Two months flew by in the blink of an eye.
Last month, Aomori had experienced a dungeon based on Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?. In that run, he had reincarnated as a Minotaur within the Dungeon itself.
His appearance remained consistent with his original self, but a pair of horns had sprouted from his head and his skin had turned a dark, dusky hue.
This absolutely disgusted Aomori, the self-proclaimed "Pure Love War God." Consequently, he hoistered himself up inside the Dungeon and did nothing but grind levels for the entire month, ignoring tasks entirely.
By the time he finished the dungeon, he had slaughtered the monsters within those halls hundreds of times over. Thanks to this ruthless efficiency, Aomori had surged to Level 33, successfully unlocking Level 30 dungeons.
And today was the day he could enter a new one.
[Ding! Would you like to enter a Level 30 Dungeon? Note: Level 30 dungeons will switch to Hard Mode. Difficulty is increased, and the free duration will be extended to three months.]
"Yes."
A crimson mist filled his vision. When Aomori's sight finally cleared, he found himself standing in a plaza. People were bustling to and fro, completely indifferent to his sudden appearance.
The architectural style and clothing are reminiscent of the Middle Ages, but the art style feels more Western. Which world could this be?
As he was guessing, a young boy wearing a straw hat suddenly leaped onto a high wooden scaffolding and shouted to the heavens, "I'm going to be the King of the Pirates!"
"No way..." Looking at this iconic scene, Aomori muttered to himself, "Is this the world of One Piece?"
[Ding! Dungeon Quest initiated:]
[Main Quest 1/3: King of the World]
[Quest Description: Reign over this world and become the King of the World!]
[1) Become the universally recognized supreme ruler within 200 days. ☆]
[2) Become the universally recognized supreme ruler within 400 days. ☆☆]
[3) Become the universally recognized supreme ruler within 600 days. ☆☆☆]
[Main Quest 2/3: ??? (Hidden Quest, contents revealed after dungeon ends)]
[Quest Description: ???]
[Main Quest 3/3: ??? (Hidden Quest, contents revealed after dungeon ends)]
[Quest Description: ???]
"It really is One Piece," Aomori said, shaking his head. "And this counts as Hard Mode? They're underestimating me."
Although this world was teeming with powerful figures, it lacked an absolute powerhouse that could decisively suppress Aomori.
"Wait, I seem to have forgotten that person."
The mysterious boss behind the Celestial Dragons—Imu!
In the original plot, Imu had never even shown their face. Aomori didn't know if they were male or female, human or ghost, but they were bound to be incredibly powerful.
"Become the King of the World? Interesting. Much better than making me fight for the title of Pirate King. Now, how should I go about this?" Aomori fell into deep thought.
By the time he finished his musings, Luffy had already been shackled to the execution platform, the same one where the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, had met his end.
Facing the glint of a sharp blade, Luffy actually smiled.
"You're about to die! Why are you smiling, you bastard?! Do you really think you're the Pirate King?" Buggy the Clown, looking as though he'd stepped straight out of a circus, screamed in anger. "Just flashily die already!"
He gripped his sword and swung it down with a roar.
"Luffy!" Seeing the blade slicing toward Luffy's neck, the approaching Zoro and Sanji turned pale with horror.
At that exact moment, a tall, imposing figure appeared on the execution platform. With a swift kick, he sent Buggy flying off the stage, saving Luffy.
"That was too close," Zoro and Sanji sighed in unison, their hearts slowing down.
"Who the hell are you?! Why are you ruining my moment? Have you never heard the name of Buggy the Clown?!" Having been sent tumbling head-over-heels, Buggy was fuming, jumping up and down in a rage below.
Aomori ignored Buggy. He snapped his fingers, and the restraints binding Luffy shattered instantly.
"Ah! I'm alive!" Luffy stood up abruptly, cheering, before turning to thank Aomori. "Thanks a lot, oji-san!"
"Oji-san? Am I really that old?" Aomori reached out and pinched Luffy's cheeks, stretching them out like a giant pancake. "Oh, so this is the power of the Gum-Gum Fruit. What a fascinating sensation."
"Yeah, isn't it cool? It doesn't hurt at all," Luffy said, his voice muffled and distorted.
"Curse you! How dare you ignore me!" Buggy's rage boiled over. He gestured wildly to his crew. "Get them! Kill them all!"
A swarm of lackeys rushed forward, hacking at the supports of the platform. "Knock the whole thing down!"
"Let's go." Zoro and Sanji attacked from the rear; one used his blades, the other his kicks, their coordination seamless.
"Oji-san, I'm gonna go help. Bye-bye!" Luffy waved to Aomori and leaped off the platform, diving straight into the fray.
Meanwhile, a large contingent of Marines, led by Smoker, began to surround the pirates. In the chaos, the execution platform came crashing down.
Aomori floated in mid-air, looking down at the turmoil. He whispered softly, "The wind is changing."
"Hey! You there! Are you an accomplice of Straw Hat?" Smoker's lower body had transformed into plumes of smoke. He flew up to Aomori's level, demanding an answer.
"No, I don't really know him."
"Then why did you save him?"
"Killing requires a reason, but saving someone doesn't. Wouldn't you agree, Marine-san?" Aomori said with a smile.
"But Straw Hat is a pirate!" Smoker narrowed his eyes. "Tell me your name."
"You'll find out soon enough." Aomori wagged a finger, and his figure vanished instantly.
"Gone? He's definitely a handful." Smoker bit down hard on his cigars, his expression darkening. "He looks unfamiliar, so he likely isn't a famous pirate yet. I'll let him go for now. Straw Hat and his crew are the priority."
He glanced at Luffy and the others, who were nearly out of sight, clicked his tongue, and gave chase.
Dark clouds rolled in as a light rain began to fall.
Atop a nearby roof, a man draped in a green cloak silently watched the events unfolding in Loguetown. His features were rugged, with red, square-patterned tattoos on the left side of his face—he was clearly someone not to be trifled with.
Even when Aomori appeared suddenly beside him, the man remained unfazed.
"To what do I owe the honor of this visit, sir?"
"It's a privilege to run into the world-renowned Revolutionary, Monkey D. Dragon. Naturally, I had to come pay my respects." Aomori studied him. "Up close, you truly do possess an extraordinary aura."
"..." Dragon looked at Aomori but said nothing.
"However, your revolutionary cause is a complete mess."
Dragon frowned. "What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said." Aomori's expression turned serious. "You and your comrades are operating on nothing but passion. You lack any long-term strategic plan. You cause trouble everywhere, but it yields little result. It only makes life harder for ordinary people."
Dragon's face clouded over. He had to admit Aomori was right. As the leader of the Revolutionary Army, he was still searching for the definitive way to change the world. Currently, he could only let the army grow in the shadows while assisting nations oppressed by the World Government's tyranny.
"So, do you know what the Revolutionary Army should be doing?"
"Of course. I've studied such knowledge since I was young. It seems I've finally found a place to apply it," Aomori said. "But would you allow someone of unknown origin like me to join your ranks?"
Dragon was silent for a moment. "You would have to prove yourself."
"Heh, no need. When the time comes, you'll be the one inviting me." With that, Aomori vanished via teleportation again.
"A mysterious and powerful man... when did such a figure appear on these seas?"
Dragon's brow furrowed. After a moment, he waved his hand, conjuring a gale to stop Smoker from pursuing Luffy.
"The World's Worst Criminal... why is he here? And why is he helping Straw Hat?" Smoker was filled with questions.
Standing on the shore, he watched helplessly as the Going Merry sailed away. He roared, "Don't get cocky! I'll catch you all sooner or later! Get me a ship! I'm heading for the Grand Line!"
…
Amidst the howling wind and towering waves, the Going Merry tossed and turned.
"Phew, that was close! We almost got caught!" Luffy sat on the deck, tongue lolling out.
"That's because you're always so reckless," Zoro muttered.
"That wind was strange. The timing was too perfect," Sanji said, knitting his curly eyebrows.
"Who cares? We're safe now! And it was mostly thanks to my brilliant leadership, Hahahaha!" Usopp bragged.
"Look!" Nami pointed to a bright beam of light cutting through the mist ahead. "That lighthouse beam is the guiding light! If we follow it, we can reach the Grand Line!"
"The Grand Line? Awesome!" Luffy jumped up, his energy instantly recharged. His eyes sparkled as he pointed forward. "Nami! Take us to the Grand Line, quick!"
"You got it!" Nami replied with a grin.
"To celebrate entering the Grand Line, why don't we have a special launching ceremony?" Sanji suggested.
"Good idea! Let's do it!"
They brought an empty wooden barrel to the center of the deck, and the five of them formed a circle.
"I'll go first. I'm going to find the legendary All Blue!" Sanji placed his foot on the barrel.
"I'm going to be the King of the Pirates!"
"I'm going to become the world's greatest swordsman!"
"I'm going to draw a map of the entire world!"
"I'm going to become a brave warrior of the sea!"
"I'm going to be the King of the World."
"HUH?!!!"
Aomori's sudden inclusion startled everyone.
"Damn it, when did he get so close? I didn't sense a thing!" Zoro had already drawn his sword, a cold sweat breaking out on his brow.
"Isn't this the oji-san who saved my life?" Luffy grinned when he saw Aomori. "You're okay too! That's great!"
"Oh, it's him." Zoro and Sanji relaxed once they recognized him.
"Why do you keep calling me 'oji-san'? I don't look that old, do I?" Aomori reached out and pulled Luffy's face into various shapes again. The texture was, admittedly, quite satisfying.
"But you're clearly way older than us. If not 'oji-san,' then what?"
"Call me 'aniki'."
"Okay, oji-san." Luffy nodded and asked, "Why are you suddenly on our ship, anyway?"
Forget it, 'oji-san' it is. Aomori gave up on correcting him. "I'm also planning to head to the Grand Line, but I don't have a ship. I was wondering if I could hitch a ride?"
After showing off in front of Dragon, Aomori realized he was a newcomer who didn't know the layout of this world. Once in the Grand Line, he would need a Log Pose; a map wouldn't help. To save himself the trouble, he decided to travel with Luffy for a while.
Luffy and his crew called themselves pirates, but they were more like adventurers fighting for their dreams. They didn't pillage or kill; instead, they protected justice. In a world of pirates where morals were often skewed, they were a breath of fresh air.
Aomori's impression of them was quite good, at least for now. Perhaps they could even join forces later to face the mysterious boss, Imu.
"Sure!" Luffy agreed without hesitation.
"Hey, Luffy! Can you be a bit more careful? What if he has bad intentions?" Usopp said worriedly.
Nami nodded in agreement. He's so handsome, he definitely looks like a playboy. He'll probably bring nothing but trouble.
"It'll be fine. He saved me," Luffy insisted.
At that moment, Aomori tossed out a large bag. The mouth wasn't tied, and a pile of jewels and gold spilled out. It was a "Noble Phantasm" he had swiped from Buggy's ship, guaranteed to have a Max-Effective bonus against Nami.
"So much gold and jewelry!" Nami pounced on it, her eyes literally turning into Berry signs. "No problem at all! You're more than welcome to ride the Going Merry! We welcome you with open arms!"
"Right, Usopp?"
Under Nami's "Death Stare," Usopp stammered, "O-Of course! I was in favor of it from the very beginning!"
"What about Zoro and Sanji?"
"I follow the Captain."
"I don't care."
And so, with unanimous consent, Aomori became a passenger on the Going Merry.
"Let me introduce myself properly. I am Aomori, Chairman of the Hero Association. I am also a Hero."
"Hero Association? Never heard of it," everyone said, looking confused.
"Because in this world, the Hero Association currently consists only of me. But under my brilliant leadership, it will soon become the strongest organization in the world."
"Aren't you just bragging? Pwahaha..." Usopp couldn't help but laugh, before forcing himself to stop under Nami's glare. "Sorry, I just thought of something funny."
"A Hero... I didn't expect Aomori-san to be such a romantic."
"Pity. Heroes usually don't end up well."
"Who cares?" Luffy gave a thumbs up. "I hope you become the King of Heroes soon, oji-san!"
What the heck is a 'King of Heroes'? Aomori shook his head, amused.
"Is the launching ceremony still on?"
"Of course! You join in too, oji-san!"
The group circled the barrel once more, stating their dreams one by one, before raising their feet and stomping down hard.
Crack! The barrel shattered into splinters.
"Grand Line, here we come!"