The sun had just risen, casting a warm golden glow across the ocean. Draco stood on the deck of the Oro Jackson, looking out at the horizon, his mind wandering. It had been a few days since he left his island behind and joined Roger's crew, though as an ally, not a crewmate. The sea was calm, the wind gentle, and the ship sailed smoothly toward whatever its next destination was.
Draco reached into his Kimono and pulled out a small sea calendar that he stole from Roger's ship, flipping it open to check the date. His eyes settled on the year: 1498.
"1498, huh?" Draco muttered to himself. He was certain now. Roger was in the final stages of his journey toward Laugh Tale, the legendary island at the end of the Grand Line. It was where the One Piece lay, the treasure that would Title Roger as the Pirate King. But the exact timing of events was a blur to Draco, considering he wasn't sure if they had already fought Whitebeard or were sailing toward him now.
"Are they still going to fight Whitebeard? Or did that already happen?" Draco wondered, slightly amused at the thought of witnessing a clash between the two most powerful pirates. But in the end, it didn't matter to him. He didn't intend to just follow the timeline he remembered from watching "One Piece" on Earth. He was here now, and his goal was to do whatever he wanted and see the world's mystery.
Draco turned away from the sea and wandered back to the ship's deck, watching t he crew in action. The Roger Pirates were hard working, each member fulfilling their role with precision and enthusiasm. Some were adjusting sails, others checking supplies, and a few were taking the time to clean the ship, while others were training. It was an impressive sight, pirates working together not just as criminals, but as a family.
With a bottle of booze in hand, Draco made his way to the back of the ship, feeling the warm breeze against his face. He took out a makeshift sun lounger, layed on it near the railing, letting the gentle rocking of the ship lull him into a sense of peace. His eyelids grew heavy, and before he knew it, he had drifted off to sleep.
[Meanwhile, Below Deck]
Roger, Rayleigh, and Crocus sat around a table in the captain's quarters, the air thick with discussion. Crocus, the ship's doctor, was inspecting a series of charts and medical supplies while keeping a close eye on Roger, whose illness had grown worse as they sailed deeper into the Grand Line. The illness wasn't something easily treated, and though Roger's spirit remained indomitable, his body was showing signs of wear.
Rayleigh glanced over at Roger, who was laughing, despite the pain etched into his features. "You really don't take your health seriously, do you?" Rayleigh said, his voice calm but with a trace of concern.
Crocus, however, wasn't as composed. "Roger, you idiot! You pushed yourself too far during that fight with that kid! Now look at you. Did you even realize your fractured ribs and bruised bones from that battle?!"
Roger burst into laughter, his deep voice echoing through the cabin. "Heahahaha! I can heal from battle wounds easily, and besides, we all need a good fight now and then to remind us of what we're made of! and Draco… he's something else, isn't he?"
Rayleigh nodded in agreement, leaning back in his chair. "He is. No Haki was used during his battle with you, but his sheer strength is on a different level. He's like a force of nature, uncontrolled, but if he ever learns to harness it fully, there might be no one who could stop him." Rayleigh says this but doesn't realize that it was the opposite, Draco was holding back to the point of being scared that he'd kill Roger.
Crocus shook his head. "Roger, you're lucky that you've made it this far, no more of these reckless choices before you actually fall dead!"
Roger simply waved his hand dismissively. "I'll be fine!"
Rayleigh chuckled, but then his expression grew serious as he checked the log pose strapped to his wrist. The needle was finally pointing toward their next destination after getting its magnetic position. A small smile crept across his face. "Looks like we're heading toward Yukiryu Island next."
"Yukiryu Island?" Roger echoed, a gleam of excitement flashing in his eyes. "I've heard a little about that place. Frozen tundras, dangerous wildlife, and treasures buried deep in the ice. Sounds like a perfect adventure!"
Crocus rolled his eyes, but Rayleigh seemed unfazed by Roger's excitement. "Let's just hope the crew is ready for the cold. But Draco… I don't think he even feels the temperature. Even when it snowed or rain, he'd just be at the back of ship sleeping."
Roger nodded. "He's been keeping to himself mostly, training with those stones, whever he had kept them until now."
Roger shrugged. 'I don't know what he's doing, but even when we fought, he didn't go all out.'
"Whatever his reason, he's an ally now," Roger said, his voice warm with approval. "And a powerful one at that. We'll need him for what's coming."
----On Deck, Days Later----
Draco's routine hadn't changed much since he joined the crew. During the day, he trained, focusing on controlling his overwhelming strength. He had stones stored in his infinite space inventory that he used. Each day, he would pull one out, crushing it slowly to avoid accidentally shattering it in an instant. His goal was simple: control.
He would train for hours, then sleep, only to wake and do it all over again. The repetitive cycle helped him maintain focus. But even as he crushed stones, Draco couldn't help but wish that he had a stronger material.
As the Oro Jackson sailed closer to Yukiryu Island, Draco felt something strange. He stood at the edge of the deck, scanning the horizon with his sharp eyes. At a distance of about 500 meters, a silhouette appeared on the island a figure standing tall amidst the frozen landscape, definitely a giant.
Draco narrowed his eyes. The figure was unfamiliar, unmistakable even from this distance. His eyes raised in disbelief.
"Wow..." Draco muttered to himself, though he wasn't shocked. More surprised than anything. He saw that the giant silhouette had ice... that didn't look like it was made by the snow.
As they neared Yukiryu Island, the figure became clearer. A man, standing motionless on the shore, waiting for them.
Draco's lips curled into a grin. "Roger's about to have another fight I'm guessing..."