Pirates: Seeing My Proficiency, I Became a Legend

"Nami! Is your benefactor gone?"

"Yeah!"

Sitting on a wooden pier, the warm sea breeze tousling their hair, Nami and Nojiko dangled their legs over the edge, their pale feet splashing in the seawater as they chatted absently, occasionally kicking up tiny waves.

"Nami, why don't you let him stay a few more days?"

"I can't! Just like everyone else who passes through, he has his own journey to follow."

"Nami, you won't fall for him, will you?"

"Idiot! Why would I fall for that big jerk?"

"I heard he left 100 million Berries for someone. Sounds like someone got really lucky."

"Nojiko! How many times do I have to tell you? It's not for me—it's for the village!"

In the end, Dongze didn't take Nami with him, though he acknowledged her extraordinary navigation skills. With Robin already aboard, the ship was hardly a safe haven. If the Marines discovered Robin missing, Aokiji would undoubtedly begin his pursuit. The admiral's abilities—freezing entire seas in an instant—were absurdly overpowered. Dongze wasn't prepared to face him yet. He wanted his Devil Fruit to awaken first; just imagining the possibilities made his mind reel.

For now, taking on more crewmates wasn't an option, and Nami was still too young to venture into the Grand Line. So he let her go. Whether she'd eventually become Monkey D. Luffy's navigator didn't matter to him. After all, his ambitions weren't tied to becoming the Pirate King.

His focus was on power. Strength ruled this world. Without it, everything crumbled—just like the Straw Hats in Sabaody Archipelago, where they were utterly overpowered and scattered. If not for Bartholomew Kuma's intervention, they might never have made it to the New World.

Thinking of Luffy, Dongze smirked. Red-Haired Shanks guiding him, Dragon watching over him, Garp training him, and Rayleigh mentoring him—it was no surprise powerful figures went easy on the Straw Hat kid. Anyone with a brain knew that messing with Luffy meant kicking a hornet's nest. The consequences? Catastrophic.

Dongze sighed. He himself was in a similar predicament. Certain forces had already marked him, limiting his options. He had no choice but to bide his time.

Reality was harsh.

Why was Shanks able to step onto Marineford and declare, "This war ends now," and actually be heard? Because strength dictated the outcome. It wasn't about selling favors—it was about knowing they had to give him one.

The power of "Face Fruit" users was truly terrifying.

Just like when he spared Buggy in Orange Town—that was an unspoken trade, a practical decision. Reality was ruthless.

Looking up from the sea, Dongze saw Robin waiting for him on deck, a towel in hand.

"Mr. Dongze, where are we heading next?"

For two days, their ship had been sailing east, away from Loguetown. Robin was curious—Dongze never explained their destination.

"Alabasta," he answered, drying himself off.

Robin's brows furrowed slightly. "Alabasta… that's Crocodile's territory. Are you planning to challenge a Warlord of the Sea?"

Dongze chuckled, not bothering to clarify.

"Challenge" wasn't the right word. With his growing strength, he was already nearing an admiral's level. His only major weakness was still water. But who was really challenging whom?

He glanced at his status panel:

• Iron Head Skill: MAX

• Iron Crotch Skill: MAX

• Abdominal Breathing: MAX

• Basic Swordsmanship: MAX

• Swordsmithing: MAX

• Hundred Steps Flying Sword: MAX

• Omnidirectional Strike: MAX

• Iai Slash: MAX

• Flying Celestial: MAX

• Silent Meditation: 5500/10000

• Single Sword Style: 5500/10000

• Tai Chi Swordsmanship: MAX

• Observation Haki (Awakened): 320,000/1,000,000

• Armament Haki (Awakened): 330,000/1,000,000

• Conqueror's Haki (Awakened): 8,500/1,000,000

• Slash Mastery (Unlocked): 330,000/1,000,000

• Sword Intent (Unlocked): 0/100

Satisfied, he nodded. The days he spent diving into the sea, pushing his limits, weren't wasted. At this rate, anyone watching might think he was a Fish-Man.

Neptunians lurking in his path? No hesitation—he dove in and attacked.

Armament Haki fully activated, he struck each one at least ten times (which conveniently boosted his proficiency). Then came close combat.

(Neptunians: "We don't even know what we did wrong! One moment we're swimming, the next, some lunatic is wailing on us! He started from our tails and just kept going! Punch after punch! We lost count of how many times we got hit—all we remember is pain!")

After brutalizing them, he finished with a devastating Conqueror's Haki blast before slicing through their massive bodies. Then? Dinner was served.

(Yes, this was still a human being.)

Dongze had accidentally discovered a system loophole—anything alive counted for experience.

And he abused that bug mercilessly.

If Zoro ever found out, he'd definitely yell, "You already have hacks—why are you exploiting bugs too?! Have some shame!"

Of course, this training had its drawbacks. Dongze was sick of Sea King meat. Even Robin, usually composed, shook her head at the sight of it.

Robin had also made significant progress. Under Dongze's guidance, she developed her Devil Fruit further and began training in Haki. Her strength had already doubled since joining the crew.

"There's a Poneglyph in Alabasta."

Robin's body tensed. Her beautiful eyes locked onto Dongze's, a mixture of surprise and awe flickering within them.

She had assumed he'd forgotten. But no—he remembered.

She quickly considered the implications.

A Poneglyph in Alabasta? It was highly probable. The country had an ancient history, was a World Government member, and its vast deserts served as a natural safeguard. Few would willingly venture into such a harsh environment, making it an ideal hiding place.

But if they were heading there, would they have to confront Crocodile? The Warlord was still a pirate, after all.

"Mr. Dongze, won't we clash with the Warlord Crocodile if we go there?" Robin asked cautiously.

"It's fine. This one, I can handle."

Dongze didn't even turn, his gaze fixed on the endless ocean, as if already seeing the warlord lounging in Rainbase.

Robin's head was full of black lines.

That damn catchphrase of his…

"Ah! A great pirate with a 15 million Berry bounty! (Buggy the Clown!) So scary, I can't win!"

"Ah! A 77 million Berry pirate! (Honestly, I might be weaker than Buggy.) So scary, I can't win!"

"Ah! A Warlord of the Sea with an 81 million Berry bounty! Yeah, I can beat this one."

Robin nearly facepalmed.

Crocodile was leagues above Buggy, and yet somehow, Dongze's bizarre logic put them in the same category.

It was ridiculous.

Silently, Robin turned and walked into the cabin.

To hell with your "I can't win!"