Mercer's Grand Line Adventure

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Mercer shook his head as he opened his eyes. The first thing he spotted was a clear blue sky, the smell of the sea entered his respiratory system. A seagull flew over him, making Alex certain he was not in Kansas anymore. The last thing he remembered was that the bloody gravity manipulation machine he was experimenting on malfunctioned. Since he escaped Manhattan he needed to find some way to kill time, and the scientist(s) in him had an answer for that.

He stood up and glanced to the beach that stretched before him, there was nothing but sand, and sea for miles as far as he could see. Shrugging he walked down the coast, until he found some form of civilization it was as good a direction as any. The virus didn't need to eat or drink so he was not worried about wandering around...wherever here was.

After an hour of searching Alex finally found what he was looking for. A small boat was pushed on the beach and guarded by a man in a white sleeveless uniform carrying...a rather outdated gun in his hands. Zeus shrugged, humans were eccentric by nature, looking for logic in their actions was a futile exercise.

The sentient virus approached the man, who after spotting him tightened his gripe on the WW1 relic.

The soldier slowly approached him, the scowl on the humans face not bothering the virus at all "Stop! Who are you and what are you doing here?"

Mercer tilted his head, from the man's words there was something strange about him being here "My name is Peter Smith, I seem to be lost since I don't know where here actualy is" Alex half-lied.

The soldier looked at him quizzically, but relaxed instantly. It was not rare that people fell in the sea, though most were saved by ships or eaten by Sea Kings "Were you washed ashore then? This is a deserted island, only the marines and pirate scum come here to stretch their legs and resupply. It's rare to find an island with a fresh water out here on the Grand Line."

Pirates? Grand Line? Alex knew his geography but the name Grand Line didn't mean much to him. It would be unwise to ask the soldier about this Grand Line since it seemed it was common knowledge to the man's eyes "In that case is there a possibility that you could offer a lift?" he didn't have anything against water but without an idea where he was, swimming to the next island was out of the question.

The soldier looked uncertain how to respond to his inquiry. Alex could hardly blame him, he obviously had no authority to decide such things, and it didn't help that Alex was still dressed in his black leather jacket and gray hoodie. In short he looked suspicious.

Instead of waiting for the man to decide something, he quickly dashed forward and grabbed the soldier by the neck, instantly consuming him. Mercer cracked his neck and resumed the watch over the boat while the others returned with the water. He found a lot by taking the man's memories, it appears that his little science project somehow transported him in a world or rather universe much different then his own.

On one side there was the World Government that represented order and law, but reminded him somehow of Blackwatch by slipping into tyranny more often than not. And opposing it were the myriad of pirate crews that brought chaos to the governments order, promoting freedom and individuality, but mostly descending into savagery and selfish overindulgence.

He didn't care about any of them, but what he did care about were those Devil fruits that could be found in this world. One of his goals is certainly to keep evolving and these fruits made humans deliciously versatile.

In the end Alex Mercer aka Zeus is and will always be the harbinger of the new humanity. An immortal race gifted with the strength, intelligence and adaptability Earth never knew. A species that had no need for governments, a race without need for dominance, sex, food or even air. Once freed from any material needs or animal instincts there will truly be peace in the world, and with their eternal minds they will spread their influence across the stars, ever-expanding, ever evolving...

Alex shook his head, that was in the future, for now he should gain some specific information about these fruits, and the best way was to act as a marine. The government probably has extensive files on people with interesting genes and powers.

Zeus waited patiently for the three other marines to return with four barrels of water. Two were rolling their cargo on the ground, while a large man behind them carried one barrel under each arm. He knew that the big marines name was Istrian, the other two he recognized by the consumed soldiers memory but the man didn't have any real contact with them.

"Anything interesting happened here?" asked one of the marines as he pushed the barrel closer to the disguised Mercer. Alex shook his head as he helped the man lift the barrel in the boat "Just the usual boring guard duty, wished I had an umbrella though, the sun really makes things difficult."

Istrian laughed a deep, belly laugh "Sucks to be you, while you were frying your brains up we were drinking cool spring water and lying in the shade of palm trees."

"Ha ha laugh it up Istrian, next time you will be on guard duty and I will be under that tree" said Alex.

"I doubt Captain Shu will send us again for the water though, it will probably be some other guys who will get to enjoy the time off" commented one of the marines.

When they loaded up all four barrels, Alex and Istrian pushed the boat into the sea before climbing in.

Alex couldn't get to the ship fast enough, the possibilities that the ability users represented made him like a child waiting for his birthday presents.

The ship actually was not very far from their location, he would have probably seen it if he continued walking down the beach. A strangely shaped vessel if anybody bothered to ask him.

Placing the last barrel in the ship Istrian wiped the sweat from his forehead "So whose going to report to the Captain?"

"That would be me" replied Mercer.

He received a curious look from the three other marines "That sun fried your brain hard, you were guarding the boat and have no idea what we were doing, so how would you report?"

Alex glanced at them „You were doing something else beside taking water?"

"Well...no" Istrian admitted, it was obvious that there was not much to report.

Mercer made his way to the captains cabin. From the soldiers memories he knew that Shu possessed the ability to rust metal, even iron in the human body, such an ability would certainly be useful in the future. Knocking on the door he entered in the room, to his luck Shu was alone.

"Report" the captain demanded

"Sir!" Mercer saluted "We have successfully brought back four additional barrels of water as ordered sir!" Mercer answered

"Any problems?" it was a routine question, he didn't really think that anything could go wrong on a simple mission like this..

"No sir!"

Shu nodded and walked past Mercer to reach the door, only to have three sharp objects pierce his body. He gasped, they were obviously not made of metal or were far more durable than anything he ever encountered. Then his world went black...

Mercer smirked, Shu possessed more knowledge about the fruits then the soldier did. It seems that people can't eat more than one, their DNA can allow only so much change before it fall's apart, with the exception of one pirate called Blackbeard. That human limitation had no hold on him, neither would he lose the ability to swim or lose those powers in contact with sea water or sea stones. What was problematic was the logias ability to turn into elements, they probably wont be able to kill him except Akainu, but he would certainly lose any fight against them.

To combat that he either had to absorb someone who can use haki like the Vice Admirals and Admirals or make a weapon coated in sea stones. The problem with the second option is that he preferred to travel without any additional baggage. Moving to the captains desk he pulled out a bunch of papers and a book of known fruits and their users. He didn't have much interest in zoan, logia were interesting, but what really made him grin were the paramecia.

Once when he acquired all their DNA and spread the abilities to the new race they will be unstoppable.

He looked first in the wanted posters with the largest bounties. A group of pirates called Straw Hats had a large bounty and numerous fruit users, but those powers would do little to increase his own. After reading the lists he found what he needed.

Baku Baku no Mi used by "Tin-Plate" Wapol: If he removed the twenty four hour limitation he could expand his skills into the sphere of machinery. Not just biomass but any device he consumes will remain with him. Laser, particle cannons, teleporters etc. This made the fruit a priority.

Then there were also:

Mosa Mosa no Mi – Binz

Modo Modo no Mi – Ain

Noko Noko no Mi – Musshuru

Goe Goe no Mi – El Drago

Yami Yami no Mi, Gura Gura no Mi – Blackbeard

Fuwa Fuwa no Mi – Shiki

Doku Doku no Mi – Magellan

Ope Ope no Mi – Trafalgar Law

Nikyu Nikyu no Mi – Bartholomew Kuma

Suke Suke no Mi – Absalom

Horo Horo no Mi – Perona

Kage Kage no Mi – Gekko Moriah

Doa Doa no Mi – Blueno

Noro Noro no Mi – Foxy the Silver Fox

Doru Doru no Mi – Galdino / Mr. 3

Bomu Bomu no Mi – Mr.5

Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Daibutsu – Sengoku

Suna Suna no Mi – Sir Crocodile

Hie Hie no Mi – Aokiji

Pika Pika no Mi – Borsalino

Magu Magu no Mi – Akainu

Gasu Gasu no Mi – Caesar Clown

Goro Goro no Mi – Unknown

Mercer frowned, he should avoid logia until he finds someone with Armament Haki to consume. From Shu's memories Armament Haki and Mantra could be learned by anyone, but people mostly specialize in only one of them, neglecting the other. The Conqueror's Haki on the other hand can't be learned, you either have it or not.

It was amusing how normal humans were afraid of fruit users, especially logia when it is so easy to arm the military with blades, bullets or cannon balls coated in sea stone.

Alex snorted, it's not his problem they are short-sighted. At least now he has a goal to achieve, first to find a Haki user to consume, then to make a surprise visit to Wapol. He would have a hard time getting the ship to the Kuja pirates but they were always an option. In the navy at least he could target and surprise people who would consider him a comrade, someone like the Vice-Admirals.

Vice Admiral John Giant, Vice Admiral Onigumo, Vice Admiral Doberman, Vice Admiral Stainless, Vice Admiral Mozambia were all prime targets for consumption. The problem is they only specialize in Armament Haki and he wanted to have Mantra also. Shu knew nobody with that particular skill.

Kuma will be a problem also, since the Shichibukai is now more synthetic than organic he will need Wapols power to consume him.

Mercer chuckled when he walked out on the deck and soldiers started to salute him, it's so nice of emergency supplies to be so obedient.

Now then, where would a Vice Admiral be...somewhere important...somewhere like the Marineford. Even if it's not the HQ anymore, they still had skilled fighters to protect their possession. He only hoped there were no Admirals on the island, by his current strength he would be around Vice Admiral...

"Change course to Marienford" he ordered to his men who saluted like the good pawn's they are and rushed to change the ship's course.