"How about you?"
Belle's sudden question caught Fenric off guard.
As someone who had crossed over into this world, he had no impression of the so-called goddess Yuhan. After arriving, all his focus had been on the Samsara Tower copies, leaving him little time—or interest—to notice the beauties around him.
Of course, that wasn't something he could admit. Otherwise, it would be too cruel a blow to a girl.
But Belle was sharp. The moment Fenric hesitated, she already understood his answer.
"Fenric, I was just teasing you. You're heading into another dungeon, right? Then I won't bother you."
Her EQ was high. Though she had failed to draw out the answer she wanted, she instantly disguised it as a joke and prepared to leave.
"Yuhan!"
Fenric called out, his gaze deep as he looked at her delicate face. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "I'll never forget the time in the 2012 copy—when you took care of me. Those days were the happiest, most relaxing time I've had in this world."
"!!"
Belle's face flushed crimson, her eyes sparkling with a joy she couldn't hide.
"Then… I'll leave you to it!"
Leaving those words behind, she hurried away in a flustered retreat.
Fenric watched her back as she fled, a small, inexplicable warmth stirring in his heart. When she finally disappeared from sight, he exhaled deeply and turned his attention to the guidebook in his hands.
The 14th Floor Dungeon of the Samsara Tower: Second Stage of One Piece
"The tasks in this copy, like those in the 12th-floor dungeon Avengers: Age of Ultron, aren't fixed. Upon entry, the system assigns missions based on your chosen faction and performance in the first stage."
"Because of this, the editor cannot provide specific task strategies. But there are key points everyone must remember!"
"First—this dungeon is considered one of the most important!"
"Why? Because upon completing your mission, you are guaranteed to obtain a Devil Fruit. The fruit's quality depends on your evaluation. Many Samsaras skyrocketed in strength solely because of this copy."
"So! Everyone, pay close attention to this dungeon. Cherish the opportunity, perform well, and aim for a true breakthrough!"
"The timeline is set ten years after the first stage of One Piece. The New World is full of new powerhouses. The Four Emperors still rule, and you'd do well not to provoke them lightly."
"In addition, take care around the up-and-coming generation: Eustass Kidd, 'Straw Hat' Monkey D. Luffy, 'Magician' Basil Hawkins, 'Surgeon of Death' Trafalgar Law, and others. Unless your mission requires it, don't engage them."
"Also—your faction carries over from the first stage. Pirates remain pirates. Marines remain marines. Normally, the two factions' missions oppose each other—Pirates vs. Navy. But additional missions may appear depending on the system's arrangements."
"That's all the editor can say. Finally, good luck—aim for a high evaluation and a powerful Devil Fruit!"
Fenric finished reading, his eyes gleaming.
"Ten years later, huh? Even the Straw Hat boy has grown up by then…"
He muttered to himself, curiosity rising.
"I wonder what kind of mission I'll get."
Still, his familiarity with One Piece gave him confidence. Whatever the task, he'd have an edge.
A glance at the time showed it was already 2:40 a.m.
Resolute, Fenric activated the system's teleport and returned to the Samsara Tower.
Passing the world's Top 100 Master Rankings, he couldn't help but glance at his own alias. "Shura" now stood at 84th place.
Of course, that ranking was thanks in part to the boost from Thor's Ring.
Without hesitation, he used a dungeon refresh card and stepped toward the 14th floor.
The next moment, an elf spirit manifested at his side.
"Greetings, Samsara Shura. What assistance do you require?"
"I'm entering the copy," Fenric replied.
"This dungeon is One Piece. Do you confirm your entry?"
"Confirm."
"Very well. Please wait."
With a wave of its hand, the elf spirit teleported him into the stark-white preparation room.
Dozens of Samsara players were already gathered there—at least fifty or sixty by his estimation.
A large-scale copy. One floor, one dungeon. The turnout was normal. Compared to the first stage of One Piece, which had seen hundreds of participants, the numbers here were far fewer. By the 14th floor, many Samsaras had already been eliminated or stuck on earlier challenges like the 10th floor's Final Destination copy.
The moment Fenric appeared, eyes turned toward him.
"That mask—wait, that's…"
"It's Shura!!"
The name rippled through the room, tension rising like a wave.
"Holy sh*t, the Shura God himself."
"Ranked in the global top ten…"
"Don't exaggerate. That was only because of special item boosts. His real rank is 84th."
"And what of it? 84th is still way out of our league!"
"Wasn't Shura aligned with the pirate camp back in the first stage?"
"Yeah, his strategy guide back then caused a huge stir. Everyone knows it."
"Then what if I ended up in the navy this time?"
"What else can you do? Withdraw! If you run into him, do you think you have a chance?"
"Good point. I'm out!"
"Boss, wait for me!"
One by one, the Samsara players scrambled for the exit.
Within moments, nearly half the room emptied—almost all those who had drawn the navy faction fled.
Only pirates remained.