ONE PIECE: THE RED LION - CH 4

I still didn’t know what to make of my situation.

I had died…

And well, like most of my favorite animes, I had been given a second chance at life, in a whole new universe.

However, unlike said animes, I had been given said second chance in a world I already knew. The World of One Piece.

Now, this alone wasn’t a problem. One Piece was, as far as animes go, a pretty tame world, the problem was the fact I was a few decades before the anime even started.

I wasn’t sure how far behind in the story I currently was, but I could estimate based on Nekomamushi and Inuarashi being kids, that I was far from close to the mainstream timeline I had watched in the anime.

I wasn’t sure how old I was now, seeing the body was new and all, but if I had to take a guess, I imagined I was in my early twenties, meaning that I would an old man by the time One Piece even starts.

I sighed, dropping into my bed.

Nekomamushi and Inuarashi had begged the current ruler of Zou, Duke Hitsugisukan to allow me to stay in his hold with them, who were apparently the protegees of the Duke, which I suppose explains how the ended up as the rulers of Zou in the future.

The room in question was a simple cube, the walls hung with paintings depicting battles and serene landscapes that seemed at odds with each other. I ran a hand along the smooth linen of the bed, comfortable enough, not fancy, not bad, just good. A small window let in a sliver of golden sunlight, illuminating the dust in the air.

All and all, this was a good start.

Sure, I hadn’t made a overly sexy woman fall in love with me yet, but I suppose that considering my start point, I shouldn’t really complain about that fact.

"Valor!" Inuarashi exclaimed, his voice filled with a formality that couldn't quite mask his eagerness as he kicked my door open. "The sun is up! And today we shall be your guides!"

"Every nook and cranny awaits!" Nekomamushi chimed in, bouncing from one foot to the other, his fluffy tail swishing rapidly behind him.

"Guides?" I raised a brow, amused by their fervor, but how could I say no? Their faces were lit up, like kids waiting to open a present. "Lead the way, then."

They took off, not even waiting for my feet to start moving. I followed, smiling as they darted through the corridors with the same kind of urgency a warrior might show on the battlefield. The place was full of Minks, some nodding in greeting as I passed, others too caught up in their day to notice the odd procession that was me.

"Here," Inuarashi pointed out a paiting, his tail wagging, "Is the Battle of Crescent Moon Pass!"

"Oooh, and over there!" Nekomamushi's finger directed my gaze to a painting of what looked like a grand feast. "The Night of Endless Stars banquet! So much food! I wished I had been there!"

Their laughter echoed down the stone hallways, and I couldn’t help but laugh too. Their innocence was a stark contrast to the versions of them I had seen in my computer. Talking about that, it was still a bit… strange seeing them, at times, it felt… a bit unreal.

"Follow us!" Inuarashi beamed, before running with Nekomamushi. "You are going to love the training grounds we have here."

Oh, the had another training grounds?

Good, I was starting to think my kick had destroyed their place of training.

Smiling, I followed my hyperactive guides, chasing after them with ease.

The sun hung high over the training grounds as we stepped into the open. The clang of metal echoed around the entire place. Minks of all shapes and sizes sparred with each other, their movements slow, but with more experience behind them their movements, something that I lacked.

It wasn’t enough to be strong, because power without skill was meaningless. Or at least that’s what some say, and I’m inclined to believe it.

"I’m sure you could defeat them with ease," Nekomamushi gushed, his eyes round with awe as he gestured towards the sparring Minks. "Isn't that right, Valor?"

A chuckle rumbled in my chest. They really put me on a pedastal after that kick. "Maybe with a bit of extra experience."

Inuarashi beamed at me, "Yes, strength alone is not enough. One must also have the wisdom of how to use it, and the skill to make it a formidable tool… or at least that’s what master Rengar says."

"Aha!" Nekomamushi exclaimed, his tail flicking excitedly, "That's why you're our hero! You've got both!"

"Indeed," Inuarashi nodded.

I rolled my eyes at their antics. "So, now what?"

"Come, come! There's more to see!" Inuarashi beckoned, tugging at my sleeve with a gentle insistence. "You’re gonna love the temple!"

"Not the temple! It’s booooring…" Nekomamushi groaned, his eyes rolling dramatically. "The weapons cache is much cooler!"

Inuarashi gave his friend a light scowl, but his bright eyes held no anger. "Nekomamushi, the temple is important, it teaches us many things."

"Like how to sleep?" Nekomamushi humphed, crossing his small arms over his chest. "I bet Valor prefers swords and axes to old musty scrolls and sermons!"

"We can do both?" I offered, and at this, both Minks beamed at me.

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The air grew hushed as we approached the sacred temple, quite the contrast to the lively atmosphere outside. The temple loomed before us, an ancient edifice of weathered rock that looked quite old, like really really old.

"Remove your shoes," Inuarashi murmured, slipping off his own with practiced ease. I raised an eyebrow, I never had any shoes to begin with. "Oh, right, never mind then."

The interior of the temple was dimly lit by shafts of sunlight piercing through narrow windows, casting elongated shadows on the walls adorned with intricate carvings.

We stepped silently among rows of Minks seated on the floor, their heads bowed in quiet reverence. Some held wooden beads, rolling them between their fingers as they murmred prayers. Others simply sat in contemplation, eyes closed, faces serene.

A large statue of a majestic creature stood at the head of the room, its benevolent gaze watching over the worshippers.

"Who is that?" I asked, nodding toward the statue without raising my voice above a whisper.

"That's our guardian deity," Nekomamushi replied, his usual exuberance tempered by the solemnity of the space. "We come here to honor those who protect us, and to remember the ancestors who walked these lands before us."

I guess this answers whether or not there’s religion in One Piece.

————————————————————————————————————

After my tour around the place, I was led back to the Duke, who apparently wanted to talk a few things with me, and well… needless to say, the two furry brats that had served as my guides were still glued to me.

"I’m sorry to disturb your sight and seeing," The Duke began, smiling at us. "But there is someone I want you to meet."

"Who?" I asked.

"The man responsible for Zou’s safety," The Duke replied, "The commander of our forces, Rengar."

"He’s going to meet master Rengar?!" Nekomamushi and Inuarashi exclaimed in union, both overly excited at the prospect.

"Hush you, two," The Duke gently chided, a fond expression on his face. Turning to me, he said, "Rengar, would you mind introducing yourself?"

As if on cue, a figure stepped out from the shadows at the edge of the room. I had to crane my neck slightly to look him in the eye, an uncommon occurrence given my own towering height. He was huge, like a giant hulking mass of muscle and fur.

"Master Rengar!" Inuarashi and Nekomamushi saluted, smiling at the mink who had just made his appearance.

The man in question said nothing, his one good eye fixed on me, sharp and scrutinizing. The depth of his gaze seemed to cut through pretense, seeking the measure of my soul. Despite myself, I straightened under his inspection.

"You’re the one that destroyed my training grounds, I suppose," Rengar finally rumbled, his voice as weathered as I imagined it would sound. His words were laced with an undercurrent of amusement. "The children speak highly of you."

"That would be me," I admitted, a small smile on my face.

"What are you?" Rengar asked, his voice gruff and direct. "You're not human... you’re not mink. You smell like a beast, move like a man, strike like a monster, so I can’t help but wonder… what are you exactly?"

I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult.

Normally the answer to his question would be. I am a human.

However… that was no longer the case.

The Fanalis were many things, but a human wasn’t one of them.

I might as well answer with the truth, I mean, it’s not like hiding what I am now will do me any good.

"I’m a Fanalis," I replied.

"Hm, never heard of them," Rengar said, stroking his grizzled chin thoughtfully. "Doesn't matter much, though. In Zou, strength is what counts."

"Then Master Rengar and Mr. Valor must have a lot in common!" piped up Nekomamushi, his eyes sparkling with admiration.

Rengar responded with a gruff chuckle. "Well, we'll see about that, won't we?" His gaze hardened again as he returned his focus to me. "One of my man, the one you sparred with came to me right after your little spar, asking me to train you, he said you were a diamond in the rough, that it would be a shame if you died because you lacked any experience."

Whiskers had asked him to train me? Jesus fuck, I work fast.

I guess anime logic still applies.

Well, if the opportunity will present itself in a silver platter, who am I to say no?

"And what do you think?" I asked, noticing he had yet to say anything about what he thought about such an idea.

"I think we'll just have to find out, won't we?" Rengar replied, his gaze meeting mine. "The battlefield is the only place that truly reveals a man's character. And the battlefield is where strength matters most, so we shall see if you are worth it, or not."