The setting sun tinted the sea with a molten gold hue. Tsukasa Yuu sat near the fire, his fingers playing with a shadow dagger.
The dagger danced between his fingers, reflecting a strange gleam. The Shadow Dagger was exceptionally sharp, capable of easily cutting through a coconut shell.
At level 10, he had learned to condense shadows into physical objects. Although he was not yet very skilled and could only create small simple objects, he couldn't do everything he wanted.
His gaze swept over the crashing waves, but his thoughts drifted to a more distant place.
"The year 1520 of the Marine Calendar..." he murmured, a playful smile on his lips, "Luffy, that kid, should be setting sail now, right?"
Thinking of the Straw Hat boy who always smiled widely, Tsukasa Yuu's eyes darkened.
He knew all too well the power behind Luffy - Dragon and Sabo of the Revolutionary Army, Garp of the Marines, Shanks of the Four Emperors...
This network of connections was simply incredible. With the support of the Marines, the Revolutionary Army, and the Pirates, who would truly dare to touch him?
At that moment, a barrel floating on the sea caught his attention.
Tsukasa Yuu extended his shadow like a tentacle, gently pulling the barrel onto the shore.
It gave him a premonition: this barrel looked exactly like the one Luffy had when he set sail!
Did this mean that his current location was likely a deserted island in the East Blue?
As the lid was lifted, a ridiculously familiar face popped out.
"Pfft—I'm so hungry!"
Tsukasa Yuu almost threw the barrel back into the sea. The young man before him, with the iconic Straw Hat and a rumbling stomach, who else could it be but Luffy?
"Hey, man," Tsukasa Yuu took a half-step back, slightly furrowing his brows, "Your entrance was a bit... unique."
"Oh oh oh!! I'm finally saved!" Luffy completely ignored Tsukasa Yuu's complaint, his eyes fixed on the grilled fish over the fire, "Um... can you share a bit with me? Just a little bit!"
Tsukasa Yuu raised an eyebrow, looking at the carefree young man, and deliberately stretched his words: "Who are you?"
"Huh? You have food!?" Luffy jolted for a moment, but his movements towards the grilled fish didn't stop at all, "Wuwuwu—It smells so good! It's amazing!"
Watching Luffy devour the food, Tsukasa Yuu shook his head, helpless.
Under the firelight, the young man's simple clothes and hunger-green face reminded him of a distant afternoon - when he was still a 996 office worker, devouring instant noodles after midnight.
"Eating a stranger's food like that, really without a care," Tsukasa Yuu chin rested on his hand, thoughtful, "Indeed, surviving until the end doesn't rely on intelligence, but on the protagonist's aura."
"Ah wuu—It's delicious!!" Luffy ate like a reincarnated starving ghost, "This is the best thing I've ever eaten!"
He suddenly looked up, his dazzling smile, "Hey hey, your cooking is incredible! Want to join my crew? I'm looking for companions!"
"Can you... be my cook?"
Tsukasa Yuu observed Luffy, pretending to be serious: "Before inviting someone to join, shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"
"Oh! Right, I totally forgot! I'm Luffy! Monkey D. Luffy! I'm the man who will become the Pirate King! And you?!"
Luffy put his hands on his hips, his voice so loud that it startled a few seabirds on the shore.
Upon hearing the response, Tsukasa Yuu's mouth twitched, and he said subtly, "Oh~ Classic, too classic!"
Just as he was about to accept, a notification from the system sounded in his mind:
WARNING: As the "Shadow Monarch," the host can only level up solo. All companions must be shadow entities!
Tsukasa Yuu's fervent gaze suddenly cooled. He rubbed his temples, a complex expression passing through his eyes.
Luffy was still there, smiling like an idiot, waiting for his response.
"Um... My name is Tsukasa Yuu." Tsukasa Yuu cleared his throat.
"I won't join any pirate crew! If I ever decide to set sail, I will definitely be the Captain myself."
Luffy's expression instantly fell, "Oh, I see..." But he quickly regained composure, "That's okay! When you change your mind, you can always come find me!"
"Huh?" Luffy, full and content, suddenly pointed to the Shadow Dagger Tsukasa Yuu had used earlier, "That thing in your hand earlier, why did it disappear in an instant? Are you—hey hey, are you also a Devil Fruit user?"
Tsukasa Yuu leaned against a reef, his gaze seeming distracted, but a meaningful smile played on his lips.
"Oh? You noticed."
He casually waved his hand, and the surrounding shadows instantly surged like water, converging into a short dark blade.
The sharpness of the shadow glittered with a chilling gleam under the faint firelight.
"That's right." Tsukasa Yuu replied softly, his tone unreadable, "I am a Shadow Man who ate the Shadow Fruit."
Upon hearing this, Luffy's wide eyes widened even more, "Wow—is your power able to do that—whoosh whoosh whoosh, the shadow sneaks behind the enemy to attack! That's so cool!"
He gesticulated wildly, trying to express his admiration.
Tsukasa Yuu was slightly surprised, then chuckled, "Oh, you think of a lot of things, but my power... is much more terrifying than you imagine."
Then he squinted his eyes and smiled, "If you ever die, maybe we can become companions..."
"Hahaha! That's it! So wait! Before I become the man who will be the Pirate King, I absolutely won't die! I'm full, thanks for the meal, I must go!"
"Hey, Luffy, are you in such a hurry to leave?" Tsukasa Yuu 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 this place, well, we'll see each other again if fate wills it!"
"Oh, and later, could you give me a hand and throw me into the sea? As far as possible!"
Watching Luffy smile and put his overly full stomach back in the barrel, carefully closing the lid, it was both comical and absurd.
"I'm ready, go ahead! Throw me far!"
Tsukasa Yuu chuckled, waving his hand to control the shadows and wrap the barrel, then threw it with force.
"Bang!" The barrel tipped and crashed into the sea. Luffy disappeared into the waves as he wished, his voice echoing in the distance: "Thank you, Tsukasa Yuu! See you soon!"
At that 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, access to the shop.
"It seems," he said, watching Luffy's retreating back, a cold smile on his lips, "it's time to start the hunt."
Where there is light, there is shadow.
If you are the light, then I am the shadow.