Haiyuan Calendar Year 1508,
Cocoyasi Village.
Dark clouds gathered in the sky as fierce winds howled across the sea. A large wave surged and crashed ashore, carrying with it a boy—around thirteen or fourteen years old—onto the sand.
"Why is there someone here?"
"Yeah! I wonder whose kid that is!"
The villagers crowded the beach, murmuring with confusion and concern.
At that moment, the boy lying on the shore slowly opened his eyes, blinking in a daze as he took in the unfamiliar surroundings.
"You are...?"
A slender woman stepped forward and knelt beside him. She carefully inspected his injuries, sighing in relief once she saw he wasn't badly hurt.
"I'm Lyra Bellem from Cocoyasi Village. Can you tell me your name, young man?"
Her gentle smile softened her tone as she extended a hand to help him up.
"My name is... Rei Damon. Wait a second. I need to turn on my phone."
That's right—this young man was Rei Damon. His soul had transmigrated into this unfamiliar body. At this moment, a surge of chaotic information was flooding into his mind.
Rei's thoughts scattered.
Frantically, he searched the memories belonging to the original owner of this body.
After fully receiving the inherited knowledge, Rei froze.
What the hell—he was actually an orphan?! As anyone familiar with shonen stories knows, the protagonist being an orphan is practically tradition.
With deadpan certainty, Rei muttered, "I'm an orphan."
The beach went silent.
Rei said no more. He closed his eyes and solemnly accepted his fate.
The surrounding villagers, watching his reaction, quietly acknowledged the tragedy as well.
"Um... where are you from?" Lyra asked gently.
Rei didn't answer. Instead, he tensed. A rustling noise was coming from the sea behind him, and an uneasy chill ran down his spine.
"No... something's off. Why do I feel like I'm being watched?"
"ROAR!!!"
As if on cue, an earsplitting roar erupted from the ocean!
From the depths emerged a monstrous mouth filled with jagged white fangs, lunging toward Rei to devour him in one bite!
The creature—an enormous Sea King—opened its bloody maw, large enough to swallow ten Rei Damons at once!
For a moment, everyone on the beach stood frozen in terror.
"Run! What are you doing just standing there?!"
Villagers screamed in panic. Lyra's legs trembled as she instinctively stepped backward.
"ROAR!"
Another thunderous roar echoed from the beast, its violent intent crackling in the air like static.
But at that instant—
Rei moved.
Summoning a sudden surge of willpower, Rei shouted, "Come on, then!"
He shoved Lyra out of the way and stood his ground. Balling his fists, he stared down the Sea King, fully prepared to meet death head-on.
Go back to the abyss!
He was an orphan anyway—what did it matter if he died?
He braced himself, but—
CHOMP!
The Sea King's mouth came crashing down—
and swallowed him whole.
Gone. Just like that.
Rei Damon vanished inside the creature's gullet.
Lyra, who had been pushed away, staggered back in horror. The Sea King's massive jaws were now coming for her!
Her eyes widened as she tried to punch at the beast in a panic—
Then, suddenly—
"BOOM!"
A violent crash exploded behind the Sea King!
The massive creature stiffened mid-motion.
Its body trembled violently. Something... no—someone—had struck it from behind!
And then—
"BLERGH!"
The Sea King's body convulsed and crashed to the ground. From its gaping mouth, it spat out Rei Damon, soaked and stunned.
Rei coughed and blinked in a daze.
Standing before him now was an elderly man with a white beard and a massive navy cloak billowing in the wind.
He walked toward Rei slowly. Deliberately.
Step by step.
It felt like time had slowed down.
Suddenly, an ethereal voice echoed inside Rei's head.
> "Life-and-death threat detected. Skill Tree System initializing... Binding host identity…"
"Skill Tree System?"
Rei was too stunned to focus on the white-haired old man.
Instead, his attention was pulled toward the strange voice—and what it implied.
"Young man, you've got guts. I like that. What's your name?"
The old man's deep voice cut through Rei's thoughts.
"Rei Damon," he answered automatically, still distracted by the system interface forming in his mind.
The old man, Hogan D. Brakk, nodded thoughtfully—though his gaze shifted when he noticed Lyra nearby.
"And you are...?"
"Vice Admiral Brakk, sir! Lyra Bellem, formerly with the Navy. I'm retired now."
Lyra stood at attention, saluting instinctively, a bit flustered.
Her past as a deserter flashed through her mind. If he remembered her...
But Brakk scratched his head, clearly unable to place her.
"Oh well!" he said, waving it off.
He turned back to Rei, who was now calmly assessing the system that had awakened inside him.
This wasn't some overpowered cheat that handed out everything instantly.
No—this system had structure.
Three main functions:
1. Locate current position
2. View status and personal information
3. Skill Tree access
By defeating enemies, completing quests, or leveling up, Rei could earn skill points. Each skill could be upgraded to a maximum of level 20.
The early tiers included basic enhancements: strength, speed, stamina.
The more advanced tiers?
Navy Six Powers. Haki. Even Devil Fruit abilities.
Amazing.
"Where are you from, kid?" Brakk asked again.
"Windmill Village," Rei replied, eyes focused on the system screen.
Brakk's brows rose.
"Windmill Village, huh? You know my grandson?"
"That brat Luffy? I know him... but I've never actually met him."
Brakk laughed and nodded.
"Good lad! Wanna come with me? Join the Navy?"
Rei considered it.
On one hand, following Hogan D. Brakk meant safety—at least until Luffy went to sea.
But his system... it was made for adventure, not hiding behind others.
Before he could speak—
"Too late!" Brakk barked. "From today on, you're my grandson!"
What?!
Rei's face turned dark.
This geezer—just like Whitebeard! Going around collecting "grandchildren"!
"Grandpa Brakk, I think I'd prefer to be independent for a while..."
"You don't wanna be a pirate, do you?" Brakk squinted suspiciously.
"No, no, no! Even if I'm not Navy, I'm not a pirate!"
Brakk relaxed.
A spark ignited behind his eyes.
That same fire—the idea of grooming the next Navy King—burned once more.
"Lyra, raise this boy for a while. I'll send you a stipend," Brakk said seriously.
"Me?" Lyra pointed at herself.
Brakk motioned to his aide, Bogart, who stepped forward and handed over a heavy sack of Berries.
"Thanks. I'll leave him to you for now."
With that, Brakk turned and walked away, cloak fluttering behind him.
Rei stood in stunned silence.
He had barely escaped death...
Been given a system...
And somehow gained a grandfather?
Lyra blinked, then smiled and slapped Rei on the back.
"Come on! Let's get you home and fed."
"Hi! I'm Nami. We're gonna be living together from now on!"
The orange-haired girl beamed with excitement.
Behind her, her sister Nojiko peeked shyly from behind Lyra, clearly wary of the newcomer.
"Hello, Nami. I'm Rei Damon. Let's get along, okay?"
Lyra, watching his composed response, was genuinely impressed.
Despite everything, this boy had a kind heart—and incredible potential.
Not to mention... a bag full of Berries.
"Awesome!" Nami cheered.
And with that—
The Bellem family went home.
Unknowingly welcoming the newest and most dangerous anomaly in the world of One Piece.