First Simulation

"Damn… what world should I choose so that not only I, but even Emily can get stronger?" Alex muttered to himself, rubbing his chin in thought. His mind was a storm of names and possibilities. "Damn… with all the knowledge I have of anime, novels, and games… this should be easier," he grumbled, pacing across the room as countless fictional worlds flashed through his mind.

All those books, anime, manga—everything he'd consumed was now a strategic advantage.

But after a moment of overthinking, he waved his hand dismissively.

"Forget it. Let's just go with Black Clover for now," Alex muttered. Given that world's magic system—and the fact that magic existed in Marvel too—it made sense. If he played this right, he could try to transfer magic knowledge or tools to Emily later.

Satisfied with the decision, Alex opened the system interface, navigating to the Simulation menu.

[ Simulation Initiating… ]

[ Template: Crocodile - Applied ]

[ World Selected: Black Clover ]

The screen flickered as the simulation began.

Crocodile's perspective snapped into view.

[ One day, Crocodile woke up… as a baby. ]

The former Warlord of the Sea, a feared and ruthless villain… now reduced to an infant's tiny form, lying helplessly under the soft blankets of a small crib. His sharp mind remained, though dulled by the newborn body.

The surroundings were unfamiliar—an old, simple room with wooden walls, faint candlelight… and a church symbol carved into the wall.

An orphanage.

Crocodile could hear faint voices nearby.

It didn't take him long to realize where exactly he had ended up.

He wasn't alone.

Lying beside him were two more infants—one quietly sleeping, the other wailing loudly, his cries echoing across the small orphanage room. The annoying sound made Crocodile's rage bubble up, but even as he tried to open his mouth and curse, the only thing that came out was—

"Yaya… ayaya…"

Babbling.

He couldn't even form words. The frustration only deepened as reality sank in.

Where… am I? Who… am I…?

Crocodile, the feared Warlord of the Sea, was now reduced to a powerless infant. His memories remained, his pride remained, but his body… betrayed him.

The next day only confirmed the nightmare.

He was in a church orphanage, taken in as just another abandoned child.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, Alex sat comfortably on his couch, casually munching on popcorn as he watched the simulation unfold like a movie.

"Damn… I could sit and binge this all day," Alex chuckled to himself, watching as the church father gathered the children and gave them names. The other two babies were introduced as Asta and Yuno.

As for Crocodile… or rather, his simulation self… he now had a new name:

Nile.

"Hmph… Let's see how this plays out," Alex smirked, settling in to observe.

[ Simulation Progression ]

Age: 1

Nile quickly realized he was indeed in the world of Black Clover. Magic was real, power ruled everything, and being an orphan meant starting at the bottom.

Age: 3

While other toddlers played, Nile trained his mind, quietly observing everything. Though his infant body limited him, his adult will and tactical thinking remained intact. His frustration only grew, knowing magic power was still out of reach until the Grimoire Ceremony.

Age: 5

Nile now had full control over his body and speech. His former strength hadn't returned, but his ruthless personality had. He spent his days manipulating the other kids, subtly asserting dominance in the orphanage.

Age: 6

Nile's sharp eyes and calculating nature set him apart. Asta clung to him like a brother, while Yuno kept his distance, always cold and aloof. Nile could already sense Yuno's magic potential. Asta, though… Nile could feel something strange brewing in the boy.

Age: 7

Though Nile still had no access to magic, his body was tougher than most. He began training in secret, using fragments of his former knowledge. It wasn't much—but it was a start.

Age: 10

Everything changed.

A fight with bullies broke out in the village, and Nile saw his chance. Channeling the faintest traces of his original strength, he unleashed basic Haki techniques.

Though rough, they worked.

The bullies hit the dirt. Nile stood victorious.

In the following months, Nile refined his Haki. His body, though young, adapted well. By the time he turned eleven, he had basic mastery over Armament and Observation Haki.

All of it… hidden.

This world was ruled by magic. Haki? Swordsmanship? They didn't exist here. Nile knew revealing such power too soon would only invite fear—or worse, suspicion and death.

Age: 12

Asta began showing signs of strength as well—remarkably, his raw determination and Nile's early influence awakened Overlord's Haki within him, even before his Grimoire Ceremony.

Nile nearly crushed his teeth in frustration. Even here, he couldn't unlock Overlord's Haki.

It was infuriating.

He knew how this world worked. Bloodline potential, soul strength, hidden destinies—they mattered here. Overlord's Haki was akin to a rare soul mutation, not something earned purely through effort.

Alex watched the simulation, amused.

"Overlord Haki in Black Clover… magic plus haki… oh, this world's balance is gonna get ruined," he chuckled darkly.

Meanwhile, within the simulation…

Years passed.

Despite his efforts, Nile—Crocodile's simulated self—had to accept an inconvenient truth.

He couldn't awaken Overlord's Haki.

No matter how much he meditated, trained, or pushed himself, the overwhelming, kingly presence that bent the wills of others refused to manifest within him. It was frustrating, humiliating even. But Nile, ever the realist, eventually accepted it.

He wasn't destined for Overlord's Haki.

But that didn't mean he was helpless.

Asta, on the other hand, shocked him.

Not only did he possess Overlord's Haki, but through Nile's secret training sessions, Asta had also awakened Armament Haki and Observation Haki—something unheard of for a child his age in his world, not to mention here where such abilities didn't even exist.

But it was their secret.

Nile had drilled it into Asta from day one—"Hide your strength. Don't show these powers until after the Grimoire Ceremony. Let them underestimate you."

Beyond Haki, Nile didn't stop there.

Swordsmanship.

Before getting the Devil fruit he was also an swordsman, that's why his move set included Desert Sword Sparda, though it was not much, but he have all knowledge of Swordsmanship and he is going to use it here and also teach it to Asta.