One Piece: The Avengers

Shanter had a strange and vivid dream.

In the dream, he seemed to arrive in a world called Central. There, he saw a heroic man with black-rimmed glasses and a black long blade. For twenty turbulent years, that man roamed every corner of the infinite Central World, all for the sake of instilling a nebulous "Dao" into the entire world.

The man fought countless enemies of all kinds for this laughable "Dao." The unique fighting styles and exceptional techniques of his opponents were unlike anything Shanter had ever heard or seen before. Yet, no matter how formidable the enemy, the man's blade could unhesitatingly cut through all obstacles in his way.

During his journey, the man also encountered numerous like-minded companions who rallied under his laughable "Dao." Together, they ventured, battled, and experienced the full spectrum of emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. They lived and died together, fighting side by side.

Finally, the man faced the greatest obstacle of all—a being as vast and powerful as the entire universe itself.

"When the Dao is in my heart, the blade is in my hand. As long as the Dao within me remains unwavering, my blade will be unstoppable. When my Dao permeates the world, my blade will sever all before it!" Slowly, the man raised his blade and struck into the deepest darkness.

"Ah—!" Shanter woke with a splitting headache.

The first thing Shanter noticed upon waking was the bandages wrapping him like a mummy. It was unavoidable; his injuries were not only severe but also spread across his entire body.

Next, he saw Robin, sleeping soundly beside his bed. Even while asleep, she carefully avoided his injuries. Tear stains were still visible on her delicate face, and her almond-shaped eyes were swollen like cherries, evidence of her frequent crying.

Lastly, Shanter realized he was in the interior of a ship—clearly not the small dinghy he had boarded before losing consciousness.

Not wanting to wake Robin, Shanter hesitated. He didn't know how long he had been asleep, but Robin must have been exhausted from taking care of him. Yet, Robin stirred and woke.

"Kiddo, sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," Shanter said apologetically.

"It's fine," Robin replied, rubbing her swollen eyes and smiling gently, visibly relieved to see him awake.

"By the way, where are we?" Shanter asked.

From Robin's explanation, Shanter learned that after he passed out, the remnants of the Twister Pirates realized their leader was missing and began a frantic pursuit. Robin barely managed to escape. However, after her escape, she found herself deep in the open sea, far from any islands.

Robin, unable to navigate, was adrift on the sea with Shanter, who remained unconscious. For four days, they floated aimlessly until they were rescued by the ship they were now on. After boarding, it took another two full days for Shanter to regain consciousness.

"We must properly thank them," Shanter said, unaware of Robin's hesitation.

He attempted to move his body, only to discover something horrifying.

"No way…" Shanter muttered, disbelieving. His lower body wouldn't move.

He tried several more times, but his despair grew with each attempt. Though he still had sensation, he was unable to move his legs.

"Brother, what's wrong?" Robin asked, sensing something amiss.

"My legs… I can't move them," Shanter said, his voice heavy with disbelief.

"No, that can't be…" Robin's expression mirrored his shock.

"This is bad…" Shanter muttered, his face pale.

"Of course, it's bad! Your lumbar spine is fractured. If you could move, it'd be a miracle!" A young man, around twenty, walked in from the doorway. With red hair, a straw hat, a beige long-sleeved shirt, and a black cloak, he strolled in nonchalantly. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Shanks, captain of this ship. My friends call me Red-Haired Shanks."

"You saved us? Thank you very much," Shanter said, ignoring Shanks' earlier impoliteness. After all, the man had saved his life.

"Our ship's doctor examined you. Your lumbar spine is fractured, and recovery is unlikely," Shanks said. "But the good news is that your nerves aren't damaged, so there's a faint chance of recovery. Until then, you're welcome to stay aboard."

"Thank you, Shanks," Shanter replied, his tone neutral.

"Haha! I heard you killed Twister, huh?" Shanks laughed. "I've met that guy before. About ten years ago, when I was just a rookie pirate, he came to provoke us. Our vice-captain knocked him out with one punch. Half a year ago, when I visited my hometown, I caught him looting the place. Gave him another beating!"

"But you two are under fifteen, right? Taking down a pirate with a 48 million bounty at your age—impressive!" Shanks grinned.

"Wait, you were a pirate?" Shanter interrupted.

"Still am. Why?" Shanks replied.

"Oh, I see…" Shanter's tone shifted. "Shanks, could you excuse us? I need to talk to Robin privately."

"Sure, take your time," Shanks said, leaving the room with a carefree smile.

The moment Shanks left, Shanter grabbed Robin by her collar with his good arm. "Kiddo, be honest. Were we captured? Did they do anything to you?"

"No! What are you thinking?" Robin pouted, a little annoyed.

"Then why are we on a pirate ship?" Shanter's tone turned harsh. He pulled Robin closer. "You know I hate pirates! I'd rather die than owe them a favor!"

"What was I supposed to do?!" Robin retorted, hurt and frustrated. "We floated for four days. By the second day, your wounds were festering, and I had to suck out the pus myself. By the third day, you were burning with fever. By the fourth, your pulse was so weak I thought you'd die! Should I have let you die instead of seeking help?"

"I'm sorry. I overreacted," Shanter softened.

"It's okay. I understand you're upset," Robin replied, her tone gentle. "I wanted to discuss it with you, but you were unconscious."

"I'm sorry, kiddo. You saved my life, and I still snapped at you," Shanter sighed.

"Don't mention it," Robin said, mimicking Shanter's usual gesture by placing her finger on his lips. "We're family. We'll always be together, right?" Her voice grew softer, her face reddening as she spoke.

Moved, Shanter reached out to stroke her soft black hair, only to grimace from the pain his movement caused.

"But my legs…" Shanter said, his voice tinged with sorrow.

"Brother, it's okay," Robin said, her smile radiant. "From now on, I'll take care of you. I'll be your legs. No matter what, I'll never leave you."

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