"Name?"
"Raiden D. Shigaraki!!"
"Age?"
"I am 17 years old!!"
"And why do you want to join the Marines?"
"Because I want to be a Hero!!!"
The silence hung in the air after the declaration as the Marine taking the interview stopped writing.
For the first time, the rough-looking Marine looked up from his clipboard and gave a hard look at the young man standing in front of him.
He had long black hair, flowing freely in the wind, with an average height of 5'10. He looked really thin and scrawny at first glance, but his deep red eyes seemed to be shining with brilliance that could not be matched.
The look this guy had in his eyes made the Marine feel ashamed and think back to when he joined the Marines, full of life and dreams.
Now middle-aged, after encountering so many monsters on a sea and feeling his limit, he had already given up on them and settled in a cushy job at the headquarters.
"...Alright, you pass. Welcome to the Marines. I hope you never forget your dreams and convictions, boy. I wish you success."
---------------------------------
After Raiden arrived at the Dorm Room assigned to him by the Marines, he unpacked his belongings and started thinking back to the day he got here.
Somehow, Truck-sama got drunk one day and went out of his domain to arrive in his country and sent him to get Isekai'ed.
At first, he was confused, finding himself in a new world and seeing the large building of Marineford in front of him.
The first thought in his mind after seeing it was:
'I.AM. FUCKED.'
But after a few days, he got over it and decided to live as a normal human being.
He was a relative of a fallen Marine officer. Both his parents died in a clash with pirates. And he had been living off well inside the Marineford base on their pension.
He knew he did not have enough willpower like Zoro or a cheat bloodline like Big Mom or Luffy that would help him reach the category of the Strongest of The Seas.
He was content passing his days happily like a normal person. But after two years of living like a normal person, he suddenly gained a system and his cheat power, which awakened his 8th-grade syndrome of wanting to be a hero. It was also this newfound desire that led him here.
[Hello? Earth to host? Are you daydreaming again? How did I get stuck with such a dullard? I feel like I will fail in my yearly performance review again!!]
Yep, this was his cheat code. A Yapper.
"Damnit, System!! Can't you even give me a moment of peace? And do you guys even have performance reviews? How does that work?"
[I am glad you asked. I'll have you know that I work at a prestigious government job. Now enough about me, it's time for you to get going. Such a pathetic host, he can't even meet the most basic criteria to accept your cheat code.]
"Fine, I'll go train right now. But at least tell me what my power is, it'll motivate me, you know?" Raiden muttered under his breath as he got ready to join his first training camp as a Marine.
Why Marines, you ask? It was the only organisation that provided unlimited free food and training.
[You are too weak to know. Go get stronger first!!]
------------------
"Alright, it's enough for now. Take some rest." Raiden collapsed as he felt his lungs burning, legs screaming in protest. One hundred kilometres. In six hours.
The training ground's mud stuck to his sweat-soaked uniform as he gasped for air while still being in awe of his physical prowess.
It had been 15 days since he got here, and he became stronger and more muscular faster than he ever thought was possible. The bodies of people in the world of One Piece were something else entirely.
"Yo~ Mr. Hero. If you fall down so easily like this. How can you ever become a real hero?" A teasing voice sounded from his left as a buff man with white hair stood smoking two cigars while teasing him.
"Shut it. You chain smoker!! I hope to God that you choke on that thang and die one day." Raiden fired back as he looked up to Smoker, who was laughing happily at his condition.
"Humph. Stinky man, both of you. Hina says that you should give up hope. At this rate, neither of you can even compare to Hina, let alone become a Hero." A fiery pinkhead snorted behind his back as she crossed her hands, looking smug.
"Hey, Smoker, Hina, how about we end this farce already? We all know you both like each other, just confess and be done with it. Stop dragging me into your couple fight," Raiden remarked offhandedly as he observed them both up close.
The two were new friends he had made at the camp, the future powerhouses whose potential got wasted in the original anime.
"Who likes this Musclehead/Witch?!!"
They both shouted at him, getting all flustered about it.
"See? You guys are in so much sync already. Just get married already." Raiden said, smirking at them.
"...You know what, suddenly Hina feels like you, as a future Hero, haven't trained enough. Hina will help you train some more." Hina said, cracking her knuckles ominously.
"I was thinking the same thing. Let me help you in training, too, Mr. Future Hero." Smoker started grinning as he started advancing towards Raiden.
"Hey, hey, hey, let's be civil about this. I was just joking, you guys. Don't take me too seriously. Even my mum doesn't take me this seriously. Seriously, guys, stop. Stop I said. STOP, HELP ME, AN ADULTROUS COUPLE IS COMMITTING A "STOP, HELP ME, A VIOLENT COUPLE IS COMMITTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN BROAD DAYLIGHT!!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"
---------------------------------
Battered and bruised, Raiden dragged himself back to his room, where he fell face down on his bed.
He made a mental note not to tease someone who was stronger than him in the future.
"Hey System, do I meet the minimum requirements yet?" Raiden asked in a muffled voice for the nth time, even after knowing the snarky comment he was about to receive in return.
[Congratulations! Host!! You have reached the minimum requirements to activate your cheat power.]
[Would you like to receive it now?]
.
.
.
"Huh?!"