Aboard the Rex
After spending the night aboard the ship, Douglas Barrett abruptly woke up in an unfamiliar yet strangely familiar room. His instincts kicked in immediately as he scanned his surroundings with a sharp, wary gaze.
It took him a moment to shake off his heightened vigilance.
As the haze of sleep cleared, the reality of his situation settled in—he had boarded the ship of the Caesar Pirates and become a trainee crew member.
For as long as he could remember, Barrett had lived in a constant state of readiness, his body honed for battle every single day. On the battlefield, survival meant staying alert to enemy attacks while following orders without hesitation. Defying a superior's command often led to swift and severe punishment.
But last night had been different. For the first time in years, he had slept without fear—no sudden orders, no ambushes. The absence of danger felt foreign, almost unsettling, yet strangely comforting.
He ran his hand over the mattress beneath him. It was soft, far softer than the rigid cots he had been accustomed to. His surroundings were clean and orderly, unlike the harsh barracks of the military. It all felt surreal—like a dream.
To make sure he wasn't imagining things, Barrett pinched his arm. The sharp sting confirmed it—this was real.
A quiet sense of calm settled in his heart. His resolve to stay aboard and learn under Captain Caesar only strengthened. He would become stronger.
After steadying his emotions, Barrett quickly dressed and stepped out of the room.
---
A Warm Welcome
Outside, the crew was already awake and busy with their tasks.
"Yohohoho! Little brother Barrett, did you sleep well last night?"
"Ah, Barrett! Want to go fishing with me?"
Brook and Eli were the first to greet him, their voices warm and welcoming. The rest of the crew soon followed, acknowledging Barrett as if he were already one of them.
It was the first time he had ever experienced such camaraderie aboard a ship. Until now, he had only known war—endless conflict with no room for friendship. The warmth of the crew felt foreign. But not unwelcome.
At that moment, a presence appeared behind him. A hand reached out toward his head.
Barrett's instincts flared.
Without thinking, he reacted—his hand shot up, knocking the arm away as he spun around into a combat stance.
A heartbeat later, his mind caught up with his body.
It wasn't an enemy.
It was Caesar.
There was no battlefield here. No imminent danger.
Realizing his mistake, Barrett immediately lowered his guard.
"I'm sorry, Captain Caesar..."
Caesar, however, wasn't upset. He simply smiled.
"There's no need to apologize," he said lightly, his tone understanding. He knew Barrett had been raised in war—being on edge was second nature to him.
Before anything else could be said, a loud voice rang out from the cabin.
"Brothers! Dinner is ready!"
Yakexi's announcement sent the crew into motion.
"Let's go eat," Caesar said, patting Barrett's head once more. "Yakexi's cooking is delicious. But if you're late, don't expect any leftovers!"
Barrett followed Caesar, eager to experience this new life.
As expected, the meal was devoured in record time. After eating his fill, Barrett noticed Caesar gesturing for him to come over. Without hesitation, he obeyed.
Caesar didn't explain anything—he simply motioned for Barrett to follow.
Barrett understood. In the military, when a superior officer gave an order, you followed. No unnecessary questions.
---
The Path to Strength
Before long, Caesar led him to a secluded area on the island.
"From today onward, we'll start with the basics to build your physical strength," Caesar declared. "It won't be easy. But if you want to grow stronger, you'll have to endure it."
Barrett's eyes lit up with determination.
Becoming stronger—that was the reason he had boarded this ship in the first place!
"As long as I get stronger, I won't have to worry about war. I won't have to be afraid of anyone ever again!"
His fists clenched.
"No matter how hard or exhausting it is, I will endure!"
Caesar smirked, pleased with Barrett's resolve.
Training officially began.
---
Three Days Later
In just three days, Barrett's progress was astonishing. His physical strength had skyrocketed at an unbelievable rate. He was already capable of taking down a naval officer in just a few moves.
And he was only nine years old.
Caesar watched with keen interest, wondering if it was time for Barrett to gain real battle experience.
Meanwhile, beyond the island, tensions were brewing.
The two warring nations, which had temporarily declared a truce, were growing increasingly anxious over the Devil Fruit Caesar had ordered them to find.
---
The War Room
Inside the war room of Barrett's former nation, the king slammed his fist on the table.
"Idiots! A bunch of useless fools! You can't even find a single fruit?! What do I need you for?!"
His ministers cowered under his fury.
"I'll give you two more days! If you don't find it, I'll have you all dragged before a military court!"
His anger wasn't just about the fruit—it was about Caesar himself.
The swordsman had casually split an island in half just days ago, creating a river where land once stood.
Compared to that kind of power, a battlefield meant nothing.
The king slumped onto his throne. Even in the direst moments of war, he had never felt so helpless.
Unbeknownst to him, the ruler of the opposing nation sat in his own war chamber, wearing the exact same expression of hysteria and fear.
---
Back on the Rex
Caesar didn't care about the turmoil among the kings. His only concern was whether they had found the fruit he wanted.
Meanwhile, Barrett had entered the next phase of his training—actual combat.
On the ship's deck, several crew members gathered to watch as Barrett squared off against Eli in a sparring match.
"Caesar, isn't it too soon for Barrett to be fighting Eli?" Wei Na asked, leaning on the railing. "Even if Eli doesn't use his Devil Fruit, his strength is leagues ahead."
Caesar merely smiled.
"Don't underestimate Barrett just because he's young. Let's watch and see."
Below, Eli grinned.
"Alright, kid, show me what you've got. Captain Caesar told me to go all out, but don't worry—I'll take it easy on you!"
Barrett's eyes gleamed with fighting spirit.
"You don't need to hold back, Brother Eli. If you don't go all out, I won't get stronger!"
Eli laughed. "Alright, alright! I'll let you take the first shot!"
Barrett didn't hesitate.
In an instant, he closed the distance. His speed caught Eli off guard.
A powerful punch flew toward him—Eli barely managed to block, but the force behind the hit sent a jolt through his arms.
Before he could recover, Barrett launched another attack. Then another.
A relentless barrage rained down, forcing Eli onto the defensive. He had no chance to counter.
The watching crew was stunned.
"Whoa… Barrett is forcing Eli back!"
Eli, though holding back, was still formidable. Yet Barrett—a mere child—was overwhelming him.
The battle raged on until a panting messenger suddenly ran up from the port.
"Captain Caesar! Hah… We found it! Hah… We found the fruit you wanted!"
At last, the Combined Fruit had been located.
Caesar smirked.
"Looks like those kings finally did something right."
With that, he turned away, ready to claim what he had been waiting for.
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