East Blue, Nameless Island
A handsome young man with short black hair lay on his back on the beach, eyes closed as the sea breeze brushed against his face.
"…"
The salty wind slowly roused Shirogai Yamikuro's consciousness.
As he opened his eyes, a pleasant mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
[Host has transmigrated to the world of One Piece. God-tier Comprehension System successfully activated. Host now possesses Max-Level Epiphany and Max-Level Skill Copy abilities.
Other functions of the God-tier Comprehension System await host's discovery.
Wishing you an exciting journey in the world of One Piece.]
Shirogai blinked.
He had transmigrated.
And not just anywhere — this was One Piece.
And a system had bound itself to him.
Sitting up, he brushed the sand from his clothes, taking in his surroundings with sharp, calculating eyes.
A small, uninhabited island, from the look of it. Fresh water seemed plentiful, but food was uncertain.
His first priority was to find shelter and wait for a passing ship to take him to a nearby town.
As for the so-called God-tier Comprehension System, that could wait.
Survival came first.
"Let's see how big this place is."
He began walking west along the coastline, skirting around dense jungle that blocked his view of the shore.
"Huh?"
He suddenly stopped, a flicker of surprise in his gaze.
No way. Could it really be that coincidental?
Not far away, docked along the coast, was a small caravel with a sheep's head figurehead.
A symbol on its sail that any One Piece fan would recognize — a grinning skull wearing a straw hat.
The Going Merry.
The Straw Hat Pirates' first ship.
Shirogai's lips curled into a faint smirk.
If the Merry's here, this should be before the Enies Lobby incident.
Meaning Luffy and his crew are around.
Should he approach them?
Should he join?
As he considered it, lively voices carried over on the breeze.
"Luffy! Hurry up, there's a bunch of coconuts over here!"
Shirogai's sharp hearing caught the noise, and curiosity drew him closer.
Moving silently, he followed the sounds to a nearby coconut grove.
Two figures stood beneath the trees.
One was a grinning boy with a straw hat and a scar beneath his left eye — unmistakably Monkey D. Luffy, the future Emperor of the Sea.
The other was a lanky man with a light brown bandana, curly black hair, thick lips, and a comically long nose — Usopp, the Straw Hat sniper.
"Usopp, good find! I'm gonna grab more," Luffy said excitedly, extending his arms upward and slingshotting himself up a tree.
"Catch, Usopp!"
A coconut tumbled through the air, which Usopp deftly caught.
As Shirogai watched Luffy's elastic limbs in action, the system chimed in:
[Host observed: User of the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika.
Comprehended: Body-stretching ability.]
[Host observed: Individual with Beginner Conqueror's Haki.
Comprehended: Intermediate Conqueror's Haki.]
[Host observed: Individual with Beginner Observation Haki.
Comprehended: Intermediate Observation Haki.]
[Host observed: Individual with Beginner Armament Haki.
Comprehended: Intermediate Armament Haki.]
Shirogai's gaze narrowed.
So this is the effect of max-level comprehension?
Just by observing, I can grasp their abilities.
His body already felt stronger — sharper reflexes, keener senses, a surge of latent power.
He flexed his hand thoughtfully.
Stretch.
He tried mimicking Luffy's rubber-like movement.
To his mild amusement, his arms stretched upward like rubber, snatching a coconut from a tall branch before snapping back into place.
He caught the fruit with a smirk.
So I don't even need a Devil Fruit.
As long as I witness it, I can replicate it.
This system really is broken.
A thought struck him.
Devil Fruit users can't normally wield two abilities at once…
But I'm not a Devil Fruit user.
Could I learn multiple?
He set the question aside for later.
---
While Usopp enthusiastically sampled a coconut, Shirogai's Observation Haki sharpened, sensing imminent danger.
"Enemy approaching!"
He immediately turned his attention behind Usopp.
Three paces away, a giant python — easily six meters long, with scales the color of earth and moss — silently slithered toward the unsuspecting sniper, its gaping maw poised to strike.
"Hissss…"
"Usopp!"
Luffy shouted a warning from the tree, but it was too late.
Usopp turned in confusion.
"Behind me—?"
Terror struck as he locked eyes with the fanged predator lunging toward him.
"Gomu Gomu no Bazooka!"
Two rubber arms struck the python's lower jaw, launching it back.
But it wasn't Luffy's attack.
Usopp, trembling, glanced up at the tree.
"Thanks, Luffy! You saved me—"
But Luffy scratched his head sheepishly.
"Hehe, wasn't me. I didn't make it in time."
"Stop joking! I saw rubber arms—"
"It was him."
Luffy pointed toward a nearby tree.
Usopp froze.
"Wh-what? A ghost?!"
From behind the coconut tree, Shirogai Yamikuro stepped into view, a calm, unhurried smile on his face.
"You're welcome."
Relieved to see a person and not a specter, Usopp ran over, eyeing Shirogai's arms curiously.
"Wait — your arms stretched too?"
"Hehe, this is awesome!"
Luffy's eyes sparkled.
"I've never met someone else who can do that. Are you a rubber man too? Did you eat the Gomu Gomu no Mi?"
"No way," Usopp interjected. "Only one fruit like that exists at a time! Maybe he ate a different fruit that lets his arms stretch."
Shirogai smirked and decided to toy with them.
"I ate the Talent-Talent Fruit. As long as I witness an ability, I can copy it."
Usopp's jaw dropped.
"No way a Devil Fruit that busted exists!"
But Luffy, wide-eyed, accepted it without hesitation.
"Whoa, that's incredible!"
He extended a hand eagerly.
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy! I'm gonna be King of the Pirates. We're looking for new nakama. You're interesting — wanna join us?"
Usopp frantically tugged at Luffy's arm.
"Oi, Luffy! You can't just invite strangers—"
But Shirogai was already moving.
He glanced at Luffy's outstretched hand for a moment, then clasped it in a firm shake.
"Well I guess you'd need to take care of me, Captain."
Luffy cheered and threw his arms around him.
"You're our Sixth crew member now! Usopp, tell everyone we're throwing a feast!"
---
About the 'Beginner' Haki, it's referring to 'Dormant' or it can be 'Unawakened'