Chapter 2: The Tale Weaver's Legend Begins
The atmosphere in Grove 13 was thick with tension. Passersby stood frozen, their gazes locked onto the lifeless corpse of "Iron Jaw" Drego, the infamous pirate captain with a 30 million bounty.
But what truly sent chills down their spines wasn't the death itself—it was how effortlessly it had happened.
A single motion.
A simple gesture.
And the man was split in half.
The news spread like wildfire. In less than an hour, the entire Grove 13 knew the name—Ash Veyron, the Wandering Storyteller.
A man with no known bounty, no known crew, and no known history—yet capable of slaying a seasoned pirate in an instant.
Some whispered in awe, others in fear. Some merely dismissed it as a fluke, claiming Drego was weak. But one thing was certain: Ash was no ordinary man.
And yet, amidst all the rumors, no one truly knew his story.
Because the truth was—Ash was not of this world.
---
A Tale from Another World
Ash Veyron was once a man of Earth. A writer. A creator of stories.
In his past life, he spent his days crafting worlds, building characters, and weaving tales that captivated readers. He was an author, someone who lived within the realm of imagination, bringing fiction to life with each stroke of his pen.
But one fateful night, as he sat at his desk, typing away at the next chapter of his latest novel, a sharp pain struck his head.
It was sudden. Unbearable.
His vision blurred, his fingers trembled, and before he could even comprehend what was happening—darkness swallowed him whole.
When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in his familiar room. The scent of the ocean filled his lungs, the cries of seagulls echoed above, and an entirely new world stretched before him.
Confused, disoriented, and overwhelmed, he took in his surroundings. The vibrant skies, the peculiar architecture, the massive trees…
It didn't take long for him to realize—he was in One Piece.
And then, before he could even fully process it—
•|Ding! The Tale Weaver System has been activated.|•
A clear mechanical sound echoed in his mind, reverberating like a ringing bell that demanded attention.
Ash's body tensed as lines of glowing text materialized before his eyes, as if he were staring at an invisible screen that only he could see.
[Tale Weaver System]
A system granted to the wielder of stories. This system allows the user to create and tell tales, gaining powers, skills, and items based on the stories written.
Ash blinked.
"A system?" he muttered, staring at the floating text.
The more he read, the more intrigued he became.
The system didn't grant him immediate strength like some overpowered cheat. Instead, it functioned based on creation. If he crafted a compelling story, he could obtain skills, weapons, or abilities related to it. The better the story, the stronger the rewards.
As a writer in his past life, it was as if fate itself had handed him the perfect tool.
But before he could explore the system further, another sharp pain surged through his skull—memories poured into his mind, images flashing one after another.
The Pirate King.
The Grand Line.
The Marines.
The Yonko.
Everything about the One Piece world—the world he had once read about, watched, and obsessed over—now became his reality.
The realization struck him like a tidal wave.
He was in the most dangerous world imaginable.
A world of monsters, gods, and legends.
---
A Name That Shakes Grove 13
Back in the present, Ash continued walking through the streets of Grove 13, unfazed by the murmurs around him. His name was already spreading.
Many low-bounty pirates instinctively backed away at his presence, unwilling to risk their lives against someone who had slain Drego with ease. But others…
Some viewed him as prey.
"You think he's really that strong?" A rugged man whispered to his crew.
"He killed a guy with 30 million. You think you can take him, Captain?" one of his subordinates asked.
The speaker was a pirate with a bounty of 31 million berries. His name was Kradis "Thunder Fist" Garnett, captain of the Stormfang Pirates.
Unlike Drego, Kradis wasn't an idiot. He didn't rush in blindly. Instead, he leaned back, smirking.
"Hmph. He might be strong, but he's not invincible. Let's watch him for now. If he shows any weaknesses, we strike."
His subordinates nodded. They weren't the only ones thinking this way. Several other pirates with even higher bounties were now interested in testing the so-called "Wandering Storyteller."
But Ash?
He ignored them all.
He had no interest in proving himself to weaklings.
Instead, as he continued walking, he finally found something far more important.
A bar.
And not just any bar.
A small wooden sign above the entrance read:
"Shakky's Rip-Off Bar."
A small smirk played on Ash's lips. He recognized the name.
With an easy stride, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
---
The Woman Behind the Bar
The inside of the bar was dimly lit, yet cozy. The scent of alcohol and tobacco lingered in the air, mixing with the faint aroma of sea salt. It wasn't particularly crowded—just a few scattered patrons, lost in their own business.
And behind the counter stood a woman.
She looked to be in her forties, yet her sharp features and confident smirk gave her an ageless charm. Her short black hair framed her face, and she wore a sleeveless black top that accentuated her slender figure. Her eyes, intelligent and piercing, immediately locked onto Ash the moment he entered.
This was Shakuyaku.
A former pirate. A seasoned informant. And the owner of this little bar.
She leaned against the counter, lighting a cigarette between her fingers before exhaling a thin wisp of smoke.
"Oh?" she said, her voice carrying amusement. "Now this is a surprise. You must be the one everyone's been whispering about."
Ash raised an eyebrow, taking a seat at the bar.
"And what exactly are they whispering?"
Shakky chuckled. "A wandering storyteller who cut down a 30 million bounty pirate without lifting a weapon. That's quite the tale, wouldn't you say?"
Ash smirked. "Stories tend to grow the more they're told."
"True enough." She slid a bottle across the counter. "Drink?"
Ash nodded. "Something strong."
She poured him a glass, watching him with mild curiosity. "So, storyteller, what brings you to Sabaody? You're not here to buy a ship to the New World, are you?"
Ash took a slow sip, enjoying the burn of the alcohol before answering.
"Let's just say… I'm looking for inspiration."
Shakky tilted her head, intrigued. "For a new story?"
A glint flickered in Ash's golden eyes.
"Something like that."
---
A Tale Yet to Be Written
As the two conversed, more pirates gathered outside. Some watched from the shadows, others whispered plans.
But one thing was certain—Ash Veyron's presence had changed the tides in Sabaody.
His name had just begun to spread.
And soon, the world would hear of the Wandering Storyteller.
The man who weaved tales into reality.