The morning sun cast golden light across the palace courtyard as the Straw Hat Pirates prepared to depart. Luffy stretched his arms high above his head with a satisfied grin. "Alright! Time to set sail!"
King Cobra stood before them, his expression a mix of gratitude and reluctance. "Must you leave so soon?" he asked, though he already knew the answer. His gaze kept drifting toward Nolan, who was leaning sleepily against a pillar. "The palace kitchens could prepare more of those meat skewers you enjoy..."
Luffy's eyes lit up momentarily before Zoro elbowed him. "Focus, Luffy."
Nami and Robin subtly shifted positions, forming a protective barrier between Nolan and the king's pleading looks. Their synchronized smiles held a silent warning - hands off.
Cobra sighed deeply. He'd spent sleepless nights imagining how different Alabasta could be with someone like Nolan staying permanently. The young man had ended their civil war with mere words and gifted them a divine artifact. And his dream of lazing around? The palace had plenty of comfortable spots for that.
His attention turned to Vivi, hoping his daughter might help persuade them. But the princess was too busy staring dreamily at Nolan, her cheeks faintly pink. Cobra suppressed another sigh. If only she'd inherited more of her mother's boldness...
As if sensing the king's thoughts, Nolan cracked one eye open. "Nuh-uh," he murmured, his voice thick with sleepiness. "Wanna see more islands..." He casually draped his arms over Nami and Robin's shoulders, the picture of effortless charm.
Nami immediately turned scarlet, while Robin simply chuckled, clearly enjoying the moment.
"What's happening?" Luffy blinked, head swiveling between them. "Did I miss something?"
Zoro smacked the back of Luffy's head. "Idiot." He strode toward the docks, Sanji following while shooting jealous glances at Nolan. Though after a moment, the cook's face reddened as he realized how naturally Nolan fit between the two women.
Defeated, King Cobra took a deep breath before dropping to one knee. The gathered ministers gasped at the unprecedented sight of their monarch kneeling before pirates.
"As both king of Alabasta and as a father," Cobra said, his voice thick with emotion, "I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please stay safe on your journey."
Luffy laughed loudly, flexing his arms. "What's with the serious face? We'll be fine!"
Vivi stepped forward then, her usual composure returning. When Luffy asked if she was sure about staying, she smiled warmly. "I have my duties here first, Luffy-san. But I promise - once Alabasta is rebuilt, I'll come find you all!"
The crew cheered at her declaration, their disappointment at her staying behind tempered by the promise of future adventures together. As they turned toward the docks where the Going Merry waited, the palace staff lined up to see them off, many waving handkerchiefs or calling out farewells.
Nolan lingered for a moment, glancing back at the palace one last time. Vivi met his gaze, her fingers tightening around Poseidon's Trident. "Take care of yourself," she said softly.
"Mm. You too," he replied with a lazy wave before ambling after his crew, the morning sun painting his blue hair in golden light.
The morning calm over Alubarna shattered like glass as news spread through the city streets. Merchants dropped their wares, mothers gasped clutching their children, and even the palace guards abandoned their posts in shock. Hands trembled as they passed around the freshly printed wanted posters - each sheet more blasphemous than the last.
At a bustling café near the palace gates, an elderly scholar's coffee cup slipped from his fingers when he saw the image. The porcelain shattered unnoticed against the tiles as he raised the poster with shaking hands.
There, in crisp detail, was the visage that had haunted Alabasta's dreams since the war's end - Nolan D. Ranvil, reclined effortlessly across Chopper's back like some lounging deity. The photograph had captured him mid-yawn, his pink eyes half-lidded yet still glowing with unnatural allure. His left hand cradled The Third Eye with casual familiarity, the deadly weapon looking more like an artist's brush in his delicate fingers. Sunlight caught the curve of his lips just so, turning what should have been a simple smirk into something that made hearts stutter.
"By the gods..." the scholar whispered, his aged eyes watering. Around him, similar murmurs spread like wildfire.
At the fish market, a burly vendor tore his apron clean off. "WHO DARES?!" His roar sent seagulls scattering as he brandished the poster like a battle standard. "This is no criminal! This is—"
"—A SAINT!" finished a flower girl, her basket tumbling to the ground as she clutched her chest.
The outrage spread faster than the morning tide. In the merchant quarter, shopkeepers slammed their shutters closed in protest. At the docks, fishermen burned marine recruitment pamphlets in effigy. Even the palace servants - normally models of decorum - could be seen weeping in the gardens, clutching the posters to their hearts.
Near the city square, a crowd was already forming, their angry chants shaking the palm trees:
"LIES FROM MARINE HQ!"
"OUR SAVIOR, A CRIMINAL?"
"JUSTICE FOR THE BLUE ANGEL!"
The protests grew so loud that the marine outpost on the outskirts locked its gates, terrified recruits peering through the barred windows at the growing mob. Their commanding officer frantically dialed headquarters, sweat dripping down his collar.
"Sir, we've got a full-blown riot developing over the new bounties! They're calling it... it's..." He swallowed hard, reading the graffiti now appearing on every whitewashed wall. "They're calling it 'The Great Heresy.'"
High in the palace, King Cobra watched the unfolding chaos from his balcony. In his hands, he held not just Nolan's wanted poster, but the entire Straw Hat crew's updated bounties. His fingers traced the embossed letters beneath Nolan's picture,
"NOLAN D. RANVIL - 'THE SLOTH' - 100,000,000 BERRIES - WANTED ONLY ALIVE"
A slow, knowing smile spread across the king's face as another wave of angry shouts rose from the streets below. He turned to his advisors, holding up the poster that had single-handedly united rebels and loyalists alike in outrage.
"Fan the flame up"
.
.
.
The deck of the Going Merry fell eerily silent. Even the waves seemed to hush when Nolan's lazy voice cut through the afternoon air.
"Hey... Zoro. Help me train."
Usopp's paintbrush clattered to the deck. Sanji nearly dropped the plate he was holding. From her reading spot, Robin's book slipped from her fingers with an uncharacteristic lack of grace.
Chopper's hooves clattered across the wooden planks as he rushed over. "N-Nolan! Are you feeling feverish? Let me check your temperature!" The little reindeer stood on his hind legs, pressing a hoof to Nolan's forehead with frantic concern.
Sanji lit a new cigarette with slightly trembling hands. "Maybe it's heatstroke. Check him properly, doctor."
"That's... rude," Nolan yawned, not even bothering to swat Chopper away. He simply blinked sleepily at Zoro, who stood frozen with a dumbbell in each hand.
The swordsman's eye twitched. "...You. Want to train." His tone suggested he was waiting for the punchline.
Nolan nodded, stretching his arms above his head with a series of alarming pops. "Stronger body. Don't worry... I adapt fast." His lazy grin did nothing to inspire confidence.
Luffy, who had been napping in the crow's nest, suddenly appeared upside-down between them. "SHISHISHI! Nolan's gonna exercise? This I gotta see!"
Under the collective skeptical gaze of the entire crew, Nolan shuffled over to a clear spot on the deck. He lowered himself into a push-up position with all the grace of a newborn giraffe. A single bead of sweat already trickled down his temple.
Zoro rubbed his temples. "Okay, first lesson - don't collapse before you even start."
Nolan took a deep breath, arms trembling visibly. With what appeared to be Herculean effort, he managed one single, shaky push-up before collapsing face-first onto the deck.
[Ding! Host has gained some epiphany!
Host's strength is confirmed to be lowered than a normal human...
Ding! Congratulations for successfully triggering a critic!
Host has gained the attribute: Adaptive body!]
[Attribute: Adaptive Body
Description:
Every time you train, push your limits, or exert yourself physically, your muscles, bones, and reflexes adapt faster than a normal human's. You gain strength, speed, and endurance at an accelerated rate, but still within realistic limits—no instant superhuman feats.
Abilities:
1. Rapid Strength Gain
- Lifting, striking, or resistance training yields 10x faster results than a natural athlete.
- Example: What takes others 3 months to achieve takes you 1 day.
2. Enhanced Recovery
- Muscle fatigue and soreness fade 50% quicker, letting you train harder, more frequently.
- Minor injuries (strains, bruises) heal twice as fast.
3. Reflex Sharpening
- Repetition of movements (e.g., dodging, punching) improves coordination noticeably faster.
- Muscle memory develops in half the usual time.
4. Conditioning Boost
- Stamina builds quicker—running, swimming, or endurance drills show rapid progress without plateauing as easily.]
Nolan pushed himself up onto his elbows, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Damn. Perfect."
Before Zoro could ask what that meant, Nolan was already attempting a second push-up - this time with noticeably less shaking. By the fifth rep, his form had improved dramatically. By the tenth, he was keeping pace with a moderately impressed Zoro's count.
Usopp's jaw hung open. "That's... not normal."
Sanji exhaled a long stream of smoke. "Nothing about him is."
Robin retrieved her book, watching with quiet fascination as Nolan's movements grew smoother with each repetition. "Fascinating. It's as if his muscles are learning in real time."
Luffy plopped down beside them, munching on a piece of jerky. "Hey Nolan! After this, wanna try arm wrestling?"
Nolan paused mid-push-up, considering. "...Nap first," he decided, before immediately rolling onto his back and closing his eyes - his sudden burst of energy apparently exhausted.
Zoro stared down at his new student, who was already snoring softly. "...We're starting with double sessions tomorrow," he muttered, though there was a hint of reluctant admiration in his voice.
---