The autobot's swordsman

After finishing his training session with Showdown and Blur, Oden returned to his quarters. Dropping onto the floor, he folded his legs into a lotus pose and closed his optics. He thought about his time on Cybertron, letting out a groan as the realization hit him like a badly aimed blaster bolt.

"Two months. Two whole months, and what do I have to show for it? A couple of cheap wins in the pits, some sore joints, and a growing tab at Kaon's noodle stand." He smirked at the thought before shaking his head. "No, I didn't come here to laze around. If I want to help Cybertron, I need to get stronger—and the pits aren't cutting it. Too many bots there fighting for scraps, not glory. It's time to face real challenges. It's time for the guild."

Oden stood, his resolve firmer than Overboard's obsession with rustproof polish. He grabbed his gear and marched toward the bustling heart of Kaon.

The guild center was alive with activity, a cacophony of clanking gears, metallic footsteps, and heated debates over which weapons were better: swords or blasters. (Spoiler: swords won, thanks to one particularly persuasive bot holding a very large blade.)

Oden scanned the room, taking in the diverse crowd. There were massive mechs with cannons strapped to their backs, slender bots with dual-energy blades, and even one bot holding… was that a toaster? Oden squinted. Nope, definitely a toaster. Bold choice.

He finally spotted the registration counter and walked up. The femme bot behind the desk greeted him with a dazzling smile.

"Welcome, Mr. Oden! What can I do for you today?"

Her familiarity threw him off for a moment. He returned the smile, though it came with a side of confusion. "Hi. I'd like to sign up for the guild. And, uh… how do you know my name?"

The femme chuckled. "Everyone in Kaon knows about the rising gladiator Oden. Your matches are all the rage—though I heard about that time you slipped mid-fight. Tough break."

Oden winced. "That floor was uneven!"

She giggled. "Sure it was. But I have to say, I'm surprised you're joining the guild. Won't it clash with your gladiator training?"

"I'm taking a break from the pits. Time to level up. Can you get me registered?"

With a nod and a wink, the femme processed his application. A few moments later, Oden walked out, his comms now linked to the guild system. He checked it briefly and grinned.

"Bounties, missions, and a chance to bash some heads. Sounds like my kind of fun."

But before the first mission, he needed something important.

"Time to upgrade. My sword's seen more chips than a Kaon casino."

Oden entered Overboard's workshop, greeted by the scent of molten metal and the sight of the old forger bot tinkering with a plasma cutter. Overboard looked up and grinned.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite reckless idiot! What's the plan today, kid?"

"I'm here to craft new blades and install weapon systems," Oden said with a smirk. "Time to stop looking like I borrowed my gear from a scrap heap."

Overboard chuckled. "About time. I'll fire up the forge. And don't forget: if you break anything, it's coming out of your wallet."

Minutes later, Oden was in the forge, hammering away at glowing metal. Sparks flew as he shaped the blades, his focus absolute—until a particularly large spark singed his shoulder.

"Ow! Primus, is this forge trying to kill me?"

From the doorway, Overboard called out, "If it is, at least it'll succeed faster than your enemies!"

After a solid hour of work, Oden stepped back, holding two sleek swords that shimmered in the forge's light. He admired his handiwork, grinning like a bot who'd just found an untouched energon stash.

"Overboard, look at these beauties!" He swung the blades dramatically. "Bet they can cut through anything."

Overboard examined them, nodding in approval. "You've outdone yourself, kid. With these, you'll carve through bots, deflect blaster bolts, and probably open those impossible snack packs."

"Finally! No more losing to packaging."

After installing an energon blaster into his arm, Oden tested it out. His arm transformed seamlessly into a long-barreled rifle, firing rapid, precise shots at the target zone.

"Not bad," Oden said. "It's no ion blaster, but it'll do the job. Plus, it's way cooler."

Overboard smirked. "Cool doesn't save you in a fight, but sure, keep telling yourself that. Now, there's one last thing: your vehicle mode."

Oden blinked. "My what-now?"

"You're a Cybertronian, you bucket of bolts. Transforming's kind of our thing. You've got a T-Cog, right? Time to use it."

Oden scratched his head. "I mean, I've heard about transforming, but I've never seen anyone do it."

Overboard let out a hearty laugh. "Kid, what rock have you been hiding under? Come on, follow me."

The organization's tracks stretched out before them, filled with sleek hover cars and space jets zipping by at dizzying speeds. Oden's jaw dropped.

"This is insane! These things look like they were designed by Vegapunk himself."

"Focus, genius," Overboard said. "To transform, feel it in your core. Picture yourself as a vehicle, and let your T-Cog do the work."

Without further explanation, Overboard transformed into a massive space transport truck. The change was smooth, almost effortless. Oden gawked.

"That's amazing! It's like you're a truck-truck man!"

"Or just a regular Cybertronian," Overboard deadpanned. "Now you try."

Closing his optics, Oden concentrated. He felt the shift, the gears turning within, and suddenly, his body reconfigured. When he opened his optics, he was a sleek, dark blue hover car.

"Whoa! This feels… amazing!" Without waiting for instructions, he revved his engines and sped off.

"Oden, WAIT—" Overboard's shout was lost as the young bot zoomed down the track, weaving between vehicles. He laughed wildly, pushing his speed to the limit.

"This is the best thing EVER!" he yelled, barely dodging a sharp turn. "I'm the fastest thing on Cybertron! I'm a Mech-Mech Man! Primus said I wouldn't have a devil fruit, but this is definitely a devil fruit transformation."

Farther down the track, an official bot blocked his path, arms crossed. Oden skidded to a stop, transforming back into bot mode.

"Do you have any idea where you are?" the official snapped. "This isn't a racing circuit, you turbo-charged maniac!"

Oden scratched his head. "Uh… first time. Got excited."

Overboard arrived, transforming with a groan. "This scrap-for-brains is with me. Sorry about the chaos. I'll knock some sense into him."

The official sighed. "Next time, keep him off the tracks."

Oden grinned sheepishly. "Noted. No more drag races."

As they left, Overboard glanced at Oden. "Kid, if your enemies don't kill you, your stupidity might."

Oden chuckled. "What can I say? I'm built for speed."

"Yeah? Let's see if you're built for missions."

"Bring it on, old man."

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Hey guys it has been a long time and I seen the comments. I am very sorry that I have disappointed you. Please know that this story is still very much alive in my heart and mind, and I'm committed to continuing it. I want to ensure that every chapter is worth the wait—packed with action, heart, and humor—because you deserve nothing less.

I'm excited to dive back into this world and share more of Oden's journey with you