One Piece: Journey to the New Dawn

[Note:

" * " : Indicates abilities that can be upgraded with practice, experience, or unique opportunities.]

> System inner voice ["speaking"] <

> Ash inner speech "speaking" <

{}

Ash, Ace, Lucy, and Uta—stood firm, forming a tight circle with their backs pressed against one another. Their weapons were drawn, the tension in the air almost suffocating as the Blue jam Pirates encircled them.

Ash quickly outlined his plan, his voice calm but commanding. "Lucy, don't take too much time; finish them off as soon as possible. Uta, be careful not to overuse your Devil Fruit powers. You know the curse—you still have limits. Focus on using the pendant; get a feel for its versatility, this is an opportunity for you."

Uta nodded, her determined gaze fixed ahead as her pendant shimmered in her hands.

"Ace," Ash continued, "your Blaze Repeater may have infinite and customizable bullets, but it still drains your stamina. Use it sparingly. Don't push yourself too hard."

Ace gave a sharp nod, gripping her weapon tightly.

"Blue jam is strong, so we need to finish his crew quickly," Ash added, glancing at each of them. "If he steps in, Lucy and I will hold him off as long as possible. You two take care of the rest, then join us to bring him down."

His voice turned colder. "Avoid killing them if you can. Their bounties could be useful later. But if it's your life or theirs—don't hesitate. Understood?"

"Got it," Ace said firmly. Uta gave an affirmative nod.

Lucy grinned, her infectious enthusiasm cutting through the tension. "Yosh!"

Ash unsheathed Kashu, the blade gleaming under the dim light. Ace pulled her Blaze Repeater from her inventory bag, a confident smirk on her face. Uta's pendant shimmered and transformed into a sleek, harp-like instrument with razor-sharp edges, looking perfect for offense. Lucy clenched her fists, her steel gauntlets materializing at her will. She slammed her fists together with a resounding clang, grinning as she shouted again, "Let's go!"

The Blue jam Pirates lunged forward, their cries echoing through the room. The battle began.

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Ash started with a powerful air slash, Kashu slicing through the air with precision. The force incapacitated two pirates instantly, sending them crashing to the ground. As he landed, a pirate lunged at him from behind, blade aimed for his back. Ash's Observation Haki flared, warning him just in time to sidestep the attack.

He activated Tekkai, letting the blade strike his reinforced body. Though the knife snapped against his skin, he winced slightly at the faint sting—it was clear he hadn't perfected the technique yet. Ash decided not to risk taking direct hits again and spun around as another pirate charged, his stance fluid and sharp. He dodged the next stab with ease, retaliating with a Shigan. His finger pierced through the attacker with pinpoint accuracy, dropping him instantly.

Ash's combat mastery shone as he flowed between techniques. He leaped into the air with Geppo, launching himself high above the chaos. From above, he unleashed a barrage of Tempest Kicks, combining three air slashes with the arc of his Kashu. The strikes hit more than five pirates, blood spraying as they fell one after the other, groaning in pain.

The remaining pirates hesitated, the fear in their eyes evident. Ash landed softly, the hint of a grin playing on his lips—a grin that sent shivers down the spines of his foes. One pirate, mustering a surge of courage, roared and charged at him. Ash responded with blinding speed, vanishing from sight with Soru and reappearing beside his attacker. A single slash from Kashu brought the brave pirate to his knees.

Without pausing, Ash turned his attention back to the remaining foes. His blade danced in the chaos, cutting through their ranks with terrifying efficiency. Precision, power, and sheer dominance defined every move he made. His path carved clean through the group, each strike leaving another pirate incapacitated in his wake.

As the last of the pirates fell, Ash returned to the spot he started, his expression calm. With a simple flick of his wrist, he swung Kashu, the blood coating the blade splattering harmlessly onto the ground. All around him, the pirates collapsed, one by one, deep sword slashes marking their defeat.

Ash took a steadying breath and turned toward the others, prepared to assist the girls in clearing their share of the battlefield.

{}

Uta began by strumming her Resonance Pendant, now transformed into a sleek harp with sharp, intricate edges. A harmonious yet devastating Echoed Strike Circle reverberated from her, sending shockwaves that created distance between her and the advancing pirates. The vibrations hit several low-level enemies hard, blood seeping from their ears as they collapsed.

The harp seemed to resonate with her thoughts, instinctively guiding her as if she had mastered it long ago. Invisible sonic blades formed from her melodies, cutting through the air with precision, striking down multiple pirates with each note.

As another group rushed toward her, Uta activated Soru, vanishing from sight and reappearing at a safe distance. With swift precision, she slashed through two pirates using the sharp edge of the harp before delivering a flawless roundhouse kick to two others, sending them flying. The exertion caused a sharp pain to shoot through her leg, making her wince slightly. She quickly realized she needed to refine her physical resilience further.

Wanting to maximize her power, Uta attempted to synchronize her Devil Fruit abilities with the harp. However, the result was far from what she expected—a sudden rebound of sound energy erupted around her. The backlash created gashes on her arms and tore parts of her clothing. Despite this, the same uncontrolled burst knocked several nearby pirates unconscious.

Assessing the situation, Uta decided to stop experimenting with the synchronization for now. She took a deep breath, activating Geppo to ascend into the air, her harp shimmering as it transformed seamlessly into another offensive instrument.

Uta's harp shimmered and morphed, transforming into a sleek flute that fit perfectly in her hands. Without hesitation, she knew exactly what to do. Bringing it to her lips, she blew a sharp, focused note. The sound cut through the air with precision, creating a slicing gust of wind that formed into a deadly, controlled blade. The wind blade shot forward, cleaving through a group of pirates below her.

With a determined look, Uta intensified the blast, amplifying the force of the wind blade. The gust struck over a dozen pirates, knocking them off their feet, their bodies crashing to the ground as blood splattered from the clean cuts.

Breathing heavily, Uta descended to the ground, her flute shimmering back into the Resonance Pendant around her neck. She dropped to one knee, catching her breath. The last attack had drained more energy than she anticipated, but she wasn't about to let it bring her to the brink of unconsciousness. As she looked around, she saw that she had cleared her side.

However, Ash had already finished his part and was now helping Ace with the remaining pirates. Realizing there was no immediate need for her assistance, Uta stayed put, waiting to catch her breath before jumping back into the fray.

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Ace charged forward, her movements swift and precise as she used Soru to close the gap between her and the pirates. She swung a powerful kick to the chest of one pirate, sending him crashing into the wall. Without hesitation, she drew her Blaze Repeater, her eyes scanning the battlefield for her next target.

She focused for a moment, then activated the Repeater. A faint glow emanated from the weapon as she loaded a normal bullet. The gun clicked, and with a sharp breath, she fired. The bullet shot through two pirates' shoulders, tearing through their flesh and leaving a trail of blood. The impact disabled them almost immediately, knocking them out from blood loss, but the recoil sent a jolt of pain through Ace's shoulder. She winced, gritting her teeth to bear the discomfort.

Reacting quickly, she pulled a knife from her inventory bag and turned just in time to spot two pirates sneaking up behind her. Her Observation Haki flared, giving her the warning she needed. With the last-second precision of Kami-e, she evaded the first strike and stabbed the pirates—one through the neck and the other with a slash across his throat, effectively neutralizing the threat.

Ace focused; her mind sharp as she willed an Ice Bullet into her Blaze Repeater. The weapon clicked again, signaling that the new bullet was ready. She aimed at one pirate and fired. The bullet shot out with precision, striking the pirate and instantly freezing him solid. The cold spread rapidly, encasing two nearby pirates in ice as well.

She felt a slight drain on her stamina from using the Ice Bullet but quickly steadied herself. Without hesitation, she formed another Ice Bullet and fired it at the ground near a group of pirates. The ice spread quickly, trapping them up to their waists and making it impossible for them to move.

Taking advantage of their immobility, Ace drew her knife and moved with deadly grace, using Soru to close the distance in an instant. She slashed through the four pirates, her movements fast and precise. Their bodies fell, blood spilling from their chests, backs, and faces, as the ice that had trapped them shattered under the weight of her strikes.

Ace gritted her teeth, confidence fueling her as she launched herself into a Tempest Kick. Though not at Ash's level, the force of her kick sent several pirates flying backward, creating some distance between her and the oncoming attackers. She quickly followed up with Soru, her body moving like a blur, and slashed with precision using her knife. Pirates fell one after another, blood splattering in her wake.

However, her overconfidence led to a mistake. Her Observation Haki failed to notice in time, and before she could react and use Tekkai, a pirate with a pistol fired at her left shoulder. The bullet tore through her skin, and she cried out in pain, clutching her shoulder as she collapsed to one knee.

Seeing her vulnerability, the remaining pirates rushed toward her, sensing an opportunity. But Ace's resolve hardened. She gritted her teeth and, despite the pain, forced herself to stand, preparing to face them head-on.

Ash's who finished his battle just in time scanned the battlefield and looks towards Ace as she took down one pirate clutching the injury on her shoulder but couldn't react fast enough to stop the one sneaking up behind her. Just as the pirate was about to strike, Ash dashed forward, slashing with Kashu and knocking the would-be attacker to the ground.

The remaining pirates paused, fear creeping into their eyes as they realized that another combatant had joined the fray.

Ash couldn't help but tease Ace. "So, Ace needs help handling them now?"

Ace shot him a mock glare, her face flushing with frustration. "I can handle them just fine! I don't need help!"

Ash shrugged playfully, keeping his eyes on the pirates. "Well, I can't leave you hanging. I promised I'd protect you guys."

Ace's cheeks flushed deeper, but she simply growled, "Shut up and fight, idiot," her words betraying her underlying wish for him to stay and help.

Chuckling, Ash dashed toward the remaining pirates, slashing and kicking with precision, his movements a blur as blood splattered and teeth flew. "Think of a fire bullet that spreads," Ash shouted over his shoulder, a grin on his face. "And fire it when I ask you to fire."

Ace nodded, her focus sharpening. As Ash continued to cut through the pirates, Ace willed what she wants the blaze repeater responds and starts to transform. It split into two nozzles, ready for the new bullet she was about to create. Ash leaped into the air, landing behind her out of the firing range, and called out, "Fire!"

Without hesitation, Ace fired draining her stamina. Two bullets shot from the nozzles, curving in the air before merging into a single massive fireball. It shot toward the pirates in front of her, igniting them with intense heat and sending them collapsing to the ground, unconscious but unharmed by the flames because her current stamina is low enough only to produce this much effect.

Exhausted from the effort, Ace started to collapse to her knees, feeling the strain of the fireball's recoil on her stamina. Ash rushed over, catching her in a princess carry, a teasing grin on his face. "Hello, princess," he smirked, his voice light-hearted.

Ace's face turned red. "Put me down, idiot!"

Ash chuckled, complying but still holding her for a moment longer than necessary. He set her down gently, then glanced around. Uta had finished off her side of the battle, though she was clearly winded.

Lucy was still fighting, but it seemed like she had the majority of attackers than them even Porchemy is among them waiting for his strike. Ash's eyes then locked onto Blue jam, who stood at his place seeing the battlefield, his eyes bloodshot with rage. He looked ready to strangle them all with his own hands, but he didn't make a move yet.

Without wasting any more time, Ash reached into his inventory and pulled out two health potions. He called out to Uta, who came over, noticing that the battle was winding down. He handed one potion to her, then gave one to Ace as well. They drank the potions, feeling their wounds healing slightly and stamina slowly replenishing.

Ash surveyed the battlefield one last time, the tension still thick in the air. They are winning, but Blue jam wasn't finished yet.

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Lucy decided to hold back on using her Devil Fruit powers at first, relying instead on her sheer strength and fighting skills. Her first punch connected with a pirate's face, sending him flying into two others behind him and knocking all three out cold.

She pivoted on her heel, delivering a powerful kick to another pirate's jaw, the force of the blow knocking him out instantly. The steel gauntlet on her fists added tremendous force to each strike, making her movements even more devastating.

As two pirates attempted to flank her, Lucy's Observation Haki alerted her to their presence. She raised her gauntlets in time to block their simultaneous attacks, the impact ringing out loudly. With a sharp twist of her body, she kicked a third pirate charging toward her squarely in the stomach, sending him sprawling.

Without missing a beat, she turned back to the two attackers whose strikes she had blocked, landing two devastating punches that knocked them to the ground.

Lucy activated Soru, vanishing momentarily before reappearing in the middle of a group of pirates. She unleashed a flurry of punches, each blow landing with bone-crushing force. The pirates surrounding her had no chance to react, as her relentless strikes came one after another, giving them no room to counter. One by one, they fell to the ground, completely incapacitated.

As the last of the group crumpled, Lucy stood amidst the chaos, laughing heartily and clearly enjoying the fight. The pirates still conscious, but too terrified to move, stared at her in disbelief. The only thought racing through their minds was: This kid is a monster! Seeing a 7-year-old effortlessly taking down grown men struck fear into their hearts.

Lucy used Geppo to leap high into the air, her form outlined against the dim light. With a loud shout, she descended rapidly, landing with a powerful fist to the ground. The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, knocking several pirates off their feet and leaving them sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain.

Porchemy, still standing amidst the chaos, crossed his arms in front of his face to shield himself from the shockwave's force. He gritted his teeth, holding his ground as the dust settled around him.

Porchemy stepped forward, his glare piercing as he locked eyes with Lucy. His fists clenched tightly, veins bulging in anger as he prepared to confront her.

Lucy tilted her head, unfazed by his menacing presence. With a cheerful grin, she said, "Oh! You're that guy Ash and I beat down last time, right?"

Porchemy's glare deepened, but Lucy seemed oblivious as she tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm… what was your name again? Polohy? No… Piggy? No, no, wait!" She clapped her hands together, her face lighting up. "Pouch! Yatta! I got it—it's Porchy, right?"

Porchemy's face twisted in rage, veins bulging on his forehead as he glared at Lucy. Her cheerful demeanor and deliberate mispronunciation of his name were like fuel to a fire.

"It's PORCHEMY, you brat!" he bellowed. "I'll kill you with my own hands! That other brat isn't here to save you now!"

Lucy chuckled carefreely, her hands resting on her hips. "Save me? Oh, no. I don't need Ash's help to beat you. I'm plenty strong on my own now."

Porchemy's fury only grew. He turned to the remaining pirates and barked, "Stay out of this! I'll deal with her myself. If anyone dares interfere, they'll answer to me!"

Lucy's chuckles faded as her expression turned serious. "You shouldn't treat your nakama like that," she said, her tone firm.

"Nakama?" Porchemy sneered. "These are just expendable subordinates! Don't lecture me on being a pirate, brat!" He roared and charged toward her; sword raised high for a powerful slash.

Lucy didn't flinch. She stood her ground, her calm confidence unnerving to those watching. With a steady voice, she said, "Gomu Gomu no…"

Her arms stretched back unnaturally far, her fists pulling taut as if winding up for a devastating strike.

"STEEL BAZOOKA!"

Her fists snapped forward with incredible speed and force. Porchemy tried to block the attack with his sword, but the impact shattered the blade like glass. The strike slammed into his stomach, sending him flying backward.

He hit the wall hard, the sheer force of the blow leaving a crater of him on the wall. Blood spilled from his mouth, and his eyes rolled back as he fell unconscious. Lucy retracted her hands with a satisfying snap, standing tall as the room went silent, save for the groans of defeated pirates who are caught in that attack and couldn't escape in time.

Porchemy had been taken down with a single, devastating attack.

Ash, Uta, and Ace walked toward where Lucy was still fighting, paying no attention to Blue Jam's seething glare. Ash cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "Lucy, have you finished yet? You're so slow! We've already cleared out our sides!"

Hearing this, Lucy's face twisted in mock anger, her teeth sharpening into shark-like points. "Ash, you Meany! I got more guys than you! Can't you see how many I've taken down? Give me a break, idiot. I'm only seven!"

Ash laughed heartily. "Don't use your age as an excuse. You're as strong as me! If you don't finish up soon, we'll have to take Blue Jam down ourselves and leave you without a chance to fight him."

Lucy growled, her fists clenched. "Ash, you Baka! Wait for me!"

Uta chuckled softly at their antics, while Ace allowed herself a small grin.

Blue Jam, however, ground his teeth in frustration, veins bulging on his forehead. How dare these brats ignore him so blatantly?

"DON'T IGNORE US!" shouted the remaining pirates surrounding Lucy.

Lucy turned her attention back to them, taking her stance. "Let's finish this!" she shouted.

With a blur of movement, she used Soru, zipping between the pirates and delivering powerful punches, knocking them out one by one. Blood sprayed, and groans filled the air as bodies crumpled to the floor.

Lucy stopped just in front of Ash, catching her breath. She pointed a finger at him accusingly. "Ash, you meany! Why do you always get the fun part?"

Before Ash could reply, Uta lightly bonked Lucy on the head. "You've still got some left," she said, gesturing toward the few remaining pirates still conscious and trembling in disbelief.

Lucy blinked, looking sheepish. "Oh! Sorry, guys."

She turned back to the pirates, her expression serious again. "Gomu Gomu no Whip!"

Her leg stretched out in a wide arc, catching the remaining pirates off guard. They were flung across the room by the sheer force, slamming into the far wall and falling unconscious in a heap.

Lucy turned back to Ash, Uta, and Ace, striking a triumphant pose. "Yosh! Finished!"

The three of them sighed in unison, exasperated but amused by her boundless energy.

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Ash thought to himself as they moved, We've become strong, but we're still far from perfect. There's plenty of room for improvement—in their decisions during a fight and their overall coordination.

With those thoughts lingering, Ash and the girls approached Blue Jam, who was trembling with rage at how his crew had been dismantled by mere children.

As they stopped a short distance away, Ace was the first to speak. "Blue Jam, you're the only one left to deal with."

Ash chuckled, his tone calm but tinged with a subtle warning. "Blue Jam, I'm giving you one last chance—surrender. You might think we're just kids, but don't judge us by our age. You've seen what we can do."

Blue Jam reached his breaking point, veins bulging on his forehead as he roared, "Shut up, brat! No one disrespects me like this and gets away with it! I'll kill you all—slowly and painfully!"

Ash sighed, his expression hardening. The girls mirrored his seriousness, their faces resolute. "Come on then," Ash said, his voice steady.

All four ran toward Blue Jam as he charged at them with his Sabre raised. At the last second, they used Soru, splitting away and dodging his slash effortlessly.

Lucy was the first to strike, appearing behind him and landing a solid punch to his kidney. The blow made Blue Jam stagger, and before he could retaliate, Lucy darted away using her speed. He tried to fire sots with his flintlock but all four them avoided from it.

Uta's pendant transformed back into her harp. She plucked the strings quickly, sending invisible wind blades toward Blue Jam. The sharp edges struck him, forming gashes across his arms and torso, blood dripping from the wounds.

Ace, keeping her distance, willed a normal bullet into the Blaze Repeater and fired at Blue Jam's hand which has flintlock. The shot hit its mark, forcing him to stager in pain and lose the grip of the pistol.

As Blue Jam let out a pained growl, Ash appeared directly in front of him. Blue Jam's frantic swing was too late, as Ash brought Kashu down in a clean slash across Blue Jam's chest. The force of the attack sent the pirate sliding back, clutching his bleeding chest with one hand, his face twisted in agony.

Blue Jam, ignoring the pain from his injuries, began swinging his Sabre and fists wildly, his desperation evident in every erratic movement. His only focus was to catch at least one of them in his frenzied attacks.

In the chaos, Uta misjudged the timing of one of his punches and got caught, though she managed to evade most of the force. Still, the blow was enough to slightly injure her, causing her to wince and slow down.

Ash's eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. Realizing that Blue Jam was no longer in his right mind and was becoming increasingly dangerous, he shouted, "Guys, let's not drag this out—let's finish this!"

Ace steps forward, taking the lead for the first attack. Determined to try something new, she focuses her willpower to customize a bullet—a combination of fire and ice. The Blaze Repeater adapts to her intent, transforming from a single barrel into dual barrels to accommodate the complexity of the bullet. However, the intense customization process severely drains her stamina, leaving her almost at her limit.

Ace steadies her aim and fires. The twin bullets curve mid-air, merging into a single projectile before striking Blue Jam. The ice encases his legs up to the knees, freezing him in place, while the fire within the bullet ignites upon impact. Due to Ace's low stamina, the flames only lightly scorch him, but it's enough to make him stumble and roar in anger.

Before Blue Jam can recover, Uta immediately follows up with her Echoed Strike. The powerful sound wave hits Blue Jam squarely in the chest, shattering the ice around his legs and blasting him backward.

Lucy doesn't miss the opportunity. With perfect timing, she charges in and shouts, "Gomu Gomu no Steel Bazooka!" Her fists stretch far back before snapping forward with immense force, slamming into Blue Jam's chest. The impact is so powerful it tears through the back of his shirt, spraying blood from his mouth as his body is sent flying.

Ash leaps high into the air, his blade Kashu gleaming under the light as he shouts, "Crimson Crescent Slash!" With a powerful swing, the crimson arc cuts across Blue Jam's chest, sending him crashing down onto the ground.

Blue Jam lies there, his body battered and broken, but his stubborn will keeps him conscious. His ragged breaths echo in the silence, and he begins to mumble incoherently.

Ash, Lucy, Uta, and Ace move to surround him. Kashu is sheathed, but Ash kneels, steadying himself with the hilt. The four listen as Blue Jam's faint voice becomes clear.

"You brats… if you hadn't been here… poking your noses in my business… I would've become a noble with my crew… leaving this trash heap…"

A booming voice echoed through the area, snapping everyone to attention.

"What the hell happened here?"

Ash, Lucy, Uta, and Ace turned in unison toward the entrance. Standing there, framed by the doorway, was Dadan, her imposing figure outlined against the light outside. Resting casually on her shoulder was a massive axe, its blade glinting ominously. Behind her, the rest of the mountain bandits stood, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief as they took in the scene before them.

The room was a wreck. Bloodstains and unconscious pirates were strewn across the ground, some barely conscious clothing their wounds, a few encased in ice and charred in fire, some with their heads stuck in wall, their weapons scattered haphazardly.

In the center, Blue jam lay crumpled and barely conscious, mumbling incoherently about his thwarted dreams of nobility. Ash and the girls stood around him, battle-worn but victorious, their breathing heavy and their faces marked with the grit of combat.

Dadan's eyes widened as she surveyed the destruction, her tone tinged with both disbelief and a begrudging sense of awe.

Name: Blue jam

Title: Pirate Captain of the Blue jam Pirates

Age: 35

Bounty: 14,000,000 Beri

Level: 20

Status Effect: Badly Injured

Stats:

- Strength: 80

- Agility: 61

- Endurance: 78

- Intelligence: 62

- Charisma: 30

- Luck: 16

Skills:

- Swordsmanship (Intermediate)

- Physical Combat (Intermediate)

Haki: None

Special Traits:

- Berserker Rage

Emotional State: Disbelief; Frustration

Current thoughts: "This can't be happening... I was so close... If only those brats hadn't interfered, I would have been a noble pirate, living the life I deserved! How can I be defeated so easily by these brats."

Weaknesses: Recklessness; Overconfidence

To be continued...

Hey everyone! I'm always looking for ways to make this story even better, and I'd love to hear your ideas. What powers do you think should be available in Ash's store? Maybe you have some cool concepts for abilities, weapons, or items that could make the adventure even more exciting!

Feel free to drop your suggestions in the comments, and if there's anything specific, you'd love to see in future chapters, let me know! I might even integrate your ideas into the story.

Also, don't forget to give some Power Stones if you're enjoying the journey! Your support means the world. 😊