Chapter 1: Chapter:1
The salty sea breeze swept across the wet gravel, carrying the taste of the ocean.
May 21, 1480, in the Calendar.
The sky was blue.
The clouds were white.
Everything seemed perfectly normal.
However...
On an island called Laboonla in the New World, thunderous sounds rumbled through the air.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The cacophony was relentless.
Under the blazing sun, the scorching heat made the air shimmer. Beneath the shade of a large tree, a group of villagers sat, wearing straw hats and with their trousers rolled up to their knees. Their expressions were filled with frustration and helplessness.
"Here we go again... Can't that boy Ares take a day off?" one of them grumbled.
"He's a lunatic! That boy doesn't even think of himself as human!"
"If this keeps up, all the mountains on the island will be leveled by that madman!"
"I don't know what's wrong with him. Ever since three years ago, he's been a completely different person. At this rate, he's going to end up killing himself!"
"Honestly, someone should drive that guy Ares off the island!"
The villagers exchanged complaints, their irritation directed at a young man named Ares.
Meanwhile, the so-called "Ares" stood before a towering mountain, two to three hundred meters high.
In front of a sheer mountain wall, a boy no older than 14 or 15 stood shirtless, revealing bronzed skin stretched over well-defined muscles. His body was packed with bulging, rock-hard muscles that exuded raw power.
Standing over three meters tall—nearly four—Ares resembled a beast in human form. His mere presence radiated an aura of ferocity and dominance.
"Hyaah!"
With a resounding bang, Ares hurled his body against the mountain wall with brutal force.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the rock face, dust and gravel flying in all directions. Yet Ares seemed unaffected, repeating the act over and over with even greater intensity.
Boom! Boom!
Each impact widened the cracks until, with a final deafening roar, the mountain collapsed in a cascade of rubble.
Amid the swirling dust, Ares emerged from the wreckage, his bronzed skin gleaming like molten metal.
"Training like this is losing its effect on my body," Ares muttered, furrowing his brow in frustration.
"If this continues, I won't get stronger. My body must become as hard as a sword—inside and out," he resolved.
A crazed gleam ignited in his eyes.
"I heard the world's greatest craftsmen forge legendary weapons like the Supreme Grade Swords and the Great Grade Swords... But I'll surpass them. I'll forge the strongest sword—with my own body!"
"I will become the strongest sword in the world!"
With that declaration, Ares marched into the forest, his figure vanishing among the trees.
Meanwhile...
At the edge of the island, a massive pirate ship approached.
On its deck stood a man with flowing golden hair resembling a lion's mane. A pair of twin swords hung at his waist, and a mischievous grin spread across his face.
"Jihahaha! Let's see what treasures this island holds for us!" he bellowed.
This was Golden Lion Shiki, Captain of the Rocks Pirates' First Division.
As the ship neared the shore, Shiki turned to his crew. "Let's make this quick—plundering a small island like this shouldn't take much effort!"
A burly man with a crescent-shaped beard smirked. "Shiki, whoever grabs the most treasure wins. Let's see who's the better pirate!"
A tall woman with pink hair and an imposing 8-meter frame chimed in. "Don't count me out! You two always underestimate me."
Her bold outfit, consisting of little more than a suit jacket, left much of her curvaceous figure exposed.
"Same rules as always," declared a tall man in a black cloak, his voice cold and commanding.
"After handing in our share, everyone keeps what they grab. Weapons, Devil Fruits, and women are first come, first serve."
The crew erupted in cheers, their excitement palpable.
"If anyone tries to steal from me, I'll kill them!"
"All I want is women. Bring me the prettiest, and I'll pay you handsomely!"
"I can't wait to see the villagers beg for mercy!"
As the ship docked, the pirates lowered the anchor and swarmed ashore like a pack of wild animals.
"Move out!"
Shiki shot into the sky like an arrow, his laughter echoing across the island.
Not to be outdone, a tall, broad-shouldered man with long, white hair leapt from the ship and sprinted toward the village.
"You're not getting ahead of me, Shiki!" he roared. This was Edward Newgate, later known as Whitebeard.
His massive strides covered meters at a time, his speed rivaling that of a hunting cheetah.
Behind them, Ochoku and Silver Axe followed at a slower pace, their heavy armor and weapons slowing them down.
Charlotte Linlin, another member of the crew, charged forward with terrifying determination.
At the rear, a man with sharp eyes and a sinister grin stepped off the ship at a leisurely pace. This was Rocks D. Xebec, the captain of the infamous Rocks Pirates.
Surveying the distant village, Rocks smirked.
"Wealth alone doesn't interest me anymore," he mused.
"What I want... is the world."
Captain John, swaying drunkenly beside him, raised his bottle and laughed. "So we'll need more subordinates and stronger allies, right, Captain?"
Rocks nodded, his ambitions burning brighter than ever. "Yes... I want a world where only the strongest survive."
End of the Chapter.