Chapter 1
Sea Circle Calendar 1520, May 11.
The Great Age of Piracy rages on. Twenty-two years have passed since Gol D. Roger's public execution.
Loguetown's twilight always carried the stench of rotting wood, as if the town itself resented being liked. Lorne D. Song wiped sweat from his brow and slid another mug of rum across the bar to the pirate in front of him.
Basil Hawkins—tall and gaunt, with a cold, pale face that radiated gloom and mystery. His golden hair fell in wild straw-like strands, framing narrow, piercing eyes that seemed to peer straight into fate.
The "Wavebreaker Tavern" sat right beside the execution platform. Every day it served the same desperate scum—pirates who drifted in blood-soaked and left the same way.
"Hey, barkeep! This rum's watered down, isn't it?" Hawkins slammed the table, making the wooden mug jump.
"Absolutely not, Captain Hawkins." Lorne forced a smile, inwardly cursing the bastard's entire bloodline.
For three years he'd endured this daily humiliation from every knife-edge thug who passed through—just to scrape together enough money to escape this hellhole.
"Hmph. You wouldn't dare." Hawkins downed the drink, then leaned in, voice low. "Heard a Celestial Dragon ship docked today?"
Lorne's hand froze mid-wipe on a glass. Celestial Dragons—World Nobles. Just hearing the name sent chills down spines. Last time they visited, they dragged off every girl on an entire street.
The tavern door jingled open. A petite figure stumbled inside.
A girl, maybe eighteen or nineteen. Silver-white short hair clung sweat-soaked to her cheeks. Her kimono hem was torn, exposing pale thigh. Most striking: a pair of fluffy cat ears atop her head, quivering in terror.
A Mink Tribe girl.
Pretty cute, Lorne thought.
"P-please… save me…" Her desperate gaze swept the room and locked onto him.
The next instant, the door crashed open. Three Celestial Dragon guards stormed in. The leader dangled manacles. "Lowly scum! Hand over that runaway slave!"
The tavern fell deathly silent. Hawkins and his crew bowed their heads, not daring to breathe.
Lorne clenched his jaw. Same old story—fiercest pirates turned meek lambs the moment a Celestial Dragon appeared. Even a "Worst Generation" monster like Hawkins.
The cat-eared girl ducked behind him, trembling fingers clutching his apron.
"Please…" Her voice was a mosquito's whisper.
[Ding! Suitable host detected. Devil Contract System activating.]
Blood-red text floated before Lorne's eyes:
[Mortgage your soul for the power to change fate? Yes/No]
What the hell? He blinked—the words stayed.
The guards advanced, metal boots clanging like funeral bells.
No time to think. Save her?
Screw it. Life can't get worse. In his mind: Yes.
[Contract sealed. Current Soul Purity: 100%. Redeemable Ability: Observation Haki (Beginner)]
A scorching rush shot up his spine into his brain. The world sharpened instantly. He could hear the guards' heartbeats, predict their moves—Left one draws in three seconds!
"Out of the way, trash!" The guard drew his blade exactly as foreseen.
Time slowed.
Lorne snatched a rum bottle and smashed it across the wrist with unnatural speed. Crack! Bone snapped; a scream followed.
"You dare attack a Celestial Dragon?!" The other two lunged.
[Combat Instinct Activated] flashed.
His body moved on its own—sidestep slash, elbow to throat, knee to groin. In under ten seconds, all three writhed on the floor.
Silence gripped the tavern. Hawkins' jaw nearly hit the bar. This timid barkeep just…
"You're… amazing…" The girl stared up at him, amber eyes wide with awe.
No time for talk. Lorne grabbed her hand and bolted for the back door. "System—what else can I redeem?"
[Consume 1% Soul Purity to redeem: Armament Fruit (Beginner)]
"Redeem!"
Agony ripped through him—needles in every vein. He dropped to one knee. His right hand morphed into… a flintlock pistol?
"Monster!" A recovering guard yelled.
Lorne raised the gun-hand and fired. Recoil numbed his shoulder, but the bullet shattered the doorway lantern.
Darkness swallowed the tavern. He scooped the girl up and dashed into the alley.
"I'm Rinne…" she whispered amid the jolts. "Thank you for saving me."
Lorne didn't reply. New prompt appeared:
[First Battle Reward: Devil Points ×100. Ability Tree unlocked.]
[Current Soul Purity: 99% (Below 50% triggers demonic transformation)]
Power had a price. But better to sell his soul to the devil than stay a spineless barkeep forever.
"Where are we going?" Rinne asked.
Lorne gazed at the distant harbor ships and cracked his first real smile in years. "Out to sea. To become pirates."
Three hours later, they'd stolen a small fishing boat and reached open water.
Rinne rowed steadily while Lorne tested his new powers—turning his left hand into a short blade to gut fish.
"Captain Lorne," she said seriously. "My people were captured by Celestial Dragons. I have to find them."
He ruffled her soft cat ears. "Then let's get stronger together."
Behind them, Loguetown's silhouette faded below the horizon.
Lorne didn't know where this system would lead him. One thing was certain—he was done being anyone's punching bag.