"This…"
Back inside the ship's cabin, Jin stood frozen, utterly dumbfounded.
The once outdated engines and equipment had been completely transformed. The old boilers roared, though he could not tell what fuel they burned. Steam surged, the pressure gauges slammed to their limits, and yet—no explosion came.
Beside them, what should have been a simple engine now resembled a grotesque heart. It pulsed slowly, its metallic surface gleaming under the faint light.
It was alive.
Strange. Unnatural. Something out of science fiction, yet laced with a punk-like grittiness.
Jin quickly summoned the interface.
[Soul Crystals: 18/100]
"What the—?"
"It increased again?"
"Was it… extracted from the people the ship devoured?"
"My ship… runs on souls for fuel?!"
The revelation stunned him.
He frowned deeply. "But wait… in One Piece, every weapon infused with a Devil Fruit has always been Zoan-type. Yet the Munch-Munch Fruit is Paramecia."
"How is this possible?"
Then a thought struck him, almost absurd. His lips trembled. "Could it be… Paramecia awakening?"
Yes—only awakened Paramecia Fruits granted life to things. Like the Sing-Sing Fruit, whose awakening created living music.
"My ship ate the Munch-Munch Fruit… and awakened it?"
"Could it be connected to the temporal energy that dragged me here?"
"Yes, Master."
A crisp, melodic voice rang out.
Jin jolted. "Who's there?!"
"I am your mobile assistant, Little Ai."
Before him, a small holographic robot projected into the air.
"My apologies. I just completed reboot and activation."
"Phone…?" Jin instinctively touched his pockets. No device. Then he remembered—he'd left his phone beside him during repairs, listening to music when the storm hit.
"You… were swallowed by the ship when it mutated?" Jin's eyes widened.
"Yes, Master," Little Ai replied.
"Then… you can control the ship too?"
"I can. But as captain, you hold highest authority. I am your best support."
Jin's heartbeat quickened. AI wasn't rare back in his world. But here—in this strange dimension—to have a familiar voice was comforting. More than that, his strength alone was limited. He had no "system" like protagonists in other stories. An AI companion might be the edge he needed.
"You just said… the mutation of this ship wasn't only due to the Devil Fruit, but also the temporal energy?" Jin pressed.
"Yes, Master."
The AI projected an image of the event.
The colossal rift that had appeared out of nowhere. The ship falling through storms of energy lightning, crushing Wapol to paste. Then, a magnetic field drew in the strange power that had leaked from Wapol's body, fusing it into the vessel.
The hull warped, transformed.
"The temporal passage transmitted immense energy. It bound the Devil Fruit's power to the ship. In the process, it absorbed the energy, awakened the fruit, and even erased the original will within it."
Little Ai paused, then added, "Not only the ship, Master. You too absorbed some of the temporal energy. It now lies dormant in your body."
"What?!" Jin's gaze snapped down to his hands. He clenched his fists. "But… I don't feel any different."
"That is because your body is too fragile. Through training, the power will gradually manifest."
Jin drew in a sharp breath. "Then… scan me."
"Understood, Master."
"Scan complete. Results generated."
[Name: Jin]
[Height: 180 cm]
[Weight: 60 kg]
[Body Fat: 18%]
[Heart Rate: …]
[Analysis: Master's body is healthy. Please maintain it. You have been active for 18 consecutive hours. Sleep is recommended.]
"Not bad, not bad," Jin muttered.
The clarity of data gave him a thrill. He could now measure his growth in this world precisely. Little Ai would be invaluable.
"I'm going to sleep. You stand guard."
"Yes, Master. Good night."
Jin collapsed into his bunk. Exhaustion swept over him. The moment his head touched the pillow, he was gone.
Outside, however, Drum Island was already boiling with chaos.
"Hey! Big news! King Wapol is dead!"
"What? That bastard king is dead?"
"How did it happen? Who killed him?"
The messenger grabbed a jug of ale, downed it in one go, and wiped his mouth. "Don't rush—I saw it with my own eyes…"
"An ironclad warship fell from the sky, wreathed in thunder! Like divine punishment itself, it struck Wapol dead on the spot."
"Good!"
"Wonderful!"
"Serves him right!"
For a year, the people had suffered beneath Wapol's cruelty. They had cursed him in private, despised him in secret, but none had the strength to resist. Now their joy burst forth.
"And then?"
"Then, through the lightning, a youth stepped out from the ship. He carried a divine weapon and crushed the royal guard. Even Dalton bowed to him."
"What?!"
"Who is he?"
"I was far, I didn't catch it clearly. Sounded like… King Jin. He spoke in a tongue none of us understood."
"King?"
"He's a king too?"
"Is he here to fight Wapol for the throne?"
The cheers faltered. The crowd fell silent. A new king? What kind of ruler would he be?
"What if the World Government investigates? Wapol just came back from the Reverie."
Some voices trembled with fear.
"Heh, what's there to fear? As long as the tribute is paid on time, the World Government doesn't care who sits on the throne," said a gruff, elderly voice from the corner.
Everyone turned—and gasped.
Whispers rippled through the tavern. "The witch!"
"Dr. Kureha!"
It was indeed her—the legendary witch-doctor, and the woman who would one day raise Chopper to become a doctor of miracles. She had heard from Chopper of Hiriluk's death and of the mysterious avenger. Curiosity had drawn her down from her mountain.
She wanted to see for herself.
Outside the castle, Dalton still sat vigil. A bonfire crackled beside him as he kept watch over the strange warship. His gaze lingered on it again and again, unable to hide his wonder.
"Dalton, something's wrong!"
A trusted soldier hurried to him, breathless.
"What happened?" Dalton stood, tense. "Pirates?"
"No… not pirates. The people."
"The people?"
The soldier panted. "Everyone heard that a new king killed Wapol. They're marching here!"
"What?!" Dalton's heart sank.
A new king…? What nonsense?
He turned toward the ironclad ship. His thoughts spun rapidly. That young man—he was strong, and he commanded a Devil Fruit warship.
If such a one were to protect Drum Kingdom, it would surely be better than recalling the exiled prince—whose cruelty rivaled Wapol's.
As for his character… could he possibly be worse than Wapol? No, right?
Dalton clenched his fists. He had always despised Wapol, yet endured him for the people's sake. On the Grand Line, countless pirates flooded in every year. Without a strong protector, the nation would be destroyed. Wapol had failed against the great pirates, but he was at least strong enough to fend off smaller threats.
Now Wapol was gone.
The nation needed new strength. Someone powerful enough to make enemies think twice.
Dalton looked once more at the warship, its dark silhouette looming over the snow. His decision crystallized.
Yes. This youth. This avenger. He will protect us. He will be our shield.
He drew a deep breath, his voice steady.
"Then let it be decided—he shall be our king!"