"What do I do? What the hell am I supposed to do?"
Beads of sweat the size of peas dotted Nojiko's forehead. The stench in the air was unbearable, and the suffocating atmosphere around her was worse than she could've ever imagined.
After an hour of observation, Nojiko finally confirmed her location—and her situation.
The scene before her was both familiar and foreign. Because this was Impel Down, the greatest prison in the world of One Piece.
As a die-hard fan who had followed the series for over a decade, the name "Impel Down" was practically engraved in her mind. Hell, she probably knew its layout better than most of the people actually imprisoned here.
But the problem was—she had never, ever imagined she'd end up here herself. And certainly not like this: transmigrated into this godforsaken place without the slightest warning.
Just as Nojiko was lost in thought, a snippet of conversation caught her attention—specifically, one name that sent a jolt through her.
"Hey, hey… you guys hear? Fire Fist Ace got captured a few days ago."
"No way. That guy's the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, a Logia user. How the hell did they catch him?"
"It's true. He's locked up in this very prison. No idea which level, though."
The others couldn't process the news. That was Whitebeard's man. And the Marines had the audacity to arrest him?
"Holy shit, what are the Marines thinking? Whitebeard's the strongest man in the world! You really think he won't flip Marineford upside down?"
"Hard to say. Whitebeard's strong, but he's just one man—and an old one at that. The Marines? They've got the three Admirals in their prime, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Hero Garp… and if you throw in the Warlords, the scales might tip."
"Oi, whose side are you on, huh? Sounding like a damn Marine sympathizer!"
"I'm just stating facts!"
The prisoners bickered back and forth, their argument just another way to kill time in this endless hell.
Meanwhile, Nojiko stood frozen, her mind reeling.
Just moments ago, she had been praying that the timeline was still years before the Marineford War—enough time for her to train in secret, escape with Luffy when he inevitably stormed the prison, and maybe even change the course of the war. Save Ace. Save Whitebeard.
That way, she could make a name for herself, rise to the top, and live the dream.
But now? Ace was already captured. Which meant the Summit War was right around the corner—maybe just days away.
And with her current canon-fodder-level strength, she wouldn't even survive the battlefield, let alone earn a spot on Luffy's breakout team.
"Transmigration successful. System binding initiated."
A synthetic, robotic voice suddenly echoed in Nojiko's mind.
"Who—who said that?!"
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted it. As the newest prisoner here, she was already under scrutiny. The last thing she needed was to draw more attention.
Yet her outburst had done exactly that.
Every eye in the cell turned toward her, some annoyed, others amused.
"The hell's wrong with you, newbie? Yelling like a damn lunatic," a hulking prisoner snarled, his glare sharp enough to cut steel.
"Relax, Hook. Kid's probably some rookie who got nabbed the second he set foot on the Grand Line. Brain's already fried from the shock."
"Tch. Pathetic."
Nojiko kept her head down, silent, playing the role of the scared newcomer.
But the moment they turned away, her eyes flickered with something darker—killing intent.
She didn't act on it. Not yet.
First, she wasn't confident she could take Hook down without repercussions.
Second—and far more important—was that mysterious voice in her head.
"Binding complete. The 'Path to Godhood System' is now at your service. To ensure the host does not perish on day one, the system has prepared a Starter Gift Package. Would you like to open it now?"
Nojiko pinched her thigh hard. The sharp pain confirmed this wasn't a dream.
She had a system now.
Which meant… punching Akainu in the face and kicking Kizaru into the horizon was no longer just a fantasy.
"Not yet. First, tell me—what exactly can you do for me? And what do you need in return?"
Even in the face of this sudden boon, Nojiko kept her cool. She needed to understand the rules before diving in.
"Under my guidance, the host can randomly extract abilities from those around you. Note: Each person can only be extracted once."
"Additionally, the system provides a 1,000-cubic-meter storage space—capable of holding anything except living beings."
"Finally, to test the host's potential and encourage growth, the system will assign missions. Each time, you will be given two different tasks to choose from. Successful completion grants generous rewards, including exchange points for the system shop."
"Failure or delay carries no punishment—but wasted opportunities mean wasted strength."
"The choice is yours. Will you become a dragon… or remain a worm?"
The system's voice faded, but its words echoed in Katy's mind.
She didn't know why she'd been sent here. But since she was here—she'd carve her own path. Change fate itself.
"System. Open the Starter Gift Package."
"Then let us see the host's luck. The contents are randomized—even I cannot control them."
Nojiko's face darkened. Her luck had always been mid. Not cursed, but certainly not blessed.
Yet today—
"Congratulations, host. You have obtained: Zanpakutō – 'Skybreaker'."
—was her lucky day.
She didn't know yet what abilities this Zanpakutō held. But the mere thought of wielding it sent a thrill through her.
A Zanpakutō. If she mastered its Shikai or Bankai, she'd gain a power rivaling Devil Fruits. And if she somehow obtained a strong Fruit on top of that?
She'd be a dual-ability monster.
But Nojiko didn't yet realize the true potential of her system.
Later, she'd look back on this moment—and laugh at how small her ambitions had been.