(Warning: This text has consumed the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan Type: Zombie Form. Anyone who reads this book will have their brains eaten.)
Sea Circle Calendar 1488.
That night, Punk Hazard was engulfed in towering flames, the raging fire consuming the entire research institute.
"Fleeting yet mysterious, beautiful as sudden rain..."
A young man in a Navy uniform hummed a tune. The epaulettes on his uniform marked him as a Rear Admiral.
Yet, this Navy Rear Admiral was shockingly young—his youthful face suggested he was barely twenty years old.
The Rear Admiral casually tossed a pink fruit with strange patterns in his left hand, playing with it. In his right hand, he dragged a long, ornate halberd, its blade scraping the ground, sparking with each step.
His name was Lei Luo, just eighteen years old.
Two years ago, Lei Luo was an ordinary person on Blue Star (Earth). One fragrant evening, as he walked alone, the background music of "We're all trying so hard to live..." played in his mind. When he opened his eyes again, he was in the One Piece world.
Though Lei Luo was a huge One Piece fan, upon arriving in this world, he had no interest in the Four Emperors, Admirals, Pirate King, Fleet Admiral, One Piece, upholding justice, overthrowing the Celestial Dragons, or toppling Im.
His one and only interest was...
Ruling Wano Country!
Enslaving Wano Country!
Making them all plant potatoes!
Among the many characters in One Piece, Kaido was Lei Luo's absolute favorite—no contest. First, Kaido was a dragon. Second, Kaido enslaved Wano Country. These two points alone earned Lei Luo's admiration.
Thus, Lei Luo's goal upon transmigrating was clear: to rule Wano Country alongside Kaido.
"The people of Wano should be ruled by a divine dragon. No one else will do," Lei Luo declared.
After figuring out the timeline, Lei Luo joined the Navy. In just two years, he climbed the ranks to Rear Admiral and requested a transfer to Punk Hazard.
What? You say Koby, the king of effort, worked two hundred times harder and only reached Captain in two years, so Lei Luo must be cheating?
To that, Lei Luo would say, "Oda doesn't understand true effort. He's never experienced the rigor of Chinese-style education."
Lei Luo didn't storm Punk Hazard like Smoker did in seven days. If anything, he was held back by the system.
However, Rear Admiral was merely his current rank, not his true strength.
He had also consumed a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, the powers of which he had kept hidden from the Navy and the world.
He found the fruit during a mission on a remote island—a fruit covered in snake-like scales with small wings on either side.
During his time at Punk Hazard, Lei Luo had thoroughly scouted the facility. He confirmed that Kaido and King were indeed imprisoned there.
But he didn't act rashly.
Punk Hazard was still Vegapunk's research base, and the World Government treated the scientist, whose technology was five hundred years ahead of the world, like a treasure. The facility was heavily guarded, with CP agents and Navy personnel stronger than the last.
Until today, when Lei Luo's opportunity finally arrived. The World Government summoned Vegapunk, and nearly all the Navy and CP agents left to escort him.
The time had come!
Lei Luo set the entire laboratory ablaze. While the remaining personnel scrambled to put out the fire, he headed to the storage room for failed experiments and retrieved an artificial Devil Fruit created from Kaido's lineage factor.
Then, he strutted confidently toward the laboratory where Kaido was held.
At the door, he pocketed the Devil Fruit, smashed the door open with a single swing of his halberd, and strolled inside.
Kaido, bound like a lab rat, lay on an experiment table. Hearing the commotion, he turned his head and saw Lei Luo, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
A Navy officer?
It wasn't strange for a Navy officer to be at Punk Hazard, but breaking in like this? This was Vegapunk's research base!
Lei Luo approached slowly, sizing up the future Yonko. Kaido had horns on his head, a towering and muscular frame like a small mountain, and despite being imprisoned, he exuded an air of unshakable confidence and dominance.
Noticing Lei Luo, Kaido sneered, "Hey, Navy. What are you doing here? This lab isn't a place for you."
Ignoring the taunt, Lei Luo spoke calmly:
"Kaido, the pirate. At ten years old, you became the strongest soldier in the Vodka Kingdom, fighting for your country. Later, your king traded you to the Navy for a seat at the World Conference. You escaped during transport, became a pirate, and by fifteen, you were making a name for yourself in the New World. You even joined the most powerful pirate crew on the seas—the Rocks Pirates."
Kaido snorted, "Kid, why are you reciting my life story?"
Lei Luo didn't answer directly. He knew of Kaido's first meeting with King and echoed a familiar sentiment.
"Kaido, don't you find this world boring?"
"A boring world?" Kaido muttered, his interest piqued. "What are you getting at, you punk?"
Lei Luo grinned. "If the world's boring, let's make it interesting. Make your choice, Kaido. Will you join me to change this world?"
Kaido froze, stunned. Those words struck a chord, as if Lei Luo had voiced his own thoughts. A sense of camaraderie stirred within him, and he burst into laughter.
"Wororororo! So, if I say yes, you'll let me out?"
"Why else would I be here?" Lei Luo replied matter-of-factly.
Kaido studied Lei Luo's rank—Rear Admiral. Not even twenty years old, yet willing to throw it all away to become a pirate with him?
Kaido's life as a pirate had been forced upon him, step by step. But this Navy Rear Admiral? Was he doing this to change the world? For Kaido himself?
He didn't buy it.
Was this kid playing him?
Kaido's eyes glinted with amusement. "Fine, I choose yes!"
Without hesitation, Lei Luo shattered the Seastone chains binding Kaido.
Kaido's eyes widened, his heart pounding with shock. He was free. This wasn't a trick. A promising young Rear Admiral was really throwing away his future to become a pirate with him!
After a moment of stunned silence, Kaido stretched his neck, the joints cracking loudly. Freed from his shackles, he felt like a dragon soaring from the abyss.
Even now, Kaido could hardly believe it. "Why choose me?"
"Because I can tell you're genuine, with a good heart. You'd make a top-tier friend," Lei Luo said earnestly.
Kaido: "…"
Utterly baffled, Kaido stared at the dead-serious Lei Luo, momentarily speechless.
Without another word, Lei Luo turned and headed toward the laboratory where King was held.
"Oh, by the way," he called back, "I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Lei Luo!"