The setting sun dyed the sea a molten gold color. Cheng Xiaoyu sat by the bonfire, his fingers toying with a dagger made of shadow.
The dagger flipped between his fingers, reflecting an eerie glow. The Shadow Dagger was exceptionally sharp, capable of easily cutting open a coconut's husk.
At level 10, he had already learned to condense shadows into physical objects. Although he was not yet proficient and could only make simple small items, he could not do whatever he wanted.
His gaze swept over the surging waves, but his thoughts drifted to a more distant place.
"The year 1520 of the Sea Calendar..." he murmured, a playful curve on his lips, "Luffy, that kid, should be setting sail by now, right?"
Thinking of the Straw Hat boy who always grinned broadly, Cheng Xiaoyu's eyes deepened.
He knew all too well the power behind Luffy—Dragon and Sabo of the Revolutionary Army, Garp of the Marine, Shanks of the Four Emperors...
This network of connections was simply incredible. With backing from the Marine, the Revolutionary Army, and the Pirates, who would dare to truly touch him?
Just then, a floating wooden barrel on the sea caught his attention.
Cheng Xiaoyu extended his shadow like a tentacle, gently pulling the barrel ashore.
This gave him a premonition: this barrel looked exactly like the one Luffy had when he first set sail!
Did this mean his current location was likely some deserted island in the East Blue?
The moment the lid was lifted, a ridiculously familiar smiling face popped out.
"Pfft—So hungry!"
Cheng Xiaoyu almost threw the barrel back into the sea. The young man in front of him, with the iconic Straw Hat and a rumbling stomach, who else could it be but Luffy?
"Hey, buddy," Cheng Xiaoyu took half a step back, frowning slightly, "Your entrance was a bit... unique."
"Oh oh oh!! I'm finally saved!" Luffy completely ignored Cheng Xiaoyu's complaint, his eyes fixed on the roasted fish over the bonfire, "Um... can you share some with me? Just a little bit!"
Cheng Xiaoyu raised an eyebrow, looking at the unguarded young man, and deliberately drew out his words: "Who are you?"
"Huh? You have food!?" Luffy was startled for a moment, but his movement towards the roasted fish did not stop at all, "Wuwuwu—It smells so good! This is great!"
Watching Luffy wolf down the food, Cheng Xiaoyu shook his head helplessly.
Under the firelight, the young man's simple clothes and his face, green with hunger, reminded him of a distant afternoon—when he was still a 996 office worker, and would also wolf down instant noodles after Gaban.
"Eating a stranger's food like that, truly an unguarded person," Cheng Xiaoyu propped his chin, thoughtfully, "Indeed, surviving to the end doesn't rely on intelligence, but on the protagonist's halo."
"Ah wuu—It's delicious!!" Luffy ate like a reincarnated hungry ghost, "This is the best thing I've ever eaten!"
He suddenly looked up, his smile dazzlingly bright, "Hehe, your cooking is amazing! Do you want to join our crew? I'm looking for companions!"
"Can you... be my chef?"
Cheng Xiaoyu scrutinized Luffy, feigning seriousness: "Before inviting someone to join, shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"
"Oh! Right, I forgot all about it! My name is Luffy! Monkey D. Luffy! I'm the man who's going to be the Pirate King! What about you?!"
Luffy put his hands on his hips, his voice so loud it startled a few seabirds shitting on the shore.
Upon hearing the reply, Cheng Xiaoyu's mouth twitched, and he said in a subtle tone: "Oh~ Classic, too classic!"
Just as he was about to agree, a system notification boomed in his mind:
WARNING: As the "Shadow Monarch," the host can only level up alone. Any companions must be shadow entities!
Cheng Xiaoyu's fervent gaze suddenly turned cold. He rubbed his temples, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.
Luffy was still there, smiling like an idiot, waiting for his reply.
"Cough... My name is Cheng Xiaoyu." Cheng Xiaoyu cleared his throat.
"I won't join anyone's Pirate crew! If I ever decide to go to sea, I'll definitely be the Captain myself."
Luffy's expression instantly fell, "Oh, I see..." But he quickly cheered up: "It's okay! When you change your mind, you can always come find me!"
"Huh?" Luffy, full and satisfied, suddenly pointed at the Shadow Dagger Cheng Xiaoyu had used earlier,
"That thing in your hand just now, why did it suddenly disappear? Are you—hehe, are you also a Devil Fruit user?"
Cheng Xiaoyu leaned against a reef, his gaze seemed unfocused, but a meaningful smile played on his lips.
"Oh? You can even tell that."
He casually waved his hand, and the surrounding shadows instantly surged like flowing water, converging into a dark short blade.
The sharpness of the shadow gleamed with a chilling luster under the faint firelight.
"That's right." Cheng Xiaoyu answered softly, his tone unreadable, "I'm a Shadow Man who ate the Shadow Fruit."
Upon hearing this, Luffy's bright eyes instantly widened even more: "Wow—can your ability be like this—whoosh whoosh whoosh, the shadow directly sneaks behind the enemy to ambush! That's so cool!"
He gestured wildly, trying his best to express his admiration.
Cheng Xiaoyu was slightly taken aback, then chuckled: "Oh, you think quite a lot, but my ability... is much more terrifying than you imagine."
Then he squinted and smiled: "If you die one day, maybe we can become companions..."
"Hahaha! So that's how it is! Then you just wait! Before I become the man who will be the Pirate King, I will absolutely not die! I'm full, thanks for the meal, I should get going!"
"Hey, Luffy, are you in such a hurry to leave?" Cheng Xiaoyu asked with a smile.
"Hmm, I don't know how long I've been at sea, but you're the first person I've met since I set sail! Since you don't want to leave here, then we'll meet again if fate allows!"
"Oh, and later, could you please give me a hand and throw me back into the sea? The farther, the better!"
Watching Luffy grinningly stuff his overstuffed belly back into the barrel and carefully put the lid on, it was both comical and absurd.
"I'm ready, come on! Throw me far away!"
Cheng Xiaoyu scoffed, waving his hand to control the shadows to wrap around the barrel, then flung it away with a powerful motion.
"Bang!" The barrel tumbled and crashed into the sea. Luffy disappeared into the waves as he wished, his voice echoing from afar: "Thanks, Cheng Xiaoyu! See ya!"
At this moment, the system interface unfolded before his eyes:
Main Quest Activated: Establish the Shadow Legion
Quest Requirement: Collect 10 shadows
Current Progress: 0 / 10
Quest Reward: 100,000 points, activate shop access.
"It seems," he looked at Luffy's receding back, a cold smile on his lips, "it's time to start hunting."
Where there is light, there is shadow.
If you are light, then I am shadow.