East Blue, Foosha Village, Goa Kingdom
It was the year 1522 of the Sea Calendar.
"Hey! It's a rare chance! Use my old fishing boat instead, Luffy!"
A crowd had gathered at the harbor. One man pointed to the small vessel below, worried. "That boat of yours will sink in no time."
"How can you use a tiny skiff like that?!" another man shouted.
"It's fine! This is how I'm starting! Hehehehe!"
On a small wooden boat, only six feet long, a boy with black hair, a scar under his left eye, a straw hat, a red vest, blue capri shorts, and sandals, spread his arms wide and laughed with complete confidence.
"Sabo! Look, I'm setting sail, too!" the boy, Luffy, shouted across the wide, endless ocean. "Sabo was first, and Ace was second! But even if I'm third, I'm definitely not going to lose! Just you wait, Ace! I'll catch up to you right away!"
"What are you doing, Luffy?"
"Shouting to yourself like that, is it some kind of spell?" someone on the shore asked with a laugh.
"It's not a spell. It's a challenge!" Luffy turned and laughed, spreading his arms again.
"Who's Ace?"
"Who knows?"
Those who didn't know Ace began to ask questions.
"Well, I'm off!"
Luffy waved to the people on the shore, then untied the ropes and began to paddle, slowly leaving the harbor as the crowd on the shore waved and cheered.
"He's finally gone, Mayor. It's going to be lonely now," Makino said with a sigh.
"To think he'd become a pirate. It's an embarrassment to the village," the Mayor grumbled, crossing his arms.
Out on the open sea, Luffy paddled his boat, sailing across the ocean. He looked up at the sunny weather and grinned. "It's a great day for an adventure!"
RUMBLE!
SPLASH!
Suddenly, the sea surged, and a massive dark shape burst out of the water. It was an enormous sea beast, second only to the Sea Kings in size. Its eyes were a burning red, and it exuded a terrifying aura.
"It's...!"
The people on the shore were shocked.
"So you showed up after all... Lord of the Coast!"
Luffy's expression turned serious. He stood up, clutching his straw hat. He recalled old memories, then broke into a wide smile. "You picked the wrong opponent! I'll show you the move I've been practicing for ten years!"
"Gomu Gomu no Pistol!!"
Luffy excitedly clenched his fist. His arm stretched back like rubber, extending for over thirty feet.
ROAR!
The Lord of the Coast roared, opening its massive mouth and lunging forward.
WHAM!
The next moment, Luffy's rubber-like arm snapped back and then shot forward with incredible force, hitting the Lord of the Coast right in the head. The dozens-of-feet-long beast was knocked unconscious. Its gigantic body crashed into the sea, creating a thirty-foot-high wave that poured down like a sudden rainstorm.
Snap!
Luffy's arm recoiled, and he grinned. "Heh heh! Now you know my power!"
Seeing the incredible scene, the people on the shore cheered loudly.
"Amazing! He took down the Lord of the Coast in one hit!"
"That kid... he's gotten so strong!"
Dadan and her family, who were watching from hiding, stared at Luffy in disbelief. Dadan herself was in tears, clearly moved.
"First, I've gotta gather a crew. I want ten people! And then a pirate flag! Alright, let's go!" Luffy stood in his small boat, raising his fist to the sky and shouting.
"I'm going to be the King of the Pirates!"
On this day, a boy named Monkey D. Luffy set sail. The gears of a new era officially began to turn, and a future of epic proportions and turbulent times was now beginning.
....
New World, The Clifford Kingdom, Nakor Capital, Palace Entertainment City.
"What a magnificent place! It really deserves the title of the 'World's Number One Entertainment City!'" Stepping into the central building, Cavendish was immediately captivated by the lavish splendor. Despite being born a nobleman, this was the first time he had seen a place so dazzling.
Cavendish, a native of the Rommel Kingdom, was a sword prodigy who burst onto the scene a year ago as the "Gorgeous Rookie". With a bounty of 280 million Berries, he had shaken the entire world. He was also known by nicknames like "White Horse" and "Pirate Prince." He was a handsome and elegant man with a feathered cowboy hat, golden hair that reached his shoulders, and a noble outfit. He carried a rose in one hand and a Western-style sword named Durandal at his waist.
"Such a magnificent place is worthy of a magnificent person like me," Cavendish said, inhaling the scent of his rose, a smug look on his face.
"Hey, hey, look at that guy."
"Isn't that the Super Rookie who shook the world a year ago?"
"White Horse Cavendish, the rookie with a 280 million Berry bounty."
"I heard he's incredibly strong. He survived an ambush by two Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals and four warships and still made it into the New World."
"He's definitely a tough one!"
The people nearby had recognized Cavendish, and soon, discussions about him spread. In the New World, a bounty of 280 million wasn't anything special, but his reputation was built on his terrifying feat: as a rookie, he had forced his way into the New World despite being surrounded by two elite Marine Vice Admirals.
After all, the Marines were the most powerful force on the seas. Besides the three Admirals, they had dozens of Vice Admirals, with nearly ten of them being elite Vice Admirals from Marine Headquarters. These elite officers were basically forces of nature, often as strong as or even stronger than regular pirates with a 300 million Berry bounty.
The highest-ranking officers of the major G-branch Marine bases were also affiliated with Marine Headquarters. For example, the Marine hero 'Hero Garp' was the highest-ranking officer of the G-3 Branch, and later, Koby and Helmeppo were also members of the G-3 Branch.
"Just as I expected, as soon as I show up, I become the center of attention!" Cavendish said, smiling with self-satisfaction as he listened to the chatter around him.