The night was quiet.
Too quiet.
Shin lay on his thin mat, staring at the cracked ceiling of the slum hideout. The distant sounds of Nanohana's nightlife—drunken laughter, the occasional shout, the rustle of desert wind—faded into the background as his thoughts churned.
"This world… is still better than mine."
No drunken uncle. No rotting apartment. No fists slamming into his ribs for daring to breathe too loud.
Here, he had nothing—but also everything.
A chance.
A system.
A way to grow stronger.
His fingers twitched, phantom sensations of cursed energy still lingering from the day's training.
[CURSED ENERGY RESERVE: 7%]
Pathetic, but progress.
He exhaled, rolling onto his side.
"The Straw Hats are heading to Skypiea soon…"
A place of gods, golden cities, and sky battles.
But what did that have to do with him?
"There's no point in me going."
He wasn't part of their story.
He wasn't meant to be.
A bitter laugh escaped him.
"I don't even have a goal."
In the original story, everyone had a dream.
Luffy wanted to be King of the Pirates.
Zora wanted to be the greatest swordsman.
Nami wanted to map the world.
But him?
What did he want?
Survival?
Power?
Freedom?
Or…
"Do I just not want to mess things up?"
A cold realization settled in his gut.
If he interfered—if he saved someone who was supposed to die, if he changed events that were meant to happen—the entire story could unravel.
What if Ace lived?
Would Luffy still grow stronger?
Would Blackbeard still rise?
Would the world balance shatter because of him?
And worse—
"I don't even know how One Piece ends."
He had no future knowledge beyond where he was now.
No cheat codes.
No guarantees.
Just…
"The Administrator."
That hooded figure's words echoed in his skull.
"You'll help me kill them all."
Shin's fists clenched.
"If he interferes… I have to stop him."
But how?
Without changing the story?
Without ruining everything?
The System's Whisper
[SYSTEM NOTICE: HOST'S PHYSICAL ADAPTATION COMPLETE]
[WORLD COMPATIBILITY: 100%]
[GRAVITY, PRESSURE, AND BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS SYNCHRONIZED]
Good. At least his body wouldn't betray him.
But his mind?
That was another story.
A rustling sound snapped him out of his thoughts.
Ryu stood in the doorway, arms crossed, watching him.
"Can't sleep?"
Shin sat up. "Something like that."
Ryu stepped inside, the dim lantern light casting shadows across his sharp features. "You're thinking too much."
"And you're not thinking enough," Shin shot back.
Ryu smirked. "Maybe. But overthinking gets you killed out here."
Shin exhaled. "What's your goal, Ryu?"
"Goal?"
"Yeah. Why are you here? What do you want?"
Ryu's smirk faded. For a moment, his eyes darkened—something haunted flickering behind them.
Then, just as quickly, it was gone.
"Freedom," he said simply. "Same as anyone else."
Shin studied him. "You're lying."
Ryu chuckled. "Maybe. But that's my business." He turned to leave, then paused. "We set sail in two days. Be ready."
Shin didn't respond.
Once Ryu was gone, he slumped back onto the mat, staring at the ceiling again.
"Two days…"
Then what?
Follow Ryu?
Chase after the Straw Hats?
Hide from the Administrator?
[SYSTEM ALERT: FUTURE DECISION POINT DETECTED]
[CHOICES WILL IMPACT WORLD STABILITY]
Shin groaned.
"Yeah, no shit."
The Only Path Forward
He closed his eyes, forcing his breathing to steady.
No matter what he chose, one thing was clear:
He couldn't stay passive.
The Administrator was out there.
Cursed energy was spreading.
And if he did nothing, the story would change—just not in his favor.
So the only option?
"I have to get stronger. Strong enough to stop him… without ruining everything else."
A near-impossible task.
But if there was one thing this world had taught him, it was that impossible was just another word for "not yet."
He exhaled, finally letting sleep drag him under.
Tomorrow, he'd train harder.
Tomorrow, he'd learn more.
And when the time came…
He'd decide his own fate.
The morning sun blazed over Nanohana's docks, casting long shadows over the small, battered ship Ryu had secured for their voyage. The crew—a ragtag group of outcasts, thieves, and desperate men—bustled about, loading supplies and preparing to set sail.
Shin stood at the prow, arms crossed, watching the horizon.
"Still thinking?" Ryu's voice cut through the noise.
Shin didn't turn. "Always."
Ryu smirked, stepping beside him. "Good. Means you're not an idiot." He tossed something in the air—a small, spiraled fruit with jagged blue patterns.
A Devil Fruit.
Shin caught it on reflex, his grip tightening.
"Body-Sword Fruit," Ryu said. "Turn your limbs into blades. Not the strongest, but it'll keep you alive."
Shin turned the fruit over in his hands.
[SYSTEM ANALYSIS: PARAMECIA-TYPE DEVIL FRUIT]
[ABILITY: TRANSFORM USER'S BODY INTO SHARPENED WEAPONS]
[WARNING: CONSUMING WILL LOCK USER'S ABILITY TO SWIM]
His mind raced.
The Worth of a Devil Fruit
In Alabasta, Devil Fruits were rare but not impossible to find—especially the weaker ones. The Body-Sword Fruit wasn't terrible, but it wasn't legendary either.
"If I eat this, I'll be stronger immediately… but at what cost?"
Cursed energy was his real advantage—a power no one in this world understood yet. If he could master it, he wouldn't need a Devil Fruit.
But…
"Haki would be better."
Armament. Observation. Maybe even Conqueror's.
But the System had no data on Haki.
[QUERY: HAKI COMPATIBILITY?]
[RESPONSE: NO DATA FOUND. SYSTEM SPECIALIZES IN CURSED ENERGY.]
Shin gritted his teeth.
"Damn it."
A Pirate's Resolve
Ryu watched him, arms crossed. "Well? You eating it or not?"
Shin exhaled.
"No."
Ryu raised an eyebrow. "You sure? It's the only one we've got."
Shin tossed the fruit back to him. "I don't need it."
A flicker of surprise crossed Ryu's face before he smirked. "Bold words for a guy who got his ass kicked yesterday."
"I won't need a Devil Fruit to kick yours next time," Shin shot back.
Ryu chuckled. "Fine. But don't come crying when you're drowning."
Shin turned back to the sea. "Where are we even going?"
Ryu's grin turned sharp. "East. To the islands the Marines ignore."
Shin frowned. "No name? No plan?"
"Plans are for people who want to get caught." Ryu clapped him on the shoulder. "Welcome to piracy, Vice-Captain."
The Legendary Sword Dream
As the ship lurched forward, cutting through the waves, Shin's mind wandered.
If not a Devil Fruit… then what?
A sword.
A real sword.
Not some cheap cutlass, but a named blade—maybe even a black blade one day.
Zoro had done it.
Why couldn't he?
[SYSTEM NOTICE: CURSED ENERGY CAN REINFORCE WEAPONS]
[POTENTIAL SYNERGY: CURSED ENERGY-IMBUED SWORD TECHNIQUES]
A slow smirk spread across Shin's face.
"Yeah… that'll work."
The Voyage Begins
The wind filled the sails, carrying them away from Alabasta, away from the Straw Hats, away from the story Shin knew.
For the first time since arriving in this world…
He was making his own path.
And whether it led to power, ruin, or something in between—
He'd find out soon enough.
The sea stretched endlessly before them, waves glittering under the afternoon sun. The ship—a sleek, two-masted brigantine—cut through the water with surprising speed, its dark wood hull weathered but sturdy.
Shin leaned against the railing, watching the horizon.
"Not bad for a stolen ship," he muttered.
Ryu, lounging on a barrel nearby with a bottle of rum in hand, smirked. "Stolen? Please. We liberated it from a very ungrateful merchant."
Shin rolled his eyes. "Right. Because he totally didn't scream 'thieves' as we sailed off."
"Details, details." Ryu took a swig, then pointed at him. "You're the vice-captain now. Start acting like it."
Shin sighed. "What does that even mean?"
"Means you get to boss people around. And also get blamed if things go wrong."
"Fantastic."
A loud crash echoed from below deck, followed by a string of curses.
"I SWEAR TO THE SEA, IF YOU IDIOTS BREAK ANOTHER BARREL—"
A young woman stormed up the stairs, her dark hair tied back in a messy braid, her hands covered in flour. Mira, the closest thing their crew had to a cook—and the only woman on board.
Ryu perked up immediately. "Mira! My love! My light! Did you miss me?"
She kicked a loose plank in his direction without breaking stride. "Miss my foot up your ass, maybe."
Shin snorted.
Ryu clutched his chest. "Such cruelty. And here I was, thinking we had something special."
Mira ignored him, turning to Shin. "Tell your captain that if he keeps flirting instead of fixing the damn mast, we're eating raw fish for the next month."
Shin raised his hands. "Not my problem."
"Traitor," Ryu gasped.
Mira rolled her eyes and stomped off.
Ryu sighed dreamily. "One day, she'll say yes."
"To murdering you? Probably."
Ryu stretched, then abruptly pointed at Shin. "We need a name."
Shin blinked. "For what?"
"The crew, genius. Every pirate crew has a name."
Shin frowned. "How about… the Sea Wolves?"
Ryu made a face. "Boring."
"The Black Tide?"
"Sounds like a bad tavern."
"The… uh…" Shin blanked.
Ryu groaned. "Wow. You're terrible at this."
"Then you come up with one!"
Ryu stroked his chin dramatically. "Hmm… The Ryu and His Amazing Friends?"
Shin stared at him.
"No?"
"No."
Ryu shrugged. "Fine. We'll figure it out when we hit land. First, we need a flag."
The Ship – Home of the Nameless Pirates
The ship wasn't huge, but it was solid.
Two masts, rigged for speed.
Eight cannons (four per side) – not Marine-level firepower, but enough to scare off most small-time threats.
Below deck: A cramped but functional galley, a storage hold packed with stolen (liberated) supplies, and a crew quarters that smelled faintly of salt, sweat, and questionable life choices.
The captain's cabin (which Ryu had claimed) was just big enough for a bed, a desk, and an impressive collection of stolen alcohol.
Shin had to admit—it was a good ship.
For a bunch of misfits, they'd done alright.
Land Ho!
A shout came from the crow's nest.
"ISLAND DEAD AHEAD!"
Ryu grinned, jumping onto the railing. "Perfect! Time to get drunk, steal some supplies, and finally name this damn crew!"
Shin sighed. "This is going to be a disaster."
Ryu clapped him on the back. "That's the spirit, Vice-Captain!"
As the island grew larger on the horizon, Shin couldn't help but smirk.
Maybe… just maybe… this wouldn't be so bad.
The island loomed ahead, a bustling port town nestled between rolling green hills and a sparkling coastline. Wooden buildings with tiled roofs crowded the docks, their signs swinging in the salty breeze. Merchants hawked wares, fishermen hauled in their catches, and the scent of smoked meat and spices hung thick in the air.
Mira stood at the bow, arms crossed, her sharp eyes scanning the docks. She was tall, with sun-kissed skin and a wild mane of dark brown hair tied back in a loose ponytail. Her fitted leather vest showed off toned arms, and the dagger strapped to her thigh made it clear she wasn't someone to mess with.
Shin glanced at her. "You sure you don't want to join the crew?"
She snorted. "Not a chance. I've got my own business to handle."
Ryu, leaning dramatically against the mast, wiped an imaginary tear. "Rejected again! My heart can't take this cruelty!"
Mira rolled her eyes. "You'll live."
Once docked, Ryu immediately dragged Shin to the nearest tailor—a wizened old man with a measuring tape around his neck.
"We need a flag," Ryu declared. "For the most fearsome pirate crew on the seas!"
The tailor adjusted his spectacles. "And what's the crew's name?"
Ryu paused. Then, with absolute confidence:
"The Ashver Pirates."
Shin blinked. "…What?"
"The Ashver Pirates," Ryu repeated, as if it were obvious.
"Where did that even come from?"
Ryu grinned. "No reason. It just sounds cool."
Shin groaned. "We are not naming our crew something you just made up on the spot."
"Too late!" Ryu slapped a handful of stolen berries on the counter. "Make it happen, old man!"
The tailor sighed but took the money.
Exploring the Town – Ryu's Shenanigans
While the flag was being made, Ryu and Shin wandered the streets.
Ryu, being Ryu, immediately:
Challenged a street vendor to an eating contest (and lost spectacularly).
Tried to haggle with a blacksmith for a "discount" on swords (the blacksmith threatened to test the blades on him).
Flirted with a barmaid (who dumped a tankard of ale on his head).
Shin watched it all with a mix of amusement and exhaustion.
"How are you even alive?"
Ryu, dripping with ale, grinned. "Charisma."
Trouble Finds Mira
As they turned a corner, Shin spotted Mira near the marketplace—and she wasn't alone.
Three rough-looking pirates had cornered her, their grins predatory.
"Come on, sweetheart," one sneered. "Hand over that purse, and we won't have to get rough."
Mira's hand hovered near her dagger. "Touch me, and you'll lose fingers."
The lead pirate laughed. "Feisty. I like that."
Shin tensed—but before he could move, Ryu strolled forward, whistling.
"Hey, ugly!"
The pirates turned.
Ryu smirked, flicking ale off his sleeve. "You're bothering my friend."
The lead pirate scowled. "Piss off, kid. This ain't your business."
Ryu's grin didn't waver. "Oh, but it is."
Shin sighed. "Here we go."