One Piece: Trainer of Kings

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sharp crack of shattering wine bottles echoed across the courtyard as a series of projectiles found their mark with surgical precision. Akira's eyes widened in genuine surprise as he watched the spectacle unfold before him.

He'd expected a distance of one kilometer to be a significant challenge for Usopp at this stage of his development. The marksman was certainly talented, but raw talent required refinement before it could achieve true mastery.

Yet here stood their newest crew member, using nothing more than a homemade slingshot and common lead pellets to systematically obliterate ten wine bottles in one fluid sequence. Each shot flowed seamlessly into the next, creating a rhythm of destruction that spoke of a natural skill honed by years of practice.

"I really underestimated you," Akira murmured with honest appreciation, though he resisted the urge to immediately increase the training requirements for Usopp, who was now jogging the 1.1 kilometers needed to set up the next round of targets.

After all, the running itself was an integral part of the training regimen. Building stamina and endurance would be crucial for the battles ahead, where positioning and mobility could mean the difference between victory and defeat.

"Well, keeping the early training manageable might help cultivate Usopp's confidence," he reasoned aloud, watching the retreating form of their sharpshooter with strategic satisfaction.

The current iteration of the Straw Hat Pirates had been exposed to the Haki armor much earlier than in the original timeline. This fundamental advantage meant that they wouldn't have to worry about threats like Perona's negative ghosts during their eventual encounter on Thriller Bark. There would be no need for Usopp to maintain the extremely negative mental state that had once served as his only defense against such supernatural attacks.

In fact, from their very first conversation, Akira had consciously worked to make Usopp understand his own advantages and value to her crew. Whether it was the positioning of the Sniper's recruitment as an important bargaining chip during the Kuro incident, or the passionate speech he'd given about becoming the Sniper King, every interaction had been carefully designed to reinforce a crucial message.

You are an important member of the Straw Hat Pirates.

The reason for Akira's deliberate approach was his determination to prevent the devastating scene from the original timeline where Usopp had left the crew. While his presence would certainly ensure that the Going Merry would never again suffer such tragic damage, the ship's deteriorating condition had ultimately been nothing more than a catalyst for deeper problems.

Usopp's inability to keep up with the crew's rapidly escalating power levels, combined with his crushing guilt over his perceived inadequacy, had been the real driving forces behind his departure. These psychological wounds ran far deeper than any damage to wood and metal.

There was simply no avoiding the harsh reality: before experiencing the transformative crucible of Enies Lobby, Usopp had struggled to contribute meaningfully to their major battles. Aside from his partnership with Chopper in defeating two Baroque Works officers during the Alabasta conflict, he'd often been more of a liability than an asset at crucial moments.

But this time, Akira wanted Usopp to understand well in advance that even if he couldn't match his crewmates in direct confrontations, he was still an absolutely indispensable member of the Straw Hat Pirates when it came to long-range support.

In the pirate world, a sharpshooter wasn't just a damage dealer; he was the ultimate support specialist, able to turn the tide at critical moments when conventional fighters couldn't reach the battlefield.

With Usopp now officially integrated into their training rotation, the entire Straw Hat crew had suddenly entered what could only be described as an era of competitive improvement. Everyone but Akira himself was pushing his limits with unprecedented intensity.

Comfortably seated by the window on the second floor of Kaya's villa, Akira sipped an elegant glass of red wine as he watched the hardworking Straw Hats below. He'd already asked Butler Merry to help them acquire the materials and training equipment they'd need for their upcoming ocean voyage.

"Finally, everyone pushing themselves to the limit," he said with great satisfaction, raising his glass in a private toast to their collective ambition. "This is just what we needed."

The competitive atmosphere was exhilarating. The dedication of each crew member inspired the others to reach even greater heights, creating an upward spiral of improvement that would serve them well in the challenges ahead.

Time flowed like water through their fingers as the Straw Hat Pirates threw themselves into relentless training. Two full days passed in a blur of sweat, determination, and measurable progress that filled Akira with quiet pride.

Then, during dinner on their second evening at the villa, Mr. Merry finally delivered the news they had all been waiting for with barely contained excitement.

"The shipbuilders have been working around the clock," the elderly butler announced with obvious satisfaction, a genuine smile creasing his weathered face. "Thanks to their dedicated overtime, the Going Merry will be ready for her maiden voyage tomorrow! She will arrive in Syrup Village first thing in the morning!"

The reaction of the Straw Hat Pirates was immediate and electric. Every face around the table broke into an expression of pure excitement and anticipation, even Akira couldn't help but grin at the prospect of finally claiming the ship they had been waiting for.

Their own ship. Your floating home. Their gateway to the Grand Line and all the adventures that awaited them beyond the horizon.

That very night, after securing the unanimous consent of her crewmates, Nami accompanied Akira on another journey into the Pokémon world. Her enthusiasm for these virtual training sessions had grown exponentially as she witnessed her own rapid progress firsthand.

After two days of intense play, totaling nearly six hours, Nami's progress was nothing short of remarkable. Her level gains were occurring at a pace that would have made even veteran trainers jealous.

On their first day in the virtual world, Akira had taken Nami to the familiar grasslands near Cerulean City, where they had systematically dominated the local wild Pokémon population. It had taken about an hour of focused battle for Nami to successfully advance to level 15, her electrical abilities becoming more refined and devastating with each victory.

Then they'd begun to advance the game's plot in earnest, moving beyond simple grinding to real exploration and challenge.

Because Officer Jenny had set up a roadblock in the game world preventing them from returning to Cerulean City, Akira and Nami were forced to take an alternate route north through the wilderness. Their path led them to a bridge over a wide river, a structure grandly named "Nugget Bridge" in honor of the prizes awarded to skilled trainers.

The bridge was home to more than a dozen trainers who lived for Pokémon battles, each eagerly awaiting the arrival of worthy challengers. According to the game's documentation, these enthusiasts maintained teams of Level 10 to 12 Pokémon, formidable opponents for most novice trainers, but perfectly manageable for Nami's current skills.

After systematically defeating every trainer on the bridge, Nami's accumulated experience had brought her up to level 16. The battle had been both instructive and profitable, exposing her to a variety of tactical approaches and Pokémon types that broadened her understanding of strategic possibilities.

From that point on, the experience requirement for Nami's next level jumped from three to four digits, slowing her progress considerably. But the increased challenge only seemed to motivate her further.

While crossing the Nugget Bridge, they encountered a suspicious individual in a Team Rocket uniform who claimed that the bridge battles were an elaborate recruitment test. He tried to recruit Akira to join his criminal organization, insisting that his demonstrated skills made him perfect Team Rocket material.

No matter how many times Akira politely responded with variations of "I accept your offer," the recruiter stubbornly maintained that he'd been rejected, eventually forcing an inevitable Pokémon battle to resolve the misunderstanding.

After defeating the Team Rocket member, Akira and Nami traveled north to Route 25, where they encountered a young trainer looking for a worthy home for his prized Charmander. As the game's protagonist, Akira naturally gained the man's approval and trust.

Unfortunately, the enhanced game system apparently had no intention of allowing traditional Pokémon team-building mechanics. The moment ownership was transferred, the Charmander instantly transformed into a Technical Machine containing the move Spark, which promptly deposited itself into Akira's virtual inventory.

After burning through two hours of precious game time, their current session found them at the end of Route 25, confronting the last trainer who'd dared to challenge their supremacy.

"Nami, use Buzzy Buzz!" Akira ordered without hesitation, abandoning any pretense of sportsmanship.

The moment their opponent's Pokémon materialized on the battlefield, Akira immediately ordered his most devastating first strike. This approach had proven remarkably effective throughout their training, and he saw no reason to abandon a successful tactic now.

The fishing enthusiast standing across from them was clearly an experienced fighter, reacting with impressive speed to Akira's aggressive opening gambit.

"Kingler, use Protect!" he shouted desperately, his voice carrying the strain of someone who had realized the deadly potential of their situation.

Sizzle!

Swift lightning erupted from Nami's position like a living spear, crackling through the air toward the massive Crab Pokémon that had appeared in front of them. The Kingler was an impressive specimen, its oversized claws easily as large as its entire body, and its natural armor gleaming with the deep red of a perfectly maintained exoskeleton.

But just as the electric attack was about to make contact, a strange light flickered across Kingler's armor. The lightning struck the shimmering protective barrier formed by the mysterious energy, but the electrical attack ended harmlessly against the defensive technique.

"Interesting," Akira mused aloud, his tactical mind immediately analyzing this new variable. "A defensive Pokémon with solid protection abilities."

His grin turned predatory as the strategic implications became clear. "Perfect. This just became an opportunity to make some money."

"Nami, use Pay Day continuously until his defenses fail!"

"Hey!" Nami protested with obvious indignation, giving Akira an accusing look. "Don't treat me like Luffy and the others! I don't have unlimited stamina!"

Despite her complaints, she followed his instructions with practiced efficiency. Placing both hands to her forehead in a distinctive gesture that formed an arc reminiscent of the center of a copper coin, Nami channeled her supernatural abilities into economic warfare.

In an instant, a brilliant golden light blazed above her head, coalescing into a massive coin that gleamed like captured sunlight before rocketing toward the defending Kingler with tremendous force.

As Akira had predicted, the fishing instructor immediately ordered another Protect attempt. While the odds of consecutive successful defenses decreased significantly with each use, his Kingler was currently at level 16 with limited tactical options. Given Nami's aggressive first-strike approach, defending was his only viable strategy.

Nami began to systematically launch Pay Day attacks in a relentless barrage of golden projectiles. However, since the money generated by this technique was Pokémon currency, which only Akira could use within the game world, Nami's face showed no joy despite the obvious value being created.

Even though Pokédollars could be used to purchase many incredibly useful items within the virtual environment, that fact did nothing to improve Nami's mood about the situation.

"Damn it!" she suddenly exploded in frustration, her voice echoing across the battlefield. "All these gold coins and not a single one of them goes into my actual pocket!"

"This is absolutely infuriating!"

Finally, as the fourth Pay Day connected with devastating impact, Kingler's protective effect suddenly failed catastrophically. The damage sent the massive shrimp stumbling backward, its defenses completely overwhelmed by the sustained attack.

As she watched the scattered gold coins that would never be hers, Nami's heart burned with righteous anger at the fundamental injustice of the virtual economy. Her three-section staff materialized in her hands with smooth precision, electric energy already dancing along its metallic surface.

"Electric speed!" she declared with fierce determination.

Sizzle!

Golden lightning suddenly exploded around Nami's entire body, transforming her into a living thunderbolt as she quickly assembled her weapon into a long staff crackling with dangerous electricity. She hurled herself at the faltering Kingler with preternatural speed, covering the distance between them in the blink of an eye.

Bang!

A perfect hit that struck directly at a vital point!

Poor Kingler, after enduring several rounds of Nami's relentless money bombardment, was finally defeated by the devastating rhythm of her electrified staff technique. As the giant crab collapsed unconscious on the battlefield, Nami's body suddenly glowed with the distinctive glow that marked successful leveling.

The sacred light that accompanied Pokémon's evolution told them all they needed to know: after completely clearing Route 25, Nami had successfully reached Level 18! Her power continued to grow at an exponential rate, exceeding even Akira's most optimistic projections.

As the battle arena dissolved around them and experience reports flooded his consciousness, Akira felt a deep satisfaction at their progress. Each game session brought them closer to the strength they'd need for the trials ahead, and Nami's development was ahead of schedule.

Soon, she would be ready to take her revenge on the monster who had destroyed her childhood. And when that day came, Arlong would discover that the helpless girl he'd tormented had become something far more dangerous than his arrogance could comprehend.