Chapter 13: Shanks, What Face Do You Have to Save? You Don’t Even Have a Hair Yet

Inside the box lay the Devil Fruit Ozz had obtained three years ago:

A Paramecia-type—the Blink-Blink Fruit.

In the original timeline, this fruit had belonged to Van Augur, the sharpshooter of the Blackbeard Pirates. It was tailor-made for a sniper—offering swift repositioning, evasive mobility, and deadly precision.

But in Ozz's hands? This fruit was far more than just a sniper's tool.

If the day ever came when his Haki hit a wall—when he could no longer grow stronger through conventional means—Ozz had considered eating it. After all, once fully awakened, a spatial-type fruit like this could open up terrifying possibilities:

Teleporting enemy attacks miles away…

Blinking at such speeds that it resembled the intangibility of "Kamui," making him immune to damage…

Or casually teleporting Devil Fruit users straight into the sea…

If the Paw-Paw Fruit could slap away pain and send people across the world, why couldn't the Blink-Blink Fruit rival it?

To Ozz, Mythical Zoans were impressive, sure—but Paramecia abilities tied to abstract concepts were equally terrifying in the right hands.

So why hadn't he eaten it yet?

Because Ozz was waiting.

He harbored a quiet suspicion: what if, until the right moment came, the final island rejected Devil Fruit users?

After all, in the original story, Buggy fell seriously ill just before reaching Laugh Tale, mysteriously developing a high fever that forced him to stay behind.

No one else had that issue.

And what separated Buggy from the others?

His Chop-Chop Fruit.

So Ozz wasn't going to gamble it all. That fruit wasn't going anywhere, and he could wait a couple more years.

In the meantime, he could pour his full focus into training his Haki. As Teacher Kaido once said: "Only Haki reigns supreme."

Ozz had no intention of sacrificing his foundation—he wasn't about to become one of those flashy Devil Fruit users who looked invincible until someone hit them with a Haki-infused punch and shattered their delusions.

Take Kid, for example.

Was he strong? Sure. His awakened Railgun packed enough punch to wound a Yonko. One blast could wipe out a fleet.

But his Haki? Lacking.

All it took was Shanks seeing a flicker of his future, catching him on the wind-up, and slicing him down like a dog. Instant kill.

Three billion berries, reduced to poultry.

That's why Ozz would never abandon Haki.

He'd master the hardest Armament in the world, sharpen his future-sight Observation, and wield a Conqueror's Haki that could go head-to-head with the best of them.

And sailing with the Roger Pirates? That was hands down the fastest way to level up his Haki. In a way, he was retracing Shanks' path to greatness.

"Knock, knock…"

A series of taps pulled Ozz from his thoughts.

"Uncle Betam?"

A strange red gleam flickered in Ozz's eyes as he activated Observation Haki. In an instant, he saw an image: a rotund man about to knock again.

Pulling on some pants, Ozz opened the door—sure enough, there stood his mentor, the Roger Pirates' sharpshooter: Betam.

"Haven't gone to sleep yet, Ozz?"

Betam had a long, bandage-wrapped object in hand. With his usual casualness, he gave Ozz's shoulder a hearty slap.

Ozz nodded and stepped aside to let him in.

"That's…?" he asked, eyeing the item in Betam's hands.

"I came to congratulate you, kid," Betam said with a grin, handing over the package. "Not just anyone has the talent for Conqueror's Haki."

Despite his quirks, Betam had always been a proper mentor—teaching Ozz everything from advanced Observation techniques to sniper theory. He'd earned that title of "Master."

As soon as Ozz took the item, he could tell by the weight what it was:

A rifle.

And a heavy one at that.

He unwrapped the bandages layer by layer to reveal a sleek, jet-black sniper rifle. Stylish from barrel to scope, every inch was forged from top-tier materials.

Haki-damn… This is amazing…

All of it—every inch—was made of Sea-Prism Stone!

What the hell?!

Ozz was momentarily speechless. He'd been planning to one day become a Devil Fruit user—a fighter who could brawl, take hits, and snipe from anywhere. But this? How the hell was he supposed to use a full Sea-Prism rifle with a Devil Fruit body?

Blink-Blink powers and this gun? Not compatible.

"…It's a hell of a gun, that's for sure," he finally managed, looking at Betam's hopeful eyes. No way he could disappoint him.

Worst case, he'd just keep the thing wrapped in bandages when the time came.

And truth be told, it was a damn good rifle. Any seasoned sniper could tell the moment they touched it—hitting targets thousands of meters away wouldn't be a problem.

With bullets enhanced by Armament Haki—or maybe some Devil Fruit ability—it might even go beyond that range.

"Ahahahaha, of course it's good!" Betam laughed proudly. "Cost me a fortune back in the day. But I've gotten used to my old partner, so I never switched. Guess it's your lucky day, kid!"