One Piece: The Avengers

The setting sun in the west cast its final rays of light and warmth, gradually swallowed by the distant horizon of the sea. Only its reflection lingered on the water—a vivid red, like blood.

Shalanter sat idly on a rock, his gaze fixed absently on the bobber in the water. His hand unconsciously stroked the white jade pendant hanging from his neck.

This pendant was his mother's dying gift, her last keepsake. Every time he saw it, memories of his family and friends resurfaced, carving deep wounds in his heart.

Gazing at the pendant, Shalanter silently made a vow, envisioning his future. He would join the navy and slaughter every pirate in the world.

The seed of hatred had already been sown in the boy's heart. Whether it would grow into a towering tree that shook the world or wither away unnoticed, unable to break through the soil, was still unknown.

Dream? No, it couldn't be called a dream. It was a goal driven by hatred. But no matter what it was, Shalanter knew he had to fight for his future.

Hatred—one of the most potent forces driving people to grow stronger—was a power that should never be underestimated.

Snapping back to reality, Shalanter noticed the fish on his hook—a long-dead catch with its pale belly facing up. With a quiet sigh, he stood up, reeled in his rod, packed away his gear, and walked toward his small cabin.

Back in his cabin, Shalanter chose a large fish and set up a campfire on the beach to grill it.

Though his culinary skills were limited to a few simple dishes, Shalanter was quite talented at grilling. While his cooking couldn't be called extraordinary, achieving a decent level of quality was effortless for him.

Just as he finished grilling the fish and prepared to eat, he heard light footsteps behind him.

Turning his head, Shalanter saw a little girl in a tattered but neatly maintained purple dress.

She had short black hair, a delicate and adorable nose, and deep blue eyes, which were fixed on his grilled fish as she swallowed hard.

Seeing Shalanter turn, the girl seemed frightened, stepping back a couple of paces. Yet her eyes remained glued to the fish.

Looking at her, Shalanter felt a pang of sadness. His little sister had been about this age when they were torn apart forever. Seeing this girl who resembled her so much stirred memories and emotions he couldn't suppress.

Lost in thought, Shalanter stood up.

The girl, alarmed by his movement, turned to leave. But before she could run, Shalanter extended the grilled fish to her with a kind and approachable smile. "Don't be shy, little one. If you're hungry, just eat."

The girl hesitated for a moment before the warmth in Shalanter's smile eased her nerves. Taking the fish, she devoured it ravenously, forcing Sylanth to grill another one for himself.

After finishing her fish, the girl shook her head when Shalanter offered more. Then he asked gently, "What's your name? How old are you?"

In a timid voice, the girl replied, "My name is Nico Robin, and I'm four years old." She then took two cautious steps back, her face filled with fear.

If Shalanter had been a transmigrator from Earth, he might have recognized the name and understood her fear—having been ostracized as a "monster" by her entire island was undoubtedly traumatic. However, Shalanter hailed from the Central World and had no knowledge of "One Piece." Even if his memories were intact, the odds of encountering someone familiar with it in his world were slim.

Seeing her fear, Shalanter smiled again, pouring a cup of apple juice and handing it to her. "It's so late; haven't you had dinner yet?"

Robin, clutching the juice, was puzzled. Does he not know I'm a monster? But she still nodded and answered softly.

From her hesitant reply, Shalanter pieced together her story. She had been engrossed in reading at the library, as usual. Robin, a child prodigy, had been studying archaeology under Dr. Clover and the scholars of Ohara since she was two. Losing track of time while reading was common for her.

When the librarian reminded her to go home for dinner, she hesitated. The thought of facing her aunt's scolding made her tremble with dread. Robin longed for her mother, but as a mere child, she could only endure.

Instead of returning home, she wandered to the seaside, hoping to wait until everyone in her household had gone to sleep before sneaking back. Dinner was never an option; at most, her meals consisted of two pieces of stale bread earned through chores.

While walking along the beach, Robin noticed the rare sight of a campfire and the fragrant aroma of grilled fish. Unable to resist, she followed the scent and stumbled upon Shalanter, who was just about to eat.

Her story moved Shalanter deeply, though he lacked the full context of her tragic circumstances. After she finished speaking, he asked curiously, "Where are your parents? Why don't you live with them?"

Robin's expression dimmed. "I've never met my father, and my mother left two years ago to search for the Poneglyphs. What about your parents? They must treat you well, right?"

Her innocent question hit a nerve. Shalanter's expression darkened as he subconsciously adjusted imaginary glasses on his nose. "My parents… yes, they treated me very well. But they're gone now. I live alone." His voice grew quieter with each word.

Realizing her misstep, Robin quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, I didn't know…" A sense of shared sorrow welled up within her. At least she still had her mother, but Shalanter had no one.

Though the pain lingered, Shalanter reassured her with a small smile. "It's fine. By the way, you seem to go hungry often. I live here, so if you ever need food, company, or help, feel free to come by."

Robin's eyes lit up with joy at his invitation. Being ostracized by everyone on the island except the scholars, she had never experienced such kindness from someone her own age.

Feeling the night grow late, Robin decided to head home, still wary of staying out too long and angering her aunt. Shalanter didn't press her to stay, knowing they had only just met.

As she left, Shalanter watched her small figure disappear into the night, his thoughts once again turning to his late sister. Her resemblance to Robin was uncanny, stirring an intense mix of guilt and longing within him.

For the first time in a long while, he felt a spark of purpose.