1 Chapter 1: The Tragic Crossing

East Blue, a certain area.

A young boy stood on a boat, silently gazing at the sea, a world of azure blue. A thin layer of transparent mist covered the surface of the sea, and as the wind blew, it carried the fragrance of the air.

The young boy's name was Kaminari(Thunder), a sixteen-year-old high school student who, inexplicably, crossed over to this world over a month ago while watching the anime "One Piece."

In his previous life, he was an average person with an ordinary family background and average height. He was unremarkable in almost every aspect, except for his somewhat passable appearance and subtle handsomeness.

He had initially thought that by crossing into this world, he would be able to make great strides and achieve remarkable things. However, what awaited him was a tragic and bewildering fate.

When others crossed over, they either became direct descendants of high-ranking officials in the World Government or the Navy, or they became blood brothers of Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King.

But what about Kaminari?

He was captured on a pirate ship and became a miserable bottom-rung shipworker. He performed rough and odd jobs like repairing the ship, dropping anchor, hoisting sails, and moving heavy objects.

One couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

The captain of this ship was Buggy the "Clown," a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user. He had a current bounty of 6 million berries and was a relatively unknown pirate. As for how Buggy got a bounty of 15 million berries in East Blue, that would come later...

With a loud "smack," Kaminari felt a slap on his head. He instinctively covered his head and turned to see a burly man with a stubbly face staring at him fiercely.

His name was Tom, an ordinary fighter in Buggy's pirate crew. He possessed immense physical strength and enjoyed bullying the weak.

Tom said, "Kid, you sure have a lot of free time, huh? Have you finished filling the ammunition that Buggy-sama asked you to? How can you afford to leisurely watch the sea?"

Kaminari remained silent and was quietly forced down from the deck into the ship's cabin by Tom. He continued to fill the ammunition for Buggy.

It wasn't that Kaminari didn't dare to resist, but he genuinely couldn't defeat Tom. He still remembers the second day after he was captured when Tom bullied him. Kaminari fought back, but he was beaten up by Tom until last week when his injuries finally healed a bit.

Although Kaminari was fearless, he understood the principle of not seeking trouble when it was right in front of him.

In his current powerless state, confronting Tom head-on would only result in more injuries without achieving much.

"When I become strong, I won't let you off!" Kaminari thought to himself.

But how could he become strong? That was the question. Power doesn't just fall from the sky like a pie.

Speaking of which, the power in this world can roughly be divided into three types: Devil Fruits, martial arts, and swordsmanship.

To obtain a Devil Fruit, one either needs a stroke of luck, like stumbling upon one while wandering on some island (though it might turn out to be the Human-Human Fruit, which is useless for humans and turns them into ducks—you could say it's a joke); or one needs to have a considerable amount of money, like the Paramecia-type Rubber-Rubber Fruit and some other Zoan-type Fruits, which have a market price of around 100 million berries; or one needs to have a certain level of power to forcefully take it from others.

Considering the above, Kaminari doesn't have any of those options, so there's no point in thinking about Devil Fruits.

Then there are martial arts and swordsmanship. Even if Kaminari does physical training like push-ups or squats every day, it would only make his body stronger and more resistant to beatings. But he can't defeat so many members of Buggy's pirate crew.

On this pirate ship, Kaminari can't train his physical abilities and cultivate combat skills like Rokushiki. He simply doesn't know how. If he knew Rokushiki, even if it was just one move, like Shigan, Kaminari would have mercilessly pierced Tom's body with a flurry of bloody holes.

But reality told Kaminari: Forget about it.

If things continued like this, when would he ever have a chance to rise? Was he destined to be bullied, humiliated, scolded, and ordered around on this damn clown's ship until he grew old with white hair, only to be discarded when he became useless, and then spend the rest of his lonely and miserable life?

Why was he so unlucky?

As Kaminari pondered this, his expression gradually dimmed, and disappointment turned into despair.

Slowly, with a sense of despair, Kaminari fell into a deep sleep on the cold lower deck...

The next day, just as the sky began to lighten, while Kaminari was still in a deep sleep, the sound of footsteps echoed from the stairs leading to the lower deck. A burly man appeared beside him and rudely kicked him while he was sleeping, waking him up.

The man was none other than Tom, who always enjoyed bullying him.

Kaminari's drowsy eyes were immediately filled with anger.

However, upon seeing Kaminari's angry gaze, Tom showed no fear. On the contrary, he looked at him with interest, wanting to see what this guy could do to him.

The gaze was like a weakling's roar, like a cat's furious meow.

The anger of a weakling doesn't make anyone the least bit afraid.

Seeing Kaminari's expression, Tom almost burst out laughing. "What's wrong, kid? Are you not satisfied?" he said, grabbing Kaminari's hair and shaking it vigorously.

Kaminari couldn't contain his anger and threw a punch towards Tom's body...

With his frail body, that punch was like a mosquito bite, or rather, even less impactful than a mosquito bite.

Tom grabbed his wrist with one large hand, preventing Kaminari from fighting back.

"You dare to fight back against me? I'll make sure to kill you!" Tom exclaimed, clenching his fist and delivering a powerful punch to Kaminari's face. Kaminari fell onto the deck, a faint red bruise forming on his face, and his teeth nearly knocked out.

Unsatisfied, Tom lifted his foot and kicked him hard, causing him to roll and collide with the wall of the cabin.

Kaminari was beaten and in pain, but he endured without uttering a sound.

"You better learn how formidable I am. From now on, you better behave, or I'll beat you three times a day!"

"And hurry up and get to work, don't stand around like some useless wimp."

After finishing his words, Tom proudly raised his eyebrows, swayed his slightly chubby body, and walked up to the upper deck like a triumphant general, humming a tune.

Kaminari endured the pain and slowly got up from the ground...

That's how it is for the weak. They hardly even have the basic right to survive, let alone dignity.

Kaminari couldn't help but recall the words of one of the Seven Warlords, Crocodile: "To be weak is a sin."

No, he had to become strong.

But where could he go now to obtain powerful strength?

There seemed to be no possibility.

And then, an idea sparked in Kaminari's mind.

Assassinate Tom!

He might as well go all out, take him down with him, and never endure his pathetic torment again.

In a dire situation, why fear death? When there's no way forward, there's no harm in seeking retribution!