After distancing from the village quite a way, Leo changed course and appeared on the far end of the island where, over the past few days, he had been gathering junk scraps of metal, bits of glass, and anything usable.
There, hidden along the shore, rested his creation: a slim, shark-shaped Shark Sub-Ski, just large enough for a single person.
Its grey-blue metal body was smooth but rugged, fitted with a dark, tinted glass canopy that concealed the pilot as little more than a silhouette.
The design was simple and narrow, built for speed and stealth rather than comfort, with minimal fins and a low profile that let it skim the waves or dip beneath them when needed.
Along its side, a stylized "LEO" sticker was stamped like a pirate's Jolly Roger, giving the makeshift craft a distinct identity.
In his previous life, Leo had memorized the structure of many things and though his village lagged far behind in terms of technology and materials, he had still managed to piece together this temporary vessel over the course of Two days using his devil fruit ability.
If the proper materials had been available, he was confident he could have completed it within an hour but his village lacked even moderately sturdy metal.
It was a one-man craft held together by his ability—but it was enough for now. Enough to sail, until he found a proper ship… and a crew to match.
Giving the final touches to his semi-automatic boat, Leo let it settle onto the ocean's surface. The slim, Shark Sub-Ski floated steady, its grey-blue metal body and dark glass canopy rising above the waves.
Powered entirely by his Devil Fruit ability, the structure shifted continuously beneath it, tiny reconstructions along the hull and propeller pushing it forward at a steady twenty miles per hour, a decent speed for its test run.
It couldn't handle much weight beyond him, so he carried only the bare essentials. His destination was clear—The nearest Mirror Ball Island.
A place known for its endless partying, drawing both Marines and pirates alike. For Leo, it was the perfect contrast to his dull village life of hunting, training and surviving. There, he planned to upgrade his fragile vessel with sturdier materials, gather supplies, and begin his search for adventure & crew.
He compressed the spare wood boat into a palm-sized cube and stepped into the narrow cockpit. Lying back inside the tight frame, placing his hand on the steering wheel.
Instantly, the hidden propeller beneath the hull began to move not by mechanics, but by constant reconstruction. His ability couldn't control water directly, otherwise he would have simply bent the waves to his will.
Instead, he himself became the engine, with a soft shift beneath him, the shark's fin surged outward, cutting waves cleanly heading into the open sea.
It was still daytime, and the ocean appeared more beautiful than he had ever imagined.
At times, he dipped beneath the surface with his boat, only to be horrified by the shadow of massive Sea Kings gliding somewhere in the unseen depths below.
The mere thought of them attacking sent a chill and a surge of adrenaline down his spine, forcing him to resurface to draw fresh air into the cramped cockpit.
The Sea Kings ignored him but not everyone was so indifferent. A group of sharks took notice, mistaking him for an intruder. They trailed him relentlessly, giving chase for nearly half an hour before finally losing interest.
Leo steadied himself. He knew the basics of ocean navigation, a skill the village head Dalton had taught him as a child. Keeping his course fixed, he guided the slim vessel south, toward the nearest Mirror Ball Island.
***
Marine 16th Branch – Captain Nezumi's Office
"Captain Nezumi, we've received this month's tribute from those fishman pirates and a few ruffians."
The marine closed the door behind him, saluted, and placed a heavy bag of berries on the desk.
Seated lazily in his chair, Nezumi grinned, his rat-like face gleaming as he counted another bundle of cash he had extorted from nearby villages under the false promise of protection, he never intended to provide.
"Hm… quite a fruitful haul this month." He chuckled, a low, grating sound.
"Gather everyone. We're heading to Mirror Ball Island tonight. Drinks and women are on me—chi chi chi chi…"
The soldier kept his face neutral because he knew better.
They were nothing more than escorts. The captain wouldn't spend a single dime on them.
"Captain… We've received reports that Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp has arrived in East Blue. He's currently in Loguetown. Shouldn't we—"
"Prepare the ship, fool." Nezumi didn't even look up.
"I don't fear that old man. He'll leave soon enough, back to his precious hometown. He doesn't care about this part of East Blue." A wicked grin spread across his face.
"As long as we keep the pirate atrocities hidden, everything remains under control, Chi chi chi chi…" Straightening his Marine coat over his shoulders, he rose.
"As you command, Captain." The marine turned and left, no less corrupt than the man he served.
Before long, a small unit of twelve soldiers gathered, following one of the most corrupt officers in the East Blue.
Their destination Mirror Ball Island.
***
Leo was beyond exhausted and starving. Even though he had stopped along the way to eat and rest, continuous use of his devil fruit ability had taken its toll. Mirror Ball Island lay nearly 100 kilometers south of his hometown, and by the time he finally spotted its port, the sun was already setting.
Pushing through the last of his strength, he guided his boat to the shore. Then, using his Devil Fruit ability, he carved out a hollow in the earth and sealed it with a false layer above, hiding it carefully so no one could steal it.
At the center of the Mirror Ball Island was a massive central dome labeled "Funky," topped with a mirror ball that served as its main dance and performance hub.
Surrounding the dome, the city rose in layers, naturally guiding the crowd toward the center. Everything about the island was designed for entertainment.
People danced everywhere. Men and women flirted openly, gamblers crowded around tables and vendors sold everything imaginable, some of it clearly illegal.
The island had its own rules and vibe, one Leo was familiar with from his previous life in the game, but this felt far more real.
Leo exhaled slowly.
He didn't plan to stay here for long. With barely 1,000 berries in his pocket, most would've been worried but he wasn't, knowing his ability, earning money wouldn't be a problem for him.
After a week of intense training with his mother, his range of manipulation had expanded to 60 meters.
The moment Leo stepped onto the island, he placed his hand on the ground. A strange sensation rose within him, as if everything in his sight was waiting for his command.
He could massacre them, plunder everything and no one would be able to stop him.
'This is so much fun…' Leo thought, a grin forming, 'Back in the village, I couldn't act freely, but here… I'm free.' Then his senses picked up movement.
A robbery attempt nearby.
A beautiful woman had lured a wealthy man into the shadows. Now, her drunk accomplices were beating him senseless, long after they had already taken his valuables.
Leo moved silently into the alley, the drunk robbers hadn't even noticed him.
Testing his stealth, he appeared behind the woman and placed a hand on the back of her neck, attempting to manipulate her body by bending it to his will.
Despite his effort to keep her quiet, a scream tore through the alley.
Her face twisted, warping grotesquely into something inhuman. Her body collapsed, convulsing violently on the ground.
'Did i go overboard!' Leo pulled out.
He had only ever used this power to heal and that had been simple.
But manipulating someone's body to his will while controlling the other functions of body proved to be too difficult.
"Hey! Bastard—what did you do to Karen?!"
One of the thugs, still pinning the man down, drew a gun and aimed at leo but before he could fire, Leo touched the ground.
The earth shifted.
It rose and swallowed both men whole, encasing them completely, silencing even their screams.
"Ugh… thank you…" the innocent man gasped, but a moment later Leo kicked him across the face.
The man's neck twisted unnaturally as he was thrown into the wall, unconscious.
"Let's see what this power can do to humans…" Leo's eyes gleamed.
He had tested this ability on animals back in the village. The results had been disastrous, once altered, he couldn't restore them perfectly. They died after multiple attempts.
Constructing living beings wasn't simple, it required precision, control and experience.
Not like in the Oasis game, where he merely willed it and things obeyed.
Fifteen minutes passed.
Leo finally stepped out of the alley, behind him, four bodies lay scattered in the shadows, unmoving.
A faint, sadistic smile curved across his face as he walked away.
Even after multiple attempts to heal the women, he could only reshape her face back into something barely resembling a ugly human her beautiful face forever altered. He couldn't restore her to what she once was. The repeated alterations had pushed her to the brink of death. A stroke had nearly claimed her life… but she survived.
The two robbers weren't as fortunate.
At first, Leo tried to strengthen their bodies by altering their muscle composition but when that failed, he attempted to heal them. The damage, however, ran deeper. Their nervous systems had been irreparably damaged, turning them to beggar instead.
Unmoved, Leo stripped them of their expensive clothes, gold jewelry, and money.
Then he walked out of the alley—
Now dressed in pristine, expensive white party wear, blending seamlessly into the lively crowd as if nothing had happened.
Exchanging his stolen money for gambling tokens, Leo moved from game to game. With subtle use of his ability, he manipulated outcomes effortlessly doubling, then tripling his earnings within moments.
It didn't take long for people's attention to gather.
Admiring eyes, drawn by his looks and sudden streak of fortune, people began to crowd around him, especially women.
But the illusion didn't last.
Soon, people started backing away, suspicion creeping in. They knew he was cheating but they just couldn't prove it.
Unbothered, Leo flashed a charming smile, tossing money around carelessly. Before long, he found himself with two striking women both taller than him easily drawn in by his Looks, confidence and wealth.
"Hey… how come I've never seen you here?" one of them asked, her voice smooth, carrying a faint scent of roses. "With looks like yours, you should be famous all across the East Blue." Leo smirked, enjoying the attention, his hand sliding down from her waist to grabbing her ass.
"Can't you tell? It's his first time here," the other woman chimed in with a playful laugh. "Come with us, we'll show you the best place on the island… and maybe more after that~"
"By the way, you never told us your name… or where you came from," the girls asked curiously, their eyes lingering on the unfamiliar yet striking man before them.
"You can call me Leo…" he replied with an easy smile. "As for where I come from, let's save that for over drinks."
Leo pulled them closer as the three of them made their way toward the island's central district—the largest and most extravagant entertainment zone.
At the entrance to the grand hall, they were stopped for not having a reservation—but a few discreet Berries slipped into the guard's pocket, and they were allowed inside.
"Listen," the bodyguard muttered, eyeing Leo carefully. "You look like a noble, so I'll let you pass. But there are high-ranking Marines and other nobles inside. Don't cause any trouble… or you'll lose your pretty head." Leo barely acknowledged the warning, already moving past him.
The moment he stepped inside the room fell silent, all eyes turned toward them.
To them, it was as if an angel had walked in dressed in flawless white, flanked by two stunning women, a faint, dangerous smile playing across his lips.
For a moment, even the ongoing chaos inside the bar was forgotten.
Because at that very moment, a rat faced Marine captain had just shot a waiter in hand for daring to inform him that the finest wine had run out before his arrival.