The sea was peaceful that day. The sun shone down like a gentle blessing on the endless blue waves. Seagulls flew over the horizon, cawing lazily as they circled above a lone wooden barrel floating quietly on the surface of the Grand Line.
A soft breeze drifted over the ocean, carrying with it the smell of salt and adventure.
Suddenly—
CRACK!
Lightning flashed across the clear sky with no storm in sight. And from the heavens, something—or rather, someone—fell.
SPLAAAAASH!
The ocean swallowed the figure whole. For a moment, everything returned to silence, until the sea began to bubble.
The lid of the barrel suddenly shook.
BOMM!
It burst open, and a boy with a wide grin and a red vest popped out. His black hair clung to his forehead, soaked, but his eyes sparkled with energy.
"Whoaa~!! I'm ALIVE!!" Luffy cheered, arms stretched to the sky. "I'm finally out of that barrel!!"
Just a few feet away, another figure floated on a piece of broken wood from a fallen sky vessel. His body was sprawled, hair black as ink and glistening wet, eyes shut like he was asleep. He looked… peaceful. Handsome, even regal in his messy state.
And then—
His eyes opened.
Piercing blue like a sharpened blade. Cold at first… but full of curiosity.
[…Welcome, Rex. Synchronizing... complete. Your body has adapted.]
Rex blinked. He didn't know where he was, or why he had water in his mouth. But there was something... someone… speaking inside him.
"What… the hell? I was watching One Piece... and now I'm…"
His mind began to clear. His memories—home, phone, snacks, laughter—were fading, being overwritten by something far more vivid. This was no dream.
This… was real.
He turned his head and saw Luffy laughing like a maniac, standing on the edge of the barrel.
Rex couldn't believe it. "No way… Monkey D. Luffy… the actual Luffy?!"
Luffy looked over, surprised. "Huh?! Who are you?! Are you a pirate?!"
Rex's lips curled into a smirk. The excitement bubbling in his chest was uncontrollable.
"Heh… Maybe I am. Or maybe I'm your biggest rival," he said, swimming closer.
Luffy blinked, clearly confused, but intrigued. "Ohhh? You talk big! What's your name?"
Rex climbed up onto the same piece of wood, droplets dripping off his toned body. The sun hit his face as he raised his head, his black hair sweeping back and revealing his striking eyes.
"I'm Rex. Remember it well."
[…Combat capabilities unlocked. Physical synchronization at 94%. Combat mastery level: Advanced. Estimated power rank: High Tier Rookie.]
Rex could feel the energy pulsing inside him. The [Michael] presence inside him—it wasn't magic, and it wasn't a Devil Fruit. It was something else entirely.
Something… beyond this world.
"Woah! You're cool!" Luffy laughed. "You're weird, but I like you!"
Rex chuckled. "I get that a lot."
Just then—
BOOM!!
A cannonball flew right past them and hit the water with a thunderous splash.
A pirate ship was heading their way, its black sails marked with skulls and bones.
"Uh oh… That's not good," Luffy said, casually scratching his head.
Rex turned to look. "That's Alvida's ship, right?"
"Huh? You know her?"
Rex smirked. "Let's just say I've done my homework."
They both stood up as the pirate ship drew closer.
Luffy grinned like a kid about to get candy. "Well then! Let's kick some pirate butt!"
Aboard Alvida's ship
"WHAAAAAT?! TWO BOYS FLOATING OUTSIDE THE SHIP?!" one of the crew screamed.
Alvida, the oversized iron-mace wielding pirate captain, snarled. "Who dares disturb MY ocean?! Bring them aboard!"
The crew scrambled.
Meanwhile, inside a storage room, a boy with glasses and orange hair—Koby—was scrubbing the floor furiously. He flinched when the cannon fired, eyes wide with panic.
"Pirates! Again?! I hate this!"
Suddenly—
CRASH!!!
The ceiling burst open as two figures landed in front of him.
"AAAHHHH!!!" Koby screamed.
Luffy landed gracefully. "Hehehe! That was fun!"
Rex landed beside him like a feather, standing tall, calm, and charismatic as if he had rehearsed it. He looked around, brushing imaginary dust off his shoulder.
"This place is filthy. No offense," Rex said, glancing at Koby.
"N-None taken!" Koby stuttered.
Luffy was already poking at random crates.
Alvida's crew burst into the room, weapons raised.
"THERE THEY ARE!!"
Rex stepped forward, cracking his neck.
"Alright then… Let's show them what we can do."
[…Combat engagement authorized. Initiating real-time combat support. Strategy routing online.]
Rex's muscles tightened, his eyes gleaming. He could feel his blood rushing, his breath calm, his vision sharper than ever before.
The pirates charged.
One swung his axe—but Rex ducked, spun, and elbowed him in the stomach so hard that he crashed into the wall and passed out instantly.
Another came from behind, but Rex leaned back Matrix-style, grabbed the attacker's wrist, and flipped him over.
Luffy was laughing wildly. "YEAHHHH! Gomu Gomu no… PISTOL!"
He launched his stretchy punch, sending three pirates flying.
Koby watched with his mouth open. "T-They're monsters!"
After a flurry of kicks, punches, and mind-blowing maneuvers, the pirates were out cold.
Rex wiped a speck of dust from his jacket. "Too easy."
Alvida finally stomped into the room, furious.
"WHO DARES MAKE A FOOL OF ME?! I'LL CRUSH YOU!!"
She charged with her massive mace.
Luffy stepped back. "She's all yours, Rex!"
Rex smirked. "Gladly."
He raised his hand.
Alvida swung.
Rex vanished.
SWOOSH!
He reappeared behind her, tapping her on the shoulder.
She turned. "Huh—"
BAM!
One clean punch to her stomach sent her crashing through the wall, unconscious.
Silence filled the room.
Even Luffy whistled. "Whoa. You're scary strong."
Rex smiled. "Told you. I'm your rival, remember?"
Later, on a small boat drifting away from Alvida's wrecked ship
Koby clutched the edge, trembling.
"I can't believe it… You guys just… beat them all…"
Luffy stretched and yawned. "So, Koby, what do you want to do?"
"I… I want to join the Navy! I want to be a good marine and stop bad pirates like Alvida!"
Rex nodded. "Chase your dream, Koby. Don't ever let someone else write your story."
Koby's eyes welled up. "Th-Thank you!"
Luffy smiled. "You're a good guy, Rex."
Rex looked at the horizon. "I'm not here to be a good guy… I'm here to be the best."
Luffy's eyes lit up. "Wait a second… You said you wanted to be King of the Pirates too, right?"
Rex turned to face him, his expression serious. "That's right."
"But I'm gonna be King!"
Rex grinned. "Then I guess we've got a race on our hands."
Luffy stared at him for a moment… then broke into a massive grin.
"I LIKE IT!! Let's both chase the same dream, and see who gets there first!!"
Rex laughed, his heart beating with the thrill of destiny.
"I'm warning you, Luffy… I don't plan to lose."
[…Captain rival status recognized. New quest: Surpass Monkey D. Luffy. Pirate King Challenger path engaged.]
The boat drifted gently under the golden sky. Their journey had just begun.
And the world… would never be the same again.