One Piece: Winds of Rebellion

The azure sky stretched endlessly, cloudless and pure, while the golden rays of the sun danced upon the glimmering sea, draping the waters in a silvery veil.

The morning sun carried a crisp chill, and the salty sea breeze whispered through the air, evoking a sense of quiet desolation. Yet, the bustling crowd gathered along the coast paid no heed to the chill, their gazes burning with anticipation as they fixed their eyes on the ocean.

The crowd itself was an odd mix. Young children, no older than four or five, with runny noses stood alongside teenagers brandishing iron swords, their ages ranging from sixteen to seventeen. Such a composition might have typically led to chaotic chatter or disputes, yet at this moment, an uncanny silence reigned. Only the slight trembling of their bodies and their uneven breaths betrayed the tempest of emotions swirling within them.

Suddenly, the serene sea was disturbed. The surface churned violently, and crimson blood dyed the waves. It was as if a monstrous entity from the depths of hell had awakened and risen.

Moments later, a figure emerged—a young, shirtless boy with a physique that belied his age. In his grasp was a massive Sea King, its gargantuan body spanning tens of meters. Each step the boy took caused the ground to quake, and the seawater surged around him in reverence.

"Whoa! He defeated a Sea King barehanded! Brother Kai is incredible!"

"You fool, it's not the first time he's done this. What's so surprising? The real marvel is that Brother Kai broke his own record—he took down this Sea King in just three minutes!"

"I wish I could be as strong as Brother Kai one day."

"Ha! If you want to be like him, maybe stop talking in your sleep about how hard training is and start diving into the deep sea for workouts every single day."

Even the older boys, the sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds, couldn't help but admire Kai. Despite being just twelve years old, his strength and composure commanded genuine respect. None felt even the slightest embarrassment in their deference.

Kai, with his warm and trustworthy smile, turned toward the gathered crowd.

"Bucky, take the meat from this Sea King and share it with everyone," he said, his voice steady yet commanding.

With a graceful leap, Kai soared into the air, descending like a meteor and striking the Sea King's body with a single, decisive blow. The impact cleaved the massive creature cleanly in half, leaving the crowd awestruck.

A red-haired boy jumped to his feet, visibly electrified by the command. "Yes, Brother Kai!" His pride in being entrusted with the task was evident, and the envious gazes of the others made it clear they wished they were in his place.

"I'll complete the mission perfectly!" Bucky exclaimed, hurriedly approaching one half of the Sea King's corpse. He expertly hooked into its flesh with iron tools and, with the help of the other "boy scouts," began hauling it back to shore.

"Oh! Brother Kai, I almost forgot—here's today's newspaper!" Bucky suddenly remembered, fumbling as he retrieved a neatly folded and well-preserved paper from his pocket. His face flushed red as he handed it over.

"Thank you, Bucky," Kai replied with his characteristic gentle smile.

"It's nothing! Really, no trouble at all!" Bucky stammered, his face still flushed as he returned to the group to resume the labor with his companions.

As the morning went on, the coastline came alive with the sounds of cooking fires, and the tantalizing aroma of roasted Sea King flesh filled the air, drawing hungry stares. But Kai remained unaffected by the feast. Instead, he completed his last round of physical training, his movements methodical and deliberate. Only when he was satisfied did he sit upon a jagged reef with his breakfast—a large roast—and begin to read the newspaper.

For a moment, his usual warmth faded. His expression turned distant and unreadable, a side of Kai that the others had never witnessed.

After a long silence, his lips curled into a small smile. "Three years… After three years in this world, I finally understand the era I've landed in."

His gaze lingered on the headlines dominating the front page of the newspaper, the bold text standing out starkly:

"Pirate King Roger Executed—The Age of Pirates Comes to an End."

"World Conscription Begins."

"To say the Age of Pirates has ended…" Kai mused aloud, his tone carrying a hint of irony. "It's nothing more than the Navy and World Government clinging to a false pretense. Deep down, they know better than anyone that a new, chaotic era is on the horizon. Why else would they launch a global conscription during a time of so-called peace?"

The sea breeze carried away his words, leaving only the rustle of the newspaper and the distant murmur of waves crashing against the shore.