DXD: The Awakening Of Phenex

Luffy, who had been distracted with food until then, suddenly turned to Riser as if finally noticing something strange. He raised an eyebrow and shouted:

"Hey! What are you doing here? I didn't invite you to my crew!"

Riser, showing no surprise, slowly raised his eyes to Luffy with an amused smile.

"Captain Luffy, you're truly observant. I've been on your ship for hours, and you're just now noticing my presence?"

Luffy crossed his arms, his face red with indignation. "I don't remember inviting you! Nobody gets on my ship without permission!"

Riser, staying calm, raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Alright, Captain. Let's make a deal. If you catch me in a chase here on the ship, I'll leave immediately. But, if you can't catch me, then you'll accept me staying for a bit longer. How about it?"

Usopp, who was nearby, widened his eyes in disbelief. "Luffy would never agree to something like that. It's obvious he won't…"

"Yes! Sounds fun! I accept!" Luffy interrupted, his eyes shining and a huge smile on his face.

Usopp collapsed to the ground, exasperated. "Why am I even surprised anymore?" he muttered.

Riser smiled, seeing Luffy's excitement. "Very well, Captain. The rules are simple: if you catch me before I touch the main mast, I'll leave. Otherwise, I'll stay."

Before Luffy could start, Riser disappeared in the blink of an eye, leaving only a muffled sound behind.

"Soru!" exclaimed Riser, reappearing several meters away near the edge of the ship. Luffy paused for a moment, surprised, but quickly grinned challengingly.

"That's amazing! But I'll still catch you!" Luffy shouted, running towards Riser with all his energy.

Riser smiled and disappeared again, using "Soru" to appear next to the main mast. "You need to be faster, Captain."

Zoro, who was watching while sharpening his swords, narrowed his eyes. "This guy... he's not normal."

Nami crossed her arms, clearly annoyed. "Luffy will never catch him. Riser is just toying with him."

Usopp, trembling with fear, muttered, "It's like he's a ghost. He appears and disappears so fast! That's scary!"

Luffy continued his chase, jumping and trying to reach Riser, but every time he got close, Riser used "Soru" again to change position.

Riser now stood at the edge of the ship, looking out at the sea. He turned to Luffy with a mischievous smile. "It's almost over, Captain. Can you catch me before I touch the mast?"

Luffy made a powerful leap, trying to grab Riser. However, Riser disappeared at the last moment, causing Luffy to lose his balance and fall off the ship.

"Ahhhhhhh!" Luffy yelled as he plummeted towards the sea.

Without hesitation, Riser leaped from the ship's edge and used "Soru" to move quickly through the air, positioning himself beneath Luffy. He caught him firmly before he could touch the water.

"Geppou!" Riser exclaimed, using his ability to create steps in the air. He quickly ascended back to the deck, carrying Luffy in his arms, both of them completely dry.

When Riser landed softly on the deck, Luffy looked at him wide-eyed, amazed.

"You were... walking in the air! That was awesome!"

Riser placed Luffy on the ground and smiled. "Geppou. With training, you could learn it too, Captain."

Nami and Usopp ran over to them. Nami was visibly irritated. "Luffy, you almost drowned! Stop acting impulsively!"

Usopp, still trembling, pointed at Riser. "You... you were walking in the air! Is that some kind of magic?"

Riser shrugged. "Something like that." He looked at Luffy, who now had a wide grin on his face.

Luffy grabbed Riser's arm excitedly. "You have to teach me that, Riser! I want to learn Geppou!"

Riser raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained by Luffy's enthusiasm. "Captain, learning Geppou requires mastering another technique first. Without 'Soru,' you won't be able to use it."

"Then teach me Soru too! Come on, Riser! I'll train until I get it!" Luffy insisted, his determination shining in his eyes.

Riser chuckled softly. "Alright, Captain. But I hope you're ready. The training won't be easy."

As Luffy celebrated Riser's promise, Sanji watched from above, leaning against the ship's railing. Riser noticed the cook's attentive gaze and smiled enigmatically.

"Sanji, did you know anyone can learn Geppou? Although, of course, some find it easier than others."

Sanji raised an eyebrow, clearly picking up on the provocation. "Is that a hint, Riser? Are you saying I should learn it?"

Riser shrugged, keeping his smile. "The technique is perfect for someone who uses their legs as their main weapon. But of course, you're free to ignore it."

Sanji scoffed, looking away. "I don't need your techniques to fight. I do just fine on my own."

Nami, who was nearby, chimed in. "Sanji, think about it. Learning something like Geppou could be really useful to protect the ship and... well, protect me too."

Nami's words instantly changed Sanji's expression. His eyes sparkled with passion as he turned to Riser with a determined smile. "If it's to protect Nami-swan, then I'll accept the training!"

Zoro, overhearing the conversation, couldn't help but laugh loudly. "You're pathetic, curly-brow. Always changing your mind just because a woman asked."

Sanji gritted his teeth, turning to Zoro angrily. "And you're a moss-head who never thinks before speaking! At least I'm motivated by something noble!"

"Noble? Being Nami's lapdog is noble now?" Zoro teased with a challenging grin.

The two began arguing as Riser watched with an amused smile. He crossed his arms, satisfied to have sparked such lively reactions.

"Well, at least there's plenty of energy on this ship. Let's see if you can channel it into something useful," Riser commented before walking off to plan Luffy and Sanji's training.

While everyone was caught up in the commotion, Usopp stood frozen, staring at Riser's back. Despite his fear, a deep desire stirred within him. He wanted to learn how to walk on air like Riser had demonstrated with "Geppou." The idea of walking through the sky was too fascinating to ignore, even for someone as timid as him.

"Why didn't I ask him? Why did I just stand there?" Usopp muttered to himself, feeling a pang of regret. He knew his hesitation had kept him from seizing the opportunity.

Usopp's hands trembled as he clenched his fists. "I could have learned something incredible, but I let fear take over... again." He bit his lip, trying to ignore the feeling of failure. Even so, he couldn't take his eyes off the spot where Riser had stood moments before. A spark of determination began to ignite within him.

"Next time, I won't hesitate," Usopp promised, still gazing at the horizon where Riser had vanished.

...

In a quieter part of the deck, Riser stopped and closed his eyes for a moment. The surrounding tranquility seemed perfect for what he planned to do. With a simple gesture, he activated the system residing in his mind, summoning a magical, holographic interface that only he could see.

[Loading system interface...]

The bright screen appeared before his eyes, displaying his luck point balance and a list of available options. Riser carefully analyzed the skills before making his decision.

"Luck points available: 77,000."

He scrolled through the options until he found what he was looking for. His voice was calm yet resolute as he confirmed his choices.

[Purchase skill: Teacher. Cost: 5,000 luck points.]

[Confirming purchase... Skill acquired.]

A slight smile appeared on Riser's lips as he felt the knowledge settle into his mind. He knew that with this skill, he could teach his techniques even more effectively.

"Next skill," he murmured, scrolling to the Haki section. "Purchase: Busoshoku Haki. Cost: 3,000 luck points."

[Confirming purchase... Skill acquired.]

Riser felt a wave of energy surge through his body. The power of Armament Haki was tangible, like an invisible layer of strength now part of his arsenal. He clenched his fist, satisfied with the new addition.

"And now, Kenbunshoku Haki. Cost: 3,000 luck points."

[Confirming purchase... Skill acquired.]

A flood of sensations filled Riser's mind, enhancing his perception of his surroundings. He could sense everyone on the ship, the subtle movements of Luffy and Sanji, even Usopp's regret. Every detail seemed crystal clear.

[Remaining balance: 66,000 luck points.]

Riser closed the interface with a casual gesture, feeling more prepared than ever. He knew these skills would be crucial, not just for his own growth but for the plans he still had in mind.

"Now, let's see how they handle the training," he murmured as he returned to the group with a confident look.

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