One Piece: My Crew Uses Zanpakuto

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Although Smoker and Tashigi had left Alabasta, before their departure, Ikki had learned from them that the Straw Hat Pirates had arrived in the Grand Line.

The Straw Hat Pirates had even appeared in Alabasta. Smoker and Tashigi left because they'd received news about the Straw Hats.

Though there was still some distance between Alabasta and Shichibukai Moria's territory, Ikki felt it was time to set sail, just to be safe.

Based on the fighting prowess Zoro had shown when they first met, if the Straw Hat Pirates contacted Moria before him, the famous sword Shusui might fall into Zoro's hands.

Ikki didn't want to chase the Straw Hat Pirates across the sea just for the famous sword Shusui.

"Ikki, are we really heading to Shichibukai Gecko Moria's territory next?" Vivi asked with surprise.

"That's right," Ikki smiled and nodded.

"Does that mean you plan to confront that Shichibukai?" she pressed.

"Well, it depends on the situation. After all, dealing with a Shichibukai isn't something you do on a whim. You have to consider the Marines' reaction."

Despite his words, Ikki was already thinking about confronting Gecko Moria.

Although Moria wasn't after Ancient Weapons like Crocodile had been, stealing so many people's shadows was enough to make him indefensible even to the Marines.

"By the way, Nojiko, this is for you," Ikki handed the 'Intermediate Observation Haki Awakening Potion' to Nojiko.

"Ikki, what is this?" Nojiko took the potion and asked curiously.

"I only have one bottle of potion that can help you awaken Observation Haki. I'll get more later for Vivi."

Vivi nodded in agreement. As the third crewmember of the Explorer, she naturally had no objections. Besides, Nojiko usually took good care of her.

"This must be the Observation Haki that Nami was using," Nojiko recalled how Nami seemed to predict movements when fighting Gion's sword shadow, and her face showed excitement for this new ability.

Without hesitation, she opened the bottle and drank the entire potion.

As the liquid entered her body, a red light flashed in Nojiko's eyes — the sign of Observation Haki activating.

Feeling the new power awakening, Nojiko immediately responded.

Ikki checked Nojiko's personal attribute panel:

[Name: Nojiko]

[Age: 20 years old]

[Weapon: Minazuki]

[Life Force: 15008, level A]

[Swordsmanship Realm: Iron-Cutting Realm]

[Swordsmanship Schools: Water Breathing, Sun Breathing, Tashigi's One-Sword Style]

[Special Abilities: Elementary Armament Haki, Intermediate Observation Haki]

'Now Nojiko has two types of Haki,' Ikki thought. 'But I wonder how long it will take for her A-level life force to activate a Demon Slayer Mark.'

Ikki looked up at Nojiko as she came back to her senses.

"Nojiko, Vivi, you two go prepare for sailing and say goodbye to King Cobra," he instructed. "Nami, go rest for a while. We'll set off in two hours."

Hearing this, Nojiko and Vivi immediately nodded and left the Sword Training Room with Ikki.

"Is the special training over, Ikki?" Gion asked as they emerged from the room.

Her eyes were fixed on Nami. She could clearly feel the powerful aura surrounding her now.

'This feeling... it's the same as when I advanced in swordsmanship,' Gion thought. 'This woman has definitely grown stronger again!'

Gion narrowed her eyes slightly. Nami's transformation made her even more curious about both Nami and Ikki.

"You're still here, Gion, Hina," Ikki said. "We're getting ready to leave Alabasta. I think it's about time you two returned to Marine Headquarters."

While Ikki was talking, Nami walked into the gym.

Vivi and Nojiko headed toward the palace to say goodbye to Cobra and prepare supplies for the voyage.

"We'll leave with you and then head to Marine Headquarters," Gion said with a smile. "May I ask where you're going next?"

"Well, we're following the Log Pose to the next island," Ikki shrugged. "If we find any famous swords, I'll collect them."

He started walking toward Chaka and Pell, Alabasta's two great warriors. Before leaving, Ikki planned to give them some advice.

"By the way, there's something I forgot to tell you, Ikki," Hina said, following him. "The senior Baroque Works agents captured on your ship have been taken away by us."

"What?" Ikki stopped and looked at Hina with a slight frown. "You took the agents from my ship? Although we're familiar with each other, isn't it inappropriate for you to board my ship without permission?"

At this moment, Ikki thought of Nico Robin hiding on his boat.

"Hina just wanted to find you at the time," she explained.

"So you just took away the agents I worked so hard to capture?" Ikki asked.

"The purpose of capturing them was to learn more about Crocodile, and the bounties would have been given to you."

"This isn't about bounties. Did you capture everyone on my ship?"

Ikki rubbed his head, feeling a little frustrated.

He couldn't tell Hina that he'd captured those Baroque Works agents intending to use their Devil Fruits to help his crewmates achieve Bankai with their Zanpakutō.

"High-level agents Mr. 1, Miss Doublefinger, Mr. 2, Mr. 3... a total of 7 people," Hina listed. "We released Mr. 3's partner, the child. As for the rest, Hina plans to take them to Impel Down after we leave."

"Ikki, weren't you going to hand them over to the Marines anyway?"

Hina looked at Ikki suspiciously. With her intelligence, she could clearly see his disappointment.

'Seven people, so Nico Robin wasn't caught,' Ikki thought with relief.

"Well..." Ikki hesitated, "I like beautiful women."

"You like beautiful women?"

"Yeah, Miss Doublefinger and Miss Valentine on the Explorer are both good-looking. I captured them because I actually wanted to keep them on the Explorer."

"Hina sees that you're a man who's greedy for beauty," Hina snorted coldly, remembering how Ikki had looked at her during their training sessions.

"What about the others? Why did you keep Mr. 1 and the rest? And why did you treat that Mr. 1 specially?"

"Those guys... I wanted to keep a few to help me control the ship. Do you believe that?"

"Haha, your Explorer isn't big enough to need that many people to control it."

"Don't worry about it, Hina. Just return those people to me, they'll be useful."

"Unfortunately, they've already been taken away by the warship that left earlier."

"What?!"

Hearing this, Ikki frowned even more.

Nami was just one Devil Fruit away from being able to achieve Bankai.

He'd thought the Devil Fruit was ready, but now he learned that all the senior agents had been taken away.

It was quite a setback.

"It seems Ikki is very upset about those senior agents being taken," Gion observed with a chuckle. "In that case, how about Hina and I accompany you for a while? Consider it compensation for taking those agents."

"Seriously? You think taking a walk with me counts as compensation?" Ikki covered his face, looking embarrassed.

"What, you don't think it's good enough for Hina and Vice Admiral Gion to accompany you?" Hina grabbed Ikki's collar impatiently. "Are Hina and Vice Admiral Gion not as attractive as Miss Doublefinger and Miss Valentine?"

"That's not it at all. You two definitely have the advantage in looks and figure," Ikki sighed. "But... fine, since you want to make it up to me, be my models. Before I leave, let me paint some pictures of you two to keep in my collection."

Ikki gave up on the idea of getting Mr. 1 and the others back.

He couldn't tell Gion and Hina that the Zanpakutō needed to absorb Devil Fruits.

He'd have to settle for the next best thing and satisfy his artistic desires.

'Devil Fruit power... there's Bellamy with the Spring-Spring Fruit on the next island,' Ikki thought to himself. 'Maybe we can use him to help Nami achieve Bankai.'

Although it was disappointing to lose Mr. 1 and the others, since there were alternatives at their next destination, Ikki figured it wasn't a major problem.

"Models? Are you going to make us wear sexy outfits while you paint us, Ikki?" Gion asked with a laugh.

After spending the past few days with him, she knew Ikki had a hobby of drawing beautiful women.

During their training, he often sketched Nami and the others.

Gion even knew that Ikki had painted some rather revealing pictures of Hina.

Of course, she hadn't told Hina about this.

"Ikki, how exactly do you want us to model for you?" Hina asked with a frown.

"Well, I'd like you to wear all kinds of outfits," Ikki replied, his mouth curving into a smile. "Alabastan dancer costumes, bunny girl outfits, maid uniforms, qipaos, gothic styles, swimsuits, and so on!"

As he spoke, he seemed to be imagining Gion and Hina wearing these various clothes.

"In that case, let's go shopping first, Ikki," Gion suggested with a smile. "If we don't buy these clothes, we can't change into what you want to draw, right?"

For her, Ikki had already seen her in a bathrobe.

It didn't matter to Gion if she wore other clothes and posed as his model.

As long as he didn't paint anything too revealing.