One Piece: Raijin

"The arrival of ocean currents is always unpredictable—sometimes long, sometimes short. It has been this way for hundreds of years. If my calculations are correct, the next one will come either today or tomorrow!"

"After enduring five long years and making countless excuses to these villagers, I finally have this opportunity. If everything succeeds, I swear I'll live freely and never have to bow to anyone again."

Asa lowered his head, a wicked smile curling on his handsome face, his eyes glinting with ambition and determination.

In the distance, three fishing boats were docked on the beach, with two or three villagers on each. The boats were fully prepared with all kinds of fishing gear.

As Asa boarded the ship, the crew hoisted the anchor, unfurled the sails, and let the wind guide them out to sea.

"Asa, remember to hand over half of your catch today. The village doesn't have enough food," said Uncle Sam, a tall, burly man with a missing tooth, smiling despite his authoritative tone.

This village was often visited by pirates, and food and fruit were frequently purchased from them.

Uncle Sam and the villagers, descendants of pirates themselves, carried an air of greed and selfishness. But Asa didn't mind. He believed in one principle: pay a price to get a reward. Over the past five years, Asa had traded his fishing harvest for the valuable information about the coming ocean current from these greedy villagers.

Was it a loss? Not in Asa's eyes. He saw no better deal than this.

If not for his restraint, he would have punched Uncle Sam and knocked out what remained of his teeth long ago.

"I understand. I can't eat it all anyway, so it doesn't matter how much I give up," Asa said with a bright smile, masking the violent urges simmering in his heart.

"Just a little more, and once I get that fruit, I'll never have to answer to anyone again!"

The favorable wind quickly carried the three fishing boats into the deep sea. Uncle Sam's thick arms flung a massive fishing net into the water, his strength startling Asa. The sight made Asa's eyes twitch involuntarily. He had long suspected that Uncle Sam, despite his wrinkles and missing tooth, wasn't an ordinary man. Even Asa felt inferior to such raw power.

This was one of the reasons he suppressed the violence within him.

The pirate world was teeming with hidden talents and unsung masters. Many formidable individuals concealed their identities, living quietly on remote islands.

The current year was 1493 in the Hainan calendar. The New World was in turmoil, dominated by three legendary figures:

Shiki the Golden Lion, captain of the Flying Pirates and admiral of the Golden Lion Pirate Fleet. Edward Newgate, the infamous Whitebeard and captain of the Whitebeard Pirates. Gol D. Roger, the captain of the Roger Pirates.

Others, like the reclusive Baroric Redfield, known as the Red Earl, were nearly as powerful. However, Redfield lacked a crew, making him a lone force.

These figures were at the pinnacle of the sea. The Four Emperors of later generations had yet to rise. Red-haired Shanks was just an apprentice in Roger's crew, and Kaido and Big Mom were just beginning to make their marks.

Meanwhile, the Navy's top brass—Marshal Kong, Vice Admiral Garp, Admirals Sengoku and Zephyr—were at their peak, with rising stars like Sakazuki (Akainu), Borsalino (Kizaru), and Kuzan (Aokiji) on the horizon.

It was a vibrant and chaotic era, far more thrilling than the generations to come. Asa couldn't imagine sitting on the sidelines. To do so would be a disservice to his ambition as a traveler from another world.

"By now, Roger must already be sick. News of his retreat from the New World should arrive soon," Asa mused, enjoying the sunny weather and his rising anticipation.

"Dad! Something's wrong with the water level!" Kurta, Uncle Sam's tall and sturdy son, shouted suddenly.

"Oh?" Asa's eyes lit up at the news. "Could it be? Is the current finally here? Did I calculate it right after all?"

"What's happening?" Uncle Sam asked, his expression turning serious. He had great faith in his son's navigation skills.

"Look at the sea," Kurta said, his tone urgent. "The breeze is blowing from the island, the sky is clear, and the weather hasn't changed—but the water is moving in the opposite direction. The fishing boats can't move forward!"

"What? Could it be a massive current?" Uncle Sam's face darkened. As a native of Gaya Island, he was all too familiar with the danger.

"Turn back immediately! Get everyone back to the island!"

"Yes, Dad!" Kurta ran to the bow and shouted at the nearby boats, "The current is coming! Turn the steering wheel and head back to the island!"

The villagers on the other boats didn't hesitate. They pulled up their sails, grabbed their oars, and rowed frantically toward safety.

No one had ever survived a direct encounter with the ocean current. Fear gripped their hearts—they valued their lives too much to take risks.

"Asa! Why are you just standing there? Start paddling! Do you want to die in the sea?" Uncle Sam bellowed, furious at Asa's apparent indifference.

But Asa ignored him. Facing the sea, he stretched his arms wide, letting the wind blow through his long black hair. His expression was one of pure exhilaration.

How could he retreat now? After waiting five years for this moment, it was do or die. Either he would ride the current to glory, or he would perish trying.

"Uncle Sam, there's no point in paddling anymore. Look over there—the pirate ship is heading straight for us!"

"What?" Uncle Sam followed Asa's gaze and froze. A massive pirate ship, at least ten times larger than their fishing boats, was barreling toward them.

The deck was crowded with fierce-looking pirates wielding long knives, their intentions unmistakably hostile.

It would take less than a minute for the pirate ship to reach them. Given the notorious greed of pirates, there was no chance they'd leave without plundering the boats.

"Delay them," Asa murmured to himself. "As long as the current arrives, everything will be worth it."

Uncle Sam and Kurta clenched their fists, seemingly resigned to the impending battle.

"This old man isn't ordinary," Asa thought, studying Uncle Sam's calm demeanor. "Who doesn't panic at the sight of pirates? If this man wants to fight them, he's no ordinary villager."