NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: CHAPTER 3
"Where is this…?" Wang Li groaned, his voice echoing as if bouncing endlessly in an empty abyss. His body felt weightless, drifting aimlessly in the void. He forced his heavy eyelids open, only to find himself surrounded by an infinite expanse of darkness. It reminded him of Blackbeard's infamous power, the endless black void of the Yami Yami no Mi. The eerie emptiness gnawed at his mind, and he couldn't help but shiver.
"Am I blind?" Wang Li wondered aloud, his voice trembling. Frantically, he pressed his fingers to his eyes in desperation, applying so much force that he unintentionally hurt himself. Tears welled up in response to the sharp sting. "Ow… If I can feel pain, my eyes should be fine," he reasoned, relief flooding his thoughts despite his confusion. "Then where am I? Wasn't I just in my hut?"
The surroundings resembled an otherworldly space, like the blank void Luffy and his crew might have envisioned while sailing through the calm belt—a place where nothingness reigned. At first, Wang Li was overwhelmed by fear. The silence reminded him of the eerie stillness after a battle aboard the Thousand Sunny when everyone was left to confront their own thoughts. However, as time passed, Wang Li adjusted to the darkness.
Testing the limits of his newfound weightlessness, he began flipping and spinning mid-air, performing acrobatics he would have never dared attempt in his usual grounded life. It reminded him of the boundless freedom the Straw Hats felt when exploring the vast skies atop Skypiea. Despite his predicament, Wang Li couldn't help but enjoy the novelty of floating freely, relishing the experience like a child discovering a new toy.
Yet, novelty is fleeting, and Wang Li's exhilaration soon gave way to the cold realization of his predicament. No matter what he tried, the vast, empty void offered no escape. It was as futile as a lone ship navigating the treacherous waters of the New World without a Log Pose. "What is this place, and how do I leave?" Wang Li murmured, his small frame trembling as he aimlessly drifted forward. His voice was swallowed by the silence.
Just as he began to lose hope, a crack appeared in the void, like the shattering of ice beneath Zoro's blade. A piercing, radiant light burst through, blinding and overwhelming after the prolonged darkness. Wang Li instinctively shielded his eyes, his heart racing with a mixture of excitement and fear. "Light… There's light! That means there must be an exit!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with hope, echoing like a rallying cry of the Straw Hats before a daring escape.
Wang Li struggled to adapt to the brightness, but determination fueled his movements. Bit by bit, he reached toward the light, his small hands trembling. When his fingers finally brushed against the luminous source, it pulsated with life, like a glowing Poneglyph revealing a hidden truth. Suddenly, the light erupted, enveloping everything in an overwhelming flash. Wang Li felt as though he had been struck by a Conqueror's Haki blast, and before he could process what was happening, his consciousness faded.
East Blue, Sibei Village
"Hey, Little Siby! Off to fight sea kings on the beach again, huh?" a burly man with a thick beard called out, his voice filled with good-natured teasing.
"Uncle Kunke, I'm not a kid anymore!" the young boy retorted, his serious expression contrasting with his small stature. "Call me Mr. Siby!"
Kunke chuckled heartily, ruffling the boy's hair. "Ah, my apologies, Mr. Siby! How about I make it up to you with some cotton candy?" Reaching behind the counter, Kunke retrieved a few pieces of fluffy cotton candy and tossed them with precision. They landed neatly in Siby's hands, a feat of dexterity even Sanji would have admired.
"Wow, thanks, Uncle Kunke!" Siby's stern demeanor dissolved into pure joy as he hugged the cotton candy, his delight resembling Luffy's over a hearty feast.
Kunke laughed so hard that his booming voice startled a stray dog nearby. "Haha, Mr. Siby, always so serious about cotton candy! Want some more?"
"Uncle Kunke, you—" Siby started, puffing his cheeks in mock anger. But before he could protest further, the commanding voice of Aunt Xili echoed through the village. "Kunke! Are you teasing little Siby again?"
The burly man's laughter died instantly, replaced by a sheepish grin. Aunt Xili strode over, hands on her hips, her presence as intimidating as Big Mom's during a rage. "I wasn't teasing him! Right, Siby?" Kunke whispered, throwing the boy a pleading glance.
But Siby only smirked mischievously. Turning to Aunt Xili, he clung to her arm and whined, "Aunt Xili, Uncle Kunke bullied me!"
Kunke's expression froze as Aunt Xili swiftly grabbed him by his soft belly, twisting with the precision of a martial artist. His scream echoed through the village, startling birds and causing the villagers to chuckle knowingly.
"Serves him right!" someone muttered from a nearby window.
Meanwhile, Siby, now happily munching his cotton candy, grabbed his oversized fishing rod and headed toward the beach. The rod was far too large for his small frame, but Siby didn't mind. Each day, he fished tirelessly, determined to provide for the villagers who had raised him after pirates attacked the village and killed his parents.
Though Siby never caught any fish, his resolve never wavered. In his heart, he carried a dream as big as the Grand Line itself—to become a Navy officer and bring all the pirates of the world to justice.