One Piece: Raijin

The rude old man dangled in Asa's grip, his face swollen and bruised. A single slap had left him nearly toothless, with the last two teeth barely clinging in his mouth.

Terrified, he faced Asa's cold gaze and lost every shred of courage. His legs trembled so much that he nearly wet himself.

"Tell me where Bika Island's capital punishment, Yun Fuliu, is carried out—explain clearly if you want to live!" Asa's voice was ice-cold, devoid of mercy.

"Please spare me... spare me!" the old man stammered, shaking uncontrollably. "Yun Fuliu executions are usually conducted on this beach... The village chief decides it, and the whole village votes to confirm..."

He spilled every detail, including secrets from his youth, like the time he peeped at the village elder's wife bathing, all in the hope of avoiding another slap.

"Oh? So, you do know things." Asa smirked coldly.

Some people, he thought, only respond to fear. In a world ruled by power, kindness is often mistaken for weakness. Violence might not solve every problem, but without violence, nothing gets solved.

"I'm feeling generous today, so I'll let you go," Asa said disdainfully. "But if you dare tell anyone about this conversation... you'll regret it."

The old man nodded frantically and bolted, his speed outpacing many young men.

Asa watched the man vanish into the distance, then turned and made his way back to where he had kept his Waver.

This time, Asa wasn't planning to search the shorelines. He was heading deep into the White Sea, where a vehicle like the Waver would conserve his energy.

Boarding the Waver, Asa pushed it to its maximum speed. As it sped into the vastness of the White Sea, his heart pounded fiercely—a feeling akin to a premonition surged within him.

His Observation Haki had sharpened significantly, and he trusted his instincts.

"My analysis has to be correct," he muttered to himself. "Enel didn't go to Angel Island before destroying Birka, so the Thunder Fruit must have been found somewhere in the White Sea!"

As Bika Island faded into the distance, Asa squinted into the sea breeze.

"Enel is only about seven years old now. Waiting for him to leave on his own or for the villagers to punish him could take years. I can't afford to waste that much time."

His heartbeat quickened, and his blood surged with excitement. Asa's conviction grew stronger.

As the Waver slowed, Asa surveyed the area. The thick mist obscured much of his vision, and no ships were visible.

Undeterred, he stripped off his shirt, took a deep breath, and plunged into the sea. If nothing was visible on the surface, it had to be beneath the waves or hidden in the clouds.

Asa searched meticulously, combing through every inch of the sea. He couldn't allow even the smallest oversight to cost him the Thunder Fruit.

Time flew by as Asa immersed himself in the search. The sun set, darkness fell, and still, he found nothing.

Farther from Bika Island, the sea beasts of the White Sea grew larger, their massive forms rivaling the Sea Kings of the Blue Sea. Yet Asa, unfazed, ignored their roars.

A year ago, these creatures had startled him, but he soon discovered that they were mostly harmless—like overinflated balloons that could be easily popped. Their true forms were no larger than his palm.

After resting on the Waver for three hours, Asa resumed his search, determined not to return empty-handed.

Three days passed with no success.

At noon on the third day, as the sun pierced the mist, Asa noticed something in the distance.

A massive ship appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, floating silently in the sea thousands of meters ahead.

The vessel was enormous, its layered decks stretching several hundred meters from bow to stern. Larger than any ship Asa had ever seen, its decaying wood and moss-covered surface exuded an eerie, ancient aura.

The silence was oppressive, and the ship seemed almost like a ghostly apparition.

Asa's breathing quickened. His heart thundered in his chest, and blood rushed to his head.

"This is it. It has to be here," he thought, his possessiveness surging to near-madness. His desire for the Thunder Fruit consumed him, driving him forward with an almost primal fervor.

Without hesitation, Asa leapt from the Waver onto the ship's towering deck. He pushed open a broken wooden door and stepped into the cabin.

The interior was vast, its space capable of housing thousands, reminiscent of the cruise ships of a bygone era.

Bones littered the ground, their arrangement chaotic. The remains, though weathered, were adorned with luxurious clothing and exquisite jewelry, hinting at the wealth and status these people had in life.

But Asa barely spared the skeletons a glance. His eyes were locked on the treasure at the end of the cabin—boxes brimming with gold and jewels.

At the center of the hoard sat a small, half-open wooden box. From within, a dazzling blue light spilled forth, pulsing with an electric brilliance that seemed almost alive.

The light captivated Asa, drawing him closer.

PS: The Thunder Fruit has appeared! Don't forget to review and add this story to your collections!