One evening, after a few months since he was transmigrated, as he practiced his stealth skills in the lower decks, he overheard a versatioween two crew members. They spoke of a rumored ship of treasure filled with rich ers. Coby's ears perked up.

  Coby thought to himself, "Isn't this the start of One Piece? Wait, if I recall correctly, Nami is on that ship too, and Luffy will soon appear in a barrel. This is my ce."

  His mind raced with possibilities. In the inal story, Luffy's entrance was a turning point for Coby, marking the start of his jourowards being a Marine. But now, with his knowledge of the future and the Skill Weaver, Coby pondered if he should stick to the script or carve a new path.

  He remembered Nami's crucial role in the early arcs. She was clever, resourceful, and had an intricate uanding of navigation and thievery – skills that could be invaluable to someone like him. However, aligning himself with Nami meant stepping into unknowory, deviating from the familiar storyline.

  Oher hand, entering Luffy could provide a sense of security. Luffy owerhouse, a force of nature with a heart of gold. Aligning with him could mean safety and a clear path forward.

  As he weighed his options, Coby realized the gravity of his decision. It wasn't just about whom he met first; it was about defining his journey in this world. He could stick to the known narrative, with its retive safety and predictability, or he could veo the unknown, carving a path filled with risks and potential rewards.

  His heart pou the thought of meeting Luffy, the protagonist of his favorite anime. Yet, the allure of an uncharted path with Nami was equally tempting. Coby khat whichever choice he made, it would set the tone for his life in the One Piece world.

  He returo his duties on deck, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. He kept a close wat the horizon, knowing that the moment of decision was drawing near. The ship roag the area where the treasure ship was rumored to be, and the crew was abuzz with excitement at the prospect of loot.

  Coby's anticipation grew as well. This was his moment, his ce to choose his destiny. He felt a surge of adrenali the thought of a, of making a meaningful choi his new life.

  As the sun began to climb, painting the sky in shades e and purple, the lookout cried out, "Ship ahoy!" The crew scrambled into a, and Alvida barked orders, her voice carrying across the deck.

  Coby's heart raced. This was it. The ship in the distance could be the one carrying Nami. He g the o, half-expeg to see a barrel floating nearby, signaling Luffy's arrival.

  He felt torn. On one hand, he wao meet Luffy, to see the hero of his beloved anime in the flesh. Oher hand, the thrill of the unknown, of meeting Nami and potentially ging the course of events, was equally entig.

  Then it dawned on him. Luffy was literally the best wingman. The guy was renowned for saving girls a had no romantiterest in them whatsoever. If he, as Coby, could bee the Vice-Captain of the Strairates, he would have first dibs oing many of the beautiful women he had admired from behind the s in his past life. Wasn't that the dream?

  He made his choice. Instead of rushing to the deck as Kai would have, he hid in the celr like Coby would, and waited for the fated barrel to appear. After all, Nami was destio join the crew anyway. There was no reason to step into the unknowhe known path was equally adventurous and fulfilling. He yearo meet other characters like Zoro and Brook, those cool and iic figures of the One Piece world.

  As the ship rocked gently on the waves, Coby found a secluded spot in the celr. He sat there, his heart beating with anticipation aement. He was about to meet Monkey D. Luffy, the future King of the Pirates. The thought sent a shiver down his spine.

  He could hear the otion above, the crew preparing to board the supposed treasure ship. The voices of the crew members were muffled, but the excitement iones was unmistakable. Coby smiled to himself. They had no idea that they were about to enter the most signifit pirate of their era. They were so lucky!

  Hours seemed to crawl by as Coby waited in the dim light of the celr. His mind was abuzz with thoughts and pns. As Kai, he had always been an a-taker, someone who stepped up and seized opportunities. But now, as Coby, he had to be more cautious, more calcuted in his as.

  The moment finally arrived. Two burly crew members, muscles bulging uheir tattered shirts, heaved a rge, sealed barrel into the celr. As they lumbered in, their eyes fell on Coby, squatting in the shadows. Their expressions twisted into sneers.

  "You better not spill a word of this," one of them growled, his voice a threatening rumble. They assumed the barrel tained wine, a prize they inteo savor away fr eyes.

  Coby's heart pounded in his chest. This was no longer a moment to cower or hide. The old Coby would have bowed in submission, but Kai's spirit surged within him, fueling a newfound boldness. His hand subtly slipped into his pocket, fingers ing around the hilt of a small knife he had pilfered earlier.

  With a swift, fluid motion, he drew the knife and flung it with remarkable precision. The bde whistled through the air, embedding itself in the shoulder of the man at the back. A cry of pain echoed through the celr as the man stumbled backward, clutg his wounded shoulder.

  Simultaneously, Coby luowards the other man, his body moving with a speed and agility that surprised even himself. His training, his observations, his determination – all culminated in this single, exhirating moment.

  ‘Fight! I o fight for SP! This is too exg,’ Coby thought, his adrenaline surging.

  The crew member swung a heavy fist, but Coby dodged, rolling to the side. He sprung up and delivered a swift punch to the man's gut. It wasn't a powerful blow, but it was enough to wind the man, buying Coby precious seds.

  The wounded man recovered and lu Coby with a roar, but Coby sidestepped, using the man's momentum against him. He pushed him towards the barrel, causing him to crash into it with a loud thud.

  Coby's heart raced as he faced his adversaries. This was real bat, not a training session or a simution. Every move, every deattered. He could die!

  The man he had punched recovered and charged again, his face torted with rage. Coby braced himself, ready to dodge and ter. But as he prepared to move, a loud crashing sound echoed from above, followed by shouts and the unmistakable sounds of a skirmish.

  At the same moment, a powerful fist puhrough the now felled barrel. Splinters of wood flew in every dire as a figure emerged from within. Coby's eyes widened in reition aement. It was her than Monkey D. Luffy, his straw hat unmistakable even in the dim light of the celr.

  Coby couldn't help but grin, even as he faced the aggressive crew members. Inspired by the iic figure before him, he jokingly mimicked Luffy's signature move. "Pistol!" he excimed, throwing a punch at the crew member. His attack, g Luffy's Gum-Gum power, was more symbolic than effective, but it was enough to startle his oppo.

  Luffy, having just emerged from the barrel, watched the se with a mixture of curiosity and fusion. His brows furrowed as he observed the unfamiliar boy taking on the burly pirates with ued bravery and skill.

  The crew members, now realizing they were even-numbered and outmatched, hesitated. Coby seized the opportunity, ung into a series of quick, dodging movements he had practiced. He ducked and weaved around the celr, drawing on every bit of his observational learning and the basibat skills he had been honing.

  Luffy, still , couldn't help but chuckle at Coby's enthusiasm. There was something endearing and admirable about the boy's spirited defense. He decided to interveepping forward with a casual ease that only the future King of the Pirates could possess.

  With a single, swift movement, Luffy knocked out the remaining crew member, ending the skirmish. Coby, panting from the exertion, looked up at Luffy with a mix of admiration and gratitude. This was the moment he had been waiting for, the start of his grand adventure in the world of One Piece.

  The Skill Weaver interface chimed in Coby's mind, announg the SP earned from the bat. [bat success! 75 SP awarded. Current SP bance: 80.]

  Coby stood there, catg his breath, as he processed the events that had just unfolded. He had successfully defended himself, earned a substantial amount of SP, and, most importantly, met Luffy, the tral character of his beloved anime.

  Luffy, looking down at Coby, offered a hand to help him up. "You're pretty brave for such a skinny guy," he said with a grin. "What's your name?"

  Coby, still catg his breath, replied, "I'm Coby. Thank you for your help, um...?"

  "Luffy, Monkey D. Luffy. I'm going to be the King of the Pirates!" Luffy decred with his trademark enthusiasm.

  Coby's eyes sparkled with excitement. This was it, the beginning of an incredible journey.

  AN: Warned you I am a fanboy...

  --

  Read up to 100 chapters ahead!

  patreon./pinkisjustice

  Tell me what you think!