Summoner in One Piece

The transition from the Qin world was instantaneous and disorienting, a brief, dizzying lurch through a vortex of shimmering light before they found themselves standing on solid ground once more. The air, the scent, the very feel of the environment, was unmistakably familiar. Alex, Erza, Akane, Kaelen, and the 37 Warriors had returned to the same small, unassuming village on the tranquil island from which they had first departed months ago. The portal, now a faint shimmer, pulsed softly before dissolving completely.

A silent moment passed as they took in their surroundings. The village looked as peaceful as they remembered, unaware of the vast epic battles they had just participated in. Alex felt a surge of relief, followed by a familiar, almost imperceptible thrum within him.

A system notification flashed before his eyes, confirming the change:

"System Synchronization Complete: Levels calibrated to One Piece World parameters."

Immediately after, a new series of notifications appeared:

"Strength Assessment Update: Marine HQ Equivalents"

Alex: Marine HQ Lieutenant

Kaelen: Marine HQ Lieutenant

Akane: Lieutenant Commander

Erza: Marine HQ Captain

Alex absorbed the information. Their hard-won gains in the Qin world had indeed translated into formidable power here. He nodded, a grim satisfaction settling within him.

"Alright, everyone," Alex announced, his voice carrying authority, "We're back. This island is mostly unexplored by humans, save for this village. Our first priority is to explore the island. Erza, Akane, you'll take separate sections of the island with a small contingent of Warriors. Kaelen, take the remaining Warriors and secure another area. Our objective is to find anything of value, anything useful."

They set out, moving with practiced efficiency. The island, while beautiful, quickly revealed itself to be a wilderness teeming with wildlife. Days turned into a focused hunt. They found no ancient ruins, no hidden treasures, no signs of advanced civilization beyond the village. Only beasts. Some were quite large and formidable, unlike anything they had encountered in Qin.

One evening, after a particularly grueling day of exploration, Alex, Erza, and Akane converged, having encountered a formidable tiger, a colossal creature standing nearly 23 feet tall, its stripes as wide as a man's arm. Kaelen's group had found two immense bears, one a towering 22 feet tall, the other a slightly smaller but still monstrous 15 feet tall. They knew the immense creatures would provide ample material for future endeavors, so Alex personally oversaw the preservation of the tiger and bears, storing their colossal bodies away for later summoning. For the feast, they continued their hunting, and the villagers, awestruck by the size of the felled beasts, helped them prepare a massive celebration, the aroma of roasting meat filling the air.

The next day, Alex gathered his core group and the Warriors. "We are back in a new world," he stated. "Danger can come from anywhere at any time. Stay vigilant. Be prepared for battle at a moment's notice."

As he spoke, another system notification popped up:

"Awakening of Faith in 'Kingdom' Detected!"

"Reward: 5000 SP (System Points) granted."

Alex felt a subtle connection, a faint resonance with Tonryuu, now thriving under Tsunade's and Olvia's command. His strategic decisions and the faith instilled in his people had yielded a tangible reward. He immediately decided how to spend the points: summoning materials.

As a few more days went by, and no immediate threats appeared, Alex realized they couldn't just wait. "Waiting idly is not our way," he declared. "We need to understand this world better, starting with its oceans. Learn to sail. Ask the villagers. Offer them compensation. We need to be able to move freely." His Warriors immediately began seeking out villagers who knew the ways of the sea, eager to acquire this new skill.

Later that evening, as they gathered around a roaring campfire, Alex turned to Erza, Akane, and Kaelen. His expression was serious. "Since our time in the Qin world, and your advancements to the rank of Knight, you are now considered 'Companions' in a deeper sense. This means something new." He paused, letting the implication sink in. "You are now capable of performing summons yourselves."

Their eyes widened, a mix of surprise and anticipation.

"And," Alex continued, a knowing glance towards the stored beast carcasses, "we have excellent materials at hand." He gestured towards the massive piles of tiger and bear meat they had preserved. "Erza, the tiger is yours. Akane, Kaelen, you will share the bears."

Akane shook her head lightly. "Kaelen, you can use both bears. I don't think a bear-type summon quite fits my style. I'll assist you with the ritual, though."

They retreated to a secluded part of the island. Alex first accessed his system. He purchased Berserker's Blood for 1000 SP and Demon Beast Spirit: Type-Fox Bear for 2000 SP.

Erza was the first to attempt a summoning. She stood before the colossal body of the 23-foot tiger. Alex provided her with the preserved bodies of Shu Ki and Ma Ki, the two Wei headhunter generals slain by Alex and Erza herself, along with the newly purchased Berserker's Blood. Following Alex's instructions, Erza focused her will, chanting the ancient words. A swirling vortex of light and shadows erupted from the tiger's carcass, drawing in the essence of the fallen generals and the potent blood. The raw power emanating from her was immense, surprising even Alex slightly.

As the light subsided, a small, incredibly cute white tiger with large, expressive eyes emerged from the fading energy. It blinked, then tilted its head. "Greetings, Master Erza!" it chirped, its voice surprisingly high-pitched and clear.

Alex, Akane, and Kaelen stared, momentarily stunned. A talking chibi white tiger?

"It seems," Alex mused, a faint smile playing on his lips, "due to your unique magic and strength, Erza, you haven't summoned a regular beast. You've summoned an Exceed. A creature of pure magic, capable of speech and possessing its own unique abilities." He looked at the tiny tiger, then back at Erza. "A rather... unexpected result."

Next, it was Kaelen's turn. He approached the two massive bear carcasses. Alex provided him with the purchased Demon Beast Spirit: Type-Fox Bear. Kaelen began the ritual, focusing his mana. The bear bodies glowed, a less intense light than Erza's summoning, but potent nonetheless. Alex, observing the process, frowned slightly. The materials, though good, didn't seem quite enough to produce a truly exceptional summon for Kaelen's level.

"Boost him!" Alex commanded, a rush of understanding. Without hesitation, Alex, Erza, and Akane stepped forward, channeling their own mana into Kaelen, their hands pressed to his back, a powerful surge of energy flooding into the summoning circle. The light around the bears intensified dramatically, turning blinding.

BOOM! A sudden, powerful burst of energy erupted, covering the entire summoning site in a thick cloud of smoke.

As the smoke slowly dissipated, revealing the ground, Alex, Erza, and Akane peered through the lingering haze. They expected something fearsome, something grand, a testament to the combined power.

What they saw instead surprised Alex immensely. Standing amidst the wisps of smoke was an incredibly small, incredibly cute, and incredibly fluffy Teddiursa. It blinked its large, innocent eyes, a tiny, crescent moon marking its forehead. It looked utterly harmless, utterly adorable, and utterly… unexpected.

Alex stared, then a small chuckle escaped him. "Well," he said, shaking his head, "that was... certainly a result."