The System and the start

"The system you will have will be similar to 'The Gamer' system but there will be changes"

My eyes were literally shining. The OP gamer system!!! With this, it is just a matter of time and some assassinations to become overpowered. Hell, even time is not needed. Just keep it safe and assassinate people of higher levels by taking opportunity and voila, I can become the strongest in the world. But then ROB again seemed to have sensed my thoughts and said

"Child, it will be similar, not the same. I want you to enjoy the journey, feel the thrill of the new world, and enjoy your life to the fullest. A complete gamer system will deprive you of all the fun, knowing how you will use it. So there will be limitations. To be precise there will be no [gamer body], [inventory], [stats], [automatic crafting] or [leveling up] yourself"

Coldwater splashed over me. I felt like one of those expectations vs reality meme situations was being applied to me. What is the use of the system if there is nothing in it? Will it just be a screen floating in front of me, occasionally trolling me, probably accompanying me when I am lonely?

Seeing this ROB smiled and continued "Calm down child, there will still be skills, leveling up of the skills, shop where you can again purchase skills, a map, missions, titles, traits. Basically, it won't break the laws of the world blatantly. Blatantly is the keyword here"

"Sometimes it will break but, the way the laws that will be broken will be very subtle, where even if people are suspicious they can get their head around it. Like a max leveled soru or rokuougan will perform wonders that will not be possible without the system but people will simply attribute it to your own talent and hard work"

"Gamer body will be blatantly breaking the laws of the world. If any strong character slashes your hand to 0 hp you will die, and also the slash that should have taken your arm will not even leave blood. That will be blatantly breaking the laws. Similarly, stat points make no sense. You cannot quantify strength in numbers. It will depend on how you apply strength, which will further depend on your posture, grip on the object, and many other factors."

Well, that makes sense. So that is the reason map, skills, skill shop, etc will be there in the system because it will be in my head, kinda. Nobody will be able to look at my map, as for skills, I can simply state that I have learned the skills or copied them from others or reinvented them, or any other excuse. Luffy copied soru and reinvented Seimei kikan since childhood when he used to digest enormous amounts of food instantly, Sanji copied geppo so it should not be impossible if I say I copied it from someone or reinvented it.

I must say the system is quite OP. Max leveled mastery of skills would definitely be OP.

Also, imagine the level you can take the devil fruit to with the system's aid. Probably more than awakening or spamming awakening without stamina issues.

Seeing my thoughts, ROB spoke again

"My child the catch of the system is that you will not be able to consume any devil fruits. The system will simply bind to your soul and body on a much deeper level than devil fruits, thus eating a devil fruit will not be possible at all. If you eat one the powers simply won't integrate inside you and the fruit will not lose it's power all well, like someone cut a piece and discarded it."

*lightning effect*

"What the f**k? Without devil fruits? How am I supposed to be overpowered without it? It is the essence of One Piece."

ROB laughed this time and said

"My child, the system is already more overpowered than any devil fruit. It doesn't even have any disadvantages"

I was still feeling down about it. Devil fruits are superpowers, who will not want to enjoy superpowers. I wanted to enjoy it. Part of me even wanted to reject the system and embrace the opportunity of getting a devil fruit. ROB seeing this, started encouraging me further

"My child, if you want to enjoy superpowers you can do it without devil fruits as well. Fast movement with soru, flight with geppo, defense with tekkai, flying slashes, superhuman body, haki, hasshoken, Fishman karate/jujutsu, etc. Also with devil fruit, you will not be able to explore underwater, underwater shipwreck, the treasures in those ships. You can also drag fights underwater with devil fruit users if need be. But if you still don't want the system, then so be it"

Coming into realization, I started shouting

"Please all-father, I want the system. I will live without devil fruits. The system is truly much better"

ROB smirked then. I felt like I have been played, but then, if everything that ROB said is true, then the system will help me more. I can get devil fruits for my crew.

"The system will also have situational missions, hidden missions, mission board"

"Hidden missions not be showed anywhere, if you complete it, you will get a reward"

"Mission board will have missions and upon completion, you will get the said reward"

"Situational missions will be given based on the situation. For example, let's say you get a mission"

[ Survive Akainu]

option1: Defeat Akainu; rewards: ??? failure: death

option2: Escape Akainu; rewards: ??? failure: death

[***]

"It will mean that in case you fail to defeat or escape Akainu, you will die. He will not take you alive for imprisonment, or whatever in any case, no matter what you do, or you cannot talk your way out, or someone will not come to save you. You will die. Keep in mind, the system will not compel Akainu to kill you, it is that no matter what, even fate will not be able to save you in case you fail. Let's take another example of situational mission"

[ Survive Aokiji]

option1: Defeat Aokiji; rewards: ??? failure: death or imprisonment or no penalty

option2: Escape Aokiji; rewards: ??? failure: death or imprisonment or no penalty

[***]

"Here if you can play your cards right, you can avoid any penalty or if you play it badly, you will die or get imprisoned"

Well, that's interesting, judging by rewards and penalties I can determine how things can go, or at least will help me strike off some options or scenarios which can never happen.

When I decided everything is settled ROB dropped another bomb.

"You will reincarnate as an infant and your system will stay locked till you are 18 years old. You will be 1 year older than Luffy. You can still choose your gender, name, appearance (future/adult appearance), and starting island."

Damn!!! Why ROB why? I get a system and I cannot even use it till I am 18 years old.

"Don't worry my child, depending on your starting location, you can still develop quickly. This is also made so that you are not overly dependent on the system."

I said "ROB can you at least unlock some features of the system? Perhaps something to not make me OP, but at least something to help me utility wise"

ROB thought for a few seconds, then said "Ok I will give you the observe skill (not the haki one), and you can observe some limited information with it which if used properly can help you when you start out. But no matter what you will not be able to level up the observe skill during these 18 years. Also as you already have the system, you will not be bound by talent. You can learn anything you wish to just that the speed of learning will not be that fast without the system. You can also see the mission board and complete hidden missions but you will not get the reward instantly. You will get it once the system truly activates"

"You will also have your memory intact. I will also make sure that any information about the series will stay in your brain. You will not forget them with time and have perfect recall of the anime, manga, movies, or any other official materials"

"So my child choose your name, adult appearance, and your starting island. Choose wisely, each of the information will matter a lot"

I thought for a while and chose the name Shiv D. Jai (the name is Jai, the surname is Shiv). Shiv was the name of my father. He worked hard like most fathers to feed his family. It was a tribute to him. Moreover, keeping your father's name as your surname is not that uncommon either (at least in India).

As for appearance I chose one, which everyone will see with the passage of time.

The starting island I chose was Swallow island. I was contemplating Goa kingdom and Swallow island. Goa kingdom has its advantages which all you know. I mean anyone who has read enough fanfiction on One Piece will know the advantages. Garp's training, potentially recruiting Ace and/or Sabo, and all you can think of.

So why did I choose Swallow Island? As you have guessed, I can get a versatile crew in there if I play my cards right. Law, who is perhaps the best doctor if not the best.

Bepo is a good navigator who is also strong. I mean that guy survived the new world and the route to reach Swallow Island as a freaking kid all alone. Much better than a certain gold digger navigator.

Penguin also survived the journey along with heart pirates. I am positive he will be useful.

Sachi, according to the manga almost passed out to Rayleigh's haki, which in my opinion is not good compared to Kid's crew, but never the less he can be good if trained right from childhood, probably.

Wolf's knowledge and inventions will also be helpful.

So compared to Goa kingdom I will have a better advantage, provided I can play it right.

ROB knowing everything also smiled and said

"It is probably one of the best possible choices. Especially your name. Choosing this name means, you get the Will of D. It has many things but one of the things is that all of the Ds have an indomitable will. You with your previous life's personality would not have continued the extreme physical punishment or training as people call it"

"Without the will of D, you would have mastered some non-combat profession to its extreme and lived like that, once you gave up on the cruel training. It would still be a regret in your life to not follow something that you wanted because of cruel training but you would live with that."

"But now you will be able to pursue your own path to greatness, adventure and power"

I was shocked. I had doubts if I will be able to face all the challenges, fights, and harsh training. I was after all the guy who quit the gym after one week due to laziness and fatigue. I always doubted how people in fanfics or isekai animes just train like that when they had done nothing exerting in their past life.

But will I still be myself? Won't a change in personality result in a different person that is not me?

ROB seeing this smiled with a nod. Without saying a word I understood what he meant and stopped worrying about it.

ROB then continued

"Let me give you a small spoiler child, Law, Sachi and Penguin are actually of the ages 10,11, and 11 respectively when Law reaches Swallow Island, and your age will be 7 by then. Also, one more character is younger than the series mentioned age but you have to find out who. Bepo will still be 2 years older than you."

Well, that helps a lot. At those ages, it will be easier to convince them to join my crew.

ROB then snaps his fingers and I didn't feel so good while disintegrating. For a second I doubted if it was God or some demon in God's clothes.

But ROB imparted the final words

"Stay happy my child"

"Enjoy the life you always wanted"

"Don't let the world change you"

After that, I blacked out again and I opened my eyes and I saw myself carried by an old lady.