Cheat! Zodiac Talismans / The Horse and a Year ...

Marine Base, Colonel's Office.

Wright stood before the office desk, reporting his recent meeting with Atlas.

Seated behind the desk was a middle-aged man biting on a cigar, exhaling clouds of smoke. The swirling smoke obscured his features, revealing only a pair of piercing, sharp eyes—eyes hardened by blood and fire...

"Kanos Atlas, born in Shells Town within the jurisdiction of Marine Branch 153. A year ago, after being attacked by pirates while traveling with his parents, he drifted to Loguetown, where he lived for half a year. His parents' whereabouts are currently unknown..."

"Attacked by pirates, huh..."

"What a chaotic world we live in."

Chapter 3: Cheat! Zodiac Talismans

East Blue, Loguetown Marine Base Cafeteria.

The ordinarily bustling cafeteria was somehow eerily quiet. Following everyone's astonished gazes...

A somewhat slender youth was buried amidst piles of food, earnestly working on wiping them out.

Yes, that youth was none other than Atlas, who had received orders to fill his stomach.

"That's already his third helping..."

The surrounding crowd looked on with keen interest as Atlas waged war on the food.

Atlas cared little for what the people around him thought; the hunger in his belly no longer allowed him to ponder other matters, and there was no telling how his skinny frame managed to hold so much food.

Yet this also gave Atlas a sliver of confidence—the confidence to become strong. Indeed, at least in his view, being able to eat more than the average person indicated that his body possessed decent natural talent. After all, the ability to consume more meant a greater capacity to store energy, which aligned with the law of conservation of energy. In the world of pirates, big eaters were not necessarily strong, but strong people were invariably big eaters.

Though still falling short of the truly terrifying appetites possessed by the likes of Garp and Luffy, Atlas ultimately concluded this battle after consuming five servings of food.

"Hiccup~~"

Atlas patted his slightly protruding belly, let out a satisfied burp, and then swaggered toward the dormitories with a defiant stride.

Upon returning to his dorm, Atlas sluggishly performed a few movements as post-meal digestion exercises. He had little choice; after all, he possessed neither Life Return—that powerful technique enabling rapid food digestion—nor the innate knack Luffy and his peers had for turning Life Return into a passive, overpowered skill.

After a long while, beads of sweat dotting his forehead, Atlas finally halted his post-meal workout, at which point he calmed his mind to inspect his condition.

At that moment, Atlas slowly sank his consciousness deep into his mind...

Twelve octagons bearing distinct designs floated within the endless darkness. Yes, these were Atlas's golden finger: there was no system, no heritage, merely these twelve talismans.

Right, they were talismans. If Atlas had not mistaken them, these were the twelve zodiac talismans from the cartoon Jackie Chan Adventures he had watched in his youth. In his memory, the abilities represented by each of these twelve talismans were not a whit inferior to Devil Fruits!

The zodiac talismans originated from the Fire Demon Shendu. They could be called magical abilities, and once acquired, they could be used directly without any need for development. However, their potency depended on the user. At the same time, they possessed a trait no Devil Fruit could match—they were not hated by the sea!

I just don't know if the abilities of these twelve talismans have been replicated in their entirety?

Atlas muttered to himself.

With that thought, Atlas projected his consciousness toward the talismans.

Suddenly, the excited expression on Atlas's face slowly faded...

It had been a false joy; he hadn't expected this gimmick to come with so many restrictions.

Atlas's face darkened somewhat.

Based on the information he had gathered so far, given his current physical condition, he could only light up a single talisman. Unlike in their original world where these talismans could be used the moment they were picked up, they now required the consumption of the user's stamina to activate. Moreover, meeting the conditions for activation demanded robust physical fitness; his physical stats had to reach a certain threshold before a talisman could be lit. As for bearing two or more talismans simultaneously, it was nothing short of a pipe dream for Atlas at this stage.

"So, which talisman should I choose right now?"

At this moment, Atlas inevitably found himself in a bit of a dilemma.

According to his childhood memories, the Rat Talisman could imbue inanimate objects with the ability to move, somewhat resembling the Homies created by Big Mom's Soul-Soul Fruit. Just hearing about it made it sound immensely powerful, considering it was, after all, the ability of a Four Emperor!

The Ox Talisman could grant Atlas boundless strength. As for whether this divine strength enhancement increased his base power or provided supplementary force remained to be examined, but it would still be a potent combat tool and made Atlas drool with envy.

The Tiger Talisman allowed various energies within the user's body to exist without conflict, meaning it could integrate the powers of all talismans. When split in two, it would divide the user into good and evil halves. This ability made Atlas's eyes light up. On the surface, the ability seemed utterly useless, but being able to harness the powers of multiple talismans at the same time was far more than simple one plus one equals two.

To give an example, when using Divine Speed and Divine Strength simultaneously, his force would stack to a terrifying degree, since—as Kizaru Borsalino put it—speed was power.

The Rabbit Talisman could grant the user divine speed and also enhance their neural reaction time. As for whether traveling through time and space was possible, that remained unknown.

The Dragon Talisman could bestow powerful explosive capabilities, leaning toward destructive force and serving as a formidable attack method.

The Snake Talisman could grant the user invisibility—wasn't that just a carbon copy of the Clear-Clear Fruit? He just didn't know if it could evade Observation Haki.

The Horse Talisman allowed the user to cure all illnesses and could also be said to purge the human body of negative effects. Well... pain and injuries should fall within the scope of all illnesses, right? In that case, this ability was simply the premier choice to aid cultivation! It meant he could train desperately without the slightest hesitation about injuring himself, as long as he had sufficient stamina and energy to repair his own body.

The Sheep Talisman allowed the user's soul to leave their body and enter others' dreams. It seemed to be an ability that strengthened the soul; he just wasn't certain if it could provide any benefits for practicing Haki. After all, so-called Haki was an extension of one's own will, and will was fairly similar to the soul.

The Monkey Talisman gave the user the ability to transform anyone into an animal's form. This ability was quite interesting and was probably the only one that could act upon others. However, if only the outward appearance turned into an animal while strength and speed remained unchanged, its value would drop somewhat and prove useless against powerhouses.

The Chicken Talisman granted the user the power of levitation, though it supposedly utilized telekinesis. Atlas didn't know what conditions were required to trigger it in the pirate world. It was somewhat like the Float-Float Fruit's ability, and its self-preservation utility was top-notch, especially since flight ability was extremely rare in the pirate world, granting a user formidable mobility.

The Dog Talisman could grant the user immortality—meaning the moment Atlas lit it, he would basically stop aging. It was equivalent to undergoing the Perennial Youth Operation with the Op-Op Fruit, which was completely broken. Eternal youth had always been an eternal pursuit of human society, and now it lay right before Atlas's eyes, obtainable with a mere thought, which inevitably made him breathe a little faster.

The Pig Talisman could grant the user the ability to shoot lasers from their eyes, which could also be called laser eyes. Compared to the destructive nature of the Dragon Talisman, the Pig Talisman leaned more toward cutting.

Atlas didn't understand how these talismans performed in the pirate world either, so he could only make his choice based on the intelligence he possessed. As for subsequent abilities, he would likely have to explore them slowly.

After understanding the abilities of each talisman, deciding which one to pick left Atlas somewhat torn: should he choose a talisman that could form formidable combat power in a short time, or select a supportive one?

Focusing his consciousness on his desired talisman, Atlas felt his heart flutter involuntarily.

"This is the one..."

Chapter 4: The Horse and a Year

Sea Circle Calendar 1499, June, East Blue, Loguetown Marine Base.

Dawn was breaking. Scattered starlight sprinkled across the base training ground, where a sturdy figure ran continuously around the grounds against the slightly chilly morning breeze, heavy weights strapped to his hands and feet.

"Hoo... hoo..."

As Atlas ran full tilt, he panted like a bellows.

This was the four-hour physical training he performed every day. In this world, all abilities relied on a robust physique for support; grand figures like admirals and Four Emperors fought for days and nights on end when they threw down, and without stamina, one would surely collapse halfway through.

The sun gradually rose, and Atlas's physical training drew to a close.

Atlas casually picked up a bamboo sword from the corner of the training ground and began to swing it!

Swish! Swish! Swish!

An unsharpened bamboo sword was forcefully wielded by him until it whistled with wind!

Chop! Slash! Slice! Thrust! Uppercut! Sweep!

Atlas practiced his basic movements until they looked respectable. Naturally, he knew only these basic movements and no fancy techniques, for every tall building rose from the ground up.

Didn't Zoro practice basic movements in his youth as well? That was why his foundation was laid so solidly, allowing him to rapidly grow stronger in a short span of time.

"9992, 9993, 9994..."

Atlas meticulously completed today's morning training quota, sweat having long since soaked the ground around him.

After all, he was currently situated in the world of pirates. Even though this place was the East Blue—known as the weakest sea—there were still plenty of "great pirates" capable of threatening his life, considering that his current body was a mere thirteen years old!

"Training is truly exhausting. Fortunately, I have the Horse Talisman to help repair the various hidden injuries in my body; otherwise, following my training methods, I'd either die or end up with a host of chronic ailments. Forget about getting strong, surviving to thirty would be a stretch."

Once all training was complete, Atlas lay sprawled in a sprawling "X" shape in the center of the training ground. The newly risen sun shone down upon his body, and his sharply chiseled muscles radiated an intense aura of masculine hormones under the baptism of sweat. Compared to himself a year ago, the current Atlas had changed drastically—not only in his shooting height, but also in his rapidly soaring strength.

Over the past year, aside from routine chores like washing clothes and mopping floors, Atlas spent practically all his time exercising himself, to the point where he forcibly shortened his sleeping hours to five hours.

The intensity of this training had shifted from arduous at the beginning to effortless now, a transformation largely credited to the help of the Horse Talisman.

Atlas now felt somewhat grateful that he hadn't been dazzled by the abilities of those other talismans back then, choosing instead to decisively select the Horse Talisman as the supreme auxiliary ability for him at the moment. In the pirate world, physique was the foundation of all abilities; whether one was a Devil Fruit user or a hand-to-hand combat powerhouse, growing stronger was inseparable from a formidable body.

What surprised him even more was that the effects brought by the Horse Talisman were definitely not something that could be expressed by the mere words "cure all illnesses."

Not only could it treat various aches and injuries sustained during the training process, but it could also accelerate the body's self-healing through continuous food consumption—somewhat akin to Life Return. During combat, he could also expend stamina to recover wounds, achieving the effect of a Zoan Devil Fruit!

Through experimentation, Atlas discovered that using the Horse Talisman consumed more than just stamina; the energy stored within his body could also fuel the talisman's functions. Moreover, with frequent use, the talisman imprint in his mind was gradually fading. This was definitely not a disappearance of his ability.

If his guess was correct, once the imprint vanished entirely, the Horse Talisman would transform into Atlas's physical talent, becoming entirely instinctual and thereby achieving a state similar to awakening! Naturally, it wasn't as monstrous as a fruit awakening, but at the very least it would reduce the stamina or energy consumed.

Over the past year, his height had reached a staggering 1.9 meters; one had to remember that previously he had merely been a little squirt standing a little over 1.6 meters. Not only that, but rapid nutrient intake and the shedding of sweat had forcefully sculpted him from a thin, ribby beanpole into a rugged man with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and arms that practically burst through his sleeves.

His limbs and torso carried sixty kilograms of weight each every day, never removed except when bathing, and worn even during physical training.

Over the past year, practically everyone in the entire base had been challenged by him. From initially being unable to defeat a single soul to now being unmatched below the rank of commissioned officer, heaven knows how many severe beatings he had taken.

Naturally, Lieutenant Wright—who had originally inducted him into the Marine base—was no longer his match, leaving Wright depressed for quite a long time before he recovered.

Lying down for a moment, Atlas dusted off his behind where no dust existed and strode toward the cafeteria. Nowadays, he needed to devour ten servings of food just to reach eighty percent fullness, a difference as vast as clouds and mud compared to a year ago!

"Yo! Uncle Carl, prepare ten servings for me."

As soon as Atlas stepped into the cafeteria, he waved at a bearded, burly man, excitement bubbling over.

"Ha? How is it this brat again..."

The burly man—namely Uncle Carl—instantly dropped his expression. Though his words were sharp, his gaze held not a shred of impatience.

Carl Mai, the head chef of the base cafeteria, had gotten acquainted with Atlas due to the boy's terrifying appetite. Carl greatly appreciated the young, energetic Atlas, seeing as he was now the role model for the younger generation in the base!

"...Don't be so stingy, Uncle Carl."

Atlas didn't mind in the least and said with a grinning smile.

While they spoke, Atlas's meal was already prepared. Without standing on ceremony, he grabbed a piece of meat and shoved it straight into his mouth...

Base Colonel's Office...

"Understood, I shall certainly rush over to support as quickly as possible!"

Colonel Arthur Randall said with a solemn expression.

Arthur Randall, the supreme commander of the East Blue Loguetown Marine Base, was also the man who had approved Atlas's enlistment a year ago.

With a snap, Colonel Randall hung up the Den Den Mushi and roared toward the doorway: "Signalman!"

"Sound the alarm for me immediately, all combat personnel assemble at the training ground!"

"Yes!"

As he spoke, footsteps echoing from afar grew increasingly distant outside the door...

Woo!! Woo!!

Urgent alarm sirens echoed throughout the entire Marine base, and all non-duty personnel rapidly sprang into action—naturally including Atlas, who had just finished eating his fill and stepping out of the cafeteria.

"Heh, right now is precisely the moment to test the fruits of my cultivation."

Atlas felt a inexplicable surge of excitement. His expression turning stern, he briskly walked toward the training ground...

Five minutes later, virtually all personnel had assembled.

Colonel Arthur Randall, draped in a Justice coat, stood firm at the front of the formation, glanced with satisfaction at the neat ranks, and shouted loudly:

"All personnel, attention! A town within our jurisdiction is suffering from pirate depredations. Now, all combatants follow me to uphold justice! Justice brooks no desecration!"

"Justice! Justice! Justice!"

All the Marines standing on the training ground roared with righteous indignation, and Atlas—standing amidst the crowd—was no exception. With hot blood rushing to his head, he now felt his entire body brimming with strength.

Chapter 5: Sharp Sword Pirates

East Blue, an Unnamed Town.

"Hoo-hahaha... Little ones, charge for me! Loot all the food and women!"

Standing at the bow of a ship, a two-meter-tall man with a ferocious appearance, a crooked captain's hat perched on his head, and a rapier in hand, bared his mouthful of yellow teeth and roared forward.

Captain of the Sharp Sword Pirates! O. Toman! Bounty of 8,000,000 Beli!

"Ooh~ ooh~ ooh~ ooh~"

The crowd of pirates could no longer suppress their internal desire for plunder and scrambled to rush off the ship, pillaging everywhere. In an instant, the previously peaceful town turned seemingly into a living hell, filled everywhere with weeping and wailing mixed with cries for mercy.

"Hey! Captain, with such a massive commotion won't we attract the Marines?"

At that moment, a man with a cigarette dangling from his mouth walked slowly over to O. Toman and spoke with a somewhat unsightly expression.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Frank, who do you take me for! I am O. Toman!"