakky-san sent them to G-2. Nearly 6000 men to rescue Kaido-kun."

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"Ma-MA-MAM-Ma! That fool Kaido got caught by Garp." Big Mom chuckled as she ate some candy.

"I have already tasked Division 8 and 9 to prepare, it should be enough," Andor said with his usual plain voice.

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"No."

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Everyone turned to the Sin Incarnate.

Damien gave out a little smile, a crow seated upon his shoulder.

"Call them back, considering that of the 6000 this one person survived with just enough energy to make it here, it's obvious that it is an ambush. Any more fodders will be wiped out." He said with little concern.

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"Then what, brat?" Shiki asked as he puffed on his cigar.

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Damien turned around and started walking in the direction of the Island coast.

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"My Ryūshi has not had enough yet...

as for G-2 and rescuing that fool Kaido,"

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" I'll do it myself."

.

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[The following is excluded from word count]

Author's Corner:

Do recall he can fly after maxing out Geppo so distance is but a vague concept to him.

Discord: https://discord.gg/DSPpVvnz4c