Raising Legends in Roger’s Shadow

"Kid, that's not how you hold a sword!" Roger stood with his hands on his hips, looking at Ritter with a helpless expression.

Ritter clutched a massive broadsword nearly as tall as he was. The blade scraped along the deck behind him, making a sharp dragging noise.

"But big swords look cool!" Ritter muttered defiantly. "One swing and you can slice through both the enemy and their ship!"

He truly believed that real men used big swords.

Roger rubbed his forehead. "You're only four years old. Wielding something that big, you'll end up throwing yourself instead of the sword."

Rayleigh, lounging nearby with a drink, chimed in, "Takes serious physical conditioning, kid. If you want to use heavy swords, you'll need to double your strength training."

Roger fell silent.

Jaba burst out laughing. "Let him try! Worst case, he faceplants and learns a lesson. I want to see him swing and send himself flying, ha!"

Ritter shot Jaba a glare. "Jaba-nii, just wait. Once I've mastered it, you will be the first I slice!"

"Go ahead, I'll be waiting," Jaba grinned, patting the twin axes at his waist.

"First things first, you need a firm grip." Roger handed over his own sword. "Try this one."

Ritter took it and gave it a couple of swings, frowning. "Too light. No weight to it."

Roger sighed. "You don't even know the basics of swordsmanship, and you're already aiming for heavy swords?"

"But big swords are more intimidating!" Ritter pouted. "Every legendary swordsman I've heard of wields a massive blade that cuts down armies!"

Rayleigh adjusted his glasses. "Most of those 'legends' are probably ones you made up. Nearly every famous sword now is a refined, named blade. None of them are heavy slabs of iron."

Ritter went quiet.

Roger shook his head. "Fine, let's start with the basics one thousand swings!"

Ritter: "Huh?!"

That wasn't the important part. What mattered was this: they'd already spent two years together, but the four of them still didn't have a ship of their own.

That just wouldn't do.

While Ritter continued practicing with his wooden sword for months on end, the crew resorted to raiding other pirates and ambushing Navy vessels. Pirates were killed without mercy; Navy targets were dealt with more... selectively. Not a single coin was left behind. Even six-year-old Ritter started requesting to join missions.

"Captain, that ship looks like a good target," Ritter said, leaning against the rail, mist swirling at his fingertips. His crimson eyes swept calmly over a pirate vessel flying a skull-and-axe flag. "The Blood Axe Pirates. Their total bounty is forty-seven million Berries."

Roger slammed the wheel and laughed heartily. "Kuhahaha! Ritter's finally starting to sound like a proper pirate!"

Rayleigh pushed up his glasses. "Good calculation. That bounty brings us close to our target for ship funds. If we want a proper vessel of our own, we need to aim high. Two hundred million should do it."

(At that time, Berries probably hadn't inflated yet two hundred million could buy a lot. If that's off, we can adjust.)

Jaba grinned, his axe blades catching the light. "Finally, something worthy of the hunt."

Ritter smoothed out his sleeves, fog drifting lazily around him. "Should I start setting the field?"

"No!" the three shouted in unison.

Ritter raised an eyebrow. "Eh? Why not?"

Roger slung an arm around his shoulders. "Kid, today we're testing your swordsmanship."

Rayleigh added with a smile, "Let's see how the 'Phantom of the Mist' performs without powers. You've been aware of it yourself, haven't you? You're depending less on your elemental form. Let's test your pure physical strength."

Jaba twirled an axe. "If you suck..."

"Got it five hundred extra push-ups," Ritter said smoothly, drawing the oversized wooden sword. Armament Haki surged along the blade, then dissipated. "Alright then, gentlemen, enjoy the show."

As their small boat neared, the Blood Axe Pirates burst into laughter. "Only four of you? And one's a fancy-looking brat!"

Dressed in flowing white, long black hair trailing behind him, Ritter looked like something out of a painting especially with the mist curling at his feet. The visual effects were a bonus of the Fog-Fog Fruit, and Ritter absolutely loved it.

He stepped lightly onto the enemy deck, mist swirling as he twirled his sword elegantly in one hand. "Gentlemen, allow me to correct two things." He stopped the sword tip an inch from one pirate's nose. "First, we're not here to rob you. We're here to collect bounties. Second..."

He sidestepped a swinging cutlass and slammed his wooden sword into the attacker's throat with precision.

"...just because I'm well-dressed doesn't mean I can't send you to hell."

The pirate's blade clattered to the floor.

"Nice progress on your Observation Haki," Rayleigh called out amidst the chaos.

Ritter smiled faintly. His mist-like footwork flowed across the deck. Each strike of his sword cut through the air with audible force.

Three pirates rushed him together. Ritter ducked low, the wooden blade carving a crescent arc through the air 

"Moonlit Mist: Triple Star Slash."

The trio collapsed to their knees, clutching their throats.

"Nice!" Jaba shouted. "Though your moves are too flashy!"

"You wouldn't understand it's all about style," Ritter replied with a smirk. His expression suddenly sharpened. He swung his sword behind him clang! just in time to block a massive axe.

The Blood Axe captain loomed overhead, face twisted in rage. "You little—"

"Shhh." Ritter raised a finger to his lips, crimson eyes flashing. "You're being too loud."

Normally, by this point, his fog would've started seeping in to corrode the enemy. But Roger had forbidden the use of powers, so instead, Ritter infused the wooden sword with Armament Haki and brought it down with brute force.

No tricks. Just raw power.

The Blood Axe captain's weapon shattered. His massive body toppled backward, head separated from his shoulders. Ritter stepped back and dusted off invisible specks from his sleeve.

He was feeling exceptionally good today.

More importantly, the performance was for his own amusement imagining the day when the future's top pirate crews would look back on this and marvel. That idea alone was euphoric.

As Jaba counted the loot, he suddenly exclaimed, "We finally have enough! Praise the heavens!"

Ritter, still striking a pose at the bow, lit up the moment he heard that. He rushed over at once.

Finally, a ship of their own.

The ones they'd stolen before either stank or were falling apart. Ritter had had enough of that.

South Blue, Marine Branch HQ

Colonel Grus stared at the newest set of bounty posters, veins bulging on his forehead.

"'Straw Hat Roger,' bounty: two hundred million Berries..." 

(Note: Not officially stated in canon author's invention)

"'Dark King' Rayleigh, bounty: one hundred and fifty million Berries..."

"'Axe Emperor' Jaba, bounty: ninety-eight million Berries..."

"'Crimson Mist' Ritter, bounty: fifty million Berries..."

"These maniacs!" Grus slammed the posters onto his desk. "Their bounties have been raised three times in just three months! How many pirate crews and Navy ships have they hit?!"

A trembling adjutant answered, "R-reporting, sir. At least seventeen confirmed cases..."

"No matter. HQ has already dispatched a Rear Admiral. They won't get far. Keep your eyes on them don't lose their trail!"

World's Largest News Agency, Morgans Press

Inside a high tower, a massive seabird in a waistcoat Morgans' father in his Seagull-form Zoan cackled as he rifled through reports.

"Big news, big news... Is the sea finally getting its next kings?"