One Piece: Path to Power

[2101 words]

----------------------------------------- ​​

"What is a man as aloof as you doing here,"

"Patrick Redfield."

.

The man who had just appeared is a pirate known as the 'Red Count' or the 'Aloof Red'.

His epithet originates from his independence and hatred over alliances and shows of camaraderie.

According to Sengoku, he is a man who alone could rival the likes of Roger and Whitebeard in his Prime!

.

He was eventually captured and put into Impel Down after Roger's fall. He then escaped decades later due to Blackbeard's attack. Following that, he ate the Mythical Type Fruit of the model Vampire to regain the strength he lost due to age and faced the Strawhats.

-----

[A/N: Patrick Redfield Image]

.

The man in question just gave out a refined chuckle, "You needn't be so defensive, I am not here to fight you, young man."

His words calmed the others down as they sighed in relief as Kaido just grumbled in irritation.

.

"Though I suggest your companions leave as Sengoku will arrive shortly," He said with a slight tinge of disdain.

I felt the colours shift around him, my {Empathy} picked it up immediately.

Violet-red strands of pride.

.

I just nodded, "You guys should leave. I still have some things to do."

They nodded while Indra interjected, "Commander, are you sure?"

.

Indra's Observation has grown and he could feel the same thing he felt from Basara so he was quite anxious.

"I doubt the Red Count would reach so low to lie to me." I grinned. "Go and prepare the ship. Kaido, you go as well."

The Ogre looked annoyed, "HA? I refuse! I want to fight him!"

He then pointed his kanabo club towards the man as some fighting spirit leaked off him.

.

"You can fight Shiki or Linlin once we reach Hachinosu, until then, go drown yourself in saké or something," I said offhandedly.

Eventually, they left.

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

[Patrick Redfield]

[Age: 39]

[Height: 8'6]

[Devil Fruit: None] (Has an item that ate a Devil Fruit on his body)

[Fruit Rating: ---]

[Skills: Absolute talent in Observation, Complete mastery over his body allowing him to produce red shockwaves and purple mist in his attacks and movements]

[Haki: Grandmastery (I) for [O], Mastered Armament Haki, Grandmastery (I) for [C]

[Strength: Upper Stages of High-Tier Yonko]

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

Redfield waited in patience with his usual smile, his body leaning on his large umbrella.

I turned to him, "Now, Redfield-san, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

The Red Count nodded, "You see, young man, many years back I met this interesting man…"

He paused for a second.

"He was a powerful man whose name shook the seas. A man even I respected."

He then looked to the distant horizon, "His ambitions and his strength led to his eventual demise but from the pirates now, he was surely a great man."

.

His words brought shock to my face, "For a man who disdains alliances and bonds, you seem rather close."

.

He chuckled, "You speak the truth indeed. Those who rely on the bonds between pirates are nothing but excuses for filth and vermin. Yet he was different, like me, he fought alone and was his own man."

"That is rather impressive but what does this have to do with me?" I asked the Aloof Red.

.

Redfield gave me a curious smile, "Yes, you, Sin Incarnate Damien. I came here to meet you."

"And why is that?"

He walked up a bit and looked into my eyes, "That is what makes me so bewildered, young man."

He continued, "Since the person I speak was given the epithet of 'The God of War.' Yet his actual name was Einar D. Ares."

His blood-red eyes narrowed at me, "How can a pirate who was said to have died 18 years ago share the same surname as you?"

"Coincidence? I think not."

.

My eyes widened at his words.

I looked at the man with certain degrees of wondering, "...You knew my father?"

-----------------------------------------

[Later On]

.

Red went on to talk about his desire to meet my supposedly dead father as he was a big name in the era before Xebec's era.

Redfield who prided himself in his independence found him admirable and sought him out to a duel yet found nothing but the news of his death.

Alas, many years later, he heard my name and came to meet me.

The man I thought to be some washed-up fodder ended up being some dead powerhouse? Quite the interesting turn of events.

---

"Red-san, I have never met my father. He stumbled upon my mother and eventually left the island before my birth. I cannot help you." I told the man.

I was 3 feet taller than him so it was interesting.

This was the first person I met that was shorter than me yet more powerful.

.

He slightly nodded, "A pity, I would clash weapons with your father had he been alive. A pity indeed."

He then twirled his umbrella around.

"Very well, young man, I'm sure we'll meet in the future. Though out of respect of your father, I shall hold back the coming marines, they got here quicker than I thought."

.

And it was indeed true, they arrived 3 hours before schedule.

Well, that wasn't the complete truth.

Sengoku seemed to have lost patience and was geppo-ing here very quickly, no less than 4.8 km away, his fleet of warships following slowly.

.

Redfield then took out a pen and 3 leaves.

.

*Poof* x3

A few shadows popped near me.

I saw 3 men standing proudly.

.

Basara, Whitebeard and Roger.

.

I looked at Redfield's hand, "Your pen is rather amusing of an item."

"A pen that ate a Mythical Zoan of the Model Baka-Danuki," I recalled from my past life.

The Red Count grinned, "I need no companions as I myself am enough."

.

I just nodded as the fruit info popped up in my mind.

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

[Dog-Dog Fruit: Model Bake-Danuki] (Racoon Dog)

[Zoan Fruit | Mythical Type]

[Fruit Rating: ??????]

[Allows the user or item to transform into a Baka-Danuki]

[This form can be used to create clones of other beings when their names are written on a piece of writing.]

[The clones created will mimic their fruits and abilities but the overall strength will be reduced.]

[A/N: This is canon by the game, he ate the Vampire fruit MANY decades later]

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

Red's pen ate this fruit and he can use it to write names of people on leaves and spawn in clones.

[A/N: His pen Image]

.

"Though for some reason your name does not work with this wonderful pen of mine, how odd…" He drained on as another leaf sat in his grip.

My {Ancient Voice} cannot be cloned thus he cannot clone me, quite nice as I don't need my shadows running around.

.

"Until we meet again, Red-san," I said as I was about to fly away to the ship though he called out once more.

"Before you leave, young man, can you answer me a question?" He asked from afar.

I waited in the air.

*Point*

He used his umbrella to point to the far right.

.

"Basara. Why leave him alive?"

"Your other friends may not be able to feel it but I'm sure you can, his heart still beats, though very faintly."

I shrugged at the man, "Killing him now would be a waste... I did take an eye, however."

.

Though something interesting happened, Red laughed.

"Pahaha! How interesting you are. Very well, I wonder just how far you will go, young man."

-----------------------------------------

[The Sea Beyond the G-2]

[A Few Hours Later]

.

Most of them had gone to rest or sleep.

Kaido was drinking in the corner, he hiccuped every now and then.

He would occasionally curse out loud and smash his club everywhere but that was nothing new.

.

*Thud*

I sat down on a comfy sofa I bought from the {Store}.

"Ahh, it's nice to relax…"

.

I then looked at the items placed in front of me.

After I destroyed and ransacked G-4 at Amethyst Kingdom, I got some decent goodies.

So I had sent Thane had gone to collect the goodies from G-2 now.

.

A few useful items.

1. Devil Fruits

2. Some Meito

3. Vegapunk's Notes

-----

Fruits wise,

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

[ZOAN]

[Hare Hare Fruit: Model Snow Rabbit]

[Insect Insect Fruit: Model Lepidoptera]

[Dragon Dragon Fruit: Ancient Model - Ankylosaurus]

.

[PARAMECIA]

[Lotion Lotion Fruit - Allows the user to secrete lotion from their pores.]

[Swift Swift Fruit - Allows the user to increase their speed drastically.]

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

.

I also got 1 Great Grade Sword and 3 Skillful Grade Sword.

.

I got some of Vegapunk's notes that were left in a hurry to escape.

He was working on understanding devil fruits and Kaido's special physique. I will give them to Acier later.

-----

That aside, I did mute some notifications I got during the fight.

*DING!*

.

[Your Conqueror's Haki has reached The Grand Mastery Stage and has generated 2 skills! Congratulations!]

[You have unlocked the skills Ultimate Skills, {Weather Warping} and {Natural Dread}]

.

[Your strength has increased to the Upper Stage of Mid-Tier Yonko. Congratulation!]

----------

Ultimate Skill - {Weather Warping}

[Description: This allows you to mould the weather to your liking. At times, your emotions will also be reflected in the weather.]

.

Ultimate Skill - {Natural Dread}

[Description: Your body will naturally release Conqueror's Haki that will make all beneath you tremble in fear. Makes the chance of betrayal and backstabbing almost null against you. Anyone afraid of you shall never be able to fight at full strength against you.]

----------

Well, they weren't all that useful but more luxurious if anything. Though the second ability could be valuable at times.

.

'Sibyl, show my stats.' I asked in my head.

[Here they come.]

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

[Einar D. Damien]

[Age: 17 years, 3 months]

[Height: 10'7]

[Status: Tired]

[Bloodline: Fishman-Human Hybrid]

[Physique: Black Bones {+}]

[Strength: Upper Stages of Mid-Tier Yonko]

[Devil Fruit: Pulverize Pulverize Fruit (Peak of High-Advanced Mastery)]

[Weapon: Ryūshi of the Supreme Grade Series]

[Ryūshi Combat Arts Comprehension: 44%]

[Seastone Resistance: IMMUNE]

[Skills: ?]

[Haki ⏬]

[Observation Haki Mastery: Grandmastery (I)]

[Armament Haki Mastery: High-Advanced]

[Conqueror's Haki Mastery: Grandmastery (I)]

-----

[Points Balance: 3631 SP]

< Quests Available to be Claimed >

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

My strength went from the Early Stage to the Upper Stage and will only continue to increase.

My clone is also working on my Armament Haki by going for the {Black Body}.

Other than that, Grandmastery also brings forth another ability to all users…

.

I look at my right arm.

*Purrup*

A red bubble of Ryou Haki bubbles all around it, gently flowing in simple currents, waiting to be used.

.

I look at my left hand.

*Grrrrrr* *Spark*

The air starts to grumble as some black lightning coil around my arm. A raging dark red coat of Haki aggressively churning, ready to be unleashed.

.

Kaido who was sulking in the corner from a mood shift turned his eyes towards me.

"Oye, Oye! *Hic*That's what the crazy captain uses…" He muttered.

*Heavy Steps*

He trudged on towards me and looked at my arm with inquisition.

.

"Hmm, something like this…" He murmured as his right arm flexed with muscle.

His eyes glowed black as he was playing around with his Haki.

.

'This guy… he has a lousy talent for Observation but his Conqueror's Haki is quite high up there.' I thought as I saw him.

.

I then smirked.

*Fwoo*

I flashed in front of him and,

BAM!

A heavy blow to his face as ripples of force swam around his ginormous head, echoing through his skull.

"AUghh!" He groaned.

*Thud*

He went full Humpty Dumpty as he had a great fall.

*Thui*

He spat out some blood as his crimson teeth shined with a grin.

.

"This power is very nice, I'll master it and use it to beat the shit out of you, Damien!" He declared.

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, yeah. That's if you weren't locked up in Impel Down by then. Though I'm still waiting for something else."

He tilted his large head, "For what?"

I smirked, "For a 'thank you' of course! Didn't your mom teach you to show gratitude, you over-sized Ogre!"

.

He jolted up but the buzzing Infusion from early on made him collapse back down.

.

"HA?! I could have escaped if I really wanted! I didn't need you to come!"

"Is that right? Last I heard you got one-shotted by Garp a year and a half ago. RAHAHA! 'The Beast was left with a giant bump as he lay unconscious'. Did you see that headline when you were chained up?"

.

Kaido got up as he grounded his teeth in anger.

"TCH! JUST WAIT, I'LL USE MY CLUB TO SHATTER YOU IN HALF!"

"Your measly bounty tells me a different tale!"

.

----------------------------------------------

[The following is excluded from word count]

Author's Corner:

Basara was never confirmed to be dead in the previous chapter.

As for why he didn't kill him? Well, he does have {Destiny Perception} for a reason.

Discord: https://discord.gg/DSPpVvnz4c