New World – Lati Island
After the storm passed, the sky was pristine and sunny.
"Ah-ah-ah!"
Seagulls filled the sky, their cries carried by the gentle sea breeze.
On the shore, where the wind swept across the waves, a well-built young man swung his sword with tireless precision, his movements mechanical, unyielding.
Day after day, year after year, this had become his habit.
Each slash cut through the air with force, producing a sharp whoosh, like a blade slicing through the wind itself.
The boy stood at an impressive two meters tall, his frame well-proportioned, muscles defined—but he was only seventeen years old.
After reaching his 100,000th swing, he finally stopped, exhaling slowly.
"Still too far away… I need to keep pushing."
His youthful face carried a hint of dissatisfaction.
A World Ruled by Monsters
This was the world of One Piece—an era where titans roamed the seas.
The ocean surged with ambition, power struggles shook the world, and clashes between the strong shattered the sky itself.
Especially now—only a few years had passed since the Rocks Pirates' downfall.
Shiki, the Golden Lion.
Edward Newgate, the Whitebeard.
Charlotte Linlin, the Big Mom.
Kaido, the Beast.
And others…
These were not just pirates. They were monsters among monsters.
Even though the current era lacked the sheer numbers of the Great Pirate Era that would come later, it was far more dangerous—far more chaotic.
The New World was a battlefield, torn apart by ambition and bloodshed.
It was a terrifying time.
The Fear of the Future
In the year 1491 of the Age of the Sea (Haiyō Calendar), Heberphile Charlotte had only one wish:
To live as an invisible nobody.
In a world ruled by monsters, where bloodshed was the norm, simply surviving was a luxury beyond measure.
But reality was cruel.
Heberphile Charlotte was in the New World—the second half of the Grand Line.
His island, Lati Island, was located near the midpoint of the New World, slightly outside the central power zones.
It was a relatively unknown place, untouched by major conflicts—for now.
But seven years from now, Gol D. Roger would be executed.
With his death, the Great Pirate Era would begin, and countless pirates would flood into the New World, hungry for power and treasure.
Even a small, remote island like this wouldn't stay hidden for long.
By then, the Four Emperors (Yonko) would rise, each carving out their own empire, bringing an era of endless war.
A future drenched in blood was inevitable.
Strength Was the Only Answer
Charlotte could feel it—an overwhelming sense of crisis.
For seventeen years, he had trained relentlessly, never daring to slack off. Before he became strong enough, he refused to draw attention.
Fortunately, he had one advantage—
Since childhood, he had awakened Observation Haki (Kenbunshoku Haki).
After over a decade of training, he had honed it to near perfection.
However, his Observation Haki had… evolved.
When he focused on people, he didn't just sense their presence—he could glimpse into their thoughts and even uncover some of their hidden secrets.
A unique ability.
He called it Mind Reading.
With his knowledge of One Piece, he could predict major future events, which gave him some peace of mind.
But it wasn't enough.
Survival Over Glory
To him, swordsmanship and physical strength mattered the most.
The sea was filled with absurd abilities and monsters beyond logic.
He needed to be low-profile.
Becoming a Marine? That was just a high-risk government job.
Becoming a pirate? That was even worse—no salary, no stability, and no future.
A bounty hunter? In the New World? That was just a death wish.
After thinking about it, the safest and freest path was to live as he was—isolated, unknown, untouched.
Lati Island wasn't large. It had less than 3,000 people, about the size of a small town.
When he arrived, he had subdued the local gang—not by choice, but for control.
He named them the Heberphile Family, took charge from the shadows, and made sure the island stayed under the radar.
A small target. No fame. No trouble.
Life was simple—good food, fine drinks, and a safe place to rest.
That should have been enough.
The Peace is Shattered
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Sudden explosions tore through the air. The ground trembled violently.
"What the hell?"
Charlotte grabbed his sword, rushing out of the training hall.
The distant roar of battle and clash of steel rang across the island.
"Kill!!"
A deafening war cry followed.
Charlotte's eyes narrowed.
"Shit. Pirates."
Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the old port.
At the docks, a massive pirate ship loomed over the coastline. The black Jolly Roger swayed ominously against the sky.
The pirates had already begun their assault, their bloodthirsty shouts filling the air.
At the front of the raiding crew stood a towering man—2.8 meters tall, built like a bear, his massive naginata gleaming under the sun.
The pirate captain sneered, his black skull-adorned hat casting a shadow over his scarred face.
"Wahaha! Slaughter them all!"
The pirates, weapons raised, surged forward like a tidal wave.
Their faces were twisted with greed, excitement, and cruelty.
The Heberphile Family members in the port scrambled to counterattack.
"Kill the bastards!"
Leading the charge was Ivan, one of Charlotte's men, his sword slashing through a pirate.
But Ivan's expression turned grim.
"Boss! It's The Furious Pirates!"
Charlotte's gaze swept across the battlefield.
At the center of the enemy crew stood their captain, a mountain of a man wielding a three-meter-long naginata.
His name was Spike, Captain of the Furious Pirates—a crew with a bounty totaling 68 million Berries.
This was the strongest pirate crew to ever land on Lati Island.
Charlotte clenched his teeth.
"Damn it. Pirates again?"
His grip on his sword tightened.
And then—he scowled, his patience breaking.
"Can't you just stay within your damn means?"