Gacha Infinity

 Looking surprised, but also quickly forming an excuse all the while, I reply with a sturdy answer after calculating for a short few seconds.

 "Huh? Oh, you mean now? It's probably just the way the starlight or moonlight catches them out here on the open sea, Captain. My eyes are usually a bright blue, but sometimes at night, especially when I'm tired or the light's playing tricks, they look much darker, almost black. It's a bit of a weird family trait."

 Jarvey takes a hard look at me and then shrugs with a chuckle, "It's fine if you don't want to tell me lad, I won't press." he walks away smiling, heading towards his private quarters.

 Sighing with a slight smile myself, I walk toward the crew quarters and lay down in a simple hammock that they put in place for me, and I fall asleep momentarily, the gentle sway of the ship carrying me into a deep slumber.

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 My eyes open to the endless white. "The... white room? Am I dreaming, or..."

 "A dream, yes, young soul. But a guided one; it was time we spoke again." a deep and echoing voice fills the space, my head quickly swiveling towards the direction.

 "Old man... you... you summoned me? Why? Has something gone wrong?"

 The Old Man chuckles softly in response, "Wrong? No, merely progressing as intended. Your journey has begun in earnest, I just wanted to tell you some things that you should know in advance... you'll definitely want to know." he says, smiling widely... almost unnervingly.

 "Uh... what is it that is so important?" I ask quickly, incredibly curious.

 "Well, the first is that the family you had in your previous life are doing just fine. They are living a billionaire life without all of the strife typically comes with it." He stops, allowing me to process. "The second, is that your initial gift was the so-called Soul-Anchor space that acts as your personal pocket dimension."

 I nod a couple times, "Thank you Old Man," I start before coming to a revelation, "Wait, initial gift? That would infer that are more, no?"

 "Haha, you catch on quick young soul; Yes, I have given you two more gifts, nothing much... just because you have sincerely caught my interest."

 Feeling my eyes bulge, "Holy!", I exclaim shamelessly, "Two more gifts, thank you!"

 "Yes, two more..." He chuckles, "...I have given you..." He pauses, allowing Ryojin's anticipation to build, his multi-hued eyes glinting with amusement. "...the very initial 'D.'" (haha... Initial D...)

 Ryojin blinked, once, then twice, the simple letter hitting him with the force of a tidal wave. "The... the 'D.'?" His voice was barely a whisper. "But... why? Why me? What does it even mean?"

 The Old Man's smile softened, losing its unnerving edge for a moment. "The 'D.' is not merely an initial in that world, young Ryojin. It is a symbol, a beacon, a key. It is carried by those destined to shake the foundations, to challenge the established order, and often, to face the very essence of that world's hidden history."

 I nod in agreement, with my knowledge of the anime series... "That's definitely true... but you still haven't told me why?"

 "I have already. I've told you, simply because you have intrigued me... that's all, just a whimsical choice." he laughs, the immense scale of his voice subtly disorienting me, "Ah, and your third and final gift... is Conquerors Haki."

 Still disoriented and shocked by everything, he simply just chuckles before snapping... (this again?)

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 Shooting up from my hammock to my seat, I quickly gather myself, with a huge smile on my face, 'Wow this adventure just got a whole lot more interesting!'

 Looking outside to the sea through the porthole, I see the lovely and breathtaking scene of a new day unfolding.

 The sun rising over a mountain... wait- a mountain! We must have finally arrived at Dawn Island and we're approaching Foosha Village now!

 I hastily walk through the door of the crews quarters, navigating through the passageways before arriving at the deck, my eyes looking towards the island... Dawn Island... Luffy, Sabo, and Ace's home island.

 Excited to see what's in store for me, I feel a splash of cold water run over me- literally!

 "Haha, good morning lad! You stink so I figured it was only necessary!" a loud laugh sounds, "Here are some clean clothes."

 I turn to Jarvey with an irritated smile on my face, "You know, thanks but you could have just told me normally..."

 He feigns a dumbfounded look, "Well what's the fun in that?" another boisterous laugh.

 'Good gracious...' I smile, "Well, it seems that we are soon to say goodbye, huh?" I extend my hand to him.

 He stops laughing and looks to me, "Yeah." he shakes my hand, "I'm sure we will meet again though, maybe at sea..." he smiles.

 I nod with an equal smile, "Indeed, our paths shall cross again."

 Exchanging farewells with the rest of the crew and giving them my best wishes, I step off the boat as we have already landed not too shortly ago... my first step on land in this world! And it was Dawn Island!

 'If you think about it... Luffy, Ace, and Sabo have all taken their first steps on land... on this very island too. I must be destined for greatness.' I smirk as I walk towards the village from the deck.

 Looking around, I see fishermen, their skin tanned and rough, were already sorting their morning catches... the air was thick with the briny scent of the sea and fresh fish. I see children, barely taller than fishing nets, darted amongst barrels and coiled ropes, their laughter echoing through the area.

 Smiling, I walk towards a modest, weathered wooden building that was near the waterfront... Party's Bar.

 'Now that I think about it, I don't even know what the timeline is... who knows if Luffy is even here anymore.' I think while facepalming, not caring how silly I look whilst doing so.

 I walk into the bar quietly, looking around and seeing no red hair... no straw-hat. Sighing, I walk deeper inside, toward the bar and take a stool.

 "Hello Miss Barkeep, can I have a simple ale?" I ask, digging into my pocket, and fishing some beli from my Soul-Anchor space- something I realized I could do after some practice

 Putting the beli on he table, I finish my sentence, "and just a bit of information?"

 The young woman with a bandana and a warm face, Makino as I knew her from the anime, gave a gentle smile, "And what would you like to know, young man?" she asks while preparing me a 'simple ale' and sliding it to me across the counter.

 "Miss, after being adrift at sea for so long, the days and years have all blurred together." I feign nostalgia, "Could you perhaps remind me what year it is? Or maybe, I dunno... how long ago was it that the last great pirate king was executed? Everything feels a bit disoriented to me."

 'That should give me the information I need... good job me.' I give myself a mental pat on the back.

 "Hm?" she sizes me up, "You don't look to me more than eighteen... but I won't pry, anyways, the year is 1522 and the month is January... does that help?"

 I think deeply, trying to connect what time it is according the what I new about One Piece anime, "Uh... how long ago did Gol D. Rogers die?"

 Sighing with an exasperated look, she replies, "1500..."

 Feeling like I asked a stupid question, I scratch my head and apologize, drinking my beer and looking around... spotting an old man with white hair staring at me with distaste.

 He stands up, approaching... and I instantly recognize him- a fist instantly approaching my face and knocking me unconscious.

 'What the hell?' were my last thoughts