Chapter 1: Chapter 1: A Glimmer of Hope in Despair [Rewrite]
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Heads up : The first 30 chapters are undergoing revisions and may contain grammatical errors and inaccuracies. I assure you the quality will significantly improve after that point, becoming increasingly refined and polished.
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Azure skies and pristine white clouds stretched across the horizon, the sun's rays painting the vast expanse of the similarly hued ocean. A scattering of small, verdant islands dotted the seascape.
"Drink up, men! Once this shipment is delivered, we'll be living the high life for a while!"
Aboard a sizeable pirate ship, some twenty meters in length, a red flag bearing a white skull and crossbones flapped in the wind. These were not idealistic dreamers seeking the legendary One Piece, Gol D. Roger's hidden treasure.
They were pirates in the truest sense of the word, pillaging and plundering without remorse. Their current objective: the raid and annihilation of a small, defenseless village.
They planned to capture the villagers – men, women, and children – and sell them into slavery, securing a hefty profit. On the ship's deck, a raucous feast was underway, a celebration of their successful raid.
"Give it up. He's not going to make it."
"Yeah, what a shame. Such a young guy… He should have stayed put and waited for a chance to escape."
Deep within the ship's hold, numerous iron cages held the captured villagers. Though their words offered a veneer of sympathy, they knew the truth.
Once they reached their destination, escape would be all but impossible. Yet, the fear of death overshadowed even that bleak prospect.
Clinging to life, however slim the chance, offered a flicker of hope.
In a smaller cage, tucked away in a corner, lay a young man who appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen. His body was a canvas of wounds inflicted by swords, whips, and who knows what else. His eyes were tightly closed.
He hadn't moved for hours. It was clear he was on the verge of death. The other captives could only offer silent prayers.
In their eyes, he was courageous, yet foolish. To defy a band of pirates was a death sentence. He had paid the ultimate price for his rebellion.
Such an act was deemed utterly futile.
"Ugh…" Ian slowly opened his eyes, a searing wave of pain coursing through his body, causing him to wince.
"So this is it… I've been reincarnated into the world of One Piece?" Based on the fragmented memories lingering in this body, he instantly grasped the situation.
A surge of excitement welled up within him. He knew this world better than anyone. It was one of his favorite anime series, and he had always dreamt of being transported into it.
A world brimming with fantastical Devil Fruit powers, formidable martial arts and swordsmanship, and above all, the pursuit of dreams…
"But what the hell is this death-sentence starting scenario?!" He raged internally. His body screamed in agony.
Outside, a dozen pirates awaited, and they were nearing the island where the slave trade flourished. There was nowhere to run. He was the unluckiest reincarnation ever.
"Congratulations, Host. You have awakened the Dimensional Template System and acquired your first template: Ulquiorra Cifer…"
Just as he closed his eyes, contemplating a desperate escape attempt or even gambling on death for a possible restart, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind. Ian was ecstatic. A reincarnated soul without a system? Unthinkable!
Ulquiorra Cifer. He knew this character well. Another favorite from one of his cherished anime series.
One of the Espada, ranked fourth, created by Sosuke Aizen in Hueco Mundo..
If he hadn't encountered Ichigo Kurosaki, the protagonist with his plot armor, Shinigami, Hollow, and Quincy powers, Ulquiorra's demise wouldn't have been so easily orchestrated.
"System Open," he mentally commanded, his voice a strained whisper. The pain from his injuries nearly caused him to lose consciousness.
"Hey, kid, you alright?" A concerned voice called out, but Ian didn't respond.
Perhaps it was a hallucination brought on by despair?
Dimensional Template System
Host: Ian
First Template: Ulquiorra Cifer
Fusion Rate: 10%
"…" Ian was speechless. A bare-bones interface with Ulquiorra's Hollow form as an avatar and no further explanation.
Simplicity at its finest. It seemed there wouldn't be any bubbly system mascot popping up to offer guidance.
Nevertheless, he was well-versed in Ulquiorra's abilities, capable of independent development, and he had a 10% fusion rate as a head start.
His base form without the first and second Release was decent enough. Comparable to a low-ranking Shinigami, a Gillian-class Menos, or a pirate with a bounty of several million Berries.
"Fuse," he commanded mentally. His battered body began to transform.
Wounds rapidly healed, a testament to Ulquiorra's High-Speed Regeneration. While limb regeneration wasn't yet possible, mending these injuries was trivial.
A partial, white, bone-like helmet with horns materialized on his head. Distinct green tear marks appeared beneath his eyes, and his skin took on a deathly pale hue.
There was no Hollow hole, a clear indication that the system recognized him as human, not a Hollow. No existential loneliness for him.
Whoosh! A faint surge of energy rippled outward. While not particularly powerful, it rattled the cages within the hold, drawing the attention of the pirates above.
A pair of pale green eyes snapped open. The 10% template fusion was complete. Ian felt his defenses harden considerably. This was Hierro, the toughened skin of an Arrancar.
Clang! With newfound strength, he effortlessly ripped open the cage door, leaving the other captives awestruck.
"Kid, you're a Devil Fruit user?" They exclaimed, staring at his transformed appearance. But their fear was minimal.
In their eyes, humans were far more terrifying than devils. Ian had been captured mid-journey, so his background was unknown. They presumed he was there to rescue them. Why else would he endure such a beating without resisting? But then again…
If he was capable of fighting back, why not confront the pirates directly? Why suffer needlessly?
"I'll get you all out," Ian stated. "I remember eating a fruit before, but I didn't know it was a Devil Fruit. It seems it finally activated just as I was about to die." He fabricated a believable lie.
His current appearance certainly resembled a Devil, but to them, he was an angel, a white raven soaring through the heavens.
"Thank you, kid! You're a god to us! We'll build a shrine for you when we get home!" They cried out, overjoyed. He was their savior, their liberator.
"…" Ian was momentarily speechless. He had inadvertently become a God. "There's no need for that. We're all in this together. We help each other."
Clang! Clang! With a few more effortless movements, he tore open the remaining cages, and the freed captives erupted in cheers.
"How did you all get out?! Get back in there!" A startled shout echoed from the entrance.
A young pirate, in his twenties, stumbled in, clutching a bottle of liquor. He was clearly drunk and oblivious to the changed situation. Could beasts freed from their cages be so easily recaptured? And was he even aware that he might be on the menu?
Whoosh! In a blink, Ian vanished, reappearing instantly behind the pirate, his hand clamping tightly around the man's throat…
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To Be Continued..
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