One Piece: From Marine to Legend

So, I ended up with X Drake's undercover mission?

Is it too late to change my mind and join the regular Marines instead?

Just as Storm hesitated, wondering if he should speak up, Admiral Kuzan suddenly added another statement.

"Of course, Storm, your current strength is still lacking."

Huh?

Storm swallowed the words he was about to say.

Something big was coming.

"In order to carry out this undercover project, the headquarters will also provide some assistance," Kuzan continued. "You've heard about last year's boot camp, haven't you?"

Storm thought for a moment and quickly recalled a specific rumor.

"Are you referring to the rumor that outstanding graduates of the training camp could receive a Devil Fruit as a reward?"

Why had this news spread so widely in boot camp?

Because of the vicious attack that happened three years ago!

In the year 1515, Edward Weevil, who claimed to be "Whitebeard Jr.," launched a brutal attack on the training camp.

[T/N: I'm not sure if this is canon. Just take this as AU.]

The entire facility suffered devastating casualties.

Among them was Instructor Zephyr, who, despite his strength, lost one of his arms to Weevil.

After the incident, Marine Headquarters was thrown into an uproar. The attack was so catastrophic that the boot camp was suspended for a few months. It wasn't until the following year that it reopened.

To counteract the psychological impact of the massacre and encourage new recruits to participate in the program, Headquarters implemented new security measures, deploying a large number of armed personnel throughout the camp.

Additionally, to attract promising candidates, generous rewards were introduced—including the rumored Devil Fruit prize.

At the time, Storm had dismissed this as nothing more than fake news.

After all, he had personally attended and graduated as an outstanding recruit from the training camp, yet he had never seen a Devil Fruit, let alone been offered one as a reward.

Not even a Devil Peel had been in sight!

But now, things seemed to be taking an unexpected turn.

"Yes, that's the rumor I meant," Kuzan said, nodding. "The rumored Devil Fruit rewards do exist. And they aren't just for 'outstanding graduates'—they're also reserved for members of SWORD."

Storm's heart skipped a beat.

He had been an outstanding graduate.

Now, he was also a SWORD operative.

Which meant…

Storm absentmindedly rubbed the Devil Ring with his thumb.

"Admiral Kuzan," he asked cautiously, "are you saying that I can receive a Devil Fruit right now?"

Kuzan responded without hesitation.

"That's exactly it."

The next moment, Kuzan extended his hand, and three white ice spheres emerged from beneath the desk.

Under his control, the frozen spheres floated toward Storm, encircling him like satellites.

"Devil Fruits are extremely rare treasures," Kuzan said, his tone casual as he manipulated the floating spheres. "Even our headquarters doesn't have many in stock.

"Among these three Devil Fruits, two belong to the Paramecia category, while the third is a Zoan-type. You may choose one to eat.

"This is one of the benefits of joining SWORD."

Storm's eyes locked onto the three ice spheres, gleaming with hunger.

Through the semi-transparent ice, he could just barely make out the mysterious spiraling patterns that marked the flesh of the fruits within.

This was it. The legendary power of the sea. The "cheat code" of this world!

As the ice encasing the fruits melted away, their true appearances were finally revealed before him.

Kuzan smiled.

"Storm, do you need me to introduce these three Devil Fruits and explain their abilities?"

"No," Storm replied immediately, his gaze still fixated on them. "I've read the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia."

The Devil Fruit Encyclopedia—a book that sounded rare but was, in reality, somewhat accessible, at least in Marine Headquarters.

Storm had encountered multiple copies in the archives.

Initially, he had been confused about why more people didn't rely on it when searching for specific Devil Fruits.

After all, a few individuals kept scouring the seas for their ideal fruits using this very book. One of which was the infamous Blackbeard Teach.

But beyond these two, most people didn't seem to know about the Encyclopedia at all.

Even within the vast Marine organization, many officers remained ignorant of its contents.

This world was one where even basic knowledge was considered a treasured secret.

Fortunately, Storm had read the book cover to cover. He was well aware of the appearance and abilities of nearly every recorded Devil Fruit.

There were many he had dreamed of obtaining—Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Op-Op Fruit, Glint-Glint Fruit, Azure Dragon Fruit…

Unfortunately, all of those were already claimed.

As he analyzed the three fruits before him, he quickly identified their names:

The one on the left was the Whip-Whip Fruit (Paramecia).

The one on the right was the Clay-Clay Fruit (Paramecia).

The one in the middle was the Ancient Zoan-type: Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Allosaurus Model.

If Storm remembered correctly, these three Devil Fruits would later be consumed by SWORD members.

He stared at the dark green Allosaurus Fruit in the middle.

It made him think of X Drake.

If he chose this fruit now, would he end up being assigned to infiltrate the Beast Pirates just like Drake?

Storm shook his head.

He wasn't opposed to Zoan-type abilities, but he had strong biases against certain types.

For example, the Flame-Flame Fruit—a fruit so overused that even a dog wouldn't eat it!

Fire-based abilities were everywhere in this world. If you couldn't wield flames better than the competition, you'd never stand out.

As for Ancient Zoans like this one…

Even dogs would shake their heads at it.

If he had to choose, he had no interest in the Allosaurus Fruit.

However, his prolonged gaze didn't go unnoticed by Kuzan.

The Admiral, being a native of this world, had a very different perspective on Devil Fruits.

Unlike Storm, he believed that the Allosaurus Fruit was the strongest of the three options.

"Storm," Kuzan asked, holding up the fruit, "is this the one you want?"

"No!" Storm rejected it outright. "I'm deciding between the other two Paramecia Fruits."

Between them, the Whip-Whip Fruit had the ability to command whatever it struck, even inanimate objects.

The Clay-Clay Fruit, on the other hand, allowed its user to create, manipulate, and even become clay.

[T/N: In the Wiki, it is not stated if this fruit is considered a Special Paramecia fruit. However, in this novel please treat it as such.]

Storm made his decision.

"I'll take the Clay-Clay Fruit (Gunyo-Gunyo no Mi)!"

Kuzan nodded, offering no objections.

Ultimately, the potential of a Devil Fruit depended on its user.

Some people had powerful Devil Fruits but wasted them like fools.

Others had weak ones but transformed them into something extraordinary.

Believing in Storm's potential, Kuzan personally handed him the Clay-Clay Fruit.

"This Paramecia fruit now belongs to you, Storm."

The moment Storm took the fruit, he felt a rush of excitement.

"Sir! I love the Marines so much! I love SWORD so much!"

Kuzan chuckled.

"How much do you love it?"

Storm smirked before reciting:

"I am the blade in the darkness, the defender of the sea... I pledge my life and honor to SWORD. Today and forevermore!"

Kuzan clapped, genuinely impressed.

"Good! Very energetic!"