ONE PIECE: WORTHLESS PROGRESSION

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Most of the crew barely flinched as the iceberg disappeared into the fog behind them. They adjusted their positions, tightened ropes, and muttered about getting the sails back in order, as if this was just another Tuesday.

Toshi, on the other hand, sat slumped against the mast, his jaw still slack. "Are we just... not gonna talk about that?" he asked, looking around.

Sogeki, who had been nearby, leaned against the railing with an amused look. "What's there to talk about? That's just Dragon."

"Just Dragon?" Toshi repeated, throwing his arms up. "He moved an iceberg!"

Sogeki chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course he did. That's the kind of guy he is. You'll get used to it. Well... maybe."

Toshi blinked at him, baffled. "You're telling me this is normal?"

"For him? Yeah." Sogeki crossed his arms, glancing toward Dragon, who stood at the bow of the ship, staring into the fog. "You've got no idea how strong he is. That was barely anything compared to what he's capable of."

Toshi frowned, watching as Dragon barked orders at the crew. The man was calm, composed, and terrifyingly effective. "You're saying there's more?"

Sogeki nodded. "Way more. That's why most of us stick around, even with all the chaos. If anyone can take us through the Grand Line alive, it's him."

Toshi glanced at the newer recruits, who were still pale and shaky, whispering amongst themselves about the power they'd just witnessed. At least he wasn't the only one completely stunned.

"Did you see that?" one of them whispered.

"Is he some sort of devil?" another asked, glancing nervously at Dragon.

Dragon turned, his sharp eyes scanning the crew. "Enough gawking. Focus. We've got more ahead."

The recruits snapped to attention, scrambling to get back to work.

Toshi sighed, running a hand through his damp hair. "Man, this place just keeps getting crazier."

Sogeki clapped him on the back. "Welcome to the Grand Line, rookie," he said before heading down the deck.

In just over a week, the craziest things had happened to Toshi. He'd seen a massive red mountain with a river flowing upward, fallen thousands of meters from the sky, fought a giant whale, sailed through unpredictable weather, and now watched a man push an iceberg aside with some kind of special power.

Toshi's mouth snapped shut. He'd officially seen it all. At this point, nothing could possibly shock him anymore.

Toshi sighed as he got to his feet. ' I wonder how much more of this I'll have to deal with, '  he thought. He might've seen it all, but it had drained more energy than he cared to admit.

The Grand Line was far crazier than Toshi had imagined. Everything he had heard, every rumor and wild story, it all made sense now...each one more terrifying than the last. The danger, the unpredictability—it was like nothing he had ever known.

Without Dragon… would they have survived even a single day here?

The answer was simple, and it hit him harder than he expected. No.

Without Dragon, they would've been swallowed whole by the madness of this place, just another casualty in a world that didn't care. Toshi didn't know whether to feel relieved or uneasy about that fact. Maybe both.

Running his fingers through his hair, he slicked it back before cracking his knuckles. He stretched his arms as the ship glided forward, sailing deeper into the thick fog.

"I SEE SOMETHING IN THE DISTANCE!" A man yelled from the crow's nest, his voice cutting through the fog. Pressing a telescope to one eye and squinting with the other.

"IS IT ANOTHER ICEBERG?" Dragon asked, walking to the edge of the ship and narrowing his eyes at the thick fog ahead. But it was like trying to see through a wall. The fog was too dense, too thick.

"Yes… Wait! No!" The man adjusted the telescope, twisting it to shorten the length. His hands froze, and for a moment, his body stilled. Then, slowly, his hands began to tremble.

"It's a..." He paused, the words hanging in the air as he swallowed hard, the tremor in his hands only growing.

"THERE'S A FLEET OF DESTROYED SHIPS!" he finally yelled, his voice breaking the heavy silence.

The crew fell silent as the ship sailed past the wreckage. Dismembered, capsized ships floated all around them, their broken pieces scattered across the water. It was like a—

"A pirate's graveyard..." Toshi whispered, his voice barely audible, a shiver running through him as the words left his lips. ' Were these the ships Crocus was talking about? '

He stepped closer to the railing, staring out at the wreckage.

The ships, though torn apart, were still in relatively good condition—at least for ships that had been completely destroyed. That meant whatever had done this or whoever had done this, had been here recently.

The crew kept their distance, mostly quiet, though Toshi noticed the way Dragon's eyes never stop staring ahead. His face didn't give much away, but Toshi knew the man had seen worse. A lot worse. 

"How many ships do you think went down here?" Toshi asked, his eyes scanning the wreckage.

Dragon glanced at the floating remains, his expression neutral. "Too many," he said, flat and to the point. "But that's the Grand Line. You either make it, or you don't."

Toshi swallowed hard, still uneasy. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was a warning. The danger was all too real. Before he could voice his thoughts, a voice came from behind him.

"Stay sharp," Ragnar called, his voice carrying across the deck. "We don't exactly know what's out there."

Toshi glanced over his shoulder, surprised. Ragnar wasn't exactly known for being talkative, so hearing him speak this much was a bit of a shock. ' That's the most I've ever heard him say, ' Toshi thought, but he kept it to himself.

"Right," Toshi muttered under his breath, shaking his head. There was no time to get lost in his thoughts. There was still a chance that whatever caused this was likely still nearby.

Then, through the mist, something appeared. A ship. It was worn out, its sails battered and torn. It moved slowly, barely visible in the haze, but it was the only other vessel sailing through the fog...except for their own.

Toshi squinted into the distance, trying to make out more details. The ship was massive, almost the size of their own, but it seemed... off. The hull looked weathered, the paint peeling, and the timbers groaned under what was left of the wind. It looked like it had been through a hell of a journey. But it wasn't just the ship itself that raised Toshi's hackles.

As it drifted closer, Toshi noticed something strange about the Jolly Roger. The skull and crossbones were smudged and faded, barely visible against the tattered fabric. It was almost as if they had tried to erase the symbol.

"Something's off," Toshi muttered, narrowing his eyes.

"ALL OF YOU DUCK!"

Without warning, Dragon shouted, his voice breaking through the silence like a hammer.

It was too late. A volley of gunfire rang out from the other ship. The crew scrambled, diving behind the closest cover as bullets whizzed through the air, ricocheting off the ship's hull. 

Toshi barely had time to react. He hit the floor, narrowly avoiding a bullet that slammed into the wooden railing where his head had been just a second ago. 

"Get to cover!" Dragon shouted, his voice cutting through the noise. The wind picked up, swirling around Dragon as his cape bellowed in the wind.

"Who the hell are these guys?" Toshi shouted, looking up just in time to see a group of pirates leap from the deck of the battered ship, ropes swinging down toward their own ship. The pirates wore tattered clothes, their faces hardened and rough.

"They're not your average pirates," Dragon muttered, a glint of recognition in his eyes. "This is a crew that's survived the worst of the Grand Line. Be careful."

As the first few pirates landed on their deck, they immediately started charging, cutlass and rifle drawn.

Toshi quickly scrambled to his feet, readying himself as he glanced around the deck, seeing the rest of the crew engaging in combat. The odds were against them, but they couldn't afford to back down now.

"Let's do this," Toshi said under his breath, a fire lighting in his chest. He cracked his knuckles and dashed toward the first pirate that had landed near him, his fist flying forward.

His fist connected squarely with the pirate's jaw, sending the man slumping to the deck. Saliva sprayed from the pirate's mouth as he hit the floor, completely unconscious.

Toshi froze for a moment, staring at his handiwork. ' Did I just knock him out in one punch? ' The thought rattled in his mind as he looked down at the pirate.

But then, as he examined the pirate more closely, he noticed something. The man was skinny, his ribs faintly visible beneath his tattered shirt. His face was gaunt, eyes sunken, and his clothes hung loosely on his bony frame. ' He looks like he hasn't eaten in days, ' Toshi realized.

Before he could think further, a sudden, blood-curdling scream tore through the air behind him.

"AHHHHH!!"

Toshi's head snapped around just in time to see another pirate barreling toward him, a wild look in his eyes and a cutlass raised high above his head.

The pirate swung his blade in a wide, clumsy arc aimed straight for Toshi's neck. The movement was erratic, telegraphed, and full of openings. It was just... ' so slow, ' Toshi thought, leaning his head back effortlessly.

The blade sliced through the air, hitting nothing but empty space. The tip narrowly missed his throat, the rush of air grazing his skin.

These pirates weren't just untrained...they were downright sloppy. Their movements lacked precision, their attacks were reckless, and their stances screamed desperation. Toshi couldn't help but smirk, confidence swelling in his chest. ' There's no way I'd lose to these guys. '

The blade hissed through the air, narrowly missing Toshi. The pirate, desperate, tried to pull it back for another swing. But before he could even ready the attack, a sharp, crushing force drove into his stomach.

The pirate's eyes bulged as his mouth fell open, spit flying from his lips. Toshi's fist had slammed into his gut like a battering ram, sending him staggering back.

Without hesitation, Toshi pushed off the deck with explosive force, driving his foot into the pirate's face. The impact snapped the man's head back, his body collapsing to the floor like a rag doll, completely unconscious.

Toshi landed lightly, exhaling as he glanced around the deck. The pirates were being overwhelmed at every corner, they were being pushed back.

"GIVE ME EVERYTHING YOU HAVE!" a booming voice bellowed from the other ship.

Standing on the edge was a fat, burly man clad in nothing but brown pants and sea boots. His shirtless torso revealed a forest of hair covering his chest and back. In his hand, he wielded a massive axe, with a wide, toothy grin stretched across his face as he scanned the ship.

"CAPTAIN!" a pirate on the deck screamed desperately, despite being thoroughly beaten to a pulp.

The captain's grin faltered, his eyes darted around, and the reality hit him like a cannonball...his crew was losing, badly. Even the trainees were handling his men with ease.

His grin vanished entirely, replaced with a nervous frown. The massive axe slipped from his hand, falling into the water below with a loud splash. Without hesitation, he threw his hands up in surrender, forcing an awkward chuckle.

"I... uh... I give up," he said, his bravado crumbling like a poorly built sandcastle.

The deck fell silent for a moment, save for the groaning of beaten pirates and the distant creak of the battered enemy ship swaying in the water.

Toshi, catching his breath, raised a brow at the sudden shift. "Huh?" he muttered, lowering his fists. His knuckles were bruised, his shirt torn, but he was still ready for another round if needed.

The rest of the crew exchanged bewildered glances.

The pirate captain, with a crooked grin, tried to laugh off the tension. It didn't work. "Y-Yeah! No need to keep fighting, right? We're all gentlemen here, aren't we? No reason to spill more blood than necessary."

Dragon stepped forward. "You attack my crew unprovoked," he began, his voice calm but cold, "and now you want to call it quits?"

The captain's awkward chuckle died in his throat. "I-I didn't mean anything by it, really! Just a misunderstanding!" His hands were still raised, his eyes darting to the side as if searching for an escape route.

Troy scoffed, crossing his arms. "Misunderstanding? You mean like shooting at us and swinging at our heads?" He motioned to the pirates scattered across the deck, most of them groaning or out cold. "Doesn't exactly scream 'let's talk this out.'"

The captain swallowed hard, sweat forming on his brow. "L-Look, times are tough, alright? We thought you were carrying treasure or supplies... maybe both. It's not personal!"

The rest of the crew fell silent, with Toshi, Rose, Sogeki, and Ragnar watching the scene unfold. Toshi felt a wave of relief—he hadn't been injured or, worse, killed this time.

For once, he wasn't the punching bag, and he couldn't help but like it.

Dragon raised a hand, silencing the crew's murmurs. "Enough." He turned his attention back to the captain. " I have a plan."

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All the pirates on the ship had been apprehended, tied up with ropes, and forced to their knees. Standing directly in front of them was Dragon, his expression cold as he locked eyes with the captain.

"I'll make this quick… what happened here?" Dragon asked, getting straight to the point.

The captain nodded nervously, sweat trickling down his temple. "We were attacked by the Simon Pirates… they completely dismantled our crew. We're the only ones left," he admitted, his voice faltering as his gaze dropped to the floor.

Dragon raised a subtle brow, his interest piqued. "The Simon Pirates? Never heard of them," he said.

The captain gulped, his eyes darting toward the tattered remains of his ship's sails. "They're new... but strong. Real strong. Their captain—Simon—is a monster," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "He didn't just beat us; he humiliated us. Sank half our fleet like it was nothing."

Dragon's gaze narrowed. "New and already dismantling fleets?" He paused before continuing. "What's their goal?"

The captain hesitated, his eyes flickering toward his remaining crew, all tied up and battered. He swallowed hard before speaking again. "Word is... they're aiming for dominance over part of the Grand Line. Anyone who doesn't join them gets crushed. No mercy."

Toshi, standing off to the side, crossed his arms and scowled. "Sounds like your crew didn't make the cut."

The captain's jaw tightened at Toshi's remark, but he didn't argue. "We didn't stand a chance. Their ship—it's massive, like nothing I've ever seen. And their crew... they're not normal. They've got fighters with Devil Fruit powers, weapons I've never seen before. It's like they're prepared for anything."

Toshi's brow furrowed, his thoughts grinding to a stop as the words "Devil Fruit" sank in. The mere mention of it sent his mind spiraling. He'd heard about them in stories traded in the shadowy corners of Loguetown, rumors of strange abilities and monstrous prices paid for power.

But those had always felt like tales meant to awe fools and children. Now, hearing the term tossed out so casually aboard Dragon's ship, the reality of it hit him like a fist to the gut.

'So, they're real. All of it.'

His hands curled into fists at his sides. He glanced at the crew around him. None of them seemed fazed. Toshi swallowed hard, his eyes narrowing. 'Could I ever get my hands on one?'

The question lingered, heavy and persistent. If even half the stories were true, Devil Fruits held the power to shift the balance of the world. To sink fleets, topple empires, or perhaps… carve out freedom in an unforgiving world.

His gaze locked onto Dragon's broad back. A sudden, intrusive thought crept in. 'Did he eat a Devil Fruit?'

It wasn't impossible but more likely. If he had a Devil Fruit, Toshi couldn't help but wonder: how much of that power came from the fruit, and how much came from the man?

But there was another side to this coin, one Toshi couldn't ignore. The stories didn't just talk about power—they talked about the cost. He'd heard the warnings, too. The ocean itself would reject you. The very thing that gave sailors their freedom, their lives, would be lost forever.

'Could I make that kind of sacrifice?'

The question burned in his mind. He wanted to ask Dragon, to demand answers, but something held him back. This wasn't the kind of thing you brought up lightly, not with someone like him.

Instead, Toshi stayed silent, staring out at the foggy sea. The wreckage around them seemed to mock him, a reminder of how fragile life out here really was. Devil Fruits might offer salvation or ruin, but either way, they were a gamble. And Toshi wasn't sure if he was ready to bet everything just yet.

Dragon's expression didn't waver. He simply nodded, absorbing the information. "Where were they headed next?"

The captain shook his head. "I don't know. They left us here to rot. Said we weren't worth finishing off."

Dragon turned slightly, his gaze looking over at the foggy horizon. "Interesting." He then glanced back at the captain. "You and your men are lucky we showed up before you sank entirely. But this mercy isn't free."

The captain flinched. "W-What do you want?"

"Your supplies and whatever information you have on this Simon," Dragon said bluntly.

The captain hesitated but eventually nodded. "Fine... fine. Take whatever you need. There's a logbook in the captain's quarters—it's got details on the Simon Pirates' and the ships they've taken down."

Dragon stepped closer, towering over the kneeling captain. "Good. Hand it over."

As the pirates scrambled to retrieve the logbook, Toshi leaned against the mast, watching the crew.

TO BE CONTINUED.

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