ONE PIECE: FLOW OF FATE

They left the ancient cave, stepping back into the vast, snowy clearing. As they walked towards town, Renjiro noticed a subtle droop in Yurie's shoulders, a quiet disappointment clouding her face despite her earlier agreement. He didn't want this incredible, dangerous discovery to leave a sour taste in her memory. He had to reframe it.

"Yurie," he began, gently wrapping his arms around her small shoulders as they walked, a soft chuckle rumbling in his chest. "Today, we made a discovery never seen before. It's dangerous, yes, but what's a discovery if it isn't dangerous, right? That's what makes it so special."

She looked up at him, a faint smile slowly returning to her lips. "Yeah," she said, her voice small but clearer now, "it wouldn't be much of a discovery otherwise."

As they continued their journey home, the familiar sight of their cabin roofs began to emerge from the distant snowfall. Suddenly, three figures appeared, walking briskly towards them from the direction of town: Bram, Renzo, and old Coal. Yurie and Renjiro stopped, surprised.

"Hey, you two! You're not gonna come greet us?" Coal called out, a wide grin on his weathered face.

"Oh, hello, Mr. Coal and Grandpa! I thought you were at the capital. You guys came back so fast!" Renjiro exclaimed, genuinely surprised by their quick return.

"Ho ho ho!" Bram chuckled, his booming laugh echoing slightly in the crisp air. He and Coal put their arms around each other's shoulders, beaming. "We wanted to see about some business stuff, me and Mr. Coal want to open a butcher shop, to sell meat!"

Before anyone else could speak, Renzo, a whirlwind of energy, blitzed towards Renjiro and Yurie. "We saw the king! We saw the king! He was so cool and like nothing I've seen before!" Renzo shrieked, jumping around excitedly, his small body practically vibrating with enthusiasm.

"We saw a lot of stuff," Coal added, "I'm pretty sure Renzo would kill to tell you guys!"

A king, Renjiro thought, his mind already analyzing. Most likely a kingdom affiliated with the World Government. And the king probably is just a Celestial Dragon's dog... Well, let's see.

Yurie surprised, her eyes wide. "Really? The King?!"

"Yeah!" Renzo shrieked, jumping around them. "The capital is HUGE! The buildings are so tall, like they touch the sky! And the castle, it's bigger than our whole town! The streets are so wide, and there were so many people, all moving around fast!" He spread his arms wide, trying to encompass the sheer scale he'd witnessed.

"And the king!" Renzo's eyes widened further, his voice dropping to an awe-struck whisper. "He wore the fanciest clothes, all gold and shiny, and a huge crown! He had a little boy with him too, his son, and the whole crowd was cheering for them!" Renzo clapped his hands, imitating the adoring cheers he'd heard.

A king in gold and shiny clothes, with a prince and cheering crowds, Renjiro thought, his internal voice calm amidst the external childish excitement. Sounds like a typical king, putting on a show for the people. His lips thinned almost imperceptibly.

"The capital itself was like a giant fortress too, Renzo, Yurie!" Renzo exclaimed, still brimming with details. "The walls were so thick, and there were giant cannons everywhere! Grandpa said they never get attacked there!"

Strong defenses... Renjiro's eyes narrowed just a fraction, a spark of deeper interest igniting behind their innocent facade. Even for a pawn, that means this kingdom is either strategically important or holds something valuable. It wasn't just any World Government affiliated kingdom, it might be one they'd want to keep an eye on.

As they headed inside the cabin and Renzo continued describing what he saw, Renjiro left them and said he was tired and went to their room and threw himself on his mattress.

A fortified kingdom with a seemingly beloved king, a secret cave depicting Joy Boy and a unknown race, Poneglyph text, and to top it all off, a mysterious presence using Conqueror's Haki in the nearby woods. Man, this is giving me headaches, Renjiro thought, rubbing his temples with a small, gloved hand. All I wanted to do this afternoon was train my own Haki, but I got myself involved in some serious bullshit.

Ugh, I'm feeling incredibly tired after all this. Let's just call it a rest day, Renjiro thought, a mental groan escaping him as he considered the whirlwind of discoveries.

The day melted away, the afternoon passing in a blur of mundane chores and polite smiles, until Renjiro found himself arriving for his evening lesson with Drake. This was usually their sword training time, a routine he'd begrudgingly come to accept.

It would be better if I became a spearman, he mused, a new idea sparked by the day's events. I've been learning the sword with Drake, but could I even change? I mean, it's not exactly the meta in the Grand Line, but didn't Katakuri use a spear? Plus, when Marineford happens, I can just snatch away Whitebeard's Murakumogiri. Free upgrade! A mischievous glint sparked in his eyes at the sheer audacity of the thought, a perfect blend of his cynical adult mind and the simpler desires of a five-year-old. Yeah, that's the plan. Step one: convince Drake. Step two: liberate legendary weapon. Step three: profit.

Although an overexaggeration, Renjiro was laughing internally at his thoughts. Seriously though, I should become a spearman. Is it compatible with the 'Mercenary's Edge' style? Can spears and swords techniques even overlap? I need to ask Drake and tell him about this.

As he was deep in thought, a familiar, cheerful voice pulled him out of his tactical musings. "Are you just going to come up here and not say hello?" Maria asked with a bright smile, standing beside him.

"Oh, didn't notice you there," Renjiro mumbled, a bit awkwardly. "Um, hello, I guess."

Maria's face sparked with playful determination. "Remember, any duel after today will be my win, so don't slack off!" Renjiro managed a small smile and a nod, accepting her challenge.

Just then, Drake appeared before them, his usual stoic demeanor softened by a slight smile. Renjiro, seizing the opportunity before his courage could wane, quickly blurted out, "Mr. Drake, is it okay if I become a spearman? I think the spear would suit me better than a sword!"

Drake's brow furrowed, and he fell into a thoughtful silence. This kid is really determined, he mused, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. But sadly, I can't teach him any spear techniques at all, i dont even know the spear, plus My style, the Mercenary's Edge, is purely for swords. Hah, such is life.

"I'm sorry, little Renji," Drake said, his voice gentle but firm. "But I'm not equipped with the spear, nor are the techniques I learned meant for spears, as you can tell." I hope that doesn't break his morale, Drake thought, studying the boy's face. He has a lot of potential, as much as Maria even. A few more years of teaching him, and he might be a monster for all we know.

From the outside, Renjiro didn't seem overtly bothered, but a visible frown was apparent on his young face. Shit, I expected this, he thought, a familiar wave of resignation washing over him. Should I try teaching myself? I mean, how far can I go being self-taught? Well, let's just stick with the swords for now and try a little spear experimentation when I'm alone.

Drake continued with his lesson. "Alright, you two," he stated, his voice firm, "today you'll be learning a crucial step in the Mercenary's Edge techniques. As I've said before, this style is more offensively oriented than defensive, but it's all about how you utilize it. With your own fighting style, you can make it very defensive, or vice versa."

Renjiro sighed internally. In the end, guys like Shanks and Mihawk exist, and countless others. If I want to be strong, I'll have to hone my skill through fights and battles, just like Zoro and so many others. He knew true strength wasn't something you got by laying in bed or through a few simple exercises.

"This is called the Mercenary Burst," Drake announced. "It's a sudden, explosive acceleration designed to close distances instantly, breaking through an opponent's guard before they even realize you've moved. Think of it as condensing all your momentum into a single, devastating lunge. It's not just about speed; it's about surprising your enemy with an overwhelming, decisive strike."

He demonstrated, a blur of motion that had him covering the training ground in a single, powerful stride, his wooden sword flashing through the air. The ground beneath him seemed to ripple from the force.

Maria watched with wide, focused eyes, already trying to replicate the motion. Renjiro, however, felt a different kind of spark. An explosive lunge... This isn't a sword technique, it's a fundamental principle of combat, a burst of raw physical power and speed. He understood the concept immediately. This is a core ability, something that can be applied to any weapon. Even a spear. The thought brought a small, internal smirk to his face. Drake might not teach him spear techniques, but he was inadvertently giving him universal movement principles that could benefit any weapon he chose.

"Now, try to replicate that explosive step," Drake instructed, turning to them. "Focus on pushing off with your lead leg, channeling all your power forward."

Maria, ever eager, lunged forward with earnest effort, stumbling slightly but clearly grasping the intent. Renjiro, after watching her, took a moment. He closed his eyes briefly, picturing the subtle shifts in Drake's weight, the coil of his muscles, the explosive release. When he opened them, his gaze was sharp, analytical.

He took his stance, adjusted his weight, and then, with a concentrated burst, lunged. It wasn't as fast or as powerful as Drake's, but it was surprisingly fluid for a five-year-old's body. His small frame shot forward with a focused momentum, ending in a perfectly balanced lunge with his wooden sword aimed forward.

Drake's eyes widened, a flicker of genuine surprise crossing his stoic face. "Impressive, Renjiro," he stated, his voice carrying a new note of admiration. "For your first attempt, that was remarkably precise."

Maria, too, stopped her own practice, staring at Renjiro with a mixture of awe and competitive fire. How did he do that so easily? she fumed internally, a muscle in her jaw twitching. He always makes it look simple, then surprises me! No way I'm letting him get ahead! She stomped her foot slightly, then immediately threw herself back into practice with renewed, almost furious, determination.

Renjiro, meanwhile, was already calculating. The muscle memory from my past life, combined with this body's surprising potential... this could work even faster than I thought. He felt a surge of exhilaration. Mastering this "burst" could unlock so much more than just sword techniques.