One Piece: Global improvement system

January 17, 1498 – Age of the Sea Circle

Orion looked at the forest that stretched imposingly before him, and the image of the beautiful and serious Marine captain appeared in his mind.It had taken them four days to reach the island where Christina Kelly was located, and almost two days had passed since he lost all communication with her.

She wasn't a Named Character, so her location didn't appear marked on the system's map. He had no other choice but to search for her on this island by his own means.Luckily, this time he had brought along the Observation Haki prodigy, Lucky Roux.

"Orion, I think I found her," said Lucky Roux, standing beside him.

"Is she alright?" Orion asked, a hint of concern lacing his voice.

"...Relatively," Roux replied. Then, pointing in a direction, he continued,"About 30 kilometers from here, there's a small base that looks like the hideout of these pirates. There are a few imprisoned Marines there, and among them is Captain Kelly."

"She's not gravely wounded, but she has some injuries. She probably fought with the pirates and came out injured," concluded Lucky Roux.

With his monstrous Observation Haki, he had been able to locate Christina Kelly without much difficulty once they got close enough to where she was being held captive.

"Alright, we're going straight in to rescue her. And if we can take down the pirates in the process, all the better," said Orion, opening a door in the air through which Lucky Roux stepped into the Pocket Dimension.

Orion used Soru and rushed at full speed toward Christina Kelly's location.He didn't take long to arrive since the distance wasn't too great.The pirate base was rather rudimentary overall, although for a group of pirates, it was good enough. It was clear that this particular crew wasn't small, which explained why someone as powerful as Christina hadn't been able to deal with them.

Orion didn't act immediately upon arrival. Instead, he first analyzed the situation and explored the surroundings. Once he understood the scale of this crew, he devised a plan.

This pirate crew had around a thousand men, making it considerably large.Their overall power level wasn't very high, with only three individuals Orion considered decent—and only one of them truly dangerous.

Curiously, none of the three were actually in command.The captain of this pirate group was a rather pathetic individual, not dangerous at all.

While Orion had been quietly scouting the pirate base, only the vice-captain had sensed something and reacted defensively when Orion got close.The captain, on the other hand, remained drunk the entire time, singing merrily with some other pirates, completely unaware that Orion could have easily beheaded him at any moment.

Once he finished investigating, Orion spoke to Lucky Roux, who had remained inside the Pocket Dimension the entire time.

"Roux, we're taking out this pirate crew. Can you handle the Devil Fruit users?" he asked.

This pirate crew had two Devil Fruit users. One possessed the Zoan-type Usagi Usagi no Mi, making him a rabbit-man, and the other had the Bane Bane no Mi, turning him into a spring-man.

The reason Orion had been able to identify their powers was because they had been actively using them during the party taking place!

The two users had been drunk, competing to see who could jump the highest, while the others around them cheered and placed bets on who would win.

This group didn't strike Orion as very competent. Only the vice-captain, who had sensed his presence, seemed to warrant his attention. That's why Orion intended to handle him personally.

"Alright, Orion. I'll finish them off quickly so we can have lunch," said Lucky Roux, doing a few stretches before the action.

Orion shook his head with a smile, thinking that this subordinate of his might be a bit too gluttonous, always thinking about the next meal.

A door appeared silently in a dark corner of one of the rooms where the pirates were partying, and Lucky Roux emerged like a specter.

Meanwhile, Orion appeared in the dungeon where Christina was imprisoned, intending to secure her safety before dealing with the rest.

Upon entering the makeshift prison of the base, he overheard the conversation of some pirate guards.

"So we really can't touch that Marine captain?" asked one of them.

"Don't even think about it. Maro said not to lay a finger on her. Apparently, she's already reserved for someone important who's sponsoring the captain," replied the other, sounding panicked upon hearing his comrade's suggestion.

"Sigh, what a shame. I've never had the pleasure of a woman so beautiful, let alone a high-ranking Marine. Just thinking about it gives me tingles!" said the first pirate with a vulgar grin.

"Get lost! Don't drag me down with you! If Maro hears you and thinks you're disobeying his orders, your punishment won't be as simple as death," said the other, taking a few steps back.

He truly feared that their vice-captain would hear them and punish them both.In this crew, both the captain and vice-captain could inspire great fear in their subordinates—though for very different reasons.

Vice-Captain Maro was a cruel, ruthless man capable of killing someone just for being in a bad mood. He had been the crew's captain before a fateful day when they were captured by the Marines and everything changed.

After being captured, most of the pirates were executed, but not all.It was Rear Admiral Nakamura who personally intervened and spared some of their lives.

Of course, clemency from one of the most influential Marines in the South Blue wasn't free. Nakamura offered them a deal: become his dogs, and they would live, and even thrive.

It wasn't uncommon for pirates to have connections to noble families, wealthy merchants, or even high-ranking Marines. As long as there was profit, these arrangements weren't unusual.

With the rise of the Pirate Era following Roger's death, many powerful people around the world had seen a chance to profit from the chaos.Thus, the number of pirate crews with secret sponsors skyrocketed. Their crew's case wasn't unique; it was rather a reflection of the times.

Faced with the choice between death or living as a dog for the Nakamura family, their former captain Maro had chosen the latter.

As a result, half of the original crew was decapitated, and the other half was "executed" in name only: Marines executed other pirates, claiming they were part of Maro's crew, and thus, the world believed the crew had been wiped out.

After that, with Marine support, their operations became much easier. They received Devil Fruits, weapons, and even this base. In exchange, they had to do whatever the Nakamuras commanded, no questions asked.

So when Rear Admiral Nakamura ordered them to handle Christina and her subordinates, this group immediately obeyed. They knew if they failed, they'd be replaced and eliminated.

Currently, Vice-Captain Maro ran the crew's operations, while the captain was just a figurehead appointed by Nakamura.

Strictly speaking, the current captain wasn't even one of them; he was here to serve as a liaison with their secret patrons and keep the crew under control.

That's why both Maro and the new captain were the most feared men in the crew—Maro for his power, cruelty, and real authority, and the captain because a single word from him could make them all disappear.

"I-I was just joking… haha," said the first pirate nervously, looking around to see if anyone had heard.

"Well, cut the jokes! Our job is to guard this woman and make sure nothing happens to her until the bosses arrive!"

Just then, a flash of light appeared in the prison, and the pirates' heads rolled across the floor.Orion, who had suddenly appeared, sheathed his cutlass and walked toward the cell where Christina Kelly was held.

He reached the cell door and saw at least ten Marines inside, all in terrible condition.Only Christina was relatively unharmed, though she had visible minor injuries.

"Captain Christina, I came as you asked. I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long," Orion said with a smile, breaking the cell bars with his bare hands.

With his brute strength, which was six times that of a normal human, Orion could easily destroy low-quality prison bars like these. If it had been a reinforced cell like those in Marine bases, he might've struggled, but for this type, his hands were enough.

Christina had been bound and gagged, so she couldn't answer, but the gratitude and relief in her eyes were clear.

She had spent the last day in that cell imagining all sorts of horrible outcomes.The pirate captain had told her she had already been claimed as a trophy and would soon be taken away and vanish from the world.

It would be a lie to say she hadn't panicked at the thought of such a tragic fate.And even though Orion had promised to come, she couldn't be sure he truly would.

After all, their interactions had been limited, and she couldn't blindly put her trust in his word.So when he actually appeared with a smile, her eyes welled up, and she felt the sting of impending tears at the back of her nose.

She had spent the past day cursing this unfair world, utterly disillusioned with life and people.Now, seeing Orion fulfill his promise restored a bit of her faith in humanity. At least there was someone in her life willing to help her when she needed it most.

Orion untied her, and she got to her feet, then removed the gag.

"Thank you for coming to help me, Kairos," said Christina, bowing her head slightly.

"No problem, I said I'd help you—and here I am," Orion replied casually.

He had no idea about the whirlwind of thoughts swirling through the Marine captain's mind.Nor did he realize that simply keeping his promise meant the world to her, as she stood on the brink of losing all faith in others.

"What about the pirates?" Christina asked. She hadn't heard any battle sounds, so she figured Orion hadn't dealt with the criminals yet.

"I haven't handled them yet. I wanted to make sure you were safe first," Orion said, checking the system screen to locate Lucky Roux.

Christina's face turned slightly red, and a warm smile graced her lips.It was rare to see such an expression on her, and the Marines present held their breath as their beautiful captain seemed to glow.

To the Marines under her command, Christina Kelly was an unattainable fantasy they often dreamed about. It was likely that all of them were in love with their serious commander, and their dynamic was marked by a sort of fanatical admiration, like fans idolizing a celebrity.

Orion confirmed Lucky Roux's position and opened a door in the air.

"For now, step into that door. You'll be safer inside," Orion said casually.

But Christina stepped forward and shook her head.

"No need, Kairos. My men and I will help you with the pirates. It's our duty. After all, our mission was always to handle the pirates here."

Orion saw the firmness in her gaze and didn't try to dissuade her.These Marines were in rough shape after being locked up, so they wouldn't be of much help.

But he didn't need them anyway. As long as they didn't do anything stupid that would get themselves killed, Orion didn't mind letting them join in the fight.

He nodded in acceptance, and then they both headed to the heart of the camp, where Lucky Roux had already begun his battle.

"Damn brat, get over here!" yelled the giant rabbit-man, chasing after the young man in dark glasses who dashed around the area, swiftly dispatching pirates.

"Haha, for a rabbit, you're not very fast," said Lucky Roux, still munching on a chunk of roasted meat.

The pirate with the Usagi Usagi no Mi growled and transformed.Until now, he had been in human form, but now, serious, he dropped to all fours and began running like a real rabbit!

Lucky Roux accelerated even more, keeping an unbridgeable distance.The pirates could only catch glimpses of both figures zooming past, unable to follow them with their eyes.

With every moment, another pirate fell, taken out by Lucky Roux's gunshots as he evaded the rabbit-man.This cat-and-mouse game had gone on for a while, and panic began to spread among the criminals.

Suddenly, another pirate jumped in front of Lucky Roux to block his path.It was the other Devil Fruit user!

Using the power of his Bane Bane no Mi, he turned his legs into springs and launched himself at high speed toward Lucky Roux, who couldn't dodge in time and was struck.

Lucky Roux spun in the air and landed at a distance without much trouble.He had used his Observation Haki to dodge at the last second, dissipating most of the blow's force and averting significant damage.

"Got you now, kid! You've got nowhere to run!" said the rabbit-man as he lunged at him

For the first time since arriving, Lucky Roux stopped eating the tasty meat and his full attention shifted to the fight.

The rabbit-man returned to a semi-human form and launched a powerful kick at Lucky Roux's head, while the spring-man coiled his arms tightly, releasing them in a pair of sonic boom punches.

Lucky Roux twisted agilely to dodge both attacks, but his body was no longer the same as a few months ago, and his bulky frame was grazed by the attacks.

Blood trickled at the corner of his mouth, and he wiped it with his sleeve.His eyes, usually closed, opened slightly, and with his powerful Observation Haki, the battlefield became crystal clear.

He drew two pistols and fired at both enemies while running again, trying to position himself in the spring-man's blind spot, who was the slower of the two pirates.

But the rabbit-man wouldn't allow that. He jumped between them and unleashed a flurry of kicks.

The Usagi Usagi no Mi's greatest strengths were leg speed and power, and this pirate exploited them well.

These two couldn't compare to Lucky Roux in talent or potential, but their current combat experience far surpassed his.It was precisely this kind of situation Orion wanted him to face when he brought him along. Only through practical experience could this prodigy grow stronger quickly.

Lucky Roux stopped and looked around.A large group of pirates surrounded him with swords and pistols ready, while the two Devil Fruit users smirked, believing their prey had no escape.

Suddenly, Lucky Roux grinned, while his enemies looked at him visibly surprised.

"I think it's time to try that new technique I've been practicing," he murmured, crouching slightly, ready to end the battle.