The sun hung low over Onigashima, casting a fiery glow across the battlefield as the roar of chaos echoed through the air. The Beast Pirates clashed against a small figure, though calling it a fight was an overstatement, as they were ridiculously outclassed by the small figure.
Amidst the wreckage and clamor, two figures stood atop a cliff overlooking the chaos below.
Kaido of the Hundred Beasts towered, striking fear into the hearts of many, and beside him stood King, his loyal right-hand man, his wings folded behind his back, his gaze fixed on the destruction below.
"Look at him go," Kaido rumbled, a proud grin breaking through his typically fierce expression. "Ryuji's Devil Fruit is indeed unmatched! Woro Woro!" he laughed.
"What kind of Devil Fruit is it, Kaido-san?" King wondered as he gazed at Ryuji's form weaving through the Beast Pirates.
"Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Mahoraga—a divine beast that was called in ancient times the embodiment of the war god," Kaido said with wonder and continued, "for one simple reason: its ability!"
"Ability?"
"Hmmm," Kaido made an agreement sound.
"Its ability is simple yet terrifying: the ability to adapt to anything! And anything means anything! Woro Woro!"
"Adapt, as in become better at resisting?"
"Yes, but more perverted, hit a few times, and the next few won't even be able to wound him!" Kaido said as he watched his son being slash at umpteen times, yet showing no damage.
"I see," realization dawned on King as he understood why the fight had been one-sided. He thought that the young master's mythical Zoan had a ridiculous defense, but no, it was much worse than that—Ryuji had simply adapted; neither slashes nor bullets were able to graze him now.
"The longer the fight goes, the stronger he becomes. We both know the simplest way to grow strong is through fighting, and he embodies that. With his perverted regeneration ability and the enhancements of the mythical Zoan, Woro Woro, my son will one day be feared throughout the seas," he said, gazing down at the boy mounting the piled unconscious bodies of the Beast Pirates.
King, too, silently gazed at the boy.
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As the fight ended, Ryuji took a step back, leaning against a crumbling wall of Onigashima. His thoughts began to wander back to the past decade. Ten years had passed since his reincarnation into this world—a world brimming with adventure and, more specifically, danger.
In those early years, Ryuji had struggled to understand the concept of his reincarnation. How could he? Most of that time had been spent contemplating and doubting whether he was simply in a coma from his accident, dreaming of the world of One Piece.
Thankfully, he had moved past that now, Ryuji thought as he made his way to his room—the room assigned to him by his father, Kaido, the Hundred Beast.
Once again consumed by his thoughts, Ryuji sighed. The child of Kaido. While he couldn't deny the awe he felt toward his father, it didn't change his nature or the things he had done. A tyrant—that was what his father was. A being who had caused the misery of the land of Wano.
Without his power, that trash Orochi wouldn't be able to enjoy reigning and causing terror in this land.
Ryuji groaned at the thought of what he should do about his so-called father. Should he turn a blind eye or gather strength and rebel against him?
The young master of the Beast Pirates hesitated as he recalled how his father had treated him, how he had given him a mythical Zoan without hesitation.
Ryuji stopped at his door, contemplating. 'Let my future self deal with this. Right now, the only thing I should be concerned with is improving my strength to enjoy this life of mine.'