Don was doing something no one else could imitate.
The flames wreathing his body had ignited the massive nest beneath his feet.
Dry branches, brittle grass, and feathers—perfect kindling.
Within moments, fire consumed the nest. Perched atop the colossal tree, the burning nest looked like a blazing torch illuminating the sky.
Yet standing in the heart of the inferno, Don felt no heat at all. On the contrary, it was almost… pleasant.
Like soaking in a hot spring—his whole body wrapped in a gentle warmth.
It was his first time wielding such extraordinary power, and truth be told, he wanted nothing more than to experiment with the abilities of the Flare-Flare Fruit.
But now was not the time. Survival came first—research could wait until he was safely on the ground.
Still, he couldn't help but think ahead. If he relied solely on the Flare-Flare Fruit, wouldn't he end up as another Ace?
Yes, Ace was a renowned powerhouse of the seas, but his overreliance on the fruit and his lack of Haki left others with the impression that he was vulnerable.
Then again, maybe that was just bad luck in the way the "version" of his world played out.
Devil Fruits, Haki, swordsmanship, physical training—if the opportunity came, he would need to pursue them all.
Standing amid the flames, Don resolved silently.
Especially Haki. You didn't need to be a master, but you couldn't afford not to have it.
The only question was—could he, a transmigrator, even learn such a thing?
After all, he wasn't a native of this world.
If he couldn't… then maybe the only option was to hide away in some corner of the Four Seas.
His thoughts were a tangled mess.
Until
Crack!
A sharp sound rang out, followed by an irresistibly rich aroma that stood out even against the stench of burning wood and feathers.
Instinctively, Don stepped forward. The flames around him receded and gathered closer to his body.
His eyes fell upon the three enormous eggs in the nest.
Their blue shells had charred black. One of them had burst open, revealing egg white roasted golden-brown.
The fragrance lingered at his nose, making him swallow unconsciously as he walked over.
Since arriving in this world, he had eaten nothing but that Devil Fruit—and while he had finished it completely, it had dissolved in his stomach almost instantly.
In short: it didn't fill him up.
So when he reached the cracked giant egg, Don pried apart the blackened shell with one hand and scooped out a piece of egg white—crisp on the outside, soft and tender within.
Just one bite, and he knew—nothing he had ever eaten before could compare.
Especially not after the Devil Fruit.
A feeling of indescribable bliss welled up inside him.
When you're starving, nothing feels more divine than a mouthful of good food.
But he had only managed a few bites when a shrill bird-cry echoed from afar, making his entire body jolt. He snapped his head toward the sound.
A massive bird with dazzling plumage was soaring toward him, wings outstretched, its mournful cries echoing in the sky.
Damn.
He had burned its house and eaten its children. What else could he expect but vengeance?
Almost instinctively, Don searched for a hiding place.
But the giant bird was too fast. In the span of a few breaths, it was overhead, a supersonic roar trailing in its wake.
And then he saw it.
Its wings spread wide above the nest, blotting out the sky. Its head resembled that of a dinosaur—only with a beak.
Boom!
The colossal creature landed directly on the burning nest, seemingly unbothered by the flames.
Its massive eyes blazed with fury, locked onto Don—still clutching a piece of roasted egg white.
I'm done for.
That was his first thought.
What the hell is this thing?
That was his second.
Its appearance defied logic, but then again—this was the One Piece world.
…So never mind.
Even under the crushing weight of the bird's furious gaze, Don couldn't stop his mind from wandering.
Humans really never learned until they saw their own coffin.
ROAR!
The giant bird shrieked, the stench of raw fish carried by the gale that blasted toward him.
Before Don could even wrinkle his nose at the stench, the flames still lingering in the nest flared violently, reigniting with a thunderous boom.
Startled, the giant bird flinched. But almost immediately, its rage only deepened.
Its long neck and head swung like a massive flail, smashing down toward the nest.
"Oh, come on—seriously?!"
Don was stunned. Was it really abandoning its own three children?
Well… technically, they were already cooked.
Nest and man alike were sent flying, branches and debris scattering in all directions. Amid the chaos, a shower of golden light spilled out from the nest, glittering as it rained down.
Boom!
Flames erupted around Don, igniting everything that fell with him.
In an instant, a fireball ten meters wide blazed in midair.
The enraged bird spread its wings and lunged straight at the blazing sphere.
With a thunderous impact, the fireball exploded into a spray of sparks, scattering like fireworks across the sky.
From within those dying flames, Don's body re-formed, floating in midair—his strength draining away rapidly.
As expected—regenerating his physical body after dispersing into flame consumed stamina.
That much had become clear just now, when he'd merged with the burning debris to form the fireball, only to be shattered apart by the bird's charge.
How could he kill this thing?
The way things stood, one of them wasn't leaving alive.
But killing such a behemoth was no easy feat.
The thought had barely formed when a massive beak filled with jagged teeth lunged toward him.
Oh. Right.
Bird necks could twist all the way around.
That was his final thought before he was swallowed whole.
BOOM!
The instant the bird gulped him down, flames erupted from its beak like a jet of fire.
The monstrous bird screamed as it plummeted, crashing to the ground, writhing in agony.
The inferno spreading across its body ignited everything nearby.
…
"Oi, lads! You see that? Treasure for sure!"
Not far from the burning island, a pirate ship was speeding toward shore. A cutlass-wielding pirate stood at the bow, shouting in excitement.
"YEAH!"
The crew roared in unison.
From afar, they had watched as a massive torch ignited atop the island's giant tree. Then came the explosion of fire, and under the sunlight, countless golden flecks had rained down like coins from the heavens.
No doubt about it—treasure.
And wasn't that exactly what they had gone to sea for?
Without hesitation, the reckless pirates sailed straight for the island.
As for the enraged giant bird that had returned just moments ago? None of them had seen it.
Soon, their ship drew up to shore—and at once, the pirates' eyes lit up at the golden glimmers scattered across the sand.
Treasure.