"System, help me analyze this."
"All right, please wait..." Less than 30 seconds later,
"Beep. Based on 136 possible scenarios, the most likely is that the Major General recognized your potential and reported you to Marine Headquarters. However, judging by his microexpressions, he is still somewhat wary of you. The system thinks this is because your transformation over the past year has been too drastic. There's no need to worry."
"I'm desperate too! I was only fourteen when I crossed over, my parents were both dead, and I lived off the real estate they left behind. Those were things my predecessor did! Why should I get blamed for them?"
"What the hell are you so pleased about? If this system hadn't forced you to train every day, you'd absolutely have chosen the same path as him and become a lazy bum, wouldn't you? So hurry up and thank your system master!..."
The system had entered rant mode, spewing five insults a second.
Rono glanced sideways and whistled, pretending he hadn't heard a thing.
Listening to the system rant the whole way, Rono arrived at the sparring ring. A crowd of Marines had formed a circle around two men grappling in the middle, occasionally throwing in some basic fighting moves.
"Make way, let me through. Why didn't you wait for me? I'm on an eleven-win streak. You guys aren't going to renege on your promise, are you?"
Rono pushed through the crowd and took a spot right in front.
By then, the match had also reached its conclusion. The muscular hunk on the left flexed his bulging muscles and slammed the other man onto the ground, drawing cheers from the people around them.
"Kid, you may have won eleven matches in a row, but your opponents were all rookies. You're no match for Ivan."
The Marine beside him didn't mind being pushed aside. He just smiled as he spoke.
"Then let me try!" Before he'd finished speaking, Rono leaped forward. "Rookie Rono, please go easy on me!"
"Ivan," the muscular man rumbled.
"Three, two, one!" The referee waved to signal the start.
The grin vanished from Rono's face in an instant. He whipped a kick toward Ivan's forehead. Ivan didn't make a sound. He quickly raised his right arm to block, while driving his left fist toward Rono's stomach. The angle was extremely awkward, making it hard for Rono to put any force behind his movements. He blocked the punch with his hand, but his body still staggered backward. Rono wasn't an easy opponent, though. He used the momentum to perform a backflip and put some distance between them. Ivan immediately came at him with a straight punch. Rono ducked and swept a leg at Ivan's shin, striking just as Ivan had lost his balance while moving in to press his advantage. The instant Ivan fell, Rono pivoted on the leg he'd swept out and drove his other knee into Ivan's chest. "Knee Cannon!" Rono even shouted the skill's name, as if he were in some over-the-top action scene.
There was a dull thud, and Ivan went flying, crashing to the ground. The spectators gasped. Had it started? No, it was already over.
"Cough, cough..." Ivan struggled to his feet. "I admit defeat. Thanks for holding back." Ivan had clearly felt Rono ease up at the last moment. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gotten away with coughing a couple of times. He'd have spent at least a month in the hospital.
What he didn't know was that if this had been a fight to the death, that Knee Cannon would have smashed into his face. In that case, there'd be no need for a hospital stay. They could just order his coffin.
"Ahaha, you're pretty good too." Rono scratched his head.
"That didn't sound sincere at all!" one of the onlookers muttered, rolling his eyes.
"Huh? Really?" Rono looked around, then slapped his forehead. "Don't forget our deal—a meal!"
"Yeah, yeah, we know. Honestly, you're loaded, and you still want us to treat you!"
A Marine named Ibaka walked over and helped Ivan up. "Come on, let's go to the restaurant!"
"Sure!"
The whole group headed toward the restaurant in a grand procession.
After eating and drinking their fill, everyone lounged in their chairs to rest.
"Hey, everyone, I have something to say." Ivan stood up, his voice a little downcast.
Everyone seemed to know what was coming. They stopped what they were doing, and the restaurant fell silent. (They'd booked the whole place.)
As for Rono, he was lying on the floor with his belly sticking out, waiting to recover.
"I'm reporting to Marine Headquarters tomorrow... Thank you all for looking after me these past few years. I... I'll remember you all!" Ivan bowed to everyone. A drop of liquid slid down his lowered face.
"Huh? You're going to Marine Headquarters too? What a coincidence—I am too!" Rono, who'd been sprawled nearby, perked up excitedly.
...The sorrowful mood was swept away in an instant, and everyone turned to look at Rono.
"What? Did I say something wrong?" Rono stared at the Marines, utterly confused.
"Yeah, yeah, what's with you all? Isn't it better to get rid of that gloomy atmosphere? Besides, we all knew Ivan was leaving, didn't we? Let's just treat this gathering as Ivan's send-off! Oh, and Rono's too." Ibaka shrugged at the end.
"Ah! You bastards! So you knew all along, and I went and kept it secret for days! You were just waiting to watch me make a fool of myself, weren't you?" Ivan laughed as he wrapped an arm around a Marine's neck.
"Ahhh, I'm gonna die! Big Brother Ivan, let go! Big Brother Ibaka overheard you!"
The restaurant erupted into chatter once more...
At first, everyone was surprised to hear that Rono was going to Marine Headquarters too, but soon they accepted it. With his fighting ability at such a young age, joining Marine Headquarters was a sure thing; it was only a matter of time. Still, heading there after only two days was pretty fast.
After taking a shower, Rono lay on the comfortable bed and let out a contented sigh. He opened the system's Character Panel, which he could check once a day. (Not that there was much else to it.)
Body Strength: 32 (1) Bone Strength: 41 (2)
Everything else remained unchanged. Rono was a little surprised. "System, why is my bone strength increasing so quickly?"
"Beep. Bone strengthening not only increases strength, it also improves potential. And since the Host is still growing, his strength is increasing quickly. A man's bones finish developing at age twenty-two. After that, bone strength basically stops increasing."
"What! There's a limit? What about the body?"
"In theory, there's no limit in this world."
"System, who do you think is stronger, me or Beast Kaido?"
"The Host is advised not to go looking for death. Since the Host has eaten a Devil Fruit, he'd be finished if his bones were broken and he were thrown into the sea. There's no comparison."
"What! So eating a fruit was a mistake? My Bone Planting Armor is pretty strong too."
"In theory, yes. It depends on how far the Host develops his fruit. Whitebeard is also a Devil Fruit user."
"Oh, I get it. I'll work harder to develop my fruit."
"Beep. Friendly Reminder: the body is the foundation of everything. Whitebeard is physically very strong too, so the Host should stop jerking off."
"..."
Rono knew that a "Friendly Reminder" was usually followed by a "reward." And sure enough—
"Beep. Congratulations, Host. You've obtained Hell Training (II)."
"Congratulations my ass! I don't want it! And do you have to beep every time? Would you die if you didn't?"
"×2."
Rono was petrified. "Um, System Master, just pretend what I said was a fart and let it go, okay?"
"×3."
"Hey, please, you absolutely have to stop! A stupid donkey like me shouldn't even be alive in this world. I'm really sorry for all the trouble I've caused you." orz
"Beep. In light of the Host's sincere apology, I'll only do it twice!"
"Hey! You were proud of yourself just now, weren't you? Are you really a system? What happened to being stiff, aloof, and having a little-girl voice?"
Of course, Rono only dared to think these things. He didn't dare say them aloud.
""Sleep, sleep."
Rono closed his eyes.
"Data compiled. Compatibility between genes and Devil Fruit: 53%. Added to records. Evaluation: showing signs of further compatibility..."
Rono slept soundly, and didn't hear the system's eerie electronic voice.
Before you continue