One Piece: Path to Power

"What is a man as aloof as you doing here… Patrick Redfield."

Damien glared at the guest.

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. He was a lone wolf by nature, and strongly proud of that distinction.

Red was a Level One Threat under the World Threat Index said to equal the likes of Roger and Whitebeard!

He was dressed in gentlemanly garments, sporting white in braids, a white goatee and strange circular eyebrows. Red's outfit was formed by a purple shirt and a red cloak with yellow and blue diamonds as the inside theme. He also has a huge blue rose on the left side of his cloak.

[Patrick Redfield Image (in Discord)]

.

The man in question just chuckled, "You needn't be so defensive, I have not come here to cross swords with you, young pirate."

His words reduced the tension, much to Kaido's annoyance.

"Though I suggest your companions depart swiftly; Admiral Sengoku will arrive within the hour," he said with a slight tinge of disdain.

Damien narrowed his eyes, feeling the colours shift around Redfield—a shift in emotion in the form of red strands: deep pride.

The Sin Incarnate then turned to his Division Mates, giving them an order, "Go and get the ship around, I'll entertain our unexpected guest."

The rest moved immediately, except for Indra.

"Go."

The swordsman nodded, sheathing his famed blade.

"Tch, don't order me around!" Kaido looked annoyed, the grip of his club tightening. He didn't wait, rushing forward to smash the club without mercy.

It landed with a thunderous bang, sending tremors through the ruined island. 

"Huh!?" Kaido looked shocked as he saw a purple mist float around his thunderous club, yet there was no sign of Redfield anywhere.

A refined voice echoed in the beast's ears, his body too slow to react, "Patience is a virtue."

The gentlemanly voice was overshadowed by a Kaido's grunt caused by a thin umbrella jabbed into his side, sending red shockwaves through his body.

The attack was simple; simply digging into the pirate's left oblique.

Like a comet, the Hundred-Beast shot through the sky, soaring into the distance, bouncing over the seas like a pebble. A giant explosion of water followed as the depths soon swallowed the monstrous Kaido.

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

[Patrick Redfield]

[Age: 39 years]

[Height: 9' ] (2.74 m)

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

[Skills: Absolute talent in Observation, Primitive Life Return, Mastery of the Six Powers, Emotion Sense]

[Haki: Observation Haki (Grandmastery (II)), Advanced Mastery of Armament Haki, Conqueror's Haki (Grandmastery (I))]

[Strength: Top Tier Yonko]

(A/N: "Primitive" refers to self-learnt abilities rather than out of a Marine Manual.)

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

Redfield never lost his sight of Damien, taking care of Kaido while maintaining his examining gaze.

"Well, to what do I owe the pleasure?" the Sin Incarnate questioned.

*Tap* *Tap* The experienced pirate first cleaned the tip of his bloodied umbrella, grazing it on the ground.

"You see, young man, many years back I heard the tales of an interesting man…" Redfield paused momentarily before continuing, "He was a powerful pirate whose name shook the seas."

"His ambitions and strength led to his eventual demise but from the pirates of this era, he was surely a great man; I respected him."

"You're known to disdain alliances and bonds," Damien said with curiosity. "He must have been quite incredible."

Redfield chuckled, "You speak the truth indeed. Those who rely on the bonds between pirates are nothing but excuses for filth and vermin; unable to live with their own weakness, relying on others to make up for it."

The man's blood-red eyes then shifted into that of respect, "Yet that man was different… he was like me, he fought alone no matter the enemies lined up against him."

.

"That is admirable," Damien commented with narrowed eyes, "but what does it have to do with me?"

Redfield returned a curious smile, "Yes, you, Sin Incarnate Damien. There is a link between you and that man…"

"And how is that?"

The Red Count walked up and looked straight into Damien's crimson eyes, "That is what makes me so bewildered, young man…"

"Since the person I speak of was given the epithet: 'The God of War'. Yet his actual name… was Einar D. Ares!"

His blood-red eyes narrowed at the younger pirate, "Why does a pirate who was said to have died nearly two decades ago have the same surname as you? Coincidence? I think not."

"..."

Damien felt his world tilt upside down, leaving him speechless. "You… you mean my father?"

Redfield heaved a sigh and noddingly said, "It seems so. Ares, the only thing that remains of him has turned into legends that only remember a figure acclaimed as the 'God of War'. Slowly being buried as time ticks on."

The Aloof Red. A pirate who prided himself in his independence was quite interested in that legend.

"I was but a rookie at the time of your father's time, unfortunately, he was said to have died by the time I made a name for myself, leaving me quite vexed."

Redfield shook his head in dissatisfaction, "I was hoping you could enlighten me on his disappearance; his erasing. Only the Government has that type of power."

Damien rubbed his head, recalling the little information his mother had given him, all but the name of his deadbeat dad. The same one who promised to return to his mother, only to never show up again.

Now it seems that there were more complications than what Damien had subconsciously assumed, especially since his mother was left alone and perpetually sick.

.

The Sin Incarnate calmed his turbulent thoughts and shook his head, "I wish I knew about Ares, but I can't help you."

"A pity," Red relented with a sigh of his own. "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 will meet again."

The famed pirate gazed to the far horizon, his eyes narrowing at something, "Out of respect for your father, I shall hold back the coming marines, they got here quicker than I anticipated… must have been that young marine with the Turbo-Turbo Fruit."

"Perhaps I should find an ability for myself…" he mused with a mysterious smile.

Damien also picked up the vast fleet coming from the far north, one spreading across a huge portion of the sea.

A powerful presence onboard the leading warship.

Redfield suddenly took out a pen and three inconspicuous leaves.

*Poof* *Poof* *Poof* 

A few shadows popped near Damien, taking the appearance of three familiar faces.

"Pirate filth."

"Gurarara! Let's get this over with."

"Wahahaha! My Ace is ready to cut things apart!"

Basara, Whitebeard and Roger, in the flesh.

Damien turned his attention to the stationery in Redfield's hands, commenting, "Your pen is quite an amazing tool. A pen that ate a Mythical Zoan of the Model Bake-Danuki."

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

Damien returned a simple nod, recalling the Devil Fruit in mind.

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

[Dog-Dog Fruit – Mythical Model Bake-Danuki]

[Zoan Fruit | Mythical Type]

[Fruit Rating: 6.5 Stars]

[Allows the user to transform into a Bake-Danuki or its hybrid at will.]

[Expanded: The user can create clones of other beings when their names are written on a piece of writing.]

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

Damien hummed at the ability and bid farewell, "Until we meet again, Redfield."

"Before you leave, young man, can you answer me a question?"

He used his umbrella to point to the far right. The same area where a body rested. "Basara. Why leave him alive?"

He gave Damien a curious smile, "Your companions may not be able to feel it but I'm sure you can—his heart still beats, although very faintly."

The embedded Ryushi was removed by the flick of a wrist, spurting more blood from the fallen marine. "Let's just say your views on pirate crews are justified..."

The veteran pirate naturally picked up on the insinuation. "A weak Navy strengthens your rivals... Paha! I look forward to your future endeavours, young man."

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

[South of G-2]

"That was a close one," Kaen muttered.

Damien, too, had arrived, all the while having plopped Kaido with the help of a Sea Beast.

"Rest up, it'll take a good week to return," he told the others, leaving them to their own devices.

Damien also had time to go over his earnings. Firstly, there was a notification.

[Conqueror's Haki Mastery has reached the Advanced Stage.]

"Finally, Infusion is in hand."

Damien now had a certain expectation in his heart as he felt his body vying for permission to become something more.

"Sibyl, list out my skills."

[Roger, Roger.]

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

[Skills: Titanic Recovery (+), Titanic Vitality (+), Evolvable Anatomy, Voice of All Things, Will of D., Rokushiki, Life Return (Advanced Mastery), Deprivation, Equal Exchange, Destiny Perception, Empathy]

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

A smile spread across the pirate's face, reflecting his satisfaction. 

After all that abuse from Basara, Damien was finally able to drive the Armament Haki into the bone marrow of his skeletal system, maximizing his Black Bones, which also opened up the path to evolution!

His Recovery had been awaiting evolution since before he left Mortem Island, and now the Vitality was ready as well. 

"There's no point in waiting, let's do it…"

*Fwooo*

Damien began to control his breathing. Calming his heart rate down to around a single beat per minute.

The blood flowing through his veins began to bubble and churn, getting thicker and brighter. The muscle linings tightened and grew stronger.

Cracks echoed out from the young pirate's body as they creaked into a stronger material.

The solid bones made no noise, but the blood produced from the marrow had certainly gotten far more potent. 

Damien gave out a deep breath as his body reached a new level.

[{Titanic Recovery} and {Titanic Vitality} have evolved into their final state and combined.]

The catharsis was heavenly, flushing every ounce of fatigue from his body.

If Damien had to guess, the only one who could reach the level of his durability was Prime Kaido. However, his recovery had gone beyond the King of the Beasts, even to the point where he could regenerate limbs!

.

Beyond that, there was another feeling of a void in Damien's heart. "Just like with Black Bones, I feel like I can now drive Haki into parts of my body!"

[You're right, Damien. It seems your body unlocked a new anatomy,] Sibyl explained.

[{Black Body} – Allows for the acceptance of Armament Haki to further toughen your muscles, tendons, blood vessels, fats, organs, etc., to the point of turning black.]

Following the format of Black Bones, the new anatomy also had certain levels of its own.

Level 1 – Hardening the muscles and tendons.

Level 2 – Hardening the veins, arteries and capillaries.

Level 3 – Hardening the organs.

Black Body (I) through (III), respectively.

"Looks like it'll take a while to get there but I guess that's part of the grind," Damien mumbled to himself, not at all annoyed by the process. "Now, bring up my stats."

A blue panel appeared in his mind:

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

[Einar D. Damien]

[Age: 18 years, 11 months, 17 days]

[Height: 11' 7"] (3.53 m)

[Status: Thriving, Hungry]

[Devil Fruit: Pulverize Pulverize Fruit (Advanced Mastery)]

[Fruit Rating: 6.5 Stars]

[Weapon: Ryūshi of the Supreme Grade Series]

[Ryūshi Combat Arts Comprehension: 66% ↑]

[Notable Characteristics: Black Bones (MAX) ↑, Black Body (I) ↑, Fishman-Hybrid, Seastone Resistance, Undying Anatomy {New}]

[Skills: Voice of All Things, Will of D., Rokushiki, Life Return (Advanced Mastery), Deprivation, Equal Exchange, Destiny Perception, Empathy]

[Haki: Observation Haki (Grandmastery (I)), Armament Haki (Advanced Mastery), Conqueror's Haki (Advanced Mastery) ↑]

[Strength: Middle Tier Yonko ↑]

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

"Looks like this is the end of my evolving anatomy, reaching this 'undying' level," the pirate mused. "Just enough to advance onwards but I bet I'll be stuck here for a long while."

Damien was satisfied with his journey to G-2. Be it his strength advancement or testing out his Fourth Division.

.

He then found himself at the back end of the departing vessel, leaning on the railing and gazing down at the parting sea.

His mind went to the revelation from Redfield, leaving him ambivalent.

"Einar D. Ares. I wonder if you look the way I imagine you do," Damien muttered, his voice tinged with bitterness and curiosity. The reflection of an older man with black hair and a red streak to one end stared back at him from the sea, mocking his uncertainty.

As the ship cut through the waves, memories of his mother's stories and the harsh reality of her abandonment clashed within him.

"How could you leave her?" The thought echoed louder this time, anger bubbling beneath the surface.

"..." Alas, there was no reply from the smiling figure.

"Secrets will unveil themselves as time goes on," Damien whispered, his resolve hardening. "I just need to keep getting stronger!"

He felt a mix of determination and frustration. Every step towards uncovering his father's truth was a step towards understanding his own path.

The legend of Einar D. Ares would not overshadow Damien's journey but fuel it, driving him to become something more than just his mysterious father's son.

To Be Continued…

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Author's Corner:

Damien's body is as tough as prime Kaido but his recovery is one step higher than the King of Beasts, even to the point of regrowing limbs. Manga readers may know of certain figures who can also do this, so it isn't immersion-breaking in terms of the One Piece world.

What do you think happened to Ares from what you were told in this chapter?

Images are available on Discord alongside other niche details: https://discord.gg/aJHHHPvb6q