On the endless blue sea, a small wooden boat rocked gently against the waves, swaying as though any larger swell might overturn it completely.
A young man sat aboard the vessel, his face mature beyond his years. He had striking violet hair and deep amethyst eyes, a long black-and-purple coat draped over his shoulders with the word "Ling" emblazoned across the back. A sleek black sword hung at his waist.
"It's been three days since I came to this world… where on earth am I?" he murmured, staring helplessly at the vast ocean stretching before him.
Three days ago, Kaoru Tsubasa had crossed over from a planet known as Blue Star. How it happened—that was another story entirely.
When he'd arrived, a mysterious system had bound itself to him, gifting him a few "starter abilities." One was the black blade at his hip, and the other—a strange, spiritual power.
The sword, named Lightning, was no ordinary weapon. It was a Sealer Blade—one that held nine hidden abilities. To unlock each seal, however, Kaoru needed specific, rare items.
His second gift, Spiritual Arts, allowed him to manipulate energy to attack, defend, bind, heal, and even seal.
"This damn world… nothing but water for days," Kaoru muttered, exasperated. "Don't tell me I'm going to be the first transmigrator to die of boredom."
Just as he sighed, a colossal shadow loomed in the distance. A massive ship was heading directly toward him.
"Captain! A small boat ahead!" shouted a voice.
"Small boat?" A man with unkempt hair and a heavy coat stepped forward. "Let's take a look."
"Mamamama~ only one person?" a booming female voice laughed.
"Bring me some cake, Bread," she added lazily.
"Yes, Linlin," replied a nervous chef.
That woman—Charlotte Linlin, later known to the world as Big Mom. And her chef, Streusen, the "Long Bread."
Kaoru raised his head as the enormous ship drew closer, revealing ten figures standing along the deck. Among them were Captain Rocks, Charlotte Linlin, Edward Newgate (Whitebeard), Shiki the Golden Lion, John, Wang Zhi, Silver Axe, Stussy, Streusen, and an unfamiliar, stunning woman.
The Rocks Pirates…? Kaoru's eyes widened. Is this… the One Piece world?
[Ding! The system has detected the host's first battle. All physical attributes will be increased by 300% for five days.]
"Huh? My first fight already?" Kaoru muttered.
"Hahahaha! Let me handle him!" The Golden Lion, Shiki, leapt from the Rocks ship, his twin blades flashing.
"Chopping Wave!"
Shiki's swords released multiple waves of golden energy, slashing toward Kaoru's tiny boat.
"Spiritual Art — Defense: Water Shield," Kaoru whispered.
The seawater stirred, forming a thick, shimmering wall before him. The golden slashes struck the shield—and vanished like pebbles sinking into the ocean.
"Spiritual Art — Attack: Blue Sea Hundred Spears!"
From the rolling waves, countless spears of water shot upward, raining toward the Golden Lion.
"Hahahaha! What an interesting little brat!" Shiki grinned, crossing his blades.
"Lion Senkiritani!"
A flurry of slashes met the incoming spears, shattering them midair.
As expected from the Golden Lion… my standard attacks won't work. Kaoru tightened his grip on his sword. Time to get serious.
"Gui Ning… release me."
BOOM—
A surge of purple energy exploded from Kaoru's body, shaking the sea. He had unlocked the first seal of his sword, boosting his speed by 80%, strength by 50%, swordsmanship by 30%, and spiritual arts by 10%. Stacked with the system's 300% buff, his power skyrocketed.
Purple armor formed over his left leg as his aura intensified.
"Show me what you've got, brat!" Shiki roared.
"Lion's Dominion — Imperial Palace Scroll!"
A massive spectral lion's head materialized, crashing down upon Kaoru.
The sea erupted, the small boat obliterated by the attack.
"HAHAHAHAHA! Is that all?" Shiki sneered.
A flash of light appeared behind him.
"One-Sword Style — Sword Flash!"
The strike was fast—so fast that even Shiki's Observation Haki barely warned him in time. He twisted aside, the blade's edge grazing his coat.
That speed…! thought Whitebeard, watching silently. That kid's faster than he looks.
"Impressive," Shiki muttered. "Let's see you dodge this!"
"One-Sword Style — Thousand Slashes: Sun and Moon Wheel!" Kaoru's voice was calm but sharp. A storm of slashes filled the sky, each one gleaming like a crescent moon.
"So many flying slashes…!" Shiki's grin faded slightly. Even for him, evading them all was impossible.
"Lion Senkiritani!"
He swung both blades wildly, colliding slash after slash. The two attacks met in midair—
BOOM—
The explosion of energy shook the ocean. Both fighters' sword waves canceled each other perfectly, their speed and precision identical.
"That brat's attack speed… it matches the Golden Lion's," murmured one of the pirates. "And he looks barely sixteen…"
"Hahahaha! Kid, how about joining me?" Shiki called out.
Kaoru smirked. "No thanks. You don't exactly look captain material to me."
"WHAT?!" Shiki's temper flared. "Do you even know who I am, brat?!"
Before he could attack again, a deep, commanding voice boomed across the deck.
"That's enough, Shiki. Bring the boy aboard."
It was Rocks D. Xebec himself.
"Tch…" Shiki clicked his tongue but obeyed. He couldn't defy Rocks.
Kaoru sheathed his sword and leapt gracefully onto the Rocks Pirates' ship.
"Impressive, boy," Rocks said, lounging in his ornate captain's chair. His aura was so intense that Kaoru could barely breathe.
So this is Rocks… I can't even move under his pressure.
"My name is Kaoru Tsubasa," he managed to say evenly.
"Kaoru Tsubasa, huh… a D as well?" Rocks' grin widened. "Interesting kid."
"Join me, Kaoru. Sail under the Rocks Pirates' flag."
Kaoru hesitated only a moment before nodding. "Fine. For now, I'll join you."
He couldn't beat Rocks—not yet. But he knew this man's fate. When Rocks eventually fell to Roger and Garp, that would be Kaoru's chance to move freely.
"Wahahahahahaha!" Rocks burst into laughter. "I am Rocks D. Xebec, captain of the Rocks Pirates!"
One by one, the others introduced themselves—
"Golden Lion Shiki."
"Edward Newgate."
"Charlotte Linlin."
"John."
"Wang Zhi."
"Silver Axe."
"Stussy."
"Streusen."
And finally, the unfamiliar woman smiled faintly. "Flame Flower."
Flame Flower? Never heard of her among the Rocks Pirates… Kaoru thought silently but nodded in greeting.
In this crew, power was everything. The strong became legends; the weak became cannon fodder.
Rocks assigned Kaoru a room aboard the ship, and their voyage continued. From the chatter of the crew, Kaoru learned their next destination—Winter Island, a place said to hold something Rocks desperately wanted.
What it was, not even Newgate knew. But Kaoru didn't care. For now, he simply returned to his quarters, eyes gleaming with quiet determination.
This world… might be more interesting than I thought.