New Shining Star |『 Male Reader 』• One Piece

Cover Story 2: Marines of Tomorrow - Part 4

Usagi and Koby exchanged a brief look, their surprise mirrored in their expressions before they took turns introducing themselves. "I'm Koby," the pink-haired marine said with a polite smile, gesturing to himself. "And I'm Usagi," Usagi said.

The woman tilted her head dramatically, nodding multiple times as though trying to piece something together. "Koby," she repeated, her tone laced with recognition. "Yeah, the hero! The one who seems like he's way too nice to be a marine!" she declared with a laugh.

Then, her gaze shifted to Usagi, tilting her head in exaggerated curiosity. "And you... Usagi, huh? Yeah, yeah, that's the daughter the old man mentioned!" she said, clapping her hands together in realisation.

Usagi blinked in confusion. "The... old man?" she asked, but before she could get an answer, Koby chimed in, looking at the woman. "Who exactly are you?" he asked, his tone polite but tinged with curiosity.

The woman wasted no time slipping into her dramatic flair. She struck a bold pose, her arms spread wide as if presenting herself to an audience. "Who am I, you ask?" she began, her voice filled with theatrical bravado.

"I am the one who sees all, strikes true, and hits every mark without fail!" she declared, spinning her rifle in a flashy display. "They call me Calypso Eirene, the future Sniper Queen! The one destined to stand toe-to-toe with the legendary Sniper King himself!" she declared.

Koby and Usagi exchanged another glance, their expressions a mix of confusion and amusement. "Sniper...?" Usagi began. "King?" Koby finished, raising an eyebrow. Calypso gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her heart as if personally offended.

"You don't know about the Sniper King?! The greatest sharpshooter to ever grace the seas!" she exclaimed, spinning her rifle once more for emphasis. "He comes from the legendary Sniper Island!" added Calypso.

Usagi tilted her head, genuinely intrigued. "Wait... where's this 'Sniper Island' you keep mentioning?" she asked, her tone innocent and curious. With a flourish, Calypso draped her coat over her shoulders like a cape and pointed dramatically at Usagi. "Sniper Island... it's in your heart!" she declared with absolute certainty.

A pause lingered as Usagi and Koby stared at her, blinking in stunned silence. Then, to the woman's surprise, they both broke into soft laughter, not in mockery, but in genuine understanding of her eccentricity. "Alright," Usagi said with a grin, shaking her head. "You're definitely... unique," she said as Koby nodded with a smile.

*Whoosh*

*Whoosh*

Before anyone could say more, the sound of flapping wings drew their attention skyward. A massive bird soared above them, its wings casting a shadow over the training grounds. The bird's voice rang out as it descended, clear and exasperated.

"You're still spouting nonsense about being a Sniper Queen, aren't you, Calypso?" asked the bird as it landed gracefully in the clearing, its golden feathers shimmering in the light. Calypso huffed, crossing her arms. "It's not nonsense, Esther! Sniper Queen is a real thing!" she retorted.

The bird scoffed before its form shimmered and began to shift. With a crackle of electricity, the bird transformed into a human, revealing a young woman with medium blonde hair tied in twin tails.

Her golden eyes gleamed with a mix of irritation and mischief. She wore a sleek white dress with blue accents, her gloves and boots completing her sharp, rebellious look. "Sniper Queen, my foot," Esther muttered, brushing off her dress.

Koby and Usagi stared in astonishment at her sudden transformation. "Who are you?" Usagi asked, her curiosity piqued. Esther raised an eyebrow before offering a small, confident smirk. "Esther. And before you ask, yes, that was my devil fruit," she said with pride.

Koby tilted his head. "What kind of fruit is it?" he asked. Esther's smirk widened as she crossed her arms. "The Bird Bird Fruit Model: Thunderbird," she announced. Then, with a quick motion, her body began to transform again.

Her arms elongated into powerful wings covered in shimmering brown and golden feathers, crackling with faint traces of lightning. Her legs shifted into talons, sharp and imposing, while her face retained its human features, save for her piercing bird-like eyes and a hooked nose resembling a beak. Lightning danced along her feathers, giving her an electrifying presence.

Both Koby and Usagi stared in awe at her hybrid form. "That's... amazing," Koby said, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "Yeah, it's incredible!" Usagi added, her eyes wide with wonder. Esther preened under their praise, a smug grin tugging at her lips. "Of course it is," she said. "I'm one of a kind," she added.

A soft chuckle broke the moment, drawing their attention to a figure approaching from the edge of the clearing. The young man walked with calm confidence, adjusting the sword strapped to his hip as he approached. His long blonde braid swayed with each step, and his golden eyes gleamed with quiet intensity.

"Boasting again, are we, Esther?" he said, his tone light but teasing. Esther immediately bristled, glaring at him. "What's your problem, Orion?" she shot back, her voice sharp. Before anyone could react, Esther lunged at him, her talons crackling with lightning.

*Boom*

A cloud of dust erupted as the two collided, obscuring them from view. When the dust settled, Koby and Usagi's eyes widened in shock. Orion stood firm, his sword raised and glowing faintly with haki, blocking Esther's strike. But it wasn't just his stance that caught their attention. It was his form.

Orion's body had shifted into a hybrid form, his face elongated into a jackal-like snout, and his sleek black fur gleamed under the light. His long, pointed ears twitched, and golden markings adorned his fur. His glowing eyes locked onto Esther with calm precision.

"Will you ever learn not to attack without thinking?" Orion asked, his voice steady but carrying a hint of exasperation. Esther smirked, her talons pressing harder against his blade. "And will you ever learn to have fun?" she shot back. Usagi and Koby exchanged another look, both amazed and slightly overwhelmed by the sheer chaos before them.

To be continued