On the Sea
The deep blue ocean roared, sending waves crashing relentlessly against the side of the passenger ship.
Right beside it, a pirate ship loomed, its sails billowing and the Jolly Roger fluttering high above. The two vessels were nearly touching—just a few feet apart.
With practiced precision, the pirates launched grappling hooks. The iron hooks latched tightly onto the railing of the passenger ship. The moment they confirmed their grip was secure, the pirates wasted no time.
A swarm of them began to scale the ropes with the eagerness of predators on the hunt.
The pirates' faces lit up with excitement. To them, hijacking this passenger ship was a goldmine—its cargo of cash and jewelry would make them rich, but it was the sight of elegantly dressed women that sent their bloodlust over the edge. Life at sea had starved them of comfort. Now, they were wolves among sheep.
Their eyes gleamed green as soon as they boarded. And in the next instant…
Chaos broke out.
Screams echoed across the ship.
But the passengers were not defenseless. In an age dominated by pirates, no vessel sailed without preparation. Among the essential precautions? Armed guards. Countless ships had met tragic ends at pirate hands—this one wasn't going down without a fight.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The ship's captain, musket in hand, led the charge, firing at the invaders. Bullets tore through the air, striking down several pirates before they could advance.
But a musket is still a musket—each shot had to be reloaded manually.
That short delay was all the pirates needed. They surged forward, weapons raised, and the battle became hand-to-hand.
In a quiet corner of the ship, away from the immediate bloodshed…
A young man stood, staring blankly at the violent scene before him. Dressed in a black short-sleeved jacket, his medium-length hair tousled by the sea breeze, his lips parted slightly in disbelief. He couldn't speak.
His name was Kairos Flint.
Just a second ago, he had been at home.
Now—somehow—he was here, on this ship, in the middle of an ocean under siege by pirates.
He watched, dumbfounded, as the enemy ship pulled closer, pirates clambered aboard, and screams filled the air. The guards fought bravely, but the scene was ripped straight from a fantasy or video game.
"I must have gamed too hard last night… I'm hallucinating," Kairos muttered, shaking his head. "I was just at home… How could I suddenly be at sea?"
Convinced this was a dream, he shut his eyes.
One… Two…
Before he could finish counting to three—
"Watch out!" a clear voice shouted.
Someone shoved him hard.
He stumbled backward and slammed into the wooden deck.
"Ow!" Kairos grunted, clutching his forehead.
His first reaction was irritation. He turned to yell at whoever had pushed him—then froze.
Right where he'd been standing, a massive cutlass was embedded a few inches into the deck. If not for the push…
A chill shot through his spine. The pain in his forehead felt too real to be part of a dream.
It hit him then—this wasn't a hallucination. It was real.
And someone had just saved his life.
"I… I owe you one," Kairos said, genuinely grateful.
"You're welcome," came the reply—it was a woman's voice.
She quickly stood and began gathering some scattered belongings.
Kairos turned to look at her properly.
She was beautiful—short orange hair, fair skin, a sharp yet kind face. But what really caught his eye was the tattoo on her left arm. It looked exactly like the emblem of the Dragon Pirates.
It was unmistakable.
As someone who watched One Piece religiously, Kairos was stunned.
"There's One Piece cosplay in this world too?" he murmured. "Or is she just a huge fan? No way someone randomly has that exact tattoo..."
But he didn't have time to think further.
A new threat approached.
A burly pirate spotted them and grinned devilishly. "You're mine now, woman!" he shouted, charging straight at the orange-haired woman.
"Damn it," Kairos growled.
Without thinking, he lunged for the sword stuck in the deck.
Time was running out. If he hesitated now, this woman—his savior—could be killed. And him too.
Instinct took over.
He gripped the hilt with both hands and yanked the blade free. Then, with all the strength he could muster, he swung it.
Slick!
The pirate didn't see it coming.
The blade tore through his neck. Blood sprayed.
The sight was gruesome—but Kairos had never felt more alive.
His heart pounded. He staggered back, pulling the sword free.
"Are you okay?" he asked the woman breathlessly.
"I didn't… run," she replied, still catching her breath.
But they didn't have time to savor the victory.
More pirates noticed them.
"They're coming," she warned, grabbing her bag. She reached out and pulled Kairos by the hand. "We have to go!"
They sprinted down the corridor.
Then, suddenly, something strange happened.
[Pickable items detected. Pick them up?]
A line of glowing text appeared in Kairos's vision.
Without thinking, he replied, "Yes."
[Ding! Successfully acquired: 1x Basic Physique Crystal, 1x Poor Soul Crystal, 1x Basic Taijutsu Crystal, 1x Basic Swordsmanship Crystal. Stored in Portable Inventory.]
What…?
Kairos blinked. He felt it—somehow, with a thought, he could "reach" behind a kind of invisible wall. Like a mental storage space.
He tried mentally saying, Take out.
Suddenly, several tiny objects appeared in his hands.
Crystals—some white, some green. The size of peas or small beans.
"What is this…?"
The woman didn't notice. She was focused on escape.
"This ship's no longer safe," she said urgently, dragging him toward a hatch. "There's a backup lifeboat. I'm going. Are you coming or staying?"
Kairos opened his mouth—but no words came out.
His mind was reeling.
He had no idea what was going on. But one thing was clear: this wasn't just a random accident. He hadn't come here empty-handed. That glowing text, those crystals—they were like the legendary cheat abilities every protagonist got after traveling between worlds.
He looked at his hand again.
The crystals glimmered softly.
Text popped up in his vision again:
[Basic Taijutsu Crystal]: Increases user's physical strength after use.
He took a deep breath.
Whatever this world was—whatever dangers it held—he wasn't helpless.
Not anymore.