One Piece: Trainer of Kings

It turns out that if you don't push yourself, you'll never discover your true limits.

"RAAAHHH-!!!"

Zoro's roar echoed across the deck, a primal sound somewhere between a battle cry and the desperate grunt of someone finally succeeding after three days of constipation. The massive dumbbells trembled in his grip as his arms, corded with muscle and pulsing with visible veins, slowly lifted the impossible weight from the wooden planks.

Sweat poured down his face in rivers, his entire body shaking with the monumental effort. For a brief, glorious moment, the crushing iron weights hung suspended in the air, defying gravity through sheer force of will.

Then reality reasserted itself.

THUD!

The dumbbells crashed back down with enough force to make the entire vessel rock violently from side to side. Zoro collapsed to one knee, gasping like a drowning man who'd just broken the surface. His arms trembled uncontrollably from the strain, but his eyes blazed with fierce satisfaction.

"I... I actually did it!" he wheezed, a incredulous laugh escaping his lips despite his exhaustion.

The fact that he'd managed to lift those monstrous weights even once seemed to have surprised him more than anyone else. The grin spreading across his scarred face spoke of a man who'd just discovered new depths to his own potential.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the deck...

"SLOW DOWN, LUFFY! This ship was just bought, I'm planning to resell it for profit!"

Nami's voice cracked with genuine panic as she watched their rubber captain effortlessly hoist his own set of massive weights, then drop them with casual indifference to the poor vessel's structural integrity. Each impact sent visible shockwaves through the wooden planks, and she could practically see her investment depreciating with every repetition.

It had to be admitted that in terms of pure physical strength, Luffy currently far outclassed Zoro. What the swordsman accomplished through desperate struggle and iron determination, the rubber boy managed with comparative ease.

But even that advantage had its limits.

"Stop, STOP, STOP! Luffy!" Akira rushed forward, waving his arms frantically to prevent another catastrophic impact.

"Huh? What's wrong, Akira?" Luffy blinked with genuine confusion, the dumbbells still gripped casually in both hands as if they weighed no more than wooden practice swords.

"That's not how you use those!" Akira shook his head with exasperation. "Weren't you listening to my explanation earlier?"

He gestured emphatically at the equipment. "These are dumbbells, not barbells! You're supposed to lift them one at a time, with a single arm!"

Moving closer, Akira gently pried one of Luffy's hands away from the weight. "Let go of this side and try again with just your right arm!"

"One hand? How's that even possible?" Nami muttered under her breath, her voice carrying the skepticism of someone who understood exactly how much those iron monsters weighed.

She'd watched the metalworker construct them from every scrap of spare material in his workshop. The amount of steel involved should have made single-handed lifting a physical impossibility, even for someone with Devil Fruit powers.

Then she watched Luffy release his left hand, his right arm immediately bulging with enhanced muscle mass as rubber physiology adapted to the increased strain. Veins stood out like cables across his bicep, and his face contorted with concentrated effort.

"GRAAAHHH!"

GROAN...

The massive dumbbell rose slowly from the deck, trembling in Luffy's grip but undeniably airborne. Though his movement lacked the fluid control of his two-handed technique, the sheer impossibility of what they were witnessing left both spectators speechless.

"This... this has to be some kind of joke!" Nami's voice pitched higher with each word, her worldview crumbling as she processed the superhuman display.

The sight drove home just how vast the gulf between herself and these monsters truly was. Even Zoro, who she'd begun to think of as the more "normal" member of their group, had just lifted weights that should have required construction equipment to move.

But it was more than just the raw physical demonstration that affected her. As she watched these impossible feats of strength, her mind inevitably drifted back to Akira's words from that afternoon, his casual offer to help with whatever troubles she might be facing.

Could they really handle something like Arlong? she wondered, her heart racing with possibilities she'd never dared to consider. Are they actually strong enough to...

The thought was too dangerous to complete, too fragile a hope to risk acknowledging directly. But the seed had been planted, and watching Luffy casually defy the laws of physics with one arm was certainly watering it.

Thanks to their efficient preparations in Shells Town, the crew had managed to set sail before evening, leaving the Marine base behind as the sun painted the sky in brilliant shades of orange and gold. Their newly purchased vessel cut through the gentle waves with surprising grace, carrying them toward their next destination under a canopy of emerging stars.

With Nami aboard as their navigator, they no longer needed to worry about the dangers of night sailing. Her expertise with charts and weather patterns meant they could maintain course safely even in complete darkness, a luxury neither Luffy nor Akira had experienced during their earlier adventures.

After establishing training schedules for both Luffy and Zoro, complete with specific repetition counts and rest intervals that would push them to their absolute limits, Akira retreated to the cabin with Nami following close behind.

The interior of their temporary vessel was cramped but functional, divided into four small rooms that provided each crew member with basic privacy. After a quick wash to remove the day's accumulated sweat and salt spray, Akira collapsed onto his narrow bunk with obvious relief.

Unlike his physically-oriented crewmates, who required external resistance and structured exercise to grow stronger, his path to power followed an entirely different route. The Ancient Power flowing through his enhanced physique needed only meditation and focus to continue its mysterious enhancement of his capabilities.

As waves of primordial energy began circulating through his body, Akira slipped into the focused trance that had become his nightly routine. The sensation was both alien and deeply familiar, like rediscovering a fundamental part of himself that had been dormant for years.

Across the cabin, Nami sat at a small desk with her chin propped on one hand, amber eyes reflecting the gentle moonlight streaming through the porthole. The soft sound of waves against the hull provided a peaceful backdrop to her turbulent thoughts.

She remained in that contemplative pose for hours, her sharp mind wrestling with possibilities and fears in equal measure. The treasure gleaming in Akira's pack represented more money than she'd ever seen in one place, while the casual displays of superhuman strength from her new crewmates suggested solutions to problems she'd thought insurmountable.

But years of bitter experience had taught her that hope was a luxury she couldn't afford. Every time she'd allowed herself to believe that rescue might be possible, reality had crushed those dreams with devastating efficiency.

Time flowed like the tide outside their windows.

Eventually, exhaustion claimed even Nami's restless mind. She dozed off at the desk, her head pillowed on her arms while sea breezes played through her orange hair.

On deck, Luffy and Zoro had finally pushed themselves beyond their limits. They lay sprawled across the wooden planks in positions that spoke of complete physical collapse, their bodies too drained to seek the comfort of their bunks. Large patches of sweat marked the spots where they'd fallen, testament to the intensity of their training session.

Tap... tap... tap...

The soft sound of bare feet on wood broke the tranquil silence of the night watch. Akira emerged from below deck, his enhanced senses having detected the moment his crewmates finally succumbed to exhaustion.

Looking down at their sleeping forms, he felt a warm surge of satisfaction mixed with genuine affection. "Really reliable partners," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the gentle sounds of the sea.

"In that case, I can't let you down either."

Moving with careful precision to avoid waking them, Akira lifted both unconscious pirates and carried them to their respective quarters. Despite his relatively slight build, his Ancient Power-enhanced strength made the task effortless. After ensuring they were comfortably settled, he returned to his own room with renewed purpose.

"When it comes to training, I can't provide much direct assistance," he said quietly, settling into his meditation pose once again. "But when it comes to unlocking potential through other means..."

His eyes gleamed with anticipation as consciousness turned inward.

"Leave that entirely to me."

"Console, activate!"

The familiar white light blazed to life in his mind, but this time something was different. Instead of immediately transporting him to the Pokémon world, a new interface materialized within the radiance, something he'd never seen before.

It was the Pokémon storage system, displaying the digital creatures available for selection. Above the interface, bold text presented him with an unprecedented choice:

[Please select the Pokémon you want to fight alongside]

Below that instruction, two cartoon icons waited for his selection.

The first showed Luffy in his characteristic straw hat, grinning with infectious enthusiasm.

The second depicted Roronoa Zoro, complete with his distinctive green hair and the serious expression of a dedicated warrior.

"I knew it!" Akira's voice cracked with excitement as triumph flooded through him. "My theory was absolutely correct!"

The conditions for registering someone as a Pokémon within his system were exactly what he'd suspected. His entire day of careful planning and relationship building had paid off spectacularly, Zoro now recognized him as a legitimate trainer, just as Luffy had years ago.

Without hesitation, Akira made his selection. While abandoning Luffy felt like betraying an old friend, his scientific curiosity about Zoro's potential far outweighed any sentimental attachment to familiar partnerships.

"Sorry, Luffy," he whispered with genuine regret. "But I need to test how this works with different people."

The activation sequence began immediately.

Flash!

White light consumed his vision, then faded to reveal the interior of Pewter Gym, the exact location where he'd saved their progress during the previous gaming session.

Beside him, Zoro lay curled on the floor in the same sleeping position he'd maintained aboard their ship. Even unconscious, the swordsman's hand rested instinctively on his sword hilt, ready to draw at the first sign of danger.

"Interesting," Akira mused, studying his slumbering companion with scientific fascination. "So the consciousness maintains its original state when entering the game world. That's valuable information to remember."

The discovery had significant implications for future gaming sessions. If physical exhaustion carried over into the virtual realm, they'd need to carefully balance training schedules with their exploration activities.

Rather than wake Zoro immediately, Akira accessed the system interface to examine his newest "Pokémon's" statistics. What he found exceeded his wildest expectations.

[Pokémon: Roronoa Zoro] [Level: 38] [Gender: Male ♂] [Nature: Serious (+Attack, -Speed)] [Type: Dragon/Steel] [Ability: Pressure (When facing this Pokémon in battle, the opponent feels an overwhelming sense of dread)] [Moves: , , , , , , , , , , , ] [Experience: 0/4,447]

[HP: 143] [Attack: 117] [Defense: 115] [Special Attack: 140] [Special Defense: 100] [Speed: 91]

"Dragon and Steel typing?" Akira's eyebrows rose with surprise as he processed the unexpected combination. "The Steel aspect makes perfect sense, he's a swordsman who lives and breathes metallurgy. But Dragon..."

In Pokémon lore, the Dragon type represented more than just elemental energy. It signified ancient power, noble bloodlines, and creatures capable of transcending normal limitations through sheer force of will and determination.

"Are you telling me Zoro isn't entirely human?" he wondered aloud, then shook his head with amusement. "Well, in a world where people can turn into rubber or control gravity, I suppose being part dragon isn't that far-fetched."

The Dragon typing was actually a tremendous advantage. Dragon-type moves were incredibly powerful and effective against most opponents, while the combination with Steel provided excellent defensive coverage.

As for Zoro's ability, Pressure was both blessing and curse. While it could demoralize enemies in battle, Akira still preferred Luffy's Regeneration for its practical applications. However, the intimidation factor might prove useful in certain situations.

Most impressive were Zoro's base statistics. Despite being eight levels lower than Luffy, his Special Attack already exceeded the rubber boy's by nineteen points. That suggested incredible potential for techniques that combined physical swordsmanship with supernatural energy manipulation.

"Special Attack specialization," Akira murmured thoughtfully. "That actually makes sense for a swordsman. Sword techniques like flying slashes and energy-based attacks would definitely fall under Special Attack categories."

The implications were staggering. With proper training and the right move sets, Zoro could become a long-range combat specialist capable of devastating opponents from a distance while maintaining his traditional close-quarters supremacy.

Satisfied with his analysis, Akira decided it was time to wake his sleeping companion. He knelt beside Zoro and gently covered the swordsman's nose and mouth, a tried-and-true method he'd learned from years of rousing heavy sleepers.

The technique proved devastatingly effective.

Within seconds, Zoro's face contorted as his sleeping mind registered the lack of oxygen. A few moments later, his survival instincts kicked in and he jolted upright with a sharp gasp.

"Hah! Hah!" He blinked rapidly, trying to orient himself while simultaneously searching for the source of his discomfort. "Akira, what the hell were you, "

His complaint died mid-sentence as awareness finally penetrated his groggy mind.

Wait.

He'd gone to sleep on the ship's deck after training until complete exhaustion. So why was he now in some kind of stone building with polished floors and what appeared to be training equipment scattered around?

Where is this place?

How did I get here?

Why does everything look so... strange?

Confusion crashed over him like a tidal wave as dozens of questions fought for priority in his overwhelmed mind.

Akira reached down and helped him to his feet, his smile carrying hints of mischief and anticipation that made Zoro's instincts prickle with wariness.

"Zoro," he said with obvious satisfaction, "welcome to my world."

The swordsman's eyes widened as he processed those ominous words, a chill running down his spine as he realized that their adventure was about to take another impossibly bizarre turn.