Chapter 1: The Scars of Seoul and a Midnight Awakening
The fluorescent hum of the classroom barely pierced the thick blanket of apathy that usually settled over Dev. At eighteen, on the cusp of graduation from his unremarkable high school in Seoul, his world felt stiflingly small. He was a "trash" as Su Han, the arrogant heir of the Raging Bulls guild, so eloquently put it. And for good reason, in the eyes of this new, power-driven world. While others his age, or even younger, awakened to incredible superpowers, Dev remained agonizingly, frustratingly, ordinary. Black hair, black eyes that held a depth far beyond his years, and a lean handsomeness that went unnoticed amidst the flashy displays of awakened abilities – he was a ghost in a world of giants.
Six years ago, when he was just twelve, a monstrous portal break had shattered his life, claiming his parents. That raw, visceral grief had been compounded by a growing sense of helplessness. In a world where power ruled everything, where hunters could earn fortunes and privileges beyond imagination, Dev, with his good academic scores and sharp mind, was still considered less than nothing. The government might offer a semblance of care for normals, but the true currency was strength. The higher the hunter rank, the higher the pedestal.
He sat in the last chair, a silent observer of a society that had no place for him. His gaze drifted, past Sung Jin-Ah, Sung Jin-Woo's younger sister, two years his junior, to the window, where the city lights blurred into a frustrating promise of a life he couldn't reach. He was graduating, and the terrifying reality of his future loomed large. A job, a normal, mundane job, was his only hope in an era dominated by awakened beings and constant threats from monstrous gates. He harbored a quiet ambition to join the legislative branch, to find a place where his intellect might matter, but even that felt like a distant dream.
The sudden shadow falling over his desk pulled him from his reverie. It was Su Han, flanked by his usual sycophants. Su Han, with his own handsome features, but a sneer that twisted them into something ugly. The heir to the Raging Bulls guild, his father, Su Jin, an A-rank hunter and the guild's formidable head, ensured Su Han's inflated ego remained unchecked. Su Han himself had awakened an A-rank Berserk Mode, a power seemingly inherited, further cementing his superiority.
"Oh, look, our Dev's scared, a useless trash," Su Han drawled, his voice dripping with condescension, eliciting snickers from his friends. "What are you thinking, Dev? Do you want to get a job after graduation? I can give you one, as a driver. Would you like that, huh?"
A familiar wave of shame washed over Dev as he felt the averted gazes of his classmates. They didn't want to see the "trash" being humiliated. He knew the truth: in this world, without power, you were nothing. He had yearned for a golden finger, a system, a cheat code, when he first arrived in this world as a time traveler, carrying the weight of knowledge about the Rulers and Monarchs. But time had proven cruel. No system. No cool powers at sixteen, a crushing blow. The disappointment had festered, turning into a dull ache.
Su Han, having delivered his daily dose of torment, turned and left, his laughter echoing in the now-empty classroom as the bell for dismissal rang. Dev remained, the lingering mockery like a bitter aftertaste. He eventually gathered his meager belongings and made his way to his small apartment in a modest residential area of Seoul. It was his family's property, a painful reminder of parents who were no longer there. Their savings, combined with his own meager earnings from part-time jobs, were dwindling fast.
He took a long, hot shower, trying to wash away the day's indignities, then ate a solitary instant noodle dinner. Lying in bed, the silence of his apartment pressed in on him. School was finally over. Tomorrow, he would be eighteen.
As the clock crept towards eleven, a sudden chime echoed through his apartment. The doorbell. Dev frowned, confused, then cautiously approached the door. He opened it to reveal a vision of delicate beauty. Lu Sing, daughter of the wealthy Lu family, her long black hair framing a shy, stunning face with deep blue eyes. She looked like an actress, her curves graceful beneath her modest dress. Despite her family's desire for her to marry a powerful hunter, Lu Sing and Dev had been childhood friends. And she liked him.
"Happy birthday, Dev," she whispered, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink as she held out a small cake.
"Thank you," Dev replied, a rare, genuine smile gracing his lips. He led her inside, the small apartment feeling less lonely with her presence. An awkward silence settled between them, broken only by the soft tick of the clock.
"Let's celebrate your birthday," Lu Sing said, her voice barely above a whisper. They ate cake, the sweetness a welcome contrast to the bitterness of his day, and talked of trivial things, until the conversation took an unexpected turn.
"I… I like you," Lu Sing confessed, her face a deep crimson.
Dev's heart ached. He liked her too, more than she knew. "I also like you," he said, his voice husky, "But your father, Lu Sheng, he wouldn't agree. We have to be… apart. You know what I mean." The unspoken truth hung heavy between them – he was "trash," she was a gem to be wed to power.
Suddenly, Lu Sing leaned forward, her face inches from his. The sweet taste of cherry filled his mouth as their lips met. It was brief, tender, and filled with a desperate sadness.
Pulling away, her eyes brimming with tears, she whispered, "My father wants me to marry Su Han."
The name hit Dev like a physical blow. Su Han, the bully, the A-rank hunter, the symbol of everything Dev wasn't. A surge of impotent rage coursed through him, but he forced it down. What could he do? Nothing. He could do absolutely nothing.
Lu Sing saw the defeat in his eyes. "I will wait for you," she promised, her voice choked with emotion, before turning and running out of his apartment, her tearful silhouette disappearing into the night.
Dev sank onto his bed, the taste of cherry and the sting of humiliation mingling on his tongue. Power. Strength. That was all that mattered.
As the clock's hands met at midnight, a profound silence descended upon the apartment. Then, a sudden, booming voice resonated within Dev's mind, making the air crackle with an unseen energy.
"Ding! Eighteen year survival in chaos world completed."
Dev's eyes shot open. He bolted upright in bed, heart hammering against his ribs.
"God-level Answer System activating."
Another chime, clearer this time, sharper.
"Ding! 10 One Piece world lottery."
"Congratulations, Host, for getting 10 lottery of One Piece world."
Dev didn't react at first, the words swirling in his disbelieving mind. But then, as the full implication sank in, a joyous, almost hysterical laugh bubbled from his throat. He leaped from his bed, a wild grin spreading across his face.
"Is this it? Is this the cheat, finally?!" he exclaimed, the words a desperate prayer. He quickly composed himself, his mind racing. "System, what do you do?" he demanded, his voice trembling with anticipation.
"System provides lottery and rewards from many worlds," the voice resonated again, calm and omniscient. "With lottery of a certain world, you can gain anything from that world—items, physics, magic, and any other things. The rewards are also from different worlds. You can also have a chance to go to certain worlds. And answering questions you can get those lottery and rewards. But you have to first answer certain questions in your life to gain lottery and rewards."
Dev's eyes devoured the notification. Ten lotteries for the One Piece world! Could he get a Devil Fruit? Or Haki? This was more than he could have ever dreamed.
"Do Host want to use one lottery or all lotteries?" the system asked. "If Host uses 10 lotteries at the same time, it has a good chance that Host can get good rewards."
Dev hesitated for only a second, then a determined glint appeared in his dark eyes. "Use all 10 lotteries!"
His surroundings shifted, the familiar walls of his apartment dissolving into a swirling vortex of colors. He found himself standing before a colossal, shimmering Luck Wheel. Its surface was a blur of constantly changing slots, showcasing an array of items: various Devil Fruits, strange artifacts, and glowing Haki cards.
"Click START button to start Luck Wheel," the System instructed.
Dev's finger, surprisingly steady, tapped the glowing button. The wheel spun, a dizzying whirlwind of possibilities. After what felt like an eternity, it began to slow, the individual slots becoming clearer. Ten kilograms of sea monster meat, a wine bottle, a new brush… nine mundane items appeared, then the wheel finally ground to a halt on the last, most conspicuous slot. A fruit. A strangely shaped, colorful fruit. A Devil Fruit!
The items materialized on a shimmering table before him: the sea monster meat, the wine bottle, the brush, and then, two glowing cards, and the mysterious Devil Fruit. He instantly discarded the less useful items into his newly discovered System Inventory. His gaze locked onto the two shimmering cards and the fruit.
He reached for the first card. As his fingers brushed it, it dissolved into a golden light that surged directly into his body.
"Ding! Intermediate Armament Haki obtained."
A powerful wave of energy coursed through Dev, a sensation of immense strength filling his limbs. His body, once lean, visibly transformed, muscles rippling and hardening, taking on the sculpted appearance of an athlete who had dedicated years to rigorous training.
He then touched the second card. This one exploded into a blinding light that went directly to his head. A moment later, a shocking crimson aura erupted from his body, crackling with red lightning, filling the Luck Wheel space with an oppressive pressure. It was Conqueror's Haki! Dev, guided by an innate understanding from the system, instinctively reined in the overflowing power, drawing it back into himself.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for getting Conqueror Haki (Advanced Level)."
A subtle, invisible aura now emanated from Dev with every movement, an undeniable presence that commanded attention. If a devoted One Piece fan were to witness him now, they might compare him to Shanks, the Red-Haired Emperor, whose mere presence could subtly leak his immense Conqueror's Haki. Dev's very aura had changed; it now carried the untamed power of a primordial beast, making it impossible for anyone to look down upon him. His black eyes, now even deeper, held the weight of a newly awakened power, a hint of the emperor within.
Finally, his gaze fell upon the last item: the enigmatic fruit. "System, what fruit is this?" he asked, his voice filled with a newfound confidence.
"This fruit is especially enhanced for Host," the System replied. "It is the Hobi Hobi no Mi fruit."
Dev's breath hitched. The Hobby-Hobby Fruit!
"This fruit can change people or animals into toys, even weapons, when they are touched. You can also use them as puppets. This fruit provides you eternal youth. The people who are changed into toys will obey your order regardless of anyone. If they change back to normal, unless they have your contract, they will obey your order. The contract can only be removed by Host only. This is an enhanced version of the Devil Fruit by the System. It has no weaknesses like other Devil Fruits, such as Seastone and seawater, or other limitations."
No weaknesses! This was beyond anything he could have imagined. Dev picked up the fruit, its bizarre pattern feeling strangely comforting in his hand. He took a bite, bracing himself for the legendary terrible taste of Devil Fruits. A wave of disgusting bitterness washed over his tongue, making him want to vomit, but he forced himself to swallow the entire fruit.
As the last piece went down, a flood of information poured into his mind, an immediate, instinctive understanding of the Hobi Hobi no Mi's vast capabilities. Guided by the system, he felt his control over his new powers solidify instantly. He could now wield them with pure will.
He collapsed back onto his bed, the exhaustion of the day and the overwhelming influx of new power finally catching up to him. But this time, it was different. This was the first time he had slept so deeply, so freely, a smile playing on his lips. The "trash" was no more. A legend had begun to awaken.
What do you think Dev will do first with his newfound powers?