I stepped onto the wooden deck of the ship, my legs trembling slightly—not only from fear, but from excitement as well.
It was the first time I had ever set foot on a real ship. The salty air filled my nose, thick ropes swayed with the wind, and the great sails flapped like beating hearts driving the vessel forward.
"Move, kid! Don't just stand there!" one sailor barked, carrying a heavy crate.
I quickly jumped aside, and he let out a mocking laugh. "Ha! This ain't a place for children."
I ignored the jab. My eyes wandered everywhere. The crew was diverse: some thin with pale faces, others bulky with scars covering their bodies. Yet all of them moved with skill and coordination.
The scarred man—the one who had brought me aboard—patted my shoulder.
"Rest for now, Luke. A trade ship isn't exactly comfortable, but at least here you won't die alone."
I nodded gratefully and sat near a stack of barrels. My body was still sore from battles and training on the island, but my heart was calmer than it had been in a long time.
After a while, some sailors gathered around me, throwing questions.
"How'd you survive? What did you eat? Were you really alone?"
I answered with half-truths. I told them I lived off whatever food I could find and trained to stay alive, avoiding any mention of the system. Every time I remembered the floating chest and those blue screens, I knew this secret was more valuable than any treasure.
One sailor, a thin man with a scruffy beard, asked eagerly:
"Hey kid, did you see any monsters out there?"
I smirked faintly. "A wolf. Huge… about the size of a bear. I fought it more than once."
The sailors burst into laughter, some thinking I was joking, others staring at me with suspicion.
The scarred man said flatly, "Don't underestimate him. If he lasted a whole year alone… he's not just any kid."
Silence fell briefly. Then I raised my head and asked the question burning in my chest:
"Tell me… what's the state of the seas right now? Are pirates everywhere? Who are the strongest?"
The men exchanged glances. Finally, an old sailor near the helm spoke. His voice was rough, heavy with experience.
"Pirates? There are only two real monsters—Rocks and Roger. The rest are just flies buzzing around a raging fire. No one dares stand against them. They swallow everything in their path."
His words struck like lightning.
Rocks… Roger… Another confirmation that I was truly in the world of One Piece. Not only that—I was in their time, before the stories I knew had even begun.
My body trembled. Fear? Yes. But stronger than that—challenge.
"If I'm really here, I won't just hide from those monsters. With the system, I can become stronger… maybe even surpass them one day."
I smiled faintly, staring at the horizon.
To these men, I was just a strange boy. But deep inside… I was the seed of power waiting to bloom.
—
Hours passed as the ship cut through restless waves. I spent most of the time observing the crew: how they hauled ropes, adjusted sails with the wind, and worked together despite harsh words.
In a quiet moment, I summoned the system's interface.
> [You have 3 Skill Upgrade Points available.]
I hesitated only briefly before directing them all into my Basic Punch skill.
> [3 Points Allocated.]
[Skill Upgraded: Basic Punch (Level 3).]
A sudden current surged through my arms. My muscles tightened, my fists clenched as if they had become heavier and sharper. I swung at the air—
WHOOSH! The wind itself split apart, and the impact was far fiercer than before.
"…Incredible," I muttered, grinning. "This change is real."
—
Status
Name: Luke
Age: 9 years, 3 months
Skills:
Basic Punch (Level 3)
Vertical Sword Slash (Level 1)
Horizontal Sword Slash (Level 1)
Basic Kick (Level 1)
Dagger Thrust (Level 1)
Cooking (Level 3)
Beast Instinct (Special Skill)
Items:
Sharp Sword
Basic Dagger
Permanent Water Source (filters seawater)
100 kg of meat
Various food and medical supplies
Available Upgrade Points: 0
—
By the next morning, the sailors shouted from the deck:
"Land ahead! Prepare for port!"
I leapt to my feet, my eyes shining. At last, a real harbor appeared in the distance—wooden houses lined the shore, a bustling market thrummed with life, and shouts of merchants mixed with the creaking of ships.
My heart pounded like a drum.
This was my first step into the world of men… into the world of One Piece.
— End of Chapter 5 —