One Piece: Raijin

There is no doubt that if one wishes to become powerful on the seas as quickly as possible, obtaining a Devil Fruit is the most effective path.

Asa, however, wasn't interested in just any ordinary fruit. Even if one were offered to him, he wouldn't accept it.

The idea that "there are no strongest fruits, only the strongest people" is complete nonsense.

If two geniuses with equal talent and dedication were given different fruits, the one with the more powerful fruit would naturally have a significant advantage. Talent and hard work are important, but the inherent strength of a fruit cannot be ignored.

However, many Paramecia-type fruits require not just talent, but intelligence and creativity to fully develop their potential.

For Asa, it was either the best fruit or none at all. Having knowledge of the One Piece storyline gave him an advantage—he knew exactly which fruits were the strongest.

His top choices were the Dark-Dark Fruit (Yami Yami no Mi) and the Thunder Fruit (Goro Goro no Mi), both Logia types.

The Dark-Dark Fruit's gravity-based power could reduce everything to nothingness, but it came with a fatal flaw: it couldn't be used to elementalize, meaning the user absorbs all damage and feels twice the pain.

What happens if the pain surpasses the brain's tolerance? The result is unconsciousness, leaving the user defenseless.

The biggest problem was that Asa didn't know where this fruit currently was.

In the original story, it appeared before Luffy set out to sea, eventually ending up in the hands of Thatch, the Whitebeard Pirates' Fourth Division Commander. Blackbeard, also known as Marshall D. Teach, later killed Thatch to steal the fruit.

In the current timeline, it was the year 1493 of the Hainan Calendar. It was likely that this "worst fruit in history" was still somewhere in the New World—or perhaps hadn't even been discovered yet.

The Thunder Fruit, on the other hand, was a different story.

This fruit, the strongest of its kind, hadn't yet been eaten by Enel, the future "god" of Skypiea. Asa knew exactly where it was and just how terrifyingly powerful it could be.

The Thunder Fruit's Potential

First, the speed of lightning was almost equivalent to teleportation, making it an ideal ability for movement—better even than Admiral Kizaru's Light-Light Fruit.

Unlike light, which travels in straight lines, lightning can turn and change direction, providing unparalleled agility.

Then, there's electromagnetism. If developed, this ability could rival or surpass the Magnet-Magnet Fruit of Eustass Kid or the Gravity-Gravity Fruit of Admiral Fujitora.

And let's not forget the sheer heat generated by high-voltage electricity. The intense heat could rival Charlotte Oven's heat-based powers but on an entirely different scale.

The instant burst of electric heat could reach temperatures of 10,000 degrees—ten times hotter than magma.

Combined with lightning's original destructive force, the Thunder Fruit could obliterate entire islands. When paired with advanced Observation Haki, electric waves could be used for unparalleled sensing, cutting, and destruction.

Asa was determined to obtain this fruit before it fell into Enel's hands.

According to the timeline, Enel wouldn't eat the Thunder Fruit until 1514, when he destroyed his hometown of Birka, expelled the previous god, Gan Fall, and became the ruler of Skypiea. This meant Asa had ample time to claim it for himself.

The Thunder Fruit's power was nearly flawless—unmatched in destruction, speed, and synergy with Haki. With Asa's knowledge as a time traveler, he believed he could unlock its full potential, surpassing even Enel's mastery.

The Road to Sky Island

After the disaster that befell his family's merchant ship, Asa found himself on Gaya Island—a lawless land. But instead of fear, he felt exhilaration.

If Blackbeard could spend two decades infiltrating the Whitebeard Pirates for the sake of the Dark-Dark Fruit, Asa was more than willing to dedicate his life to obtaining the Thunder Fruit.

The opportunity Asa had waited for over five years was finally approaching. The legendary "Knock-Up Stream"—a massive underwater current that could launch a ship into the sky—was due to occur soon.

It was a do-or-die moment. Asa would either ascend to Sky Island to claim the Thunder Fruit or perish in the attempt.

"No one is born standing atop the heavens—not even gods. The era of the Pirate King will begin in three years, and the waves of change are about to crash upon the world. From this moment on, I will carve my place at the top!"

Whether Asa succeeded or failed would depend on fate.

Gaya Island

Gaya Island wasn't particularly large. Centuries ago, a massive sea current had split it in two, launching half of the island into the sky. Originally shaped like a skull, only the "teeth" of the island remained.

The island consisted of two small towns: Magic Valley Town, a pirate haven, and a nearby fishing village with only a few hundred inhabitants.

The village survived amidst the chaos thanks to its most famous son—a pirate with a bounty exceeding 100 million beli in the New World. In this era, such bounties weren't inflated like in later generations; they were earned with blood and bodies.

A dense forest separated the two towns. The villagers survived by fishing and hunting, leading simple but sufficient lives.

The Wait for the Current

In the forest, Asa moved swiftly through the trees, gripping hanging vines as he leaped from branch to branch like Tarzan.

As he advanced, his mind processed the information he had gathered from the villagers.

According to local legends, the massive skyward current was caused by a giant sea dragon turning over beneath the ocean.

The exact timing of the dragon's movements was unpredictable, but Asa had pieced together a pattern from the villagers' stories. He concluded that the current was due to appear soon.

To Asa, the "sea dragon" was likely either a giant Sea King or the result of seismic activity beneath the ocean. Either way, it was a natural phenomenon that he planned to exploit.

Reaching the beach near the village, Asa set down the fishing net he had carried and sat to wait.

Before long, a gruff voice called out to him, interrupting his thoughts.

"Asa! Stop daydreaming and get ready to head out to sea!"

Snapped out of his daze, Asa stood up, brushing the sand off his worn pants. Over the years, he had gained the villagers' trust, allowing him to join their fishing expeditions.

Of course, part of the catch would be given to the villagers as payment for their guidance.

Author's Note:

As my first One Piece fanfic, this story is in dire need of collections and power stones. Your support is greatly appreciated. Thank you!