Birth of an Angel!

Raphael: <>

System: []

******

As Kuro's lifeless body crumpled to the ground, Luffy stood frozen, staring impassively. Yet, inside, a storm brewed. The weight of what he had done hit him like a tidal wave, and the nauseating feeling he'd fought off earlier returned with full force. It wasn't just Kuro's body that unsettled him—it was the hundred other corpses scattered around him along with the stench of blood and the grotesque reality of death amplified his revulsion until it became unbearable.

The sound of retching broke the uneasy silence as Luffy stumbled toward a nearby bush, his body finally succumbing to the overwhelming nausea. Emptying his stomach, he braced himself against the trunk of a tree, trembling. Though he had grown stronger, both physically and mentally, since arriving in this world, this kind of strength—the kind required to take lives—was something he had never required before.

In his past life, death had been a distant concept, experienced through screens or books, never through his own hands. Killing scum like the Black Cat Pirates should've been easy to justify, and honestly, he didn't regret it, however, it was his modern-day morals that kept clawing at him. To take even a single life was wrong in that life, so what did that make him now, standing amid a gut-wrenching scene of his own making?

<Notice: Does the master wish to suppress negative emotions associated with taking a life?>

The calm voice of Raphael cut through the chaos of his thoughts, offering a lifeline he wasn't sure he wanted to grab. Luffy hesitated, recalling a protagonist from an anime he'd once watched who had been consumed by apathy towards life after a mysterious power kept suppressing their emotions, to the point where even massacring innocent children didn't faze them in the slightest.

'No,' Luffy thought firmly, wiping his mouth and forcing himself to stand straight. 'I can't do that. If I lose this feeling, I lose what makes me human. I need to carry this weight, no matter how heavy it gets, otherwise, what's the difference between me and a wild animal that kills without any thought?'

Just as he steeled himself, a light touch on his shoulder made him whirl around, a crystalline dagger materializing instinctively in his hand. His eyes widened as he realized who it was—Uta. Her face remained calm, even as the blade hovered inches from her neck.

"Hey, it's just me," she said softly before gently pushing his arm down and, to his surprise, pulling him into a hug. "Are you okay?"

A small smile tugged at Luffy's lips as he returned the embrace. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... a little shaken," he admitted.

Uta pulled back and scrutinized him with narrowed eyes, arms folded across her chest. "Really?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, don't worry. I just need some time," Luffy assured her before changing the subject. "What about the hostages? Did you manage to get them all out?"

"Yep," Uta replied with a grin, puffing her chest with pride. "You did a great job causing enough chaos to draw their attention. I was able to get everyone to safety. They're waiting on one of the Black Cat Pirates' ships at the edge of the island."

"Good. Guess we won't have to ride back on my crystals," Luffy said with a small chuckle.

"Yeah, no crystal surfing this time," Uta laughed. "Shall we head back?"

"Not yet. There's one more thing I need to take care of," Luffy said. He moved quickly, separating the bodies of Captain Kuro, Jango, and the Nyaban Brothers from the rest before stuffing them into some sacks lying around the camp. Then he summoned his crystals and manipulated them to stack the rest of the bodies in a pile before summoning a giant hand from the ground, enveloping the bodies with it, and burrowing the hands, along with the bodies, deep into the ground.

"And that's done," Luffy said, wiping the sweat off his forehead. Honestly, Luffy wasn't sure what other Pirates or Marines did with unidentified bodies, but with his modern knowledge, he knew that unattended bodies could bring a whole lot of diseases, especially for Syrup Village, which wasn't far from here.

With the task completed, he and Uta returned to the shore, while carrying the four bodies with them. Before leaving, they rummaged through two of the three pirate ships, gathering all the valuables and treasures they could find. Then Luffy summoned massive crystalline arms from the ground, destroying the two ships that weren't carrying passengers.

The women and children watching this spectacle stared in awe. The children, especially, seemed momentarily distracted from their disheartened state, their eyes lighting up at the sight of the giant crystalline arms, destroying the ships with style, looking like something out of a picture book.

Once everything was ready, Luffy and Uta boarded the ship. Uta took the helm, steering it toward Syrup Village, while Luffy stored the bodies in the ship's basement before coming back to the deck and climbing straight to the crow's nest, away from the curious gazes of the women and children who kept staring at him the whole time making him feel like the animal in the zoo. Normally he wouldn't have minded entertaining the kids or answering a few of the questions but today he simply wasn't in the mood to do so. 

Settling into the crow's nest, Luffy finally accessed his system. Over the past few hours, he had earned five achievements and two titles, but he hadn't had the chance to check them yet. Now, with some free time, he decided to see what he'd unlocked.

******

First, he decided to check which title he had earned.

[Firefighter: The Title is given to the individual who has successfully helped extinguish a major fire and rescued others during the incident.

Reward: 1000 pts]

Luffy wasn't surprised to see the first title as it was easy to understand. His actions earlier in Syrup Village, saving lives and ensuring the flames didn't spread, had likely earned him this

But the next title made his stomach churn.

[Certified Killer: The Title is given to the individual who has taken more than 100 lives

Reward: 1000 pts]

His jaw tightened, and his lips pressed into a thin line as he read the second title. While he was beginning to come to terms with his actions, being reminded of them so soon after the fact felt like a cruel blow. Shaking off the thought, he chose to ignore the title and turned his attention to the list of achievements instead.

[Saviour: The achievement is given to the individual who has successfully recused a single person from a certain death situation.

Reward: 500 pts]

[Lifesaver: The achievement is given to the individual who has successfully recused 10 or more people from a certain death situation.

Reward: 1000 pts]

[First Blood: The achievement is given to the individual who has successfully taken the life of one single individual.

Reward: 500 pts]

[Merciless: The achievement is given to the individual who has successfully taken the life of a hundred or more individuals.

Reward: 1000 pts]

[Force of Nature: The achievement is given to the individual who has successfully defeated or incapacitated a hundred or more individuals without any outside interference or support.

Reward: 1000 pts]

"Wow... 6,000 points. That's six rolls," Luffy muttered, his eyes fixed on the total he'd accumulated. His fingers hovered over the screen as he debated what to do. "Might as well spend them now," he decided, navigating to the Gacha Roll page. With a flick of his finger, he began testing his luck and the first roll began spinning,

[Congratulations! Igneel's Scarf received!]

Luffy raised an eyebrow as a white scarf with intricate scale-like patterns materialized in his inventory. He summoned it, running his fingers over the soft yet durable fabric. The scarf radiated a comforting warmth even in his hands. Intrigued, he spoke aloud, "Raphael, please analyze this item."

<Analysis Complete.>

[Igneel's Scarf  - The Igneel's Scarf is an artifact from the world of Fairy Tail, given to an individual named Natsu by his foster father, Igneel which serves as a good-luck charm of sorts, warding off misfortune.

Effects: 

Body Warmer: Automatically adjusts temperature to keep the wearer warm in cold climates. Grants 10% resistance to ice-elemental attacks.

Luck Ⅰ: Increases the wearer's luck by 10%.

Unbreaking ⅠⅠⅠ: Greatly enhances durability, preventing damage even under extreme conditions.

??????: ??????]

"Huh, a hidden effect," Luffy murmured, wrapping the scarf around his neck. The warmth it provided was instant, spreading through his body and warding off the night's chill. "I could get used to this," he said with a grin as he tapped the screen again for his next roll.

[Congratulations! Ichiraku Ramen Cup Noodles – Pack of Six received!]

"Oh, nice!" Luffy exclaimed, pulling the brightly colored noodle cups from his inventory. "I've always wanted to try these. Maybe once this Syrup Village mess is wrapped up." Stashing the noodles safely away, he eagerly spun the wheel again.

[Congratulations! Circus of Values - Vending Machine received!]

"A vending machine? Seriously?" Luffy sighed, crossing his arms as he decided to keep the machine inside his inventory. "What am I even supposed to do with this? Build an arcade or something?" Despite his initial irritation, a small chuckle escaped him. "Guess it's going into the collectibles room—once I get around to building my dream house." With a resigned shrug he moved on.

[Congratulations! Smii7y Milk Bag Plushie received!]

Luffy blinked at the next item, a soft, smiling milk bag plushie. Picking it up, he tilted his head. "Wait, this is... YouTuber merch?" He turned the plushie over, inspecting its soft texture and silly grin. "Man, this system really gives anything, doesn't it?" He chuckled. "It's cute, though. Bet some kid would love this." Adding it to his inventory, Luffy quickly rolled again, hoping for something more useful.

[Congratulations! Elder Wand received!]

Luffy's jaw dropped when the legendary wand materialized in his hands. The intricate designs carved into the dark wood glinted in the fading sunlight. "No way..." he whispered, holding it up as if it were a treasure beyond belief. He gave it a test wave, half-expecting sparks or explosions, but nothing happened.

Frowning, he muttered, "Right... no magic. Great. Guess this is just a fancy stick for now." Reluctantly, he stored the Elder Wand. "Maybe it'll come in handy later if I ever receive a spell from the Harry Potter Universe from the system in the future." Despite the disappointment, he pressed the button for his final roll. "C'mon, last roll's luck—don't fail me now."

A moment later, a wide grin spread across his face as he retrieved his last prize and held it in his hand. "Now this... this is good. I know exactly who should have this. Just gotta hope she agrees," Luffy said, observing the custom Devil Fruit in his hands.

******

An hour and a half later, around midnight, the ship finally approached the familiar shores of Syrup Village. Despite the late hour, the coastline was alive with activity as villagers were still busy with the aftermath of the fire. As soon as the villagers spotted the Black Cat Pirates' ship nearing the shore, panic set in. Yet, instead of fleeing, they armed themselves with whatever they could find—pitchforks, kitchen knives, and wooden bats—and braced for the worst, ready to defend their home against the pirates who had already ruined their lives once before.

As the ship drew closer, tension hung thick in the air. But then, amidst the shadowy figures on the deck, familiar faces appeared. A child's voice broke the silence. "That's Mama!" Others began to recognize their loved ones, their voices rising in disbelief and relief. Slowly, the villagers began to lower their weapons. When the ship docked and the women and children poured onto the shore, the scene turned into a chaotic, emotional reunion. Mothers clung to their children, husbands embraced their wives, and the cries of joy and relief echoed across the beach.

Amid the heartwarming reunions, Luffy and Uta stood off to the side, doing their best to avoid the spotlight. However, it wasn't long before the villagers turned their gratitude toward the duo. They showered them with thanks, bowing deeply and expressing their heartfelt appreciation.

Luffy shifted uncomfortably under their intense attention. The situation became even more awkward when he handed over the bodies of Kuro, Jango, and the Nyaban Brothers, along with the tattered Black Cat Pirates' flag. He hoped the gesture would allow the villagers to vent some of their anger and pain.

Without hesitation, the villagers began constructing a makeshift pyre. As soon as the flames engulfed the flag, cheers erupted from the crowd. Some villagers shouted triumphantly, while others shed quiet tears, releasing their pent-up grief and relief into the night sky.

A while later, Luffy saw his chance to slip away. The constant stream of praise and thanks was starting to feel awkward, but his main reason for leaving was to find someone he suspected wouldn't be mingling with the crowd, especially considering the circumstances surrounding them.

After a brief search, he found her: Kaya, sitting alone on a quiet part of the beach, clutching a photo of her parents tightly in her arms, and even from a distance, Luffy could see the grief etched on her face. 

She wasn't entirely alone. Kuina leaned against a tree a short distance away, her katana resting across her lap. Though her eyes were closed, her steady breathing suggested she was meditating rather than asleep. But given the silence that surrounded them, it was clear that they were merely sharing the space rather than each other's company.

"Hey, Kaya," Luffy called out, his voice carrying just enough volume to announce his presence without startling her. He approached slowly, hands tucked into his pockets. "Are you alright now?"

Kaya looked up at him, startled for a moment, before managing a small smile. "Hey," she said softly. "Did you...?"

"Yeah," Luffy interrupted, already knowing her question. "We managed to save and bring back all the kidnapped women and children. Everyone's safe now."

Kaya's smile widened, a genuine warmth replacing the sadness in her eyes. "That's wonderful," she said. But then her expression turned curious, a hint of confusion flickering across her face. "Oh, by the way, how do you know my name? I remember you calling me by it... when you saved me from the fire as well."

'Oh, crap!' Luffy cursed inwardly, scrambling for a believable explanation. "Uh, I heard it from someone in the town who pointed me toward your house," he said, keeping his voice calm and steady. "Name's Luffy, by the way. Nice to meet you."

Fortunately for him, Kaya's pure and trusting nature worked in his favor. She nodded thoughtfully. "Oh, that makes sense," she said with a soft chuckle. "Hello, Luffy, and thank you for saving me and everyone else."

For a moment, they sat in a comfortable silence, the gentle sound of the waves filling the air before Luffy broke it with a question. "Kaya, did you have a dream before all this happened?" he asked, glancing at her curiously.

Kaya blinked, the unexpected question catching her off guard. "A dream?" she echoed. She paused, her gaze drifting to the photograph she held in her lap. "Well... I always wanted to become a doctor. I wanted to help people, like my parents did. But now..." Her voice trailed off, her expression clouding with sadness as memories of the villagers' distrust and anger surfaced in her mind.

"And what about now?" Luffy pressed gently, tilting his head. "Are you going to give up on that dream?"

Kaya hesitated, the weight of her emotions evident in the way her fingers tightened around the frame. "What else am I even supposed to do?" she said, her voice trembling. "My parents are gone, and now so is Merry. There's no one left to support me. And even if I tried, the villagers... they wouldn't trust me. Not after everything that happened with Kuro."

"Nah, you're overthinking it," Luffy said, offering her a reassuring smile. "People forget and move on with time. Besides, you didn't do anything wrong. When their anger fades, they'll realize that."

His words were sincere, and his tone kind. Yet, from a certain perspective, what he said might seem counterproductive to his real goal in starting this conversation. Still, Luffy didn't want to present his offer in a way that made Kaya feel trapped or without options. That kind of manipulation felt cruel, and it wasn't his way.

"Or you could join my crew as our doctor," Luffy suggested, with a wide grin. "You'd get to travel the world, discover new places, and learn about all the miracles of the medical world from the various islands we visit. Plus, think of all the people you could help with what you'd learn."

"W-what?!" Kaya stammered, her eyes widening in disbelief. "You're a pirate?!"

"Not officially," Luffy replied with a shrug, his tone casual. "But I'm pretty sure we'll get labeled as pirates sooner or later. And just so you know, we don't do the kinds of things other pirates do. You've seen that for yourself."

"I guess..." Kaya murmured, feeling conflicted. Luffy didn't give off the same unsettling vibe that Kuro had, but her past misjudgment made her hesitant. Still, she couldn't deny the stark difference—Luffy radiated an honesty and warmth that Kuro never had. "But I can't. My health—"

"Your health isn't as bad as you think," Luffy interrupted confidently, crossing his arms. "I have a skill that lets me analyze things, and I can tell you for sure that your condition is way better than you've been led to believe. Besides..." He reached into his inventory and pulled out a fruit like no other—a pristine white fruit adorned with intricate golden swirls. "I've got something that can help you recover even faster."

"This..." Kaya's breath caught in her throat as she stared at the fruit in sheer awe.

"It's a Devil Fruit," Luffy explained, going on to describe its unique powers and the additional benefits of the special Devil Fruits created by his system. "This one won't just help you heal your body but also give you powers to protect yourself and the people you care about. You'll never have to feel helpless again if something like this happens."

He grinned at her. "So, what do you say, Kaya? Want to come along with us?"

Kaya hesitated, her eyes flickering between the fruit and Luffy. There was no trace of deceit or malice in his words—just pure sincerity. Weighing the pros and cons of his offer, she thought about the path that lay ahead if she stayed in the village as well as if she accepted Luffy's offer. The idea of fulfilling her dream as a doctor while exploring the world was enticing, but she hesitated for just a moment longer.

"Are you sure you want someone like me on your crew?" she asked quietly, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "I... I don't know if I'd be of much help to you."

"Of course!" Luffy replied without a moment's hesitation, his tone brimming with sincerity. "You're exactly the kind of person I want on my crew. My friends and I would love to have you with us. Besides, it's not just about what you can do—it's about who you are. You've got a kind heart, Kaya. That's more than enough."

Kaya felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words. "In that case..." Kaya smiled softly, reaching out and taking the Devil Fruit from his hand. She held it firmly and looked at Luffy. "Captain Luffy, please take care of me from now on." With no hesitation, she bit into the fruit.

Almost immediately, her body began to change. She grew a few inches taller, her blonde hair brightened to a more radiant shade and lengthened, her slender frame gained healthy curves, and her eyes turned a brilliant blue. The most striking transformation, however, was the appearance of four elegant wings on her back, radiating a kind, warm energy that seemed to fill the air around her.

Luffy grinned widely, his excitement evident. "Wow," he muttered, marveling at the effects of [Kyara Kyara no Mi, Model: Angewomon]. 

To be continued...

******

A/N: Picture of Angewomon for reference: