Chapter 5: Ripples on the Sea
The scent of roasted meat lingered in the courtyard like a stubborn fog. Charlotte leaned back in his chair, his stomach stretched taut beneath his shirt. A dozen empty plates surrounded him like the spoils of war. But even as the last bone was crunched and swallowed, the monstrous furnace that was his body began digesting everything at an unnatural pace.
A stream of white-hot steam hissed out from the crown of his head like a geyser.
Ivan, who had been standing nearby, dutifully reporting on Wild Wolf Gang business, fell silent. His mouth hung open as he watched the surreal phenomenon. His voice trembled, almost disappearing entirely.
Charlotte, of course, hadn't heard a single word. The matters of the Wild Wolf Gang were trivial—just window dressing. He kept Ivan around for convenience, not interest.
When the maids finally stopped bringing more food, Charlotte stood up with a bounce that would make a spring jealous. He leapt ten meters into the air, landing with a controlled thud that cracked the earth beneath him. Without hesitation, he turned and threw a punch at the enormous tree standing at the edge of the courtyard.
Boom!
The ancient tree, thick enough that six grown men could barely circle it, snapped in half like a twig.
The maids screamed.
The falling trunk threatened to crush them, but Charlotte reacted in a blur. One leg lashed out like a whip, kicking the massive chunk of timber sideways. It flew through the air like a cannonball, landing with a thunderous crash over ten meters away.
A mushroom cloud of dust rose into the sky.
Charlotte slowly exhaled and looked down at his fist.
How strong am I now, really? he wondered.
The world of One Piece had no formal power levels, but online forums back in his past life had created rough classifications for fun:
Grunts – Anyone who could throw a punch
Colonels – Capable of using basic techniques
Brigadier Generals – Skilled in several of the Rokushiki
Major Generals – Masters of Rokushiki and at least one form of Haki
Lieutenant Generals – Full body Haki coverage and advanced combat skill
Quasi-Admirals / Shichibukai – Exceptional strength, just below the top tier
Admirals / Yonko Commanders
Four Emperors – Monsters among monsters
But Charlotte knew better than to rely on fan-made power rankings. They were riddled with inconsistencies. Garp, a mere Lieutenant General, could beat down monsters like Roger. Meanwhile, Moria, a Shichibukai, was a joke in comparison to Mihawk, who duelled Shanks. These divisions were a fantasy—real power didn't care for ranks.
Still, it was nice to have a measuring stick.
Two Years Later
Charlotte was no longer training in the mountains.
Now, he was training at sea.
After mastering swimming, he began practicing swordsmanship in the ocean itself. He remembered a scene from his favorite anime where Zoro honed his skills in the harshest environments—so Charlotte followed suit. Immersed waist-deep in crashing waves or submerged entirely in the deep, he slashed again and again with unwavering focus.
He didn't know many sword techniques, but one phrase from the anime had stuck with him.
"A true swordsman can cut everything... or nothing at all."
Every swing he made carried that belief.
He rose from the waves, gasping for air, his entire body aching and shaking. The strain wasn't just physical—it dug into his soul. He couldn't calm the restlessness that crept in after every session. The harder he trained, the more it gnawed at him.
Four years had passed since he arrived in this world. He was now fourteen.
His physical growth had slowed—his body had reached a peak for his age. And while he had built a monstrous physique, even nearing the strength Zoro had when he first set out, he hadn't yet attained that mythical sword state: the feeling of slicing through everything.
He could strike stone now, sure—but his blade left only shallow grooves.
It wasn't enough.
"Boss! Here's the new batch of swords you asked for!"
Ivan appeared at the shoreline, huffing as he carried a heavy basket filled with blades. Alongside it, he handed Charlotte a towel and a stack of newspapers.
Charlotte took a sword and began drying himself with the towel. "Anything worth noting?"
He asked the question casually, but as soon as he unfolded the newspaper, his pupils narrowed.
The Rocks Pirates had destroyed an entire kingdom.
The bounty list on the front page read like a who's who of future legends:
Rocks D. Xebec – 13 billion Beli Whitebeard (Edward Newgate) – 4 billion Golden Lion Shiki – 3.9 billion Big Mom (Charlotte Linlin) – 3.7 billion Captain John – 3 billion Wang Zhi – 2.5 billion Silver Axe – 1.8 billion Ochoku and Devan – 1.2 and 1 billion respectively Kaido (Intern) – 300 million
All names he recognized—icons from the anime of his past life. The world was changing fast, and the era of monsters was beginning in earnest.
Ivan's expression was dark as he pointed to the article. "In the past year, the number of pirates has exploded. The Rocks Pirates are the worst of them. They're raiding all over the second half of the Grand Line. Even attacking World Government territories."
"They're operating from Hive Island, and even the Navy can't suppress them. If things keep up, we might be next."
Charlotte folded the paper neatly and handed it back. "There's a naval branch near our island. No pirate would dare cause trouble here."
Ivan hesitated but nodded. "Yes, boss."
Just as he turned to leave—
BOOM!
An explosion thundered in the distance.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Charlotte's eyes snapped toward the source of the noise—thick smoke billowed from the direction of the harbor.
His instincts flared. Danger.
"Let's go!"
He bolted toward the port, body low, feet kicking up dirt behind him.
As he ran, he activated his Observation Haki.
Instantly, his surroundings bloomed in his mind like a 3D map. Every heartbeat, every movement, every breath—he felt it all.
And there, at the center of the smoke, he saw them.
Three pirate ships.
Docked.
Unloading.
Armed.
Invading.
Charlotte's lips curled back into a cold grin.
"So... they came anyway."