Chapter 6: Bearing the World’s Weight Alone

Years later, when Luffy finally reached Laugh Tale and claimed the title of Pirate King, he would recall that distant afternoon in Windmill Village’s tavern—when the legendary Mountain Bandit King, Sige, placed Roger’s straw hat upon his head.

That single gesture rerouted a boy’s destiny.

The spark of a legend.

The origin of a king’s dream.

…

“Wait. WHAT?!”

Sige shook his head, dispelling the absurd mental montage. Too much ale. Too deep into character.

He’d only meant to steer Luffy away from banditry… but this? Replacing Shanks in the kid’s origin story?!

“Uh… Shanks,” Sige rasped in KING’s gravelly deadpan, “my apologies. Overstepped with the hat.”

His “apology” rumbled like a tectonic shift.

Shanks chuckled, unfazed. “No worries! Glad you see his potential too!”

Potential? Sige’s soul shrank. He glanced at Luffy, now practically fused to the oversized hat.

“He is Garp’s grandson,” Sige forced out, doubling down. “Might shake the world… like Roger did.”

Benn Beckman’s jaw tightened. Garp. Of course he knows.

By now, the crew accepted Sige as a relic from an erased era—a shadow puppet master stabilizing the chaos post-Roger. But the image of Sige crowning Luffy lingered.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Beckman’s Internal Monologue:

“Defeating legends like Shiki, Douglas… Letting the World Government steal credit…

This man carries the world’s sins silently. A guardian no one knows…

A true king.”

——

Hours later, moonlight glinted off the waves as Sige staggered outside, finally alone.

Sige (Slumping Against a Barrel): “Made it… alive.”

His mind replayed the day: transmigrated, bottled a Yonko, adopted Luffy, reverse-gaslit an emperor’s crew.

System. Status.

A translucent panel flickered:

[Character Card: KING]

[Sync Rate: 31%]

[Rank: S]

[Source: One-Punch Man]

[Ability: Emperor Engine — Heartbeat-induced collective delusion.]

Sync Rate had jumped from 5% to 31% in one drunken night.

Sige’s Analysis: Two ways to boost sync:

1. Method acting (Be KING 24/7).

2. Practice Emperor Engine (i.e., scare myself half to death).

Option two flashed neon warnings:

[WARNING: “Bold Ideas” detected!]

[Illegal Action: Using artificial stimulants (e.g., Taser) to accelerate heart rate.]

[Penalty: Sync Rate -50%]

Tch. Party pooper.

Alternative Plan: Trolling Yonko/admirals for adrenaline.

Sige: “LOL NO. I’d die.”

As East Blue’s “mighty” 8-million berry bandit, Sige ranked below sea slugs in combat. Even 100% KING sync meant… heartbeats and killer glare. Woo. Scary.

[System Notification: Sync Rate → 90% unlocks 「King’s Aura」— Fear debuff +300%!]

But still… NO PUNCHES.

Sige (Groaning): “Why couldn’t I pull Goku?!”

——

Meanwhile, in Sige’s Subconscious:

GOD (Chuckling): “Suffer, you meta-memeing fool.”

——

Epilogue:

As dawn tinted the horizon, Benn Beckman watched Sige trudge up the hill, silhouette bleak against the rising sun.

Shanks (Suddenly Serious): “He’s… lighter than he looks.”

Beckman: “Bearing the world’s weight does that.”

Shanks: “…We should send him booze. The good stuff.”

Beckman: “Captain.”

Shanks: “And meat! Luffy’d approve!”

Unseen by all, Sige tripped over a rock. The Emperor Engine hiccuped.

Thud-screech-THUD!

Bandit Lackey No.5 (Tearful): “Even his stumbles… so majestic…”