One Piece: Raijin

Asa wasn't sure if he had fully mastered the "Shave" technique, but he knew that his movement speed had increased several times. The quick flash of motion he used against the pirate earlier was thanks to this method, leaving his opponent no time to react.

A pirate had been instantly killed with a powerful punch, and his scream as he fell into the sea drew the attention of everyone fighting aboard the fishing boat.

"This kid has this kind of skill?" Uncle Sam muttered, surprised. After five years of knowing Asa, he never suspected that this seemingly meek young man, always eager to please and gain passage to the sea, could possess such incredible strength.

Judging by the power behind that punch, Uncle Sam thought Asa's strength was on par with his own.

"Asa! What's your purpose for hiding your abilities and sneaking into our village?" Uncle Sam's son, Kurta, glared at Asa, still fuming from their earlier exchange.

"You dare kill a member of the Black Bear Pirates? You're courting death!" one pirate snarled. As more pirates boarded the fishing boat, the vessel—already small—sank even deeper into the water.

"Kill him!"

"Kill!"

The pirates roared as they charged toward Asa, quickly surrounding him.

Asa, his back against the guardrail, remained calm. If he could bet his life on the unpredictable currents of the sea, how could he fear death at the hands of mere pirates?

If overwhelmed, his worst-case scenario was to jump into the sea. No choice could be worse than this current predicament.

"Low-level pirates who spend their days drinking and robbing, with no sense of purpose or goals. Do you think I'd die at the hands of such people? Keep dreaming."

With that thought, Asa spotted a tall pirate wielding a massive mace charging toward him. He smirked, extended his foot, and sent the pirate flying backward like a cannonball, knocking down three or four of his comrades.

The other pirates froze in shock for a moment, but their fury quickly reignited, and they surged forward like a tidal wave.

The chaos aboard the fishing boat momentarily drew the attention of the others, who paused their own fighting to watch.

The calm sea around them began to churn violently. Waves battered the fishing boat, causing it to rock precariously.

This sudden turbulence assured Asa that the rising sea current—the one he had been waiting for—was imminent. His heart surged with excitement.

For five long years, he had patiently awaited this opportunity. Now, with his goal so close, how could he not feel exhilarated?

The pirates, however, seemed oblivious to the growing commotion. Only the fishermen from Gaya Island showed signs of panic.

Out of nowhere, flames erupted aboard the fishing boat, and the deck became a battleground of fire, with fishermen and pirates fighting amidst the chaos.

Asa hooked his toes under a fallen sword, flipping it into his hand. With extraordinary reflexes, he dodged attacks from every direction. His blade moved with lethal precision, slashing the throats of pirates one after another.

Each swing of his blade left a body at his feet. His efficiency surpassed that of both Uncle Sam and Kurta, and his every strike claimed a life.

Suddenly, the fishing boat sank abruptly, as if a great weight had been placed upon it.

Asa turned to see the towering figure of Black Bear Blaibel, the captain of the Black Bear Pirates, stepping onto the deck.

Standing five meters tall, Blaibel exuded a terrifying aura. His copper-bell-sized eyes locked onto Asa, and his mere presence felt suffocating.

"Young brat, you seem pretty strong. Want to join my crew and serve under the great Lord Kaido?" Blaibel's deep, thunderous voice echoed across the boat, silencing everyone.

Asa's mind raced. "Kaido? So he's already made his move… No surprise that someone like Black Bear Blaibel, with his Zoan abilities, would be drawn to Kaido."

"If I refuse, Blaibel will kill me on the spot. But join Kaido? What a joke! I'd rather die than become anyone's lackey."

Asa's thoughts spun, searching for a way out. On the open sea, cunning meant little against absolute strength.

"Speak, boy!" Blaibel growled, impatience flashing in his eyes as he stomped toward Asa. The pressure from Blaibel's presence was suffocating, making it hard for Asa to breathe.

Along the way, Kurta—armed with a massive anchor—tried to intercept Blaibel but was struck down mercilessly. Blood sprayed, and his lifeless body crumpled to the deck.

Uncle Sam, frozen in shock at his son's death, was decapitated by another pirate from behind.

In mere moments, all the fishermen from Gaya Island were dead—except Asa.

"This kind of strength could dominate the New World. How does he only have an 80-million-beli bounty? What is the Navy doing?" Asa thought, his pupils contracting. His face grew tense, and his brows knitted like swords.

"There's no other way. My only chance of survival is to jump into the sea..."

Asa steeled himself. The idea of surrendering to Kaido and becoming cannon fodder was more unbearable than death. Even a false promise to Blaibel felt impossible.

"Boss Blaibel! Something's wrong—the sea bear is acting up!"

The panicked cry caused Blaibel to halt and glance back. Asa followed his gaze.

A shadow, larger than the Black Bear ship itself, loomed beneath the waves.

"Wow!"

The water parted, revealing the head of a massive sea king resembling a skinned bear. The creature screamed in fear, urging everyone to flee.

This sea king, Blaibel's trusted partner, had followed him since the start of his pirating career. It had the ability to sense undercurrents and deter other sea kings, saving Blaibel from countless life-threatening situations.

"Retreat! Back to the ship! Get us out of here!" Blaibel roared. Turning back to Asa briefly, he swiped at him with his enormous hand, no longer interested in recruiting him.

Asa, already prepared, didn't hesitate. He smashed through the fishing boat's guardrail and dove into the sea with a loud "splash," disappearing from sight.

Suppressing his anger, Blaibel retreated to his ship. With the sea bear pulling them, they fled the area at breakneck speed, vanishing over the horizon.

The undercurrent Asa had been waiting for erupted with violent force.

"Boom!!!"

Like a curtain rising to block out the sun, the sea current shot skyward, carrying Asa toward his dream.

PS: Power Stones Please!!!