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Xpovac sat in his planning room, his gaze drifting towards the map of Pyraxia spread out on the table. His mind, however, was elsewhere, reflecting on the changes he had caused to the timeline. So many deviations from the "canon" events, as he had once known them. In a world filled with uncertainties and chaos, Xpovac had undoubtedly altered the course of history.
First, there was the matter of Blackbeard. The man who was meant to betray the Whitebeard Pirates and trigger a series of events leading to the War of the Best was dead. That single action had already shifted the tides dramatically. Ace was alive and well—an outcome Xpovac was proud of, yet it left an undeniable hole in the natural flow of events. Sanji had Renewal Taekwondo under his belt, Zoro wielded the formidable Dragonslayer, and even Black Maria was now by his side, changing the dynamic of Kaidou's crew in unforeseen ways.
And then there was Kaidou himself. With the fruit Xpovac had given him, the captain of the Beast Pirates now wielded potentially the strongest Devil Fruit in existence. Xpovac knew that his little brother Luffy's future battle against Kaidou's crew had just become ten times more difficult.
"Maybe I've gone too far," Xpovac thought aloud. "I messed with the canon way more than I should have. It's only fair that I lend my little brother a hand during his training. At the very least, I should make sure he's strong enough to face the challenges I've thrown his way."
His decision made, Xpovac opened the system store, quickly navigating to the skill section. He browsed through various abilities until he found exactly what he was looking for: the skill book containing the knowledge of Full Counter from Seven Deadly Sins, an ability that could reflect an opponent's attack back at them with increased power. This was exactly the type of skill Luffy could use to turn the tables against powerful foes.
With a swift purchase, the skill book materialized before him. Next, he navigated to the Devil Fruits section and bought the Kaze-Kaze no Mi, a powerful wind-based fruit he intended to give to Nami. The fruit would grant her the ability to manipulate wind and air, which would complement her weather manipulation skills perfectly.
After acquiring the items, Xpovac called out to Mew, who had been floating around the room in lazy circles.
"Mew, teleport me to Luffy," Xpovac instructed.
The mythical Pokémon let out a cheerful sound, its eyes glowing blue as it prepared the teleportation. In an instant, Xpovac felt the familiar sensation of being enveloped in light, and then the scenery around him shifted.
---
When the world came back into focus, Xpovac found himself standing on an island filled with dense forests and rocky cliffs. He didn't even have time to get his bearings before a massive fist came barreling toward him. Without flinching, Xpovac reached out and caught it, halting the force behind it effortlessly.
"Whoa, lil' brother, watch out!" Xpovac laughed, pushing the rubbery fist away. "You've got to be more careful where you're throwing those things."
Luffy, recognizing his brother's voice, shrank his fist back to its normal size and jumped towards Xpovac, wrapping his arms around him in a tight hug. "Big bro! What are you doing here?"
"Came to check on you," Xpovac replied, returning the hug. "Heard you were training for two years, so I asked Mew to teleport me over."
Luffy pulled back slightly, his usual cheerful demeanor dimming as he lowered his gaze. "Yeah… after Ace died, and we got separated at Sabaody, I realized… we're not ready for the New World." His voice carried a heavy tone of regret. "So, we're training until we can become strong enough to protect each other."
Xpovac smiled at his younger brother's admission. It wasn't often that Luffy openly acknowledged his own weakness. "Well, it's about time you realized that you're weak. Lelelelele," Xpovac chuckled, ruffling Luffy's hair. "But don't worry, I've come to help you. Speaking of which, where is your teacher?"
"Rayleigh?" Luffy said, glancing around the forest clearing. "He said he had something to take care of and left about an hour ago. I dunno when he'll be back."
Xpovac couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. He had been hoping to meet the legendary right-hand man of Gol D. Roger, but it seemed fate wasn't going to make that happen just yet. Shrugging off the thought, he reached into his inventory and pulled out the two items he had just purchased from the system store.
"Here," Xpovac said, handing the skill book and the Devil Fruit to Luffy. "The fruit is for Nami when you all meet up again. As for the skill book, it's something I want you to learn. Show it to Rayleigh when he comes back; he should be able to help you master it."
Luffy stared at the items, then back at his brother. "What's the skill book for?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
"It's a technique called Full Counter," Xpovac explained. "It allows you to reflect an enemy's attack back at them with even more power. Think of it as a way to give your opponents a taste of their own medicine."
Luffy's eyes lit up with excitement as he imagined using such an ability. "That sounds awesome!" he exclaimed, quickly setting the items aside and throwing his arms around Xpovac once more in a heartfelt embrace. "Thanks, big bro… for everything. Even though Ace and Sabo are… gone, I'm glad I still have you looking out for me."
Xpovac felt a swell of emotion as he returned his brother's hug. "You're welcome, little brother. But I've got things to do, so I'll be leaving now. I'll check in on you again in about two months to see your progress."
With those parting words, Xpovac patted Luffy's back one last time before stepping away. "Take care, Luffy. Stay strong."
As Mew appeared beside him, Xpovac gave the Pokémon a nod. In an instant, they disappeared, teleporting away from the island and back to Pyraxia.
---
Back at his base, Xpovac immediately made his way to Black Maria, who was in the courtyard practicing some battle techniques with her staff. As he approached, she paused mid-swing and turned to him, a smile gracing her lips.
"Back already? How did it go?" she asked, setting the staff down.
"It went well," Xpovac replied, walking over and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I'm going to help Luffy during his training. But there's something else I need your help with now." He took a step back and looked her in the eyes. "I need you to find suitable locations in each of the four seas and the Grand Line where I can set up the travel points."
Black Maria arched an eyebrow. "The travel points? The ones for Pyraxia?"
Xpovac nodded. "Exactly. We'll need places that are accessible but not too close to major naval bases or pirate territories. Somewhere neutral."
Black Maria pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Alright, I'll start looking right away. It might take a few days, though."
"That's fine. Take your time," Xpovac said, giving her a reassuring smile. "I'll get started on the other preparations in the meantime."
---
True to her word, Black Maria spent the next three days meticulously studying maps, gathering information, and analyzing potential locations for the travel points. She weighed factors like safety, accessibility, and neutrality, ensuring each spot she selected met the criteria Xpovac had set. The locations needed to be strategic, with enough distance from potential threats while still being convenient for travelers.
Finally, after three days, she had chosen four locations—one in each of the four seas, along with one in the Grand Line. She presented her findings to Xpovac in the planning room, spreading the maps out on the table as she explained each choice.
"These spots here," Black Maria began, pointing to each location on the map, "should be perfect for the travel points. They're far enough from any trouble zones but close enough to trade routes and populated areas."
Xpovac listened carefully, nodding as she spoke. When she finished, he reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace, planting a gentle kiss on her lips. "You did an amazing job, Maria," he said warmly. "Thank you."
She returned the hug, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "You're welcome, my king," she teased, resting her head on his shoulder. "So, what's next?"
Xpovac's gaze drifted over the maps, his mind already working through the next steps. "Now, we start constructing the travel points," he said. "There's still a lot to do before we open Pyraxia's borders, but we're getting closer every day."
As the two stood there, embracing each other in the planning room, Xpovac couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose. He had changed the timeline, true, but he would make sure that the future he was shaping would be better for everyone he cared about. Pyraxia would be a place of peace, a sanctuary in a world of chaos—and his family would always have a home there.
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