The air was thick with salt and the scent of warm ale, mingling in the dimly lit tavern on an unremarkable island. Flickering lamps cast shadows over rugged tables and worn wooden floors, while the few patrons in the establishment kept to themselves, each lost in their own world.
At a corner table sat a lone figure, a man with skin the shade of dark bronze and long, silver hair that fell past his shoulders in an untamed cascade. He was dressed in a simple, yet travel-worn outfit a dark coat and pants that seemed to have braved countless journeys.
It was Yuji. Five years had passed since he last set foot in civilization, five years spent training and growing stronger, sharpening his skills with Ulti and Page One on uninhabited islands. Now, with his cup of beer in hand, he felt a mixture of nostalgia and ease, enjoying this rare moment of solitude.
The silence was broken by the sound of heavy footsteps approaching his table. A bulky man with a large build and a sneer across his scarred face loomed over him. His clothes were rough and unkempt, and he smelled of sweat and rum. "Hey, you," he grunted, his voice a deep growl. "Buy me a drink. I'm short on cash."
Yuji glanced up, his gaze calm but piercing. "Not interested," he replied simply, taking a leisurely sip from his mug.
The man's face twisted with indignation. "Oh, you think you're too good for me, huh?" He leaned in closer, his breath hot and reeking of stale beer. "I don't like people who think they're better than me."
Yuji barely glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "Walk away while you still have the chance."
The man's expression turned into a snarl. "I don't take orders from anyone!" He raised a fist and swung at Yuji, a wild haymaker with enough force to knock most men out.
In the instant before the fist connected, Yuji's eyes flashed. A pulse of invisible energy radiated from him, filling the room with a wave of oppressive pressure. The bulky man's fist stopped mid-swing as his eyes rolled back, his body collapsing onto the floor with a thud. But the pressure didn't stop there. Every other person in the tavern dropped, one by one, their mugs spilling onto the tables as they slumped unconscious.
All except one.
Sitting in the far corner of the tavern was a man with a long, sleek rifle slung across his back. He wore a wide-brimmed hat that cast a shadow over his face, obscuring his features. Unlike the others, he hadn't moved, and his eyes remained steady, locked onto Yuji.
Yuji let out a low laugh, setting his mug down as he turned his attention to the stranger. "Interesting. You're still awake."
The man tilted his head slightly, revealing just a hint of his expression a calm, almost detached look, as if he were observing an experiment rather than a fight. "So, you possess Haki strong enough to knock out an entire room" he said in a low, even voice. "You're not just any ordinary, are you?"
Yuji leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "And you don't seem like the type to sit quietly through a commotion without a reason. What's your story?"
The man remained silent, his fingers tapping lightly against the side of his rifle. After a moment, he spoke. "Names and stories don't interest me. Only fates do."
Yuji raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Fate huh? That's a curious thing to say." He took another drink, eyeing the stranger over the rim of his mug. "Then tell me, what fate are you hoping for?"
The man finally stood, his hand drifting to his rifle as he slung it over his shoulder. "I was looking for a certain type of person," he said slowly, his gaze steady. "Someone with strength worth noting. It seems I may have found him."
Yuji's smirk widened. "So you're here to test me?" he asked, a hint of excitement sparking in his eyes. It had been a long time since he'd had a worthy opponent.
The stranger didn't respond directly. Instead, he lifted his rifle, aiming it at Yuji with a calmness that was almost unnerving. His movements were smooth, precise, the motions of a man who had honed his skill to deadly efficiency.
Yuji's smile only grew as he recognized the subtle threat. He could feel the stranger's presence, the steady, unwavering resolve behind that rifle. This was no ordinary shooter; this man was dangerous.
In an instant, Yuji's body shifted slightly, his stance widening as he prepared himself. The air grew tense, a silent promise of what was to come.
The stranger spoke, his voice a low murmur, "Let's see if you're worth the outcome I seek."
Without warning, he pulled the trigger, the crack of the rifle echoing through the empty tavern. A bullet shot forward, its trajectory aimed perfectly at Yuji's heart.
But Yuji was ready. With a subtle twist of his body, he sidestepped, the bullet grazing his shoulder instead of hitting its mark. His reflexes were sharpened to the point that even such a lethal shot seemed like child's play.
"Not bad," Yuji said, his voice tinged with genuine respect. "But it'll take more than that."
The stranger lowered his rifle slightly, a faint smirk crossing his face. "I'd be disappointed if it didn't." He took aim again, firing three more shots in rapid succession, each one calculated to hit Yuji from a different angle.
Yuji's eyes narrowed as he dodged the bullets, moving with fluidity that bordered on inhuman. His body twisted and turned, each movement precise, each dodge timed to perfection. The bullets whizzed past him, embedding themselves in the wooden walls behind him.
"Alright, my turn," Yuji said, the grin on his face turning wicked. He clenched his fist, channeling his Haki into a single point as he focused on the man before him. With a powerful step forward, he unleashed a punch that sent a shockwave rippling through the air, aimed straight at the stranger.
The man didn't flinch. Instead, he moved with eerie calmness, sidestepping the blow with a grace that was almost supernatural. The force of Yuji's punch shattered the table behind him, sending splinters flying, but the stranger remained untouched.
Their eyes met, a silent acknowledgment passing between them.
"You've got good reflexes," Yuji admitted, a glimmer of respect in his voice. "Most would have been knocked out cold by now."
The man gave a small nod, his gaze unwavering. "I don't waste my time with things that don't matter. And right now… you matter."
Yuji's smile returned, fiercer this time. "Then let's make this interesting."
Slowly a dark cloud was forming around Yuji and yellow lighting started to appear. "I call this Storm nova"
Looking at Yuji the man thought 'A devil fruit user on top of using Conqueror's haki'
The man remained silent, his grip on his rifle tightening. His posture shifted slightly, his body bracing itself for the oncoming storm.
With a smirk, Yuji allowed the storm to envelope him. In an instant, his entire body was shrouded in lightning and swirling wind, creating a barrier of pure energy that radiated raw power. He charged forward, his figure a blur as he closed the distance between them in a heartbeat.
The stranger aimed his rifle, firing shot after shot, but each bullet was deflected by the storm surrounding Yuji. As Yuji approached, the man pivoted, narrowly avoiding a direct blow. Yet even as he dodged, the power radiating from Yuji was enough to send him staggering back, his hat blown off by the force of the wind.
The two men stood across from each other, breathing heavily yet both clearly invigorated by the battle. There was an intensity in the air, a shared understanding between them—an acknowledgment of each other's strength.
The man slowly picked up his hat, placing it back on his head as he gave Yuji a faint smile. "You're impressive. I didn't expect to find someone like you in a place like this."
Yuji chuckled, the storm around him slowly dissipating. "Well, you're not too bad yourself. It's been a while since I met someone who could keep up.
Before the man could respond a slender women wearing a violet dress suddenly appear and kick him in the chest. As soon as the feet of the women came contact to chest, the mysterious man chest slowly turn into some kind of stone.