Back to Two Years Ago

As expected, I could copy and comprehend abilities. My body learned that the ability existed, but I had to slowly figure out and practice how to use it myself.

After all, it was an item from the newbie gift pack. If it could even copy the other person's experience and techniques, that would be far too overpowered.

In that case, though, I should prioritize Logia users.

After all, staying alive was what mattered most.

"My ability probably records and recreates other people's abilities. Just treat me as a Book-Book Fruit user."

"So strong!" Luffy and Chopper's eyes lit up.

"Hey, Luffy, is he your friend? I've never heard of an ability like that. Isn't it way too strong?" Chopper suddenly remembered something. "Then was that door just now some kind of ability too?"

"Uh, that was called a Cross-Boundary Talisman, so just treat it as one too." Luffy did not know how to explain it either. "Su Lin is from another wor—"

"Alright, Luffy." Su Lin cut off the honest man. "Time to get down to business."

"Ah, right. Let's go!"

"Tell your companions first. Otherwise, they'll worry if I take you away."

And I could copy a few more abilities while I was at it.

At Luffy's summons, the entire Straw Hat Crew gathered, along with Luo, Kid, and others who had come over to watch.

"In short, that's how it is. I'm going back to two years ago," Luffy said.

"I see. My ass!"

"Mm-hm." XN

Bang!

Luffy took a heavy blow to the head. As expected of Nami, her friendly-fire damage was maxed out.

"Can you let me see that item of yours?" Nico Robin asked, folding her arms across her chest.

"No problem."

An ancient stopwatch appeared in Su Lin's hand.

"It doesn't look like anything special." Sanji leaned over with a cigarette in his mouth. "Besides, if it really is as miraculous as you say, why not send all of us back together?"

"I agree," Zoro said.

"It isn't that I can't send you all back together. It's just that it has the following traits: priority and Uniqueness."

"Those sent back to a certain point in the past will merge with their past selves and possess priority, with their current consciousness taking precedence."

"In other words, if we returned to the time of the Summit War..."

Luo stated the conclusion. "We would return to wherever we were at that point in time, correct?"

"That's right."

"Then what about returning to the Sabaody Archipelago?" Usopp suggested.

"No." Nico Robin objected. "If Kuma had not sent us flying away, then all the training our past selves underwent would vanish completely. We were never people of that time and space. As Mr. Su Lin said, the world would head down a different branch, but we would still have to come back."

"Unless you abandon everything in this world, replace your past selves, and live in another parallel world." Su Lin took back the pocket watch and smiled. "That is the story contained within this watch."

"Escape the present, abandon the future, and live in the past."

"If you're willing, I don't mind."

"I'll go back alone." Luffy spoke firmly. "I'll save Ace, then return to the present and continue adventuring with everyone!"

"Do whatever you want. Hahh... I'll go sleep a little longer. Wake me when you get back." Zoro yawned and leisurely headed back.

"Directionless idiot, the rooms are that way." Sanji left as well.

"Then I'll head back first. Come on, Usopp."

"Yeah, yeah."

Nami, Usopp, and Franky also headed off in different directions to take care of their business.

"They really are a great group of companions." Su Lin felt somewhat moved. This trust and friendship were more vivid than they had ever been in manga or anime.

"Hehehe." Luffy laughed proudly.

"Then this old man shall return to the time of the Summit War alongside Su Lin, Your Excellency. This old man should be able to lend a hand as well."

"Do you need my Fruit ability, or did you record it before?" Nico Robin asked.

"And mine—the Human-Human Fruit!"

"Sorry for the trouble, but please demonstrate them once within my line of sight."

"Take me along too. Experiencing time travel sounds nice, and I have some things I want to do as well." Luo said, "In exchange, you can copy my Fruit ability and take it with you. I'll also teach you some ways to use it."

"Same for my ability. Even if you take it with you, there's no way you'll be as strong as me." Kid said confidently. "And I'm going back too!"

After recording their Fruit abilities and briefly learning how to use them, Kid, Luffy, Luo, Jinbe, and Su Lin grasped the stopwatch together.

"Listen, Luffy. Recall the moment in the past you most want to return to. Then press the button on top of the stopwatch and say the time and place."

"Got it."

"One more thing."

"Hm?"

"I'm very weak, so please protect me." Su Lin said without changing expression, choosing to follow his heart.

"Leave it to this old man. But come to think of it, was Su Lin, Your Excellency, there at the time too?"

"About that..."

Su Lin was just about to explain.

"Two years ago, Impel Down prison!" Luffy shouted.

"?" Su Lin slowly produced a question mark.

It was cold and dry, with foul odors mingling in the air around them.

This was the second level of Impel Down.

The many Prisoners held here had already been released, causing a riot.

Su Lin stood in the middle of the rushing crowd of Prisoners as countless Prisoners hurried past him.

It was not because these Prisoners were particularly civilized, still remembering to avoid him in such a situation so they would not knock him to the ground.

Rather, Su Lin had immediately used the Human-Human Fruit's ability to transform into an enormous, muscular man. Most of these Prisoners were Pirates who bullied the weak and feared the strong. Though they cursed inwardly at this random man standing around in a daze, none dared provoke him.

He just did not know where the guy had gotten those clothes.

The group chat was currently grayed out, its chat history frozen at the moment they traveled through time.

Could it only be used after returning to the original timeline?

But Luffy's ID was still lit up.

Su Lin's eyes were somewhat vacant.

"Nice one, Straw Hat Kid."

He could guess what Luffy wanted to do. He probably wanted to save Mr. 2, but could he not have given him some time to prepare?

Su Lin surveyed his surroundings. The cold, damp air seemed to bore through his skin and into his bones.

The stench coming from a group of Pirates who had no idea how long they had gone without bathing made him feel ill.

For now, he could only make a run for it. With his combat strength, if he ran into Magellan, he would most likely get crushed.

Using the Human-Human Fruit's ability, Su Lin quickly spotted a red nose and a candle shaped like a "3" atop someone's head near the front of the crowd.

Mr. 3, a Candle-Candle Fruit user and a future Emperor's right-hand man.

Buggy, a Lucky-Lucky Fruit user.

(End of chapter)