Reborn In The Apocalypse: It Had Always Been You - Chapter 57 - Old Friends Meeting

Like most candidates, Zlatan's dream was a simple one. To pass the hunter's test, join a guild, hunt monsters and reach the A-class.Eventually, as he dreamed of, he achieved it hundreds of years later. Having sacrificed more than he could take in, using the most unthinkable and brutal measures, he became an S-class Hunter instead.Obtaining the Copper Flame back then after the Aura Awakening Ritual, that was his greatest flaw. Taking a span of 80 years to reach a D-class. Still, Zlatan Elmore became the most powerful hunter to exist.Falling on the battlefield against a Two-horned Dragon, he suddenly awoke as his 30 year old self. Given another chance at life, he didn't only have his memories but he's also given a Blank Scroll. This mysterious scroll doesn't only speak, its omniscient!

He is Monkey D. Luffy, but not the original Monkey D. Luffy, because in this world, that one is Lucy, his blood sister, while he had a peaceful childhood with his other three brothers. They all ended up following different paths since he didn’t have his memories. It was only when he entered a barrel lost at sea to save himself that he finally began to regain all the knowledge he had of this world from his past life. On top of that, he realized he could use this knowledge to his advantage to acquire everything he needed on his adventure. He was given four chances to summon people to start his journey, and more importantly, he finally received his two devil fruits, becoming powerful from the very beginning, with a plan that stretched to the end of his adventure.This story is the adventure of a man called Monkey D. Luffy, with the goal of becoming the emperor of all the seas in the world. For that, he will find the One Piece and destroy the World Government, for they cannot coexist. Be it the Marines, government agents, CP units, Tenryuubito, Holy Knights, Gorosei, or Im, Luffy will walk over a mountain of corpses.“I want you in my crew. Together, we will change the whole world and turn it upside down.”“Hahaha. Don’t worry, I believe in your potential, that's why I want you in my crew.”“My swordsman already fought you and lost. Now let’s see the strength of the world’s greatest swordsman too, right, Yamato? I hope you don’t mind fighting two rookies at once...?”“Awaken... Awaken my power... and destroy all your enemies...”“It’s good to see you after so long, Grandpa... and you, sister.”“Monkey D.? The most dangerous family in the world!”“Isn’t it a beautiful scene? Two Shichibukai and a Vice Admiral as my trophies! Come on, take a good picture and put it on tomorrow’s newspaper cover!”“I declare this kingdom my territory!”“Enel, you’re nothing but an idiot with a god complex. If you’re a god... then I’m a god slayer.”“As you said, Teach, people’s dreams never end! And if people’s dreams never end, why should I stop?”“Doflamingo... Jake... you’re so far from home. I hope you don’t regret this.”“You narcissistic woman, how can someone be so annoying and arrogant?”“What did you say, you damned man?!”“I now declare you husband and wife.”“It's time to return to the Blue Sea, after all, we have a world to shake.”“CP9? What a disappointment, Sengoku. I want money for them and Doflamingo... I want 2 billion berries at Enies Lobby in a few days.”“Enies Lobby was completely destroyed...?”“I've fought Mihawk, Jimbei, Crocodile, Doflamingo, Hancock, and Moria... you're the only one left, Kuma...”“It seems we've finally met, Rayleigh...”“Let's invade Impel Down!”“I came here to find you, sister, it's time for you to join my crew... Joygirl...”“It looks like we've finally arrived at the war.”“Sengoku... you tried to arm yourself to execute my brother, so I'll make an example of this Tenryuubito for the whole world.”“You can't do this...!”*BANG!*“He actually did it, that bastard....”“Your chains are loose, move your ass and get out of Marineford!!”“Saturn!!! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!”“I couldn't kill you last time, Akainu... but I'll make sure to do it now.”“Destroy the rest of Marineford.”“Let's get out of here. When you return, you'll take over this country for your family, Rebecca.”“No matter if we're on opposite sides... I will always love you, grandpa.”“It's time to start our training.”“Let's begin. Now, let's head to the New World, capture territories, and grow our fleet.”“Is the entire Straw Hat fleet ready? Now let's head to Wano, after all, we have a war against two Yonkou!”

Yo, Hi! I’m Frank, I made a deal with a demon to pay me some money for receiving a guest for a few days every week.
I had no idea about what I have done.
On May 1st, Conan ‘the God of Death’ came to my house. I was forced to let him in and we get involved in a criminal case.
On May 8th, Bruce Wayne ‘Batman’ came to me. I was forced to follow him to fight crime.
On May 16th, Hannibal Lecter, The Silence of the Lambs, came to my home. I can only say that I really can’t stand my guests.

- Description from Novelupdates

I am currently re-writing the first chapters of this story. They are quite rough and bounce around a lot and I can do better. At some point, I will replace these with the better chapters.Sometime in 2024 Aethon Books will publish the first volume of this story on Amazon, KU, and audible. This will mean the story will be stubbed. I will notify people far in advance of that.In the dystopian world of the future, life is rough when you live at the bottom. Jobs are non-existent. Far too many people live in poverty, crammed into huge buildings called Habitats. With no jobs in the real world, many people can only find work online in VR worlds as servants to the very rich. And it's getting worse. The old internet is unusable and hacked to pieces. The new system needs AI to run things, but all but one of them were destroyed. The last sentient AI is ordered to create a new game world so the rich can have a playground, and the corporations that rule the world can have a new global market place. Everyone wants a piece of the new game. The guilds are competing to be the first to find the dungeons and kill the biggest monster. The corporations are claiming land and putting in their online market places. Ozzy and his friends just want a paycheck.Four friends sign five year contracts as virtual serfs in a small village, and can't go adventuring at all to gain money. They don't have many choices. They can work as a blacksmith, barmaid and shepherd for all those years....or they can cheat and find ways to take advantage of the system and carve out a section of the game world for themselves, and earn a fortune in the real world.When they give you a mop and not a sword, you have to find the loopholes and change the rules.