One Piece: Trainer of Kings

"You... your world?"

Zoro stared at Akira with a bewildered expression, his scarred face twisted in confusion. "Are you kidding me?!"

No matter how he tried to process it, the statement seemed absolutely insane. The idea that someone could create or control an entire world defied everything he understood about reality.

However, facing Zoro's obvious skepticism, Akira merely smiled with infuriating calm. "What do you think?"

"This is..." Zoro found himself at a loss for words, his usual confidence shaken by the impossible situation. "This is really incredible."

"Nothing incredible about it," Akira laughed, his voice carrying the easy confidence of someone who'd grown accustomed to performing miracles. "Remember that trainer ability I mentioned before?"

His expression grew more serious as he continued his explanation. "In fact, compared to helping you gain strength through traditional training in the real world, this is my greatest role as a trainer!"

"In this wonderful world, as long as you defeat enough enemies, your strength improves immediately. You can even master entirely new abilities and powers!"

The implications were staggering, and Zoro felt his worldview shifting as he tried to comprehend what was being offered.

"Time is limited, so I'll explain the other details as we go," Akira continued, his gaze drifting to the three swords at Zoro's waist with obvious satisfaction.

Although he didn't fully understand the underlying principles, the fact that Zoro could bring his weapons into the game world would make everything much easier. Real steel would always be more reliable than virtual substitutes.

"Ah... oh..." Zoro scratched his head in confusion, still struggling to process what he'd heard. Although he didn't completely understand Akira's explanation, he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd encountered someone truly extraordinary.

It seems I really did join the right pirate crew, he thought with growing conviction.

Without fully comprehending what lay ahead, Zoro followed Akira's confident stride as they walked out of the gym. However, just as they cleared the entrance, before Zoro had time to gather his thoughts, a spiky-haired boy suddenly called out to them.

"Hey! You there!"

Zoro instinctively turned his head to see a young man wearing a purple vest approaching with an arrogant swagger and a cocky grin plastered across his face.

The newcomer addressed Akira with barely concealed condescension. "I'm talking to you, are you that guy named Akira?"

"Looking for a fight?" Zoro's hand moved instinctively toward his sword hilts, his warrior's instincts interpreting the stranger's tone as a direct challenge.

Having subconsciously treated this place as the real world, he was prepared to give this arrogant punk a swift lesson in respect. But just as his fingers began to close around his weapons, Akira's calm voice stopped him cold.

"Don't worry about him."

"..." Zoro hesitated, confusion flickering across his features, but he obediently released his grip on the blades.

Meanwhile, completely oblivious to how close he'd come to being turned into sashimi, the spiky-haired stranger launched into an incomprehensible monologue.

"Incredible! You're worthy of being my rival!" he declared with theatrical enthusiasm, then proceeded to engage in a one-sided conversation that made absolutely no sense to Zoro.

Then, to the swordsman's complete bewilderment, the stranger pulled out some kind of container and handed it to Akira with a flourish.

What's going on? It turned out to be a gift?!

Zoro's face displayed naked curiosity as he tried to understand this bizarre interaction.

Noticing his confusion, Akira turned to provide an explanation. "In this world, all creatures except us lack true intelligence outside of combat situations. You don't need to pay attention to their words, they're essentially following predetermined scripts."

"...Oh." Zoro nodded with the resigned acceptance of someone who'd already witnessed too many impossible things to question another one. Although surprised, he quickly adapted to this new rule of their strange environment.

Akira focused his attention on the items that had been placed in his hands.

[Item: Super Ball] [Effect: After successfully capturing Pokémon, grants more experience points than ordinary Poké Balls and increases the chance of item drops.]

"I didn't expect to receive gifts the moment we stepped outside," he murmured with genuine pleasure. "This is definitely a good omen."

He carefully stored the five Ultra Balls the NPC had provided into his virtual backpack. While they were still in the beginner area where such valuable items would be wasted on low-level encounters, they would prove invaluable later in their journey.

"Let's go," Akira said, patting Zoro's shoulder with renewed enthusiasm. "The real magic of this world is just about to reveal itself!"

Together, they headed directly toward Route 3 on the eastern side of Pewter City. Although Akira vaguely remembered that each city typically contained hidden side quests that could yield modest rewards, their limited time made such diversions impractical.

Besides, in his memory, there was nothing particularly valuable to explore in these early locations. Better to push forward toward areas with more substantial challenges and corresponding rewards.

As they traversed the city, Akira provided Zoro with a crash course in the game world's fundamental rules. Unlike the repeated explanations Luffy had required, Zoro's sharp tactical mind grasped the concepts immediately.

And then he was deeply shaken by the implications.

Create a world where people can become stronger simply by fighting? Is this really possible?

The questions swirled through Zoro's mind like a hurricane, challenging everything he thought he knew about power and growth. In the end, he attributed it to some form of Devil Fruit ability with capabilities beyond normal comprehension.

Recognizing the limits of his knowledge, Zoro chose not to bombard Akira with questions. Instead, he followed silently, determined to witness firsthand whether this world could deliver on its impossible promises.

It didn't take long for them to encounter their first battle in the virtual realm.

A Youngster blocked their path at the route entrance, his face bright with the eager enthusiasm of someone spoiling for a fight. The moment he spotted Akira and Zoro approaching, he stepped forward with theatrical authority.

"Let me show you what a real Pokémon battle looks like!" the trainer shouted without preamble, then threw his Poké Ball with practiced precision.

A level 11 Bulbasaur materialized in a flash of red light, its bulbous form ready for combat.

The circular battle arena suddenly expanded around them, creating an isolated battlefield that sealed off the outside world. The familiar energy barriers shimmered into existence, marking the boundaries of their confrontation.

The battle was about to begin!

"Bulbasaur, use Vine Whip!" the Youngster commanded with newfound tactical intelligence that seemed to emerge only within the combat zone.

On their side, Akira was equally quick to respond. "Zoro, use Oni Giri to finish this opponent!"

"Got it!"

Staring at what appeared to be some kind of garlic-shaped toad, Zoro didn't hesitate for even a moment. In one fluid motion, he drew all three of his swords, the polished steel gleaming in the arena's ethereal light.

A ghostly aura suddenly erupted from his body, dark energy coiling around the blades like living shadows seeking prey. This was the manifestation of his killing intent made manifest, the accumulated pressure of countless battles given supernatural form.

"Three-Sword Style: Oni Giri!"

Swoosh!

Before Bulbasaur's vine attack could even begin its swing, Zoro had already moved. The terrifying aura radiating from his form caused the opposing Pokémon to freeze in place, paralyzed by instinctive fear.

It was Zoro's Pressure ability taking effect, an overwhelming sense of dread that crushed weaker opponents before the fight even began.

A flash of dark purple light carved through the air with lethal precision, and the level 11 Bulbasaur let out a pained cry.

"Bulba!"

[Roronoa Zoro defeated Youngster's Bulbasaur. Experience gained: +68] [Command evaluation: Average] [Additional reward: Experience +14]

"The experience really did increase!" Akira's face lit up with a delighted smile as he absorbed the implications of the battle results.

A single level 11 Pokémon had contributed nearly 100 experience points to Zoro's development. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before both Zoro and Luffy experienced exponential growth in their capabilities.

"Excellent work, Zoro!" Akira praised his swordsman's swift and decisive action.

With their first victory secured, the two warriors pressed deeper into Route 3, leaving Pewter City's safety far behind. They cut through opposition like a sword through silk, every trainer, every wild Pokémon, every obstacle fell before their relentless advance.

From the route's beginning to its end, they showed no mercy and took no prisoners. By the time an hour had passed, Zoro's experience had reached an impressive 1,000 points.

If this pace continued, it would take only four hours for Zoro to reach his next level, an upgrade speed that far exceeded what they'd achieved in Viridian Forest.

"Even Route 3 is this productive," Akira mused aloud, his strategic mind already calculating future possibilities. "If we enter Mt. Moon, Zoro might level up before the day is over!"

He smacked his lips in amazement but showed no signs of slowing their brutal efficiency.

At Route 3's terminus, a rugged mountain path suddenly appeared before them. Akira shaded his eyes against the afternoon sun, squinting upward to survey what lay ahead.

At the climbing road's peak, he could see a large Pokémon Center and the entrance to Mt. Moon's interior passages. The structure looked far more imposing than he remembered from the simple pixel graphics of his youth.

"I didn't expect Mt. Moon to be so massive after the system's enhancement," he noted with genuine awe. "In that case, let's press our advantage today and try to get Zoro to his next level."

However, just as they set foot on the climbing path, a middle-aged Hiker appeared from seemingly nowhere to block their progress.

"Hey there! The area ahead is the extremely dangerous Mt. Moon!" the man declared with officious authority. "You're not permitted to enter without demonstrating sufficient strength!"

"Let me test your capabilities!"

Without waiting for a response, the Hiker threw out a Poké Ball, releasing a level 13 Geodude onto the rocky terrain.

The battle arena materialized once again, but for Akira and Zoro, who had just spent over an hour systematically dismantling every opponent in their path, this felt like nothing more than muscle memory.

Before the domain had fully stabilized, Akira issued his command without a shred of sportsmanship: "Zoro, use Oni Giri!"

Slash!

A dark blur moved faster than the eye could follow. In the blink of an eye, three distinct cut marks appeared across Geodude's hard rocky surface, each slice perfectly executed with surgical precision.

"Geo!" The Rock-type Pokémon's pained scream echoed off the mountainside as it collapsed, completely unable to continue fighting.

Just as Akira and Zoro prepared to step over this minor obstacle and continue their ascent, the defeated Hiker surprised them by blocking their path once again.

"I didn't expect you to possess such incredible strength!" he exclaimed with genuine admiration, his entire demeanor transformed by respect.

"Excellent! You've passed the test and earned the right to explore Mt. Moon's depths."

Then, reaching into his pack with ceremonial gravity, he produced a small disc. "Here, take this as well!"

The middle-aged Hiker placed the Technical Machine in Akira's waiting hands with obvious reverence.

"A Move Learner?!" Akira's eyes flashed with surprise and growing excitement.

He'd never expected that defeating a random NPC would yield such a valuable reward. This was an unexpected windfall that could prove incredibly useful.

He immediately accessed his [Bag] interface to examine the new acquisition's properties. Where he'd once dismissed such common moves as barely worth his attention, he now analyzed every detail with the intensity of a scholar studying ancient texts.

[Move: Pay Day] [Type: Normal] [Category: Physical] [Power: 40] [Description: Focus energy to hurl small coins at the opponent. After successfully defeating an enemy, the coins do not disappear and can be collected.]

"Interesting," Akira murmured, though his expression showed mixed feelings about the technique's practical applications. "Not exactly a game-changer, but every advantage helps."

The move might lack the raw power of more advanced techniques, but the ability to generate actual currency through combat could prove valuable for their long-term financial stability.

"What is it?" Zoro asked, noting his companion's thoughtful expression.

"Nothing too exciting," Akira replied, securing the TM in his inventory. "Just another tool in our arsenal. Come on, Mt. Moon is waiting, and I have a feeling the real challenges are just beginning."

As they resumed their climb toward the mountain's shadowy entrance, neither warrior could have predicted the trials that awaited them in the ancient tunnels ahead. But with Zoro's growing power and Akira's strategic mind guiding their path, they were as ready as anyone could be for whatever mysteries lay hidden in the depths of Mt. Moon.

The game world had already proven its worth, transforming theoretical potential into tangible strength. Now it was time to see just how far that power could take them.