Trader In The World Of Pirates!!!

Whoosh!

Snap!

In the stillness of the night, under the pale moonlight, a large, unidentified black object shot out like a cannonball. Suddenly, it expanded, unfurling into a massive black net.

"What on earth is this?!"

The Demon, who had been facing off against the robot, stared in shock.

In the next moment, the black net engulfed the demon, contracting and pulling it back with an inexplicable speed.

Within just three seconds…

The Demon was completely trapped in the giant net on the robot's chest, utterly immobilized!

"Success!"

Tanjiro, sitting inside the robot, burst out laughing. He couldn't believe that the very same demon that once terrified him could now be captured with such ease.

At that moment, Enel stepped out from his nearby hiding spot, smiling as he addressed the robot:

"Congratulations, Tanjiro. It seems you've become quite proficient in using the Meowth Robot."

It was now the second night of the Demon Slayer Corps' trial mission.

After a full day of practice and experimentation, Tanjiro had fully mastered this otherworldly device.

Pop!

The back of the robot opened, and Tanjiro jumped out of the cockpit, walking toward the machine.

He stared in disbelief at the Demon still struggling in the net, his face lighting up with joy. But without wasting time, he quickly turned to Enel and excitedly said:

"I can't believe it… I actually caught a Demon so easily!"

"Sir Enel, please open the transaction interface again!"

Earlier that day, Enel had told him that if he managed to accumulate 1,000 points, he'd receive a huge surprise.

Although Tanjiro didn't know what that surprise would be...

Capturing a single Demon had allowed him to use the robot so effectively. He believed that whatever surprise Enel had in store would certainly not disappoint him!

As the demon's body disintegrated into a cloud of bloody ash, it vanished from the robot's chest, dissipating into the air.

Tanjiro's points balance jumped by 100 once again.

His membership level also increased from level 0 to level 1, unlocking access to special items with advanced energy and cutting-edge technology.

Yet, Tanjiro barely glanced at the newly available products. His thoughts were entirely focused on Enel's promised surprise, leaving him with little interest in VIP1-level items.

Time was running out, and his mission was far from over.

Before meeting Enel, Tanjiro had thought that Mount Fujikasane was crawling with too many demons—he had encountered three in just one night.

But after being introduced to the dimensional trading system, he couldn't help but think there weren't enough demons around!

He had driven the robot for over an hour before encountering his first demon.

After all, Mount Fujikasane was designed to test new Demon Slayer Corps recruits, not to overwhelm or kill them.

Thus, the entire mountain contained only a few dozen demons.

Knowing that other new recruits might also be capable of slaying demons like himself...

Tanjiro sped up, pushing the robot to search the area more quickly.

Thankfully, with his keen sense of smell, coupled with occasional directions from Enel, he managed to track down five demons by the end of the night.

Two of those demons had already consumed humans, boosting their strength—and earning Tanjiro a full 600 points.

---

Just like that, two more days passed in a blur.

By the dawn of the fourth day, the rising sun began piercing through the fog, spreading warmth across the land.

Even the usually grim Mount Fujikasane felt brighter under the sunlight's embrace.

Having just defeated the last demon and glimpsing the sunlight through the observation window, Tanjiro let out a sigh of relief.

"Finally... I've got 1,000 points."

Whether it was due to bad luck or the limited number of demons on the mountain...

The previous night, after scouring the entire forest, he had only come across four demons.

Thankfully...

He had collected enough points before sunrise, saving himself from having to wait another full day.

Leaping out of the cockpit, Tanjiro rushed over to Enel.

"Sir Enel!"

No words were necessary—his expectant gaze alone prompted Enel to summon Rotom instantly.

"I didn't expect you to gather the points so quickly, young Tanjiro," Enel said with a mysterious smile.

With a wave of his hand, a new image appeared on Rotom's screen.

It depicted a determined-looking insect—a moth larva with blue eyes, three pairs of black legs, and its head and upper body covered in white, fluffy down.

Though it appeared as a bug, its size was far larger than any ordinary insect.

Beside it, detailed information was displayed:

[Pokémon: Larvesta]

[Note: Evolution starts from right, left then top.]

[Type: Bug, Fire]

[Ability: Swarm (When in danger, its power surges beyond normal limits.)]

[Level: 1]

As Tanjiro absorbed the details on the screen, Enel grinned knowingly and said:

"Since you've managed to collect 1,000 points, it would be a waste not to acquire a Pokémon, a creature that's gained popularity across countless worlds!"

When it comes to the most enticing aspect of the trading system...

The answer is undeniably the Pokémon—beings capable of growing rapidly and wielding extraordinary powers!

The Meowth Robot was merely a disposable tool, suitable for helping Tanjiro capture weaker demons.

However, the companion that would truly stay by his side had to be a Pokémon!

Among the vast array of Pokémon, the Bug-type, especially those with silk-spinning abilities, was undoubtedly the perfect match for Tanjiro.

Thus, considering Tanjiro's unique traits, Enel selected the fiery Larvesta for him.

"Pokémon… Larvesta?" 

Tanjiro gazed at the small creature on the screen, its price tag boldly stating 1,000 points. A curious expression spread across his face.

Having never encountered powerful Pokémon before, he couldn't comprehend why this odd-looking bug would be worth such a hefty sum.

But Tanjiro trusted Enel completely.

He believed that if Enel recommended it, there must be a good reason.

With a slight tilt of his head, Tanjiro asked:

"Sir Enel, what makes this... Larvesta so special?"

Enel smiled warmly in the early morning light. The innocent look on Tanjiro's face reminded him of when he first met Sir Leo.

He began explaining, slowly:

"Oh, there's so much magic in Pokémon, it's hard to know where to start!"

"Since you're the first person I've traded with in this world, I'll take my time to explain."

Whoosh!

Suddenly, with a flash of red light, a creature made of thunderclouds appeared at Enel's side.

"Ah!" 

Startled, Tanjiro leaped back and instinctively reached for his Nichirin Blade, thinking this was some Demon suddenly appearing.

Enel quickly stepped in, calming him down.

"No need to panic, young Tanjiro."

"This is just my Pokémon—Thundurus!"

"Ha!"

The fierce-looking Thundurus floated in front of Tanjiro, controlling its electric clouds.

Its expression, seemingly irritated by Tanjiro's defensive reaction, grew even more fierce.

Realizing his mistake, Tanjiro sheepishly withdrew his hand from his sword and stood at attention, embarrassed.

Enel continued with a smile:

"As you can see, Pokémon are creatures from the Pokémon world, brought to us by my boss, Sir Leo, the dimensional merchant."

"The Meowth Robot you've been using? It also comes from that world."

"Simply put, Pokémon are like companion creatures, and those who fight alongside them are known as Trainers."

"These Pokémon possess a vast array of moves, skills, and unique characteristics."

"Because of their diversity and strength, Pokémon have become one of the most popular items across worlds."

"Some powerful Pokémon can even manipulate rivers and oceans, split mountains, or devastate entire islands with ease."

Snap!

With a snap of Enel's fingers, a video began playing on Rotom's screen. It was footage from the Second Pokémon League in the world of pirates, showing a battle between Zoro and Crocodile.

In the clip, Crocodile waved his hand, transforming the entire battlefield into a desert wasteland. From beneath his feet, waves of sand rolled outward, and his Pokémon—Krookodile—vanished into the sea of sand.

Across the field, Zoro stood, unfazed by the overwhelming ocean of yellow sand. His expression remained as resolute as ever as he slowly drew his two swords.

Tanjiro noticed that Zoro's sword seemed almost alive, brimming with fighting spirit.

In an instant, Scyther, who had been standing beside Zoro transformed into an emerald green blade and fell into his hand.

Then, everything changed.

Out of nowhere, a massive prehistoric crocodile, its body covered in red sand armor, burst from the sea of sand. Its jaws gaped wide, sharp teeth gleaming, as it lunged toward Zoro.

The creature's enormous body, nearly 100 meters long, seemed to blot out the sky itself.

The scene, saturated with the oppressive yellow sand, exuded a sense of doom and suffocation.

Even though Tanjiro was merely watching through a screen, his face turned pale. His eyes widened in shock, his mouth agape, though no words came out.

The sheer scale of the battle had overwhelmed his senses, leaving him in awe.

Just as Tanjiro believed the monstrous crocodile was about to swallow Zoro whole...

A gigantic slash, as vast as a natural chasm, suddenly tore through the sky, aimed directly at the creature's fangs.

In an instant...

The sharp slash effortlessly tore through the body of the giant prehistoric crocodile.

Immediately after, Zoro leapt into the air, running wildly as if he were stepping on solid ground in the sky.

Seeing this, Crocodile formed clouds of yellow sand beneath his feet, lifting him high into the air to pursue Zoro.

The next second, the screen went black.

Everything abruptly ended.

"Huh? What happened to the rest?" 

Tanjiro, completely absorbed in the fight, was momentarily stunned. But then, he realized something and turned to Enel, asking in a trembling voice:

"Sir Enel, were those battle scenes from earlier…?"

"Exactly!" 

A glint flashed in Enel's eyes. 

"What you saw just now was a real battle that took place in another world not long ago."

"And those two individuals? They are powerful Trainers in that world."

"With the power of Pokémon, these two, who weren't particularly strong themselves, have become forces comparable to the world's strongest."

"And this brings me to another power I want to introduce you to—Bond Evolution."

"Once you form a bond with your Pokémon and evolve together, the strength of both you and your Pokémon will increase dramatically. You'll also inherit some of your Pokémon's abilities."

"For example, this Larvesta, with its Bug and Fire-type attributes..."

"After you bond and evolve, you'll gain the regeneration and healing abilities of Bug-types, as well as the power to control fire."

"To others, these abilities might seem ordinary, but for you, on your quest to slay demons, these powers will be invaluable!"

Bond Evolution?

Tanjiro fell silent for a moment, still replaying the images of the swirling sand and the sky-splitting sword strike in his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling of awe.

Then, suddenly, a bright light appeared in his eyes.

Without much hesitation, he made his decision.

Before Enel could continue his pitch, Tanjiro looked up and declared:

"Sir Enel, I've made up my mind!"

"I want to buy this Larvesta!!!"

For a moment, Enel was taken aback, as if he had something more to say.

But soon, a satisfied smile crept onto his face.

With a wave of his hand, a red-and-white Poké Ball appeared in his palm.

Enel handed the Poké Ball containing Larvesta to Tanjiro with a smile:

"Trust me, you won't regret this decision."

Although Tanjiro had always relied on his water-breathing techniques, Enel's system had determined that a flame-based power would be a better fit for him.

Enel, lacking any knowledge of swordsmanship or breathing techniques, couldn't guide Tanjiro in that aspect. But he hoped that this fire-type Larvesta would help Tanjiro discover the path that best suited him.

…

…

Meanwhile, Tanjiro, now in possession of Larvesta, eagerly released the Pokémon from its Poké Ball.

"Hello… hello, Larvesta."

Having seen Thundercloud, Tanjiro understood that Pokémon were intelligent beings. So he immediately extended his hand to greet the creature.

Larvesta responded in its own fiery way, spitting a stream of scorching flames directly at Tanjiro!

"Chirp!"

The small creature let out a cry, standing tall and proud, its eyes full of arrogance. Clearly, Larvesta had quite a personality.

Yet, despite having flames shot in his face, Tanjiro wasn't upset. In fact, he was overjoyed. He had just witnessed the incredible power Larvesta possessed.

"A bug that can breathe fire! This is amazing!" 

His eyes sparkled with excitement, already thinking of ways to earn Larvesta's respect...