SHADOW BEFORE CREATION Chapter 18 chapter 17

Transition to a New World

The Straw Hat crew gathered beneath the ship, with Nami among them. They bid farewell to the villagers one by one, then finally boarded, preparing to set sail.

As soon as the ship began to move, Nami started giving her orders with confidence, and everyone responded without hesitation, each performing their role with precision.

Everyone…

Except Arthur.

He was lying in the n's sleeping quarters, his body still exhausted, but his spirit in complete focus.

He sat cross-legged, closed his single eye, and began gathering his energy calmly and steadily, until—

Ding.

A translucent blue window appeared before him.

|Congratulations, Host.

You have completed your mission with complete success—surpassing perfection slightly.

All rewards have been placed in your inventory.

But before that…

Would you like to update the system?

Yes / No|

Arthur slowly opened his eye and looked at the window.

"Hm… and what is the benefit of this update?"

|If you update the system, you will receive:

A larger inventory space

Multiple missions

And most importantly: the ability to travel between worlds.|

"Increasing inventory space will benefit later, and multiple missions—despite their penalties—an more points,

and with points, I can advance and grow stronger…

But traveling between worlds?

Explain further."

|Of course.

The world-travel feature allows the Host to move to different worlds.

The world of One Piece is not the only one in existence.

There are billions of other worlds.

Upon traveling, you will receive a special mission.

Completing it will grant significant and multiple rewards.

To update the system, you must spend 2500 points.

Would you like to proceed?

Yes / No|

"Damn you, you cursed system…

I nearly died to earn 3000 points, and now you want 2500 all at once?"

Arthur fell silent for a mont, thinking deeply.

"I have two questions before I decide.

First: how does ti work during travel?

Does it pass day by day?

Second: is the travel spiritual or physical?"

|Ti differs.

The world of One Piece has been set as the primary world—for now.

The calculation will be as follows:

One day in the other world = one second here.

(This applies only to certain worlds.)

As for the travel, it will sotis be spiritual and sotis physical.|

"A full day… for one second?

That ans sixty days equal one minute here.

Good… I won't have to worry about my body, especially if the travel is spiritual."

Arthur sighed quietly.

"Yes… I agree to the update."

The mont he finished speaking, the window glowed faintly, then vanished.

Arthur waited…

Exactly five minutes later, the window appeared again.

|Congratulations on updating the system.

Due to the update, only 1000 points have been deducted.

Your current points: 2000

The world-travel feature has been activated.

After searching, a suitable world and mission have been found for you.

Would you like to travel now?|

"Alright… only a thousand deducted.

That's fine, I still have enough.

More importantly… yes.

I want to travel."

Arthur agreed without hesitation.

His heart beat with excitent.

'What world is this?

What people will I et?

And what epic awaits ?'

The translucent blue light gradually wrapped around his body, then—

In a single instant—

Arthur's body vanished from the ship.

He tried to keep his eye open, but a strange sensation washed over him.

He was not sleepy…

And yet, sleep overtook him.

He closed his eye.

---

Seconds later—or less—

His body struck a solid surface.

Arthur slowly opened his eye and lifted his head.

The place… looked modern.

"Damn… what world is this?

Did I return to my own world?"

Tall residential buildings, companies, organized streets.

He moved slightly and looked down.

"Cars…

These are truly the cars of my world.

But… where am I?"

He was standing on the rooftop of a tall residential building.

He looked around—

Nothing.

Except…

A sword.

A massive sword, unnaturally long, firmly embedded into the solid rooftop floor.

Its blade was enormous, resembling the swords from gas and fantasy tales.

Its hilt was long, topped with a circular guard the size of a fist, and wrapped tightly with a red cloth strip that fluttered in the wind.

'A two-handed sword…

But this size?

What is it doing here?

Did soone plant it?'

The window appeared again.

|Host,

You have successfully traveled to the world:

(Rooftop Sword Master)

Your mission:

Help Soyoung carry the sword

Train him

Increase his strength and courage

And in the end… take revenge with him

Avenge Soyoung's parents.

Avenge the wicked bastards.

Do what you do best, Sky Demon.

Mission duration: one full year.

You will spend one year in this world.

You may return to the world of One Piece upon completing the mission,

or before the year ends—depending on your achievents.

Upon your return, you will retain everything obtained here,

in addition to the success reward.

In the event of failure…

you will return to the world of One Piece with half your power completely erased.|

Arthur stood silently, staring at the sword embedded before him.

A faint smile appeared on his face…

The smile of a demon preparing for a new epic.

|The reward for success will be:

5000 points

A new technique

A legendary gift.|

'One full year…

Equivalent to five minutes and ninety-three seconds approximately.

That's excellent.'

But soon, Arthur frowned slightly.

'But… how exactly am I supposed to help this Soyoung?

I don't even know him.'

He ended his thoughts, then stepped toward the gigantic sword.

He carefully extended his hand, wanting to touch it, but—

He stopped.

"The mission is clear.

I must help the boy lift the sword and train him.

If I take it myself… the mission will fail.

I will return with nothing.

Worse… my power will be cut in half."

He slowly tightened his fist.

'I must be careful.'

At that mont—

The door behind him opened.

Arthur turned quickly, his body instinctively shifting into a ready stance.

And he saw him.

A young boy.

His body was thin and noticeably weak.

He wore wide cloth pants and a n's T-shirt larger than his size.

His blue hair was ssy, as if it had not been combed for days.

Both his hands were covered with several bandages,

and the paleness of his face was obvious…

exhaustion, illness, chronic fatigue.

Arthur looked at him silently.

And felt sothing strange.

A familiar sensation…

As if he had seen him before.

Or t him…

Or known him in another life.

Eye of the Sky.

|Na: Soyoung

Level: 2|

"You… are Soyoung, aren't you?"

Arthur spoke in a calm tone,

but his gaze was strange…

deep, unreadable.

He was still wearing his elegant black clothes.

Black cloth trousers and a dark shirt,

and over them a beautiful black n's kimono.

The right side of the kimono hung slightly loose,

while his right hand rested inside the left fold,

in a stance that suggested calm…

and danger at the sa ti.

His short black hair moved gently with the air.

"W–Who are you?"

"And what are you d–doing here?"

Soyoung spoke with a trembling voice,

his eyes widened in disbelief,

as though he were seeing sothing beyond his reality.

'Damn…

This boy is unbelievably weak.

Clearly a school student.

He can't be more than eighteen… most likely.'

Arthur sighed inwardly.

'When I was his age…

I was a monster.

A legendary killer no one could stop.

Even before I t the old man…

I was a legend on my own, through my strength and training.'

He looked at Soyoung again.

'But this boy…

If I blow on him, he'll fall.

Damn…

This truly looks like a difficult mission.'

Arthur finally opened his mouth, his voice steady and clear:

"I am Arthur Narin."

Then he continued, his eyes settling on the boy:

"And I am here… to help you achieve your revenge, boy."

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