The scorching desert stretched endlessly beneath the blazing sun.
At the heart of the barren sands lay a boy, his body sprawled awkwardly across the ground like a starfish that had fallen from the sky.
He wore a simple headscarf and a pair of sandals. Strands of messy black hair clung to his forehead, giving him the appearance of a carefree, energetic youth.
But that image shattered the moment one noticed the dried blood staining his clothes.
His entire body was covered in wounds.
Pain throbbed through every muscle.
"...It hurts..."
The boy could barely breathe.
What happened?
Did I... die?
He tried to move, but his body refused to obey. Even lifting a single finger felt impossible.
Then, a soft voice sounded from nearby.
"Oh? You woke up sooner than I expected."
"You really do live up to the name 'D.'"
Standing beside him was a tall woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat. Her long black hair flowed down to her waist, and her deep blue eyes carried a quiet, unreadable calm.
The boy's pupils trembled.
That face...
As someone who had once been obsessed with One Piece, he recognized her immediately.
Nico Robin.
Which meant...
I've been reborn?
And not just anywhere...
I'm in the world of One Piece?
Then... who am I?
Before he could complete that thought, a torrent of memories surged into his mind.
They rushed in violently, like waves crashing against a cliff.
Yet strangely, every memory felt natural, as though they were experiences he had truly lived himself.
Fragments of voices echoed inside his head.
"Luffy! When you grow up, you should become a proud Marine!"
"The Pirate King... is the freest person on the sea!"
"From now on, we're brothers!"
"I'm the man who will become the Pirate King! I am Monkey D. Luffy!"
The boy slowly exhaled, his chest rising with difficulty.
With great effort, he turned his head toward the woman standing beside him.
"...Thanks."
Robin showed no visible reaction.
Her expression remained calm as she spoke in a quiet voice.
"Why do you insist on fighting?"
"You should already understand how powerful Crocodile is."
"If you leave now, you may still survive."
The boy forced out a weak laugh.
"What kind of joke is that...?"
"...We're companions!"
Despite his broken and bloodied body, those words burst out with absolute conviction.
His skin was dry. His chest was soaked in blood. His voice was faint.
Yet his determination did not waver.
"Companions?"
Robin's gaze dimmed slightly.
"I stopped believing in such things long ago."
"In this world... companions are the most unreliable thing."
"And those who carry the name 'D.'..."
"D...?"
Luffy coughed violently, blood spilling from his mouth. He clearly had no idea what she meant.
Robin sighed softly.
"Forget it."
"It seems there's no point explaining."
Her gaze shifted into the distance.
A man dressed in white had arrived.
He was one of Alabasta's royal guardians.
Pell the Falcon.
"What did you do to Princess Vivi?!"
Pell demanded angrily.
Robin tilted her head slightly.
"Oh? You recovered quickly."
"I understand your abilities now," Pell replied firmly.
"I won't be fooled a second time."
"How stubborn."
Robin smiled faintly.
"You arrived at the perfect time."
"Take this child with you."
"He is the pirate knight who escorted your kingdom's princess this far."
Without saying another word, Robin stepped lightly onto the back of a giant Bananawani.
A moment later, she disappeared into the desert.
Only her fading silhouette remained.
Pell stood frozen in place.
His expression shifted again and again.
Then, suddenly—
He dropped to his knees.
"...If even I cannot defeat them..."
"...then who will protect Princess Vivi?"
At that moment, a weak hand grabbed the edge of his robe.
Pell looked down.
Luffy's eyes were wide open.
Within them burned a fearless determination.
"Give me..."
"...meat."
His voice was faint, but resolute.
"I'll definitely..."
"...send that crocodile flying."
At that instant—
A mechanical voice echoed inside his mind.
Ding. Host detected.
Binding to system?
Ding. Host breathing confirmed. Initiating binding process...
1%...
50%...
100%...
Ding. Host vital signs decreasing.
Emergency mission issued: Survive.
Objective: Stabilize life signs immediately.
Reward: Beginner Gift Pack ×1
Luffy stared blankly.
"...What?"
Meanwhile — Alabasta
The entire kingdom had fallen into chaos.
Some people prayed desperately for peace.
Some marched eagerly toward war.
Some secretly fueled the conflict from the shadows.
And some knew the truth, yet still struggled with everything they had to stop the coming disaster.
All paths now led to one place.
Alubarna.
The capital of Alabasta.
The city was famous for its elegant white buildings arranged in circular layers. At its center stood a towering clock tower and the magnificent royal palace, crowned by a massive dome.
"I can see it!"
"It's still far away, but that's definitely Alubarna!"
Usopp pointed excitedly into the distance.
"We're almost there!"
"Take the capital!"
The rebel leader Koza rode at the front on a tall horse.
Behind him, thousands of rebel soldiers charged across the desert.
The thunder of hooves shook the sand.
Meanwhile—
Inside the capital's defensive walls—
"Lord Chaka!"
"The rebel army has appeared fifteen kilometers south of the city!"
The reporting soldier trembled as he spoke.
There were simply too many enemies.
"Hold the gates."
Chaka remained calm.
"We cannot allow them to enter the city."
The battle was about to begin.
Elsewhere, the members of Baroque Works quietly advanced their own schemes.
The entire kingdom stood on the brink of destruction.
Back at the Tavern
"Ahh... that hit the spot!"
Luffy patted his swollen stomach in satisfaction.
Every wound Crocodile had inflicted on him earlier had completely vanished.
With a casual stretch—
His oversized belly instantly shrank.
His lean, muscular body returned to normal.
Pell stared at him in disbelief.
At that moment, the system spoke again.
Ding. Host life signs stabilized.
Beginner Gift Pack ready.
Open now?
"Open it."
Ding. Rewards obtained:
Awakening of the Three Types of Haki.
Armament and Observation Haki Training Notes — Vice Admiral Level.
In an instant—
A vast amount of information flooded Luffy's mind.
At the same time, an invisible pressure spread outward.
Suddenly—
The entire tavern fell silent.
Pirates and civilians who had been drinking moments earlier felt an overwhelming force pressing down on them.
One by one—
They collapsed.
Only a handful of people remained conscious.
Pell was one of them.
He felt an indescribable power sweep past him.
And the source of that power...
Was the young man standing before him.
Pell's thoughts became complicated.
Yet at the same time—
A quiet hope appeared in his heart.
For one brief moment, he seemed to see Alabasta's future reflected in Luffy.
Meanwhile, Luffy examined a floating blue panel.
Host: Monkey D. LuffyPhysique: 62.5 — AdvancedStrength: 60.2 — AdvancedSpeed: 39.2 — Intermediate
Note: Base stats exclude Devil Fruit and Haki enhancements.
Conqueror's Haki: 29.9 — BeginnerArmament Haki: 1.0 — BeginnerObservation Haki: 1.0 — Beginner
Devil Fruit: Gum-Gum Fruit — 29.9%
Special Ability: Life Return
System Storage:Vice Admiral-Level Dual-Haki Training Notes
Overall Evaluation: Elite Rear Admiral Level
Luffy scratched his head.
"...Looks like I'm still relying on protagonist luck."
He sighed softly.
The beginner reward had helped, but the gap between him and Crocodile was still enormous.
Maybe...
I'll have to be a little clever about this.
Luffy turned toward Pell.
"Let's go."
"You save your kingdom."
"And I..."
"...will send Crocodile flying."
With that, he walked out of the tavern.
Pell quickly followed behind him.