Soft light filtered through the thick canopy as dawn crept across the island.
Last night's decision still rang clear in my mind: tomorrow, I would open the gift.
I sat up on my makeshift bed of leaves and pressed my palm to the rough bark of the ancient tree behind me. The night's chill lingered in the air, and the distant calls of unseen creatures reminded me how isolated—and how dangerous—this place was. Yet beneath that warning thrummed a current of excitement: today, everything would change.
Gathering scattered branches, I stoked a small fire and filled a carved hollow log with fresh water from a nearby stream. The basic Survival Pack gear I'd stashed under my shelter would have sufficed, but I wanted to feel prepared. Shelter, water, fire—three essentials I knew I'd mastered before breakfast.
All the while, the golden chest hovered just beyond the firelight, its edges gleaming with promise. Each time I glanced at it, my heart speeded: what exactly did the Newbie Gift hold? Skills? Weapons? Powers beyond imagining?
I checked my system one last time—Status, Quest Log, even Bloodline Awakening (still locked). Everything pointed to one truth:
I was standing at the brink of a new life.
The twin suns were just cresting the horizon when I finally spoke, voice steady despite the thrill coursing through me:
"System, open the Newbie Gift Package."
The golden chest shattered into motes of radiant light that danced around me, then coalesced into a list of rewards:
[Congratulations, User! You have obtained the following rewards:]
Permanent Stat Boost (Major)
Armament Haki (Intermediate)
Observation Haki (Intermediate)
Devil Fruit: Abyssal Drake-Drake Fruit (Mythical Zoan — Void Drake Model)
Subordinate Summon Available: Velra, Abyss Knight (Seven warlords )
A surge of warmth unfurled in my veins. My muscles tingled, my senses sharpened, and I felt my haki ignite like a second skin—solid, focused, and potent.
A prompt blinked:
[Would you like to view your updated Status?] [Yes/No]
"Open Status," I said.
[Status]
Name: Ravro D. Flare
Age: 3
Race: Mythborn (Sealed)
Affiliation: None
Title: None
Strength: C+
Endurance: C+
Speed: B-
Intelligence: C
Willpower: A-
Unique Traits:
Mythborn Spirit (Dormant)
Echo of the Forgotten King (Sealed)
Abilities:
Armament Haki (Intermediate)
Observation Haki (Intermediate)
Devil Fruit: Abyssal Drake-Drake Fruit (Stored)
I blinked at the ranks.
At three years old, I'd already climbed to Grand Line captain tier—and I hadn't even eaten my Devil Fruit yet.
Taking a steadying breath, I gave my next command:
"System, summon Velra."
The earth itself seemed to sigh as black runes carved into the clearing ignited with violet light. From the center, a figure emerged and knelt before me.
She wore obsidian armor trimmed in violet, twin black swords sheathed at her hips. Even her wolf-shaped helmet couldn't hide the warmth in her posture—the devotion that radiated from her every movement.
"My King," she whispered, voice soft yet unwavering, "I am Velra, your loyal blade and shield. I exist only for you."
A new panel flickered into view beside her:
[Subordinate Status]
Name: Velra
Race: Abyss Knight (Mythical Variant)
Apparent Age: 19
Rank: seven warlord
Title: King's First Blade
Strength: A-
Endurance: B
Speed: A+
Intelligence: B+
Willpower: S
Abilities:
Armament Haki (Advanced)
Observation Haki (Advanced)
Abyssal Swordsmanship (Mastered)
Dimensional Blink (Rare Skill)
Loyalty: 100% (Bound by Soul Oath)
Emotional State: Devotion | Adoration
My throat went dry.
Velra's power matched any Seven warlord, and yet her every breath, every heartbeat, belonged to me.
I knelt to meet her gaze. "Rise, Velra," I said, voice gentle.
She stood, cloak swirling like living shadow, eyes fixed on me with unwavering love.
Together, beneath the rising suns, we shared a silent promise:
This was only the beginning.