I Can Copy Any Talent in the World of One Piece

Several smiling women wove through the crowd, carrying platters of hearty food for everyone.

No one knew who started it, but soon a whole crowd joined hands around the bonfire and danced to one off-key song after another.

Bellemere held Noil's hand, Noil held Nojiko's, and Nojiko led Nami along. The two little girls looked thoroughly battered and bruised, and were being unusually well-behaved.

The family stood in the middle of the Village Center and twisted through a dance none of them could have named. They looked so awkward that everyone burst into laughter.

The celebration went deep into the night. Noil's family and the villagers kept the feast going until they were too tired to dance, then simply lay down where they stood and fell fast asleep.

Bellemere dozed off against a table, while Noil snored away with his arms around a few burly men.

Yet somehow, only two adorable little girls remained awake.

Hugging a barrel of wine, Nami giggled foolishly and pointed at the villagers sprawled across the ground. "Look at them! A few cups and they're out. What lightweights!"

Nojiko nodded her little head furiously. "Total lightweights!"

The two girls grinned at each other, clinked their cups with a clack, and cried out boldly, "Cheers!"

Under the moonlight, villagers lay asleep everywhere. Only two figures remained standing, like conquering queens.

None of them knew how badly those two would get it the next day!

Rookie Hunters

While Noil and the others celebrated their victory, the night still held a few miserable souls.

On a small, isolated island, a band of Fish-Men lay sprawled on the ground in disarray.

A deep sword wound crossed the chest of the sawtooth shark Fish-Man who led them. He clamped a webbed hand over his mouth, but could not stop blood from pouring through his gaping jaws.

"Arlong!"

The three Fish-Man officers had regained consciousness. Seeing Arlong cough up blood, they hurried over in alarm.

Kuroobi stared at the nearly dying Arlong and said bitterly, "If it weren't for that human, we'd never have ended up like this!"

Chew's mouth was swollen out of shape, and terror filled his fishlike eyes. "That guy isn't human," he said, trembling. "He's a demon!"

Clutching his bleeding wound, Hachi asked through tears, "What do we do now?"

The Fish-Men fell silent again. This defeat had dealt them their worst blow yet.

They had left the Grand Line for the East Blue because they believed Fish-Men were the noblest race. They had come here to conquer humanity.

Who could have imagined that before their grand plans even began, before they could dominate the East Blue, a human brat from a tiny village would cut them down with a single strike?

"I'll prove... Fish-Men are the strongest race..." At the broken words, the Fish-Men all stiffened.

Arlong pushed himself upright on one knee. His eyes glowed red with cruelty and hatred, and though his voice was weak, his resolve rang clear. "Back to the Grand Line!"

"What?!" Kuroobi and the others exclaimed.

"I can't get stronger in a place like this. I need a greater challenge!" Arlong burst into wild laughter, sending a chill through the other Fish-Men.

Just like that, Noil changed the course of Arlong's life and set him on the path to becoming far stronger.

But that was still far removed from Noil, who was asleep with his arms around several villagers.

Then Noil's eyes flew open.

A strange feeling tugged at his mind, making him restless and sending shivers through his body.

Had his newly awakened Observation Haki sensed something?

Noil concentrated on the feeling. Then realization struck.

I need to pee!

Clutching his crotch, Noil ran into a nearby grove, took aim, and opened the floodgates.

Ah, that's better!

Whistling, Noil sauntered along the path in the dark. Suddenly, he heard the creak of footsteps on wooden planks.

He stopped and looked toward a distant pirate ship. Beneath the hazy moonlight, two figures moved back and forth on deck.

It was Arlong's ship. When Noil had chased after Arlong, the Fish-Men had left it behind.

Noil raised an eyebrow. Had Arlong come back with his crew?

Surely not just to steal his ship back?

Noil grabbed his sword and hurried over on his long legs.

In the moonlight, he reached the ship and lightly stepped across a few wooden footholds. Without a sound, he climbed onto the mast and looked down over the deck.

Two people in ordinary clothes stood below. Though it was dark, Noil could tell they were women.

They looked about seventeen or eighteen. Each wore a long sword at her waist, and from the way they moved, they seemed fairly fit.

One of them searched the ship inside and out, then suddenly sat down and spoke.

"Sis! Is this really the Arlong Pirates' ship?"

The moment she opened her mouth, Noil nearly lost his footing and fell.

She was loud! Her voice cracked through the night like thunder. Noil wondered if the woman beside her had gone deaf.

Before he could recover, the other girl shouted even louder, "Keep your voice down! We're sneaking in!"

Noil nearly dropped to his knees. What kind of outfit are you two with?

It's a miracle nobody's cut you down all these years.

"Arlong's done nothing but evil! He's destroyed so many villages! We have to kill him this time!" The younger sister ignored the warning and kept yelling.

Noil couldn't take it anymore. Seated atop the mast, he casually asked, "Got a grudge against Arlong?"

"Who's there?!" the sisters roared, reacting at once.

"Careful, sis! We heard him before we saw him. He must be an expert!"

"You're right! Get closer, or he might catch us off guard!"

Noil stared speechlessly at the two women spinning around on the deck. "Look up."

The older sister tensed and warned, "Don't look, sis! It's a trap!"

Realization dawned on the younger sister. "You want to attack while we raise our heads? Not a chance!"

"My sister and I are the two smartest women in our village!"

Noil was so exasperated he laughed. Does your village have any other women?

He had to stop talking to these two geniuses before they gave him a stroke.

Noil jumped down onto the deck and faced the sisters, who stood ready for a fight. "Who sent you after Arlong?"

Up close, he saw that both girls were fairly pretty. Each wore a single ponytail, though one tied hers on the left and the other on the right.

They weren't stunning, but their delicate features were attractive. Each had a beauty mark on one flushed cheek. With their midriff-baring tops, shorts, and Tachi at their waists, they really did look like wandering swordswomen.

Such lovely girls. Shame they had to open their mouths...

"We're Pirate Hunters. We came for Arlong's bounty," said the older sister, whose voice was the louder of the two.

She pulled out a wanted poster. Arlong's vicious face was printed above the reward: twenty million Beli.

That was probably the highest bounty in the East Blue right now. No wonder it had drawn Pirate Hunters.

"Bad timing. I've already dealt with Arlong," Noil said, spreading his hands helplessly.

"Dealt with him?" the older sister asked in surprise.

The younger sister looked skeptical. "A kid like you? He's a pirate worth twenty million Beli!"

"Is twenty million Beli supposed to be impressive?" Noil asked coolly, putting on an air of effortless superiority.

The younger sister nodded earnestly. "Of course it is! He could crush you over and over!"

"If you beat him, my ancestors would rise from their graves."

This younger sister of yours could give mine a run for her money in the idiot department...

Once again, Noil was left speechless.

Couldn't someone play along when I tried to look cool for once?

Noil looked at the two Pirate Hunters without much interest. "Then try me."

He slowly drew his sword, and sharp Sword Aura spilled out with the blade.

"Come on. One exchange and you'll know!"

Taking On Two Apprentices

Noil drew his sword. The sisters immediately pointed their Tachi at him and eyed him warily.

"Go!" the older sister shouted, and the two charged into battle with Noil.

Fifteen minutes later.

The sisters knelt stiffly on the ground, their faces swollen like pigs' heads. "So it wash you who beat Arlong! No mishtake!"

Noil crouched down and studied them curiously. "Are you really Pirate Hunters? You seem awfully weak!"

The older sister nodded quickly. "We didn't lie! I'm Niwan, and my younger sister is Niman. We're famous Pirate Hunters in the East Blue!"

Famous? They weren't in the Original Story.

Noil puzzled over it, but soon figured it out.

They had come looking for a fight with Arlong today. If Noil hadn't changed the course of events and Arlong had still been here...

They would probably already be dead.

Still, Noil decided to be cautious and used his appraisal ability on the supposedly famous sisters.

Name: Niwan

Wild Slash That Kills the Old Master: White-quality. She has a special talent for the Tachi. When emotionally agitated in a one-on-one fight, she triggers "Wild Slash," which has a 1% chance of hitting her opponent.

East Blue Intelligence Barrel: White-quality. Her exceptionally thick skin makes it easy for her to talk to people, so she has gathered information on most pirates and criminal forces in the East Blue.

Name: Niman

Inherited Blind Swinging Saber Style: White-quality. She has a special talent for the Tachi. When emotionally agitated while fighting multiple enemies alone, she triggers her inherited saber style, which has a 3% chance of hitting at least one of them.

Bounty Recitation: White-quality. With far too much time on her hands, she memorizes nearly every pirate wanted poster and can recite their details accurately.

Between the two of them, they didn't have a single blue-quality talent...

Noil finally understood just how much people could differ.

Even Gen-san, weak as he was, had an innate talent that helped him focus on training. How did these sisters end up with talents this absurd?!

No wonder they had both gone down before he'd even felt like he was trying.

He ought to be thankful they hadn't gotten worked up...

Noil rubbed his forehead helplessly. "All right, I believe you."

"But I really did beat Arlong. He's fled now, so you'll have to look somewhere else!"

Niwan and Niman exchanged a glance. Then they bent sharply at the waist and slammed their foreheads against the deck.

Noil's heart skipped a beat. He stared at the two of them, dumbfounded.

What's this? Do they think it's New Year's and want gift money for bowing?

The sisters shouted in voices that rang across the ship, "Master! Please take us as your apprentices!"

Huh? Noil tilted his head in confusion.

Niwan looked up, her expression grave. "Anyone who can defeat us sisters together must be one of the rarest fighters in the East Blue!"

Niman nodded vigorously. "That's what I think too!"

Niwan's eyes seemed to gleam with sudden insight. "Your swordsmanship is extraordinary, and you even dealt with the great pirate Arlong. You must be a hidden master living here!"

Niman nodded in firm agreement. "That's what I think too!"