One Piece: Conquering Wanokuni at Start

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In a gentle daze, Perona felt herself sink into a warm, comforting place—like the safe embrace of her mother when she was a child, something deeply reassuring.

It was as if nothing had changed, as though she hadn't eaten her Devil Fruit, her friends hadn't left her, her parents hadn't abandoned her. Every day felt like it was filled with joy.

"Alex said this girl is responsible for that ghost incident, so she appeared at the cemetery, right?" 

"Probably not, Yamato. Remember, I was treated like this as a kid too. After I ate my Devil Fruit, people started treating me like something unknown. She probably wandered there just looking for food."

"Come to think of it, I was shunned too because of my abilities. That's why I turned to archaeology."

"Sorry! Sorry! Let's not dredge up bad memories!"

The chatter intruded on Perona's dream, shattering the warm comfort around her.

"Hey! You guys! Can you keep it down? I'm still sleeping here!" 

As the noise grew louder, Perona fully woke, her eyes snapping open. She sat up suddenly, her drowsiness replaced by a fiery energy.

And just like that, three girls entered, their conversation halting as they stared at her.

'Wow, they're so tall!'

They looked young, but upon seeing Maria, Perona couldn't help feeling a bit awestruck. Then, she noticed her surroundings had changed. The quiet, eerie cemetery had transformed into an elegant room.

She lay on a soft bed, a cozy quilt draped over her legs, bringing the same warmth she'd felt in her dream.

"Who...who are you? And why am I here?" Perona clutched the quilt tighter, her words wary, though the comfort beneath the quilt softened her expression. She looked like a defiant cat, trying to keep her composure.

"Aww, what a cute little girl!"

Perona's reaction hit Maria's sweet spot, and without warning, Maria pounced onto the bed, wrapping her in a warm hug.

"You...you...what are you doing? Let me go!" Perona struggled to no avail, eventually waving her hand wildly, sending a small white ghost flying from her palm and straight through Maria.

"Bullying a little girl… I'm terrible! I should just disappear into the ground!" Maria moaned, kneeling on the bed, her face downcast.

"Haha! Maria, you are too funny," Yamato laughed, reaching out to poke the curious little ghost with interest.

"Calling others funny… I am sorry for being born," Yamato murmured.

Now, two of the girls sank to their knees in exaggerated defeat.

Seeing this, Robin quickly stepped back, wary of the ghost's power, lest it start saying something too embarrassing.

Trying to reassure Perona, Robin said, "Relax, we're not here to hurt you. A big guy brought you back here and said he'd take care of you."

"Take… me in?" 

Perona's eyes brightened, a glimmer of hope in them, though she hesitated. "Aren't you afraid of me…? I'm the one who can summon these strange ghosts."

Ne~ga~ti~ve~ Ne~ga~ti~ve~

Several little white ghosts floated up around her, their eerie laughter filling the room.

"What's the big deal? It's just your Devil Fruit ability," Maria said, smiling at her reassuringly even after the ghost's negative energy hit her. "Alex told us that we're born lucky people. Anyone who fears you just doesn't understand what they're missing out on."

"You—are you like me too?" Perona asked eagerly, picking up on the clues in their conversation.

"That's right!" Yamato replied, hopping onto the bed with excitement. "Maria can turn into a spider, and Robin can sprout extra hands. Their abilities are just as unique as your ghost powers!"

"Spider?! And extra hands?!" Perona exclaimed, wide-eyed with a mix of horror and fascination. After a moment, she snorted proudly, regaining her composure. "Well, it seems like my ghosts are still the best."

As she realized that these girls weren't bullies or threats, but rather kindred spirits, Perona's guarded heart began to open up to them.

"Hmph, I don't think my abilities are any worse than yours!" Maria teased, reaching out to gently pinch Perona's cheek before taking her hand and helping her off the bed. "Now that you're awake, it's time to take you to meet Master Alex."

In the training room, Alex sat cross-legged, practicing the precision of his Float-Float Fruit powers. Drops of water hovered in the air around him as he focused, training himself to control each one with flawless precision. 

With his strength nearing new heights, he had several goals: pushing Conqueror's Haki to new levels, reaching the rank of Great Swordsman, and fully awakening his Devil Fruit.

For Conqueror's Haki, he knew real progress would come through intense combat. In the meantime, he focused on his fruit abilities and swordsmanship, each demanding daily dedication and heightened perception.

As Kaido once said: "Awakening a Devil Fruit means achieving harmony between body, mind, and ability." This synergy was rare, known to only a few across the seas—just like those with Conqueror's Haki.

Even Kaido, despite wielding the Mythical Fish-Fish Fruit for so long, had not revealed an awakened form during their battles. Whether Kaido was hiding his full potential or not, Alex couldn't say. But as for his own path, he could only keep training, honing his understanding, development, and control over his powers.

A single drop of water condensed on his fingertip, infused with a high concentration of energy from the Float-Float Fruit. With a flick, the water shot forward with a piercing whistle, hitting the wall and forming a crater several meters deep—a force comparable to a sledgehammer blow.

Spreading his hand, Alex gathered thousands of water droplets in the air, forming a large water mass in his palm. With a smooth wave, he sent the water back into the sink without a single splash.

Knock knock!

A gentle knock on the door interrupted his focus, followed by Maria's voice from the other side. "Master Alex, Perona is awake and says she's ready to follow you."

Alex rose and opened the door, where the small, timid figure of Perona stood, fidgeting nervously.

"Master Alex," she began hesitantly, "can I really stay…?"

It was her first time meeting Alex, and she still didn't quite understand the titles of "Flying Admiral" and "Shogun" that Maria had mentioned on the way here. All she knew was that this man had brought her out of her lonely existence, offered her a warm place to stay, and the chance to make friends again.

"Of course," Alex replied warmly, placing a hand on her head. "From now on, you'll stay by my side as my retainer."

Though she didn't fully understand what "retainer" meant, the word "home" rang in her heart. She felt an instant bond with Alex, nodding enthusiastically. 

"Yeah!" she responded, her eyes shining with excitement and relief.