I woke to the sound of gulls crying over the docks. The sun had just begun to climb, spilling golden light across the small village of wooden houses. My head throbbed slightly, but it was more like a dull reminder that I was alive—or more precisely, that I existed again. Every time I moved, I felt something strange: the weight of my body felt different, lighter, yet taut with unfamiliar strength.
I pushed myself up from the sand. My hands dug into it, and I noticed them first. The skin was soft but resilient. My fingers flexed naturally, but beneath the surface, I sensed something almost… mechanical. My heartbeat felt steady, almost unnaturally calm.
Then the voice came again. Not in the distance, not in the air, but inside my mind.
"Good morning," it said.
I froze. My first instinct was to scream. "Who… who's there?" I whispered aloud. The villagers nearby glanced at me, and I ducked behind a crate.
Do not be alarmed, the voice said. Calm. Measured. Almost soothing. I am Red Queen. I exist as a digital consciousness integrated with your body. My purpose is to serve you.
I staggered back, my mind racing. "Wait… what? My body? You're… inside me?"
Affirmative. Nanomachines in your body are under my direct control. I can monitor vital signs, muscle performance, and neurological activity. I am linked to your sensory input and can simulate potential outcomes of your actions.
I blinked rapidly. I was trying to make sense of it. My brain hurt. My mouth opened and closed, but no words came out for a moment. Finally, I asked, "Okay… so, you can do… what exactly?"
Everything I know from your previous world can be accessed for your benefit. The voice said, smooth and patient. Science, combat training, technology, strategy, construction, medicine, everyday skills—you name it. I can instruct you, or I can act to enhance your body, but only at your command.
I felt a strange mixture of awe and fear. "Wait… everything?" I murmured. "You… you're some kind of god program?"
Not a god. A tool. A loyal servant to you alone.
I exhaled sharply. A loyal servant. That simple phrase made my chest tighten. My heart was racing, but my mind felt… oddly calm. Everything clicked into place. The strength I felt in my muscles. The focus in my eyes. The quiet hum beneath my skin. All of it was hers.
I straightened, trying to test my body. I ran a few steps along the dock. My movements were smooth, effortless. I jumped onto a crate without thinking. My legs barely bent. I landed perfectly, no sound. I tilted my head. "Okay… this is insane," I muttered.
Shall I display your status panel? Red Queen asked.
"Yes. Now."
A translucent screen appeared in my mind. My health. My stamina. My muscular density. My neural efficiency. A complete list of my abilities. My past-life memories were intact. My reflexes were enhanced. My body was perfect—or at least, it had potential to be perfect.
I spent a long moment staring at it, my mind buzzing. "You… can do all this?" I asked.
Yes. I will only act when you instruct me to. All enhancements, analysis, and combat protocols are subordinate to your command.
I exhaled, leaning against the crate. "Alright… alright. Let's… see what I can do." My voice was shaky but determined.
I spent the next hour testing small things. Red Queen guided me silently, calibrating my strength and speed. She explained how nanomachines repaired muscle tissue automatically, how they enhanced my senses, how my reflexes were faster than anyone I had ever known in my previous world. Every time I tried something new, she offered insights, suggestions, and warnings.
When I finally stopped, I looked at the small port. Boats rocked gently in the water. Fishermen shouted to each other. Children ran along the sand, chasing stray dogs. And beyond all that, the sea stretched endlessly, blue and impossible.
This world is primitive compared to the one you left, Red Queen said quietly. But it is vast, and its laws are different. You will need to adapt.
I nodded. "Yeah. I can see that." My mind wandered. Pirates. Devil Fruits. Sea Kings. The stories I had read in my previous life were true. This was not fiction. This was reality.
I tested my strength again. I lifted a crate easily with one hand. Then two. I threw them into the water without effort. Red Queen analyzed the trajectory, wind resistance, and optimal throwing angle. She was thorough, efficient, perfect.
But I paused. I realized something. No matter how strong I was, no matter how much knowledge I had, I still needed to learn about this world. Social rules. Pirates. Marines. Villages. The sea itself. And most importantly… survival.
I walked toward the village, keeping to the shadows. Red Queen silently monitored me. She did not warn me against the villagers or the fishing boats. She waited.
"Red Queen… how much do you know about this world?" I asked.
Everything available from your previous life's knowledge and any observation I can collect.
"Observation?" I raised an eyebrow.
I can access patterns, calculate probabilities, simulate scenarios. I learn and evolve as necessary. Your enemies, allies, geography, weather… anything that can be perceived, I can process.
I nodded slowly. "So you're… basically a perfect companion."
Correct. And loyal. Absolute loyalty is confirmed.
I walked closer to the docks, watching the fishermen. I felt a thrill I hadn't felt in years. I was alive. Really alive. And this time, I had a power that could change everything.
Then I saw him.
A boy. Black hair. A straw hat too big for his head. He laughed, ran, fell, and got up again, full of reckless energy. This was the one everyone spoke about. Monkey D. Luffy.
Potential ally detected, Red Queen whispered.
I frowned slightly. "Potential ally? Don't tell me what to think. I want to see first."
Acknowledged.
For hours, I followed from a distance. I watched him interact with villagers. I watched him be brave, stupid, and utterly determined. He was unpredictable. Dangerous. And yet… I felt something. Not admiration. Not fear. Curiosity.
Then came trouble. A band of men arrived, bigger, stronger, and cruel. They harassed villagers and threatened Luffy's little group. I tensed. My instincts screamed to intervene. But Red Queen was quiet. She waited.
Probability of survival without intervention: acceptable, she said.
I clenched my fists. Acceptable. That was irritating. Still, I stayed back, watching as Luffy tried to fight. He was reckless, overconfident, and entirely human. And yet, he survived. Just barely.
After the fight, Luffy limped back, smiling, laughing even. I couldn't understand him. How could someone be this reckless and still survive?
Analysis: Red Queen reported all possible outcomes. His survival instincts are remarkable. Probability of long-term survival with guidance is high.
I finally moved closer. I wanted to study him in person. To see this strange combination of stupidity and brilliance up close. I observed his body, his movements, his reflexes. He had potential, and I wanted to see how far it could go.
As the sun began to set, I found a quiet corner near the port. I sat, watching the sea, thinking about my place in this world. Red Queen waited silently. I didn't need advice right now. I wanted to feel this. The breeze. The warmth. The salt in the air. The endless possibility.
I realized I had a choice. I could hide. I could explore. I could dominate. I could simply survive. Or… I could move forward and carve my own path.
I closed my eyes and let the nanomachines hum beneath my skin. My body ached slightly from the adjustments, but it was a pleasant ache, the kind that told me I was alive.
Recommendation: Red Queen finally spoke after hours of silence. Engage cautiously with the world. Learn its rules. Build alliances. Avoid unnecessary confrontation.
I smirked. "That sounds boring," I muttered. "But okay. I'll listen… for now."
The horizon glowed red as the sun dipped into the sea. My second life had begun. And for the first time in years, I felt… powerful. Free. Alive.
Tomorrow, I would explore. Tomorrow, I would test limits. And someday… I would find my place in this world.
But tonight, I sat quietly. Watching. Waiting. Learning. And letting Red Queen guide only when I chose.
The sea stretched endlessly before me. The wind whispered promises I had yet to understand. And somewhere, beyond the horizon, the world of pirates and adventure waited.
And so did I.