May 25, 1498, Age of the Sea Circle
At the port of Pacific Town, a large group of people was preparing to set sail, leaving behind this remote island in a corner of the South Blue.
After almost a month staying in Orion's kingdom, Dragon and his n were finally ready to return to their main base in the Grand Line.
"Dragon, it's been a pleasure having you here as a guest. You're welco to return anyti!" Orion said with a smile, shaking the revolutionary leader's hand.
"It's been a good experience. I've seen many interesting things here. I'll definitely co back as soon as I have the ti," Dragon replied, a faint smile appearing on his usually serious face.
Finally, after much discussion, they had decided on the personnel distribution across the different Blues, as well as the first operations of the newly ford organization.
Dragon would oversee everything, acting as a coordinator between all branches of the Revolutionary Army. Ivankov would be in charge of the branch located in the Grand Line. Two of the original Freedom Fighters, nad Tommy and Lara, would command the armies located in the East Blue and North Blue, respectively. Finally, Ginny and Kuma would take charge of the remaining two Blues.
As for the specifics: Ginny would remain in the South Blue, and her base would be located in Pacific Kingdom!
This left Kuma in charge of the Revolutionary Army's branch in the West Blue.
Initially, it had been proposed that Kuma stay in the South Blue while Ginny handled the East Blue, but this was ultimately vetoed due to Kuma's own insistence. He preferred for Ginny to remain with Orion in Pacific Kingdom, knowing she would be much safer there than if she went to the East Blue on her own. After all, Orion's presence in Pacific Kingdom helped ease Kuma's worries regarding the safety of his best friend.
Of course, Ginny had also voiced her opinion, and she was content with the idea of staying in the South Blue. So, the final decision was for her to manage the South Blue branch stationed in Pacific Kingdom.
Now, Dragon and his n were about to begin their journey back to the Grand Line, while the generals assigned to the various Blues would travel to their new areas of operation, beginning to expand their influence and develop a massive, worldwide organization capable of truly bringing about positive change in people's lives.
In this world, there were countless people who had suffered great tragedies, and who would be more than willing to join the Revolutionary Army's cause. The fact that such an organization didn't already exist was simply due to the World Governnt's strict control, with the help of the Marines, and not because there was no discontented population eager for change.
"Then I wish you a good journey, Dragon. And don't worry about Nico Robin, I'll make sure to find her and bring her here safely," Orion said, ending his handshake with Dragon.
Though Orion didn't have a fixed position within the Revolutionary Army and functioned more like a free agent or wild card, he still contributed in various ways.
In addition to providing a base in the South Blue, being willing to lend his power to any future conflict when called, and even offering to fund part of the organization's operations—though that part hadn't yet been put into practice due to his current tight budget—he was also planning to take on certain "special missions" like the one involving Nico Robin.
During their discussions about the Revolutionary Army's future, Dragon had shared details of his visit to Ohara a month earlier, where he had t the famous scientist Vegapunk and seen the ruins of the great Tree of Knowledge.
After the tragedy of Ohara, a bounty had been placed on the head of a small girl only eight years old. Through his information network, Dragon had discovered that this girl was the last survivor of Ohara, and it seed the World Governnt was hunting her down because she possessed knowledge they deed dangerous. Though he had no concrete information, there were rumors that she could read Poneglyphs, making her especially threatening in the eyes of the World Governnt.
Soone like that would obviously be a treasure to an organization like the Revolutionary Army, whose mission was to liberate the world from the Governnt's rule. So, Dragon wanted to find Nico Robin and place her under his protection.
However, in such a vast world, it was nearly impossible to find one person—especially soone actively doing everything to stay hidden from the Governnt's eyes.
Dragon was essentially tied down when it ca to locating and recruiting Nico Robin, since he couldn't devote all his energy to searching for her personally. He had to focus on leading the newly ford organization.
That's why, when Orion heard about Nico Robin during Dragon's story, he imdiately volunteered to go find her personally and bring her back safely.
He even had a system mission that aligned perfectly with that goal, so he didn't have to think twice before deciding.
The only reason Orion hadn't tried to go after her earlier was because Nico Robin was literally on the other side of the world, and it was impossible for him to travel such a distance on his own with his current abilities. However, now he had a thod that would allow him to reach her without much difficulty: Kuma's Devil Fruit powers!
With the powers of the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi, Kuma could send him directly to the West Blue without having to cross the vast and dangerous Grand Line, which was the usual route if one wanted to travel from the South Blue to the West Blue.
The unique geography of this planet made it extrely difficult to travel from one Blue to another; perhaps only with magical abilities like Kuma's could such a long trip be avoided.
Dragon nodded solemnly and said,
"I'll leave it in your hands, Orion. I'll await your good news."
He wasn't trying to pressure him in any way, he simply had faith that Orion could complete the mission successfully and bring Nico Robin back safely. Over the past month they had spent together, both Dragon and Orion had co to understand each other on a deeper level. While they hadn't exactly beco close friends, there was undeniable mutual respect between them, and Dragon trusted the abilities of this strange prodigy with whom he had ford an alliance.
Dragon turned and boarded the ship, where Ivankov and the rest of his n were waiting for him.
"Goodbye, Orion-boy! Co visit soon in the Grand Line, Heehaw!" Ivankov shouted from the deck of the ship, cheerfully waving two colorful handkerchiefs.
The ship slowly set sail, disappearing into the Mysterious Fog that filled the bay.
Orion remained at the harbor for a long ti, accompanied by Ginny and Kuma, thinking about the relationship he had ford with these people over the last month.
It would be quite a while before he saw them again in person.
Once Dragon and Ivankov were gone, Orion bid farewell to his family and loved ones, since he himself would be heading to the West Blue that very day.
He, Kuma, and so of the Revolutionary Army mbers assigned to the West Blue branch would travel using Kuma's powers.
Before leaving, Orion had a talk with his uncle Lolo to discuss several governntal matters that would be implented in Pacific Kingdom over the coming months. He also held a eting with Christina and Ginny to organize the training and developnt of the kingdom's military forces.
While the kingdom's army and the Revolutionary Army technically functioned as separate entities, in practice they were much more unified. After all, it was impossible for Ginny's South Blue branch not to be influenced by its surroundings, given it was stationed in Pacific Kingdom. Orion had even provided the training thods for both, along with several courses in specific skills like espionage.
These were benefits he had obtained through the system shop, which operated using KP, and he had no problem sharing them.
Both forces were under the command of Christina and Ginny respectively, and if there was a difference between them, it was that the kingdom's army operated locally, while the Revolutionary Army extended its reach throughout the South Blue.
Once Orion had taken care of the most important matters of the kingdom, he was finally ready to leave. He simply said goodbye to his family and loved ones and prepared to depart with Kuma and his n.
As a final warning, he told Christina not to try confronting Nakamura until he returned.
He knew she probably wouldn't attempt anything in his absence, but he reminded her just in case.
Eliminating one of the most powerful and influential Marines in the South Blue was not sothing that could be done without preparation. Right now, Orion didn't have ti to focus on it—especially since with each passing day, the chances of finding Nico Robin decreased.
After all, she was probably constantly on the move, drifting farther and farther from her holand.
As the sun was about to set, Orion opened a door in the air, allowing Kuma's subordinates to enter his Pocket Dinsion.
He then smiled at those who had co to see him off.
Kuma hesitated slightly before stretching out his hand, but seeing Orion watching him with confidence and nodding, the gentle giant finally calculated the direction in his mind and used his fruit's powers to make Orion vanish without a trace.
Then he turned around, gave Ginny one last warm look, and disappeared just as Orion had done a mont earlier.
.................
June 4, 1498, Age of the Sea Circle
Orion, who was traveling at great speed through the sky, finally crossed the Red Line successfully and imdiately opened a door in the air, entering his Pocket Dinsion without issue.
Once inside the Pocket Dinsion, the energy that had been propelling him through the skies dissipated without a trace. This was a phenonon he had discovered during his journey to the West Blue.
Apparently, Kuma's power didn't just act as a force that repelled things in a direction; it also depended in so way on the environnt of the One Piece world to function. For that reason, the mont Orion entered the small parallel dinsion, the effect of Kuma's Devil Fruit vanished, causing him to stop moving forward.
Orion speculated that this might be due to the "destination point" defined by Kuma disappearing when he entered the parallel dinsion, which sohow made the Devil Fruit's effect cease. Although he had no conclusive proof of this, it seed like a plausible explanation.
During the long journey, Orion had made several "stops" along the way, using his Space Door ability to enter his Pocket Dinsion and rest.
Of course, each ti he erged from the Pocket Dinsion and returned to the original spatial plane, he had to ask Kuma to launch him again toward the West Blue to resu the flight.
And so, after ten days of travel, they had finally crossed the Red Line and officially arrived in the West Blue.
Inside the Pocket Dinsion, Orion t up with Kuma and his subordinates, who were now ready to return to the outside world after having spent ten days confined inside the parallel space.
This ti, they had co with the mission of establishing the Revolutionary Army forces under Kuma's command and expanding the influence of the newly created organization. That's why their paths and Orion's would now diverge, since Orion would be traveling around the West Blue in search of Nico Robin.
"I guess this is goodbye, Kuma," Orion said with a smile, looking at the gentle giant, who looked more energetic than ever.
Now that Kuma had joined the Revolutionary Army and begun working to make his dreams co true, his deanor had changed, and he seed much freer and more confident, though he hadn't lost his classic warmth and kindness.
"That's right, Orion. But I'll visit you often in the South Blue, and check on Ginny," Kuma said with a smile.
Thanks to his powers, it was quite easy for him to cross the world in a few days, and he would no doubt visit Orion and Ginny whenever he had the ti.
Orion stepped forward and hugged him tightly, wishing him luck on his mission and telling him not to push himself beyond his limits—or try sothing reckless, like sacrificing his own health to help others again.
Kuma returned the hug and promised not to act impulsively, though Orion knew there was a good chance he wouldn't pay attention to that promise if he actually found himself needing to sacrifice for soone else. Kuma's stubborn and kind personality was just like that, and it was hard to imagine him changing his colors suddenly.
After they finished the hug, Orion said,
"All right, Kuma. Send as close to Ohara as you can!"
Kuma and his n wouldn't accompany him. They would stay here to start recruiting people and find a place to establish a temporary base.
Only Orion would travel close to Ohara to begin his search for Nico Robin.
"All right, but I only know Ohara's location through reports, so I can't guarantee I'll send you to the exact right place," Kuma said, scratching his head shyly.
"It's fine, just get closer. Don't worry—if I end up on a volcano or sothing, I'll just go into my Pocket Dinsion and get payback next ti I see you!"
Obviously, Orion was trying to help the kindhearted Kuma relax and use his powers without overthinking.
Kuma nodded and, with a palm strike, sent him flying through the air once more.
Then, he stood for a long ti looking in the direction where Orion had vanished and sighed as he thought about everything that had happened in the past few months.
At the beginning of this year, he had been just a simple priest in Sorbet, living peacefully with Ginny and helping the people nearby with his Devil Fruit powers.
But in just a few short months, he had joined Dragon and the others to form the Revolutionary Army, and now he found himself in the West Blue, leading a group of people he had to guide in helping the oppressed inhabitants of this Blue.
Kuma put on his gloves, then slapped both of his cheeks with the palms of his hands.
Then, looking at his subordinates—who were watching him with admiration—he said:
"All right, it's ti to get to work!"
.............
June 7, 1498, Age of the Sea Circle
Orion was sleeping as he flew through the sky. It had been three days since he'd said goodbye to Kuma, and he still hadn't reached his destination.
Unlike his previous trip, when he was accompanied by Kuma, now he couldn't enter his Pocket Dinsion to rest, because if he did, he would stop traveling toward Ohara—since Kuma's ability would vanish the mont he left this spatial plane.
For that reason, Orion had no choice but to eat and sleep while flying at high speed through the sky.
Fortunately, it wasn't uncomfortable, as he was protected by an air bubble produced by Kuma's ability.
Suddenly, Orion, who was imrsed in peaceful dreams where he hugged Giolla and Christina as they eagerly worked to increase his 'Marital Bliss' skill, felt a strange sensation on his skin—and the scene in his dream turned from romantic to nightmarish.
Giolla's kisses burned his lips, and Christina, who had knelt before him with passion in her eyes, suddenly began to burn the skin of his groin!
Orion's eyes flew open abruptly, escaping from the infernal nightmare—only to find himself in an equally terrible situation: he was falling onto a volcano!
"Fuck! How can Kuma have such good aim?!" Orion shouted as he quickly entered his Pocket Dinsion.
He erged as far as possible from the mouth of the volcano and used Soru to rush toward the coast.
The island he had landed on was a small, uninhabited volcanic island, so it didn't take him long to reach the shore.
He pulled out one of his ships from his inventory and began to sail across the calm waters of the West Blue.
Currently, he had no idea where he was or how far Ohara was, so the first step would be to find an inhabited island where he could get so information.
During his flight across the skies, he hadn't received any alert about Nico Robin's presence nearby, so at least he knew in which direction not to search.
Even so, he had found a Nad Character on one of the islands he flew over while crossing the West Blue, though he had no intention of interacting with her for now.
His main mission at the mont was to find Nico Robin as soon as possible, and he would concentrate fully on that goal.
Under the autumn sky, Orion sailed through the waters of the West Blue for the first ti, unaware of what awaited him in the future.
Once again, he felt within himself that nostalgic sensation he had felt the first ti he set out to sea: the feeling of the beginning of a new adventure!
......
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