In Alabasta, the treasure hidden underground was something everyone sought. Unfortunately, Alabasta had been ravaged by years of conflict, leaving even the most sought-after treasures sealed in places others couldn't easily find. The reason Nicole Robin had been working for Crocodile was simple: she had the ability to decipher ancient texts. Her knowledge made her invaluable to Crocodile, and her position as his subordinate was one she couldn't easily escape from.
Now that Crocodile had been defeated by Akira, however, things had changed. Akira found himself in the unique position of being able to uncover Alabasta's greatest secret—one that Nicole Robin had been chasing for years.
When Akira explained the situation to his crew, Ellie couldn't hold back her hesitation.
"Mr. Akira, I know this woman, Nicole Robin. She's a demon that the entire world fears. Nobody dares to trust her. Even though Crocodile's defeat may have little to do with her, it's still suspicious."
For the first time, Ellie looked genuinely concerned. Her voice carried an edge of warning, yet Akira couldn't ignore the allure of the treasure that lay ahead.
"I understand your concerns, but the King of Alabasta has already agreed to this. If I refuse, I might miss my chance," Akira responded, his tone firm.
Ellie wasn't convinced. "She's not someone you can trust. She's manipulating the situation, just like she did with Crocodile. You're being too hasty."
Despite her warning, Akira remained calm. He had already made up his mind. "I appreciate your concern, Ellie, but I'm the one making this decision."
Ace, who had remained silent until now, added his voice to the mix. "I think Akira's right. If anyone can get to the treasure, it's him."
Akira gave Ace a small nod of appreciation, and with that, the group fell silent.
Then, the door to the room creaked open, and there stood Nicole Robin, as calm as ever.
"Mr. Akira," Robin said, her voice smooth and calculated. "I can see you've made up your mind. Shall we proceed?"
Ellie's eyes narrowed. "What is she doing here? She should stay away from our captain!" she said, her voice rising with frustration.
Akira, however, wasn't interested in another argument. "I've decided, Ellie. Nicole Robin, I agree to cooperate."
Robin's smile widened, as if she had anticipated this outcome. "Excellent. With your strength, we'll get to the treasure in no time."
With that, Akira and Robin ventured deep into Alabasta, following the trail of ancient inscriptions. The air grew heavier as they walked, the ancient stone structures of Alabasta towering over them like silent sentinels of the past.
After walking through a series of winding corridors, they finally came to a massive chamber. There, in the center of the room, was a large stone tablet. The inscriptions on it were unlike anything Akira had seen before. He knew that they were crucial to finding the treasure, but he didn't understand them.
"Do you know what this says?" Akira asked, looking at Robin.
Robin stepped forward, her fingers brushing lightly over the stone. "This is it," she said. "This tablet holds the key to the treasure's location. I've been waiting for years to decipher it."
Akira watched as Robin studied the markings, her brow furrowing in concentration. Finally, she stood back and nodded to herself.
"I've got it. The treasure is located beneath this temple. But there's a catch," Robin explained.
Akira raised an eyebrow. "A catch? What do you mean?"
Robin turned to face him, her eyes now serious. "The treasure isn't just guarded by the royal family's secrets. There's a beast—a guardian of this treasure—that has kept it hidden for centuries. No one has been able to reach it."
Akira's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword. "A beast? What kind of beast are we talking about here?"
Robin's gaze darkened as she explained, "It's a creature from the ancient past—something older than any of us. It won't be easy to defeat."
Akira clenched his fist. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there."
They approached the central pedestal in the chamber. Robin stepped aside, letting Akira take the lead. The moment his hand touched the stone, the ground beneath them shook. A low growl echoed through the darkness, sending chills down Akira's spine.
"That's the guardian," Robin said, her voice tense.
Akira drew his sword. "I'm ready."
Suddenly, the creature lunged from the shadows. Its massive form was shrouded in darkness, its eyes glowing with an eerie light. Akira swung his sword, but the creature was fast, darting into the darkness before he could land a blow.
"We have to move quickly," Robin urged, her voice steady despite the growing danger.
Akira didn't hesitate. He was ready to face whatever came next, knowing that there was no turning back now.
"Legends speak of terrible beasts lurking beneath this area," Nicole Robin said, her voice tinged with something like intrigue. "But no one really knows the full extent of the situation. If we venture out now, there may be risks. There's no way to guarantee what we're actually walking into."
Her words seemed deliberately provocative, as if she was testing Akira's resolve to push forward.
"Since we're already here, we might as well try it," Akira said, his tone calm and steady, betraying no hint of hesitation.
Nicole Robin smirked slightly, seemingly pleased with his decision. She led Akira to a small hole beneath the stone tablet. "It's been many years, so I'm not sure if this is the only exit, but it's the only one we have."
Akira didn't respond immediately. His eyes stayed fixed on the narrow passageway, a sense of anticipation building.
Just as they were about to enter, a sudden, unexpected sound filled his mind.
"Ding, the host unlocks the task function!"
Akira froze, confused and momentarily disoriented. He wasn't expecting this. What was this new voice?
"The task function is now being explained to the host… In short, the host will receive additional anger points through system-assigned tasks. Tasks will increase in difficulty, from D-rank to A-rank. The more difficult the task, the better the rewards. These rewards will allow the host to unlock other abilities."
Anger points? Tasks? Akira stood there for a moment, piecing together what the system was telling him.
"However, the system's tasks are time-limited. If the task requirements aren't completed in time, the corresponding anger points will be deducted. If there aren't enough anger points left, the host's level will decrease, and the abilities you've unlocked will be used as compensation to make up for the loss. If you fail to complete a task even after your abilities are forfeited, you will die."
The last word echoed ominously in Akira's mind.
Die?
A cold shiver ran down his spine. Despite the calm demeanor he usually maintained, the thought of death—actual, permanent death—was unsettling. What was this system, and why was it so unforgiving? Akira felt a sudden, intense pressure weighing down on him, but he quickly masked it with a stoic expression.
"You all right, Akira?" Robin's voice broke through his thoughts. She was eyeing him with a knowing look, her sharp eyes assessing him closely.
"Yeah," Akira replied, brushing off the lingering unease. "Just something unexpected, but we move forward."
Without wasting another moment, he stepped into the small tunnel after Nicole Robin, his senses heightened now, aware that whatever lay ahead could be far more dangerous than just the beasts lurking beneath the earth.
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