World of Pirates, Northern Blue Sea.
Three massive warships sliced through the deep blue waves, leaving white foam trails behind them. This was the fleet under the command of Admiral Sengoku, dispatched with one mission in mind:
To verify the latest news about the notorious flying pirate — Golden Lion Shiki!
On the deck of one ship, a fresh-faced Marine recruit named Kyle was training diligently with two swords — his first time on a warship of this scale. But despite the steady rhythm of his practice, his mind was elsewhere, tangled in frustration.
"Why is it that other people who end up in another world get instant power-ups and cool abilities? Meanwhile, I have to earn 'attention points' just to get noticed? And I don't even have a single one yet!" Kyle muttered silently.
You see, Kyle wasn't just any recruit — he was a time traveler, thrust into the world of pirates only a month ago. Overnight, he'd swapped his old life for a new one as a Marine Corps recruit, training in the dual-sword style.
At first, he accepted this strange twist of fate. As an avid novel reader, he'd always dreamed of adventures beyond Earth's dull reality. The pirate world, with its wild personalities and endless possibilities, seemed like a fantasy come true.
But reality hit fast.
This world was filled with powerful people, dangerous enemies lurking everywhere. One wrong step, and he could be sent to the next world for good. The only thing protecting him was his mysterious system.
Only Kyle's system was different from the others.
While other travelers got straightforward, powerful systems that transformed them into instant badasses, Kyle's required something else: attention.
Only by attracting the attention of others — especially powerful people — could he earn "Attention Points," which unlocked rewards like pirate abilities, Haki, sword techniques, and even powers from other worlds.
But Kyle was just a lowly new recruit. No status, no influence, no power.
Getting noticed felt impossible.
In his entire month here, Kyle had scraped together a pitiful 25 Attention Points — mostly from small talk with fellow recruits in the barracks.
According to the system, the higher the rank or strength of the person who notices you, the more points you earn.
Without these points, there were no rewards.
No rewards meant no strength.
Kyle's only chance to survive was to find a way to stand out in front of someone important.
With this thought driving him, Kyle gripped his twin swords tighter and kept training on the deck.
---
Meanwhile, in the admiral's cabin…
A group of Marines rushed in, led by a tall man with a close-cut hairstyle and a sharp, determined gaze.
It was Sakazuki, Vice Admiral of the Marines — better known by his call sign, Akainu.
"Sakazuki, any sign of that bastard yet?" Admiral Sengoku asked, slamming a folder on the table.
Before Sakazuki could reply, an older Marine nearby — Zephyr — grunted with displeasure.
"That Golden Lion… why isn't he holed up in the New World like he should be? Why's he stirring up trouble in the Northern Blue Sea?"
Admiral Sengoku's mission was clear: track down the Golden Lion and eliminate him if possible.
But Shiki was no ordinary pirate. Known for his mastery of the lion's abilities and his legendary flying ship, he was a threat few could face lightly.
That was why Sengoku had brought three Vice Admirals along: Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru — the Marine Corps' top new generation elites.
Only Akainu was present today; the others were on leave, not eager to jump into battle.
Zephyr's tone made Sengoku chuckle.
"Zephyr, you're practically ready for retirement. Why get involved in this mess?"
"I saw you brought in a lot of new recruits this time," Zephyr said, "Thought I'd keep an eye out for any hidden talent."
Sengoku glanced at Akainu, then thought of Aokiji and Kizaru, smiling.
"Zephyr, you've always been a great mentor. But the admiral's job isn't for the retiring. You might want to reconsider."
"I'm stepping back… but this time, I'm helping you keep things under control. After all, the Golden Lion is no ordinary enemy," Zephyr said, eyes sharp as ever.
Sengoku and Shiki had a long rivalry — old rivals clashing over the years. And Zephyr knew the stakes.
Akainu's eyes burned with fierce determination.
"Admiral Sengoku, Admiral Zephyr — we've confirmed the Golden Lion is active on Kara Island, Northern Blue Sea. We can reach him in less than half a day."
"This is our chance to take him down."
Akainu was known as a ruthless Marine, his battle prowess among the best. Though victory wasn't guaranteed, he couldn't ignore this chance to make a name for himself.
With Sengoku nodding, he stood.
"The situation is urgent. Prepare to set course for Kara Island immediately. Also, send orders to Aokiji and Kizaru — have them lead the fleet and join us there."
The warships turned sharply, engines roaring to life.
Their journey to Kara Island had begun.