"Dual axes. That's my weapon of choice," Akane said, slumping to the ground in exhaustion. Sweat glistened on her skin as she caught her breath, her usually sharp eyes dull from fatigue.
"Alright. I'll see what I can do to get you a good pair, but don't expect anything amazing just yet. Until I find a proper smith, you'll have to settle for something decent," I said. "But why are you sitting down? Get up. We're not done here—you need to improve your observation haki."
She groaned in protest. "I'm exhausted! Can't we take a break?"
"No. This is the perfect time to train. When you're at your limits, that's when your instincts sharpen the most. Trust me, in a real battle, observation haki will save your life more times than you can count."
"Fine, fine," she muttered, dragging herself to her feet. "Let's just get it over with."
Akane had sharp senses, sharper than most humans thanks to her oni heritage. But natural advantages would only get her so far. I needed to push her beyond that, refining her instincts to the point where she could sense and react to even the fastest attacks. Observation haki would bridge the gap between raw strength and true survival ability.
The training was simple in concept. I moved around her at high speed, throwing punches she had to dodge. Blocking wasn't allowed—it was about evasion, about slipping through danger unscathed. Blocking was risky against a stronger opponent. A perfectly timed dodge, however, could be the difference between life and death.
As we resumed, my mind drifted back to the morning's events.
I had visited the Revolutionary Army's hideout to gather information. Koala and Sabo were my connections there, and they owed me enough favors to act as my information brokers. In the Grand Line, information was as valuable as treasure. The unpredictable weather, unique cultures, and isolated lifestyles of every island made it impossible to gather reliable intel without a network. The Revolutionary Army's reach into World Government territories made them the perfect source.
Their efficiency impressed me. By the time I dropped off the slaves we had rescued, they were already on a ship to safety. Akane and I were leaving Sabaody soon to head for the island where Luffy was training with Rayleigh, but there was so much left to do before then—logistics, recruiting, and planning for the future.
My musings were cut short by Akane's voice.
"Hey, Zephyr! You're getting slower. What's on your mind?"
I snapped back to focus, dodging her jab. "Just thinking about what I need to do before we leave Sabaody."
"You're leaving?" she asked, stepping to the side as my fist brushed past her.
"Yeah. I'm going to recruit two more people for the crew."
"Who?"
"Two unique individuals. Greed and Envy, as I like to call them. They're strong, well not combat-strength wise exactly. But in their own ways I guess. I don't think if they can be trusted yet. The good thing is that they're rational. Rational people respond to incentives, so I just need to give them something they can't refuse."
Akane raised an eyebrow, curiosity evident on her face. "Why name us after the seven deadly sins? I thought it was just because it sounded cool, but I feel like there's more to it."
I chuckled. Her instincts were sharp. "You're right. There's more to it."
She waited silently, her gaze unwavering, so I continued.
"The seven deadly sins are seen as flaws, things that destroy people. But I think they're part of who we are. Everyone has them, whether they admit it or not. And instead of suppressing those parts of ourselves, I think we should embrace them.
"I believe that only when we accept our sins can we become whole. That's when we unlock our true potential—when we stop fighting who we are and instead use it to grow stronger."
Akane tilted her head slightly, listening intently. "Go on."
"Let me tell you a story. Before I awakened my conqueror's haki, I was different—meek, always hiding in the background, afraid to stand out, afraid of my ambition, afraid of my own pride. Then I almost died.
"I was standing at death's door, and I hated it—not because I feared dying, but because I hadn't lived up to my pride. I hadn't fulfilled my purpose. I hadn't fulfilled my ambition. And in that moment, I realized something: the thought of failing myself was worse than death.
"So, I let go of my fear. I stopped suppressing my pride, my ambition and embraced it completely. And everything changed. My conqueror's haki awakened, and I finally became the person I was meant to be. That's what I believe, Akane. When we embrace who we are, flaws and all, we become whole."
Akane was quiet for a moment, processing my words. "You might be right," she said softly. "But can I do the same?"
"It's possible," I said. "But you can't force it. Acceptance comes naturally, in time. Just keep an open mind. That's enough for now."
We continued our training for another half an hour. It was time for me to do some recruitment.
"Alright," I said, clapping my hands together. "I need to head out. While I'm gone, gather everything on the list I gave you. There's some extra money for anything you want for yourself. And try not to get caught."
Akane smirked. "Don't take too long, Captain. I don't want to babysit your errands for too long."
I chuckled and made my way to my boat. My next destination was clear.
The Sin of Greed- Crocodile
The Sin of Envy- Buggy D. Clown
Crocodile was a scumbag—no denying that. But he was also incredibly useful, provided he was handled correctly. His time in Impel Down might have given him some much-needed perspective. He was at rock bottom, and I knew his nature inside and out. Greed defined him. Wealth, fame, power—if he stuck with me, he could have it all.
The tricky part? I might have thoroughly humiliated him the last time we crossed paths. Was he still holding a grudge? 'Surely not' I think? Besides, he'd witnessed my domination at Marineford. He knew my capabilities, and that alone should make him think twice before betraying me. All I needed to do was play my cards right, charm him into joining my crew.
Then there was Buggy. On the surface, recruiting a weak, loud-mouthed clown seemed absurd. But Buggy had one extraordinary trait: luck. The man practically tripped his way into becoming a Yonko, failing upwards in a way only he could manage. That kind of luck couldn't be ignored.
Buggy's knack for drawing people to him—especially weaker, more gullible types—was an invaluable skill. His networking abilities were unmatched, and if I maneuvered correctly, he could spearhead an information-gathering unit for me. Relying on the Revolutionary Army wasn't sustainable long-term. Buggy's chaotic band of misfits? They could be my solution.
Recruiting him wouldn't be a problem. Buggy was easy to manipulate, too distracted by his own delusions to notice the strings being pulled. In a sense, I was practically stealing Cross Guild, but it wasn't like reliable, skilled people were easy to find. Akane was an exception, not the rule.
It wasn't necessary for crewmates to be friends—not by my standards. Alliances, built on mutual benefit and necessity, were good enough for now. Trust and loyalty? Those could come later. What mattered now was power and connections. I didn't need friendship right now; I needed results.
The race had barely begun and I've already heard chatter about Blackbeard and Ace making their moves. I also need to hurry.