Chapter 2: The Mountain King
You can get stronger by eating Sea King meat.
That's what Charlotte figured out early on. In the world of One Piece, the strong don't just train hard—they eat like monsters. The problem? Hunting Sea Kings isn't exactly easy. Especially when you're stuck in the body of a ten-year-old kid.
So, first things first: train.
Charlotte lived on a tiny island tucked into the first half of the New World. The only livable land was the flat port town, where around a thousand people scratched out a living. Everything else? Jagged cliffs and dense, monster-infested mountains.
Perfect training ground.
He didn't have parents in this life—just a straw hut the mayor's family let him use out of pity. The original Charlotte had been a poor orphan scraping by, and had nearly died trying to fish by the shore. When he was swept away and dashed against the rocks, the transmigrated Charlotte woke up in his place.
No time to mourn a stranger. He had a new body and a new world to survive in.
Sword slung across his back, Charlotte stepped into the untamed wilderness behind the village. His weapon was crude—a machete for chopping wood—but it was enough to start.
His first goal: become the king of the mountain.
At first, it was brutal. When he was thirsty, he drank spring water. When he was hungry, he foraged for wild fruits—nearly poisoning himself more than once. But every time danger came close, something in his brain would tingle—like Spidey-sense from his old world.
Only here, it wasn't fiction.
It was Observation Haki—Kenbunshoku Haki.
He couldn't explain how he knew it, but it was like his instincts had been upgraded. When he trusted that sixth sense, he avoided danger. Slowly, he learned to survive. He started laying traps, catching wild animals, and trading their pelts for tools and food.
And the best part? He was growing stronger—faster than he should have.
Every morning, his body felt tougher. More solid. He could go head-to-head with wild boars now, animals that would've trampled him a year ago. And after getting hurt? One good meal and a night's sleep, and he'd be good as new.
This world's biology was… different.
Ordinary training wasn't enough anymore. Push-ups, sprints, weight-lifting—they barely tired him out now. He needed something more intense.
So he descended the mountain, dragging a bundle of premium pelts behind him.
When he arrived at the port's open-air market, people stared. He was taller, leaner, and far more rugged than they remembered.
"Is that… Charlotte? Didn't he disappear a year ago?"
Whispers rippled through the crowd. He ignored them. He spread out a blanket, neatly arranged the furs, and sat cross-legged beside his wares.
But the stares weren't just curious—they were greedy.
"Hey, kid. You trying to sell here without paying your dues?" a gruff voice called out.
Charlotte didn't look up. "Buy something or keep walking. Don't get in the way of my business."
The onlookers froze. You didn't talk like that—not here.
A group of thugs pushed through the crowd, clearing the way for a swaggering man with a thick gold chain, a gold tooth, and a swagger that screamed "wannabe boss."
It was the local gang—the Wild Wolf Crew.
In a town this small, even a gang of punks could feel like royalty.
The boss crouched down and picked up one of Charlotte's furs. "Not bad. No holes. Real clean work. You're not bad for a kid."
He grinned, showing that flashy gold tooth. "I'll take these two as payment for setting up shop on our turf."
He was about to walk off with them when Charlotte grabbed his wrist.
"That'll be 20,000 Berries. Each."
The boss froze, eyes wide. Then he burst out laughing—loud and ugly.
"Hahaha! Listen to this brat! 'Give me the money!' Has anyone ever asked me for money before?"
The other gang members laughed, not sure what was funny but joining in anyway.
Then the boss tried to yank his wrist free.
It didn't budge.
Charlotte stood, gaze cold. "If you're here to steal, you're making a mistake."
The boss tried to pull back again—still nothing. When he reached for the dagger on his belt, Charlotte moved.
With a single push, the man toppled backwards and slammed into the ground with a grunt.
"Boss!"
The other gang members rushed in, knives and clubs ready.
Charlotte didn't hesitate.
One twist, a sidestep, and three punches, two kicks.
Thud. Crack. Wump.
In seconds, five grown men were on the ground groaning in pain.
The crowd went silent.
They'd expected a beatdown. What they got was a massacre.
Charlotte didn't even look winded.
He stepped over the gang boss, knelt down, and yanked off his gold chain. Then he ripped the gemstone ring off his finger and smashed a fist into the man's mouth.
CRACK.
The scream echoed across the square.
And just like that, the kid who'd vanished into the mountains came back as something else entirely:
A monster in the making.