16 Chapter 16

Josh's PoV:

As I made my way towards the deck, I felt the remnants of a migraine which I got from buying Joichiro's cooking knowledge and skills. Let me clear up something, I only got his knowledge and skills involving cooking. Maybe I should've worded it better to the system because I still have very little experience when it comes to cooking.

Not only do I not gain his experience, I did not feel his intuition, talent, drive, and most importantly, his innovative style of cooking. To put it in better words, when I look at ingredients, I would perfectly recall how to prepare it and what dish to make with said ingredients. Along with being able to use cooking tools to a mastery level. The entire cooking process would be done with perfect accuracy, but that's where it ends.

The food would be delicious for sure, but it can never reach the level of the real Saiba Joichiro himself as I only have the information and the way to cook something he has done so before. I don't think I can match up to Sanji who will grow better and better as a chef. I'm fine with not improving anymore because all I wanted was a way to learn how to cook delicious food and that's what I got.

As I do not aspire to be a cook as a permanent career, I'm still very satisfied with my gains. When I first found that out, I thought the system had cheated me and wanted to complain immediately, but I managed to calm down and think deeper.

Saiba Joichiro is possibly the best chef in the entire world of Shokugeki no Souma, maybe even in all of existence, as far as I know. If I were to buy everything of someone from the top of a world, I can only imagine how much that would cost. The price should be amplified as well because I haven't been to that world. Just imagining all those zeroes made me shutter.

On another note, I had Manni follow the Going Merry quietly from under the sea as to not attract attention. I've decided to buy a devil fruit for him from the system so that I can eliminate the side effect of not being able to swim. For right now, I do not have nearly enough points to buy a normal devil fruit. I took a quick glance at them and let's just say....I don't have enough and move on.

I'm glad that I made the decision to train them earlier on. The reason is because I got another mission from the system. The system's exact words were,

[Ding! Congratulations, Host has unlocked another mission.

Mission: Convince the rest of the crew members to allow Host to train them.

Rewards: 1,500,000 System Points!, Cloak of Levitation x 1!]

Surprising right!? The iconic magic item of Doctor Strange from the Marvel Universe! According to my knowledge, this cloak is extremely useful and helpful for Strange, it should also be of great help and entertainment for me as well.

From my understanding, the cloak requires magic to keep it afloat and control. When I confronted the system about this issue, the system said that I can use my mental strength as a substitute for magic, however, my control over it wouldn't be as good as if I possessed magic. I'll just have to find out for myself later.

Finally reaching the deck, I saw every member of the straw hat pirates looking at my direction. I made my way towards them. "Thanks for gathering, guys. I called you all here to tell everyone something."

I gestured towards Nami. At first, she just looked at me in confusion, until the light of understanding hit her. She started explaining to everyone what I told her about the Grandline and devil fruits. While all of that was going on, I took a good once over at the Merry.

The first thing I noticed is the Jolly Roger that was finally completed by Usopp. Our Jolly Roger consist of a skull and crossbones like any other Jolly Roger, but ours has a straw hat on the skull. Yep.. just like in canon.

The pirate mark is also painted on the main sail as well.

For now, I haven't made much changes to the original canon because I've just started out and we haven't even reached Paradise. I don't want to always be stuck with canon. I want new challenges, new problems, new enemies. I don't want to be in control the entire time.

Although that might sound stupid to some people, I truly don't. The reason is simple... if I already knew everything, it wouldn't be much of an adventure and I wouldn't have as much fun as I can. There are some things I do not want to change, such as the growth of the crew by facing certain opponents and the like, but I will make a huge stir in the future, I can just feel it!

Now, someone might be asking 'why not just go on your own adventure?' or 'why stay with the straw hats if that is the case?'

Let me ask you a question instead, who else in this world is going to make it to the very top and conquer it!? This whole world of One Piece revolves around the Strawhat Pirates. Something everyone gotta understand is that, if I truly want to experience everything this world has to offer, it has to be with the ones that will reach the top.

I already claimed that I would see everything in this world, there is no better way to do that than from the perspective of a Strawhat.

From what I remember of some fanfics where the mc quickly grows in power and becomes the strongest in a matter of a few chapters and conquer everything, they all end up pretty shallow. Those types of mcs don't even stop to appreciate the world before moving on to the next.

As my dream is to not only experience all this world has to offer, but also adventure and have fun. It wouldn't be possible if I didn't do it from the front row seat, if anyone gets me.

"And those are the things Josh told me about the Grandline and Devil Fruits." I turned my attention back towards the crew as I noticed Nami finishing up. Their reactions were completely expected. Zoro was very skeptical, right along with Usopp who was out right denying what Nami said. Luffy just looked around in confusion.. looks like he didn't really understand, what else would you expect?

In canon, Zoro didn't believe Nami when she told them that the entry into Paradise is climbing up a mountain, so it's understandable when he didn't exactly immediately took Nami's words as facts now.

Third Person's PoV:

"You guys don't believe me?" Josh asked, with a bit of warning in his tone. He had on his serious face. The others turned their heads towards him. "Fine. I'll prove it to you."

The blonde walked up to the green head and stared him in the eyes. "Attack me. You can do whatever you want. I won't lift a finger." Zoro narrowed his eyes. He knew that Josh was strong but he didn't think that he was this arrogant. He got mad when he realized Josh was severely underestimating him.

"Are you sure? I won't hold back." The swordsman's expression was deadly serious. The recipient nodded his head. "Maybe you'll believe me after this."

With those words as the signal, the 3 sword style user tied his bandana on top of his head, drew out all of his swords, with Wado Ichimonji between his teeth. "I wanted to test myself against you. Looks like I got my chance." Zoro smirked, he was perfectly able to talk, even with a katana stuck in his mouth.

After separating on the Merry's deck for some space, the swordsman got in his battle stance while everyone else looked at the ongoing bout in interest. Seeing Josh just lazily stand there without even getting in a stance angered Zoro even more. "Don't regret this!" He warned for the final time.

Getting a smirk for a reply, Zoro dashed towards the blonde in question, his 3 swords following along. He first started out with a warning slash near Josh's head, narrowly missing his ear. At this intimidation attempt, the blonde didn't even bat an eye.

Resolving himself to actually attack this time, Zoro drew back his arm for another swing, aimed to nick the blond's right arm. He was going to force the blonde to take him seriously or suffer an injury. As he was still a crew mate, Zoro didn't want to seriously hurt the man.

As the sword made contact with Josh's skin and penetrate through it, a painful and numbing sensation arched across Zoro's arm. "Argh!" He let out a low grunt of pain and dropped his sword.

"Wh-What happened!?" A shriek from the infamously cowardly Usopp can be heard. Nami explained to them about Josh's devil fruit. Zoro was also listening as well, even through the intense pain.

The swordsman hardened his resolve and stood back up with his arm twitching a bit. Shaking off the effects of the lightning, he charged once more. Every time he cut the blonde, he would feel the same intense pain and numbing sensation brought by the yellow lightning that ran across his body.

He shook them off over a dozen time but a man can only take so much. As Zoro reached his limit of pain and damage tolerance, he collapsed on his knees. He looked up to see a perfectly unharmed blonde man who haven't even moved from his spot from the beginning. He huffed and puffed to try and regulate his breathing and resisted the strong urge to close his eyes and pass out into the sweet embrace of dreamland.

To his credit though, Zoro was still able to remain conscious even after taking over a dozen doses of strong currents of electricity. A normal person would be foaming from the mouth on the ground after the first.

Seeing that the rain of attacks have finally ceased, Josh stuck his hand out to his opponent, "are you alright?" He asked in an innocent voice, like he wasn't the one who caused all of this.

Zoro swallowed his pride and grabbed the outstretched hand. A few minutes of trying to regain his barings later, he spoke up, "I believe you." It was very short and final but nobody doubted his words.

"Good." Josh nodded. Accepting the facts is the key to moving forward. "You want to be the strongest swordsman in the world, right?" He asked.

Before Zoro could give his affirmative, the lightning man interrupted him, "I can tell you right now, you won't even be able to touch Mihawk." Zoro's face sank even more. He was just defeated by someone who didn't even move. The Santoryu user gritted his teeth in frustration at his own weakness.

"Yosh! It's my turn." A voice interrupted the two men's conversation, although one was mainly sulking. Luffy stepped up with a clenched fist in one palm. His face was sporting an eager grin.

Everyone turned their attention towards him, "You want to fight too?" Josh asked. He didn't think Luffy would volunteer by himself, although this worked out fine because he was going to ask to fight Luffy as well.

"What? Zoro gets a turn, but I don't!?" He whined in a childish tone. Everyone just sweat dropped, their captain can be a real baby sometimes. "Fine.. come at me." After pretending to give in, Josh straightened himself and moved away from Zoro.

When they were adequately far enough from each other, it began. Like before, Josh stood there and didn't get in any sort of stance while Luffy got into his fighting pose. Both his hands out stretched while his feet were spread apart, very orthodox for a street fight or brawl.

"Gomu Gomu no... Pistol!" A literal outstretched fist came flying towards Josh like a missile...or pistol. To everyone's surprise, even Luffy, Josh actually tilted his head sideways and dodged the attack instead of just letting it hit him like every other attack thrown at him so far!

"Wha- Why did he dodge?"

"I.. don't know."

"...."

Guess who made those comments.

Josh took advantage of everyone's surprised state and made his move. For the first time since he fought a human, Josh actually made a move personally!

"Soru!", with a quick Soru, he appeared behind Luffy and curled his middle finger and thumb. *Flick* He did the most unexpected thing in a fight, he flicked Luffy from behind the head.

This simple action actually thrusted him forward, hitting the deck of the ship and effectively getting the lanky teen out of his stunned condition. Instead, he was suddenly filled with something that he had nearly forgotten. A feeling and sensation that he experienced at a minimal ever since he ate his devil fruit, at least from blunt attacks.

Luffy was rolling around the wooden floors of the Merry, clutching the back of his head. "Oooouch!" A large bump formed at the exact spot.

"H-how!?" Nami softly asked. Wasn't their captain supposed to be made of rubber? Then why is he in pain from a simple looking flick to the back of his head!?

"Y-You can also do gramp's 'Fist of Love'!?"

A/N: I decided to go with a mix between the first and second options I made on the comment section. The overall cooking skills would be lower than Sanji's but he has some knowledge that Sanji does not so there will be some teaching in the future.

I hope this chapter also answers some of the doubts or questions anyone might have about his staying with the crew.

Also, let me know on the comments, how was the "fight" scene? Technically, this is the first time I've written an actual fighting scene. (I don't count the Black Cats) I try to keep it as realistic as one piece gets.

The "official" release schedule of 3 chapters per week starts next week. I didn't try to make a schedule earlier on because I didn't want to be bound by it because I wasn't confident that I could keep my word. Still not, but I'll just giveit a go.