Just yesterday, Storm was merely a rookie Marine.
But tomorrow, he might become an officer!
The year is 1518 on the Grand Line calendar.
New Year's Day, early morning.
Vongola Storm awoke from a turbulent, rose-colored dream.
Before his eyes, he suddenly found a radiant, fantastical [Grand Prize Trophy] suspended in midair.
What is this? The dreamlike [Grand Prize Trophy] hovered silently, completely capturing Storm's attention.
Was this a dream?
Storm stared intently at the [Grand Prize Trophy], and soon, feedback information flooded his mind.
[Unique Trophy: Coming of Age]
[Trophy Rank: None]
[Condition: Survive healthily to adulthood in the turbulent Golden Age of Piracy]
[Commentary: Set sail and begin your journey!]
Not a dream—reality?
Had the golden finger he had waited eighteen years for finally arrived today?!
Storm stared in disbelief at the [Grand Prize Trophy] floating in the void.
Eighteen years.
"[Grand Prize Trophy], do you have any idea how I've lived these past eighteen years?"
In the year 1500 of the Grand Line calendar, the Golden Age of Piracy began, and Storm was born into this world.
Though he didn't secure a local residency in the holy land of Mary Geoise—not even an immigrant permit—he was fortunate enough to be born in a town behind Marine Headquarters, right next to the holy land.
Three generations of his ancestors had all been Marines.
In this perilous sea, ordinary people had to fight tooth and nail just to survive.
The town behind Marine Headquarters was one of the safest places in the world.
Except that, when Storm was born, he coincidentally encountered the world-shaking incident of Golden Lion Shiki's attack on Marineford.
An unprecedented superstorm ravaged Marine Headquarters.
Storm nearly experienced the bizarre sensation of "being born only to immediately face death."
But it was precisely because of that shocking attack that Storm earned his current name—STORM.
Logically speaking, with a legendary epithet like "Stormborn," Storm had expected to become a "king."
But the "Sword in the Stone" that would crown him never appeared.
By the time he reached the age for formal education, Storm finally abandoned his unrealistic fantasies of "dragons," "systems," and "superpowers."
In the end, he resolved to—
Study hard, train his body.
Follow in his ancestors' footsteps and enlist in the Marines.
A "hot" fact about the sea:
Even the weakest, most pathetic Marine had his own custom-made cheat—
"Two hundred times the effort" cheat—activate!
At 16, Storm officially enrolled in the Marine Academy and trained like a madman.
By 17, he had joined the Marine Elite Recruit Training Camp and graduated with top honors.
Barring any accidents, at 18, Storm would skip the ranks of "recruit" and "sergeant" entirely and directly become a "Marine Headquarters officer"—a standard privilege for outstanding graduates of the training camp.
Storm's next life goal was—
Work hard, earn money.
And then obtain a powerful enough Devil Fruit!
Though the sea's renowned lecturer, Kaido of the Beasts, once declared:
"Only Haki can truly reign supreme above all."
But let's not forget—this guy himself was a user of the [Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Azure Dragon Form].
Not to mention how this guy immediately unleashed his ultimate move "Fire Dragon Torch" right after dropping that line.
Nor how the one who defeated Teacher Kaido was also a Devil Fruit user who had consumed the [Mythical Zoan, Nika Form].
Another notorious villain of the seas, Blackbeard Teach, once imparted a lesson:
"Compared to their flaws, Devil Fruits bring far more advantages!"
Of course.
Teach was referring to powerful Devil Fruits here.
As for sayings like "There are no trash Devil Fruits in the sea, only trash users"—
That's the same toxic positivity as "There are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters."
Pure poison! Devil Fruits clearly have hierarchical rankings.
The Magma Fruit is superior to the Flame-Flame Fruit.
Even if both users are Logia types.
A magma man could punch straight through a flame man! Storm harbored no aversion to powerful Devil Fruits.
He wouldn't dismiss weak Logias.
Nor fear overpowered Paramecias or special-concept types.
And if it's a Mythical Zoan? Even better!
Storm understood better than anyone on the seas what truly constituted the "meta answer."
Wouldn't you agree, Mugi Wara? God Nika?
But now.
After enduring grueling training with his "200% effort" commoner cheat for so long—
The [Grand Prize Trophy] arrived? Tch! Well, since it's here...
Storm struggled to rein in his grin (which nearly reached his ears) and began examining the [Grand Prize Trophy]'s specific abilities.
The shimmering [Grand Prize Trophy] emitted vortex-like waves that seemed to pierce the fundamental truths.
Within moments.
Storm comprehended everything.
The [Grand Prize Trophy] had two abilities.
First: It could grant Storm the thing he desired most in his heart.
Second: Its corresponding "stars" could enhance his personal capabilities.
Normally, one couldn't have both.
But certain special trophies combined both effects.
There was only one way to obtain a [Grand Prize Trophy]—
Battle!
The stronger the opponent and more intense the fight, the higher the tier of [Grand Prize Trophy] obtained!
In Storm's understanding.
The [Grand Prize Trophy] offered "wishing" and "stat allocation."
He examined [Coming of Age Day].
This was a special trophy with no "stars."
Meaning [Coming of Age Day] couldn't be used for "stat allocation," only for "wishing." Written as a zero-star trophy.
Read as a newbie bonus.
Storm didn't rush to check his "starter pack."
Instead, he somewhat clumsily summoned another brand-new [Grand Prize Trophy] through mental focus.
[Vongola Storm's Grand Prize Trophy]
[Physique: ★★☆]
[Haki: Unlocked]
[Evaluation: A fanatically trained marine, qualified to join the 100,000 navy soldiers besieging Whitebeard in the Summit War]
Though Storm didn't yet fully grasp how strong "★★☆" represented.
Judging by that [Evaluation]...
Latest updates at 69shu.com!
High EQ interpretation: Not particularly strong yet.
Low EQ interpretation: Weak.
Storm continued examining.
Both [Physique] and [Haki] had three branching attributes.
[Haki] naturally refers to [Armament Haki], [Observation Haki], and [Conqueror's Haki].
As for the three branch attributes of [Physique], they are—
[Strength: ★★☆]
[Speed: ★★☆]
[Endurance: ★★★]
"...Healthy body, all limbs intact, normal appetite, a promising future."
Storm closed the [Grand Prize Trophy], silently comforting himself.
Next, he bathed, changed clothes, lit incense, straightened his hat, and sat upright.
Only after his mind had completely settled did Storm summon the original [Coming of Age] trophy.
"What exactly will the 'Sword in the Stone' I've waited eighteen years for turn out to be?"
Under Storm's gaze, the [Coming of Age] trophy erupted in a dazzling display of strange and brilliant light.
The radiant [Grand Prize Trophy] ultimately transformed into a simple, natural silver-gray ring.
[Name: Devil Ring]
[Stars: ★★★★★★★★★]
[Description: An artifact of ancient super-technology, the crystallization of wisdom from the ancient kingdom]
[Effects: 1. Natural Energy: The [Devil Ring] can draw energy from the intangible, its own power nearly limitless;
-
Indestructible: The [Devil Ring] is made of extremely hard material, forged in a unique way that makes it impossible to destroy;
-
Devil's Power: The [Devil Ring] can suppress, absorb, seal, and transfer the supernatural elements within any Devil Fruit, using its own energy to unleash the original abilities of the Devil Fruit]
[Comment: The devil can't kill me!]
"One, two, three... nine? Nine stars?!"
A nine-star item, the [Devil Ring]! Storm was nearly blinded by the dense cluster of nine stars.
But even more dazzling were the three effects of the [Devil Ring]!
What is the greatest weakness of Devil Fruits, with their bizarre appearances and wildly varied abilities? It's that after consuming a Devil Fruit, the user instantly becomes an outcast of the sea, forever unable to swim.
On this "blue planet," where the ocean dominates the surface, being unable to swim is a fatal and absolute weakness!
But as Blackbeard Teach once said, while Devil Fruits have obvious drawbacks, their advantages far outweigh them!
Take the [Ghost Fruit], for example.
Or the [Card Fruit].
The powerful benefits of Devil Fruits more than compensate for their inherent flaws.
Storm had previously considered "eating a Devil Fruit" as one of his life's minor goals because he had already resolved to "lose the ability to swim in this lifetime."
But now, with the [Devil Ring], Storm could use the abilities of Devil Fruits without consuming them—completely free of cost!
In one word: exhilarating!
Storm felt an unprecedented sense of exhilaration.
This feeling was as refreshing as wearing new underwear on the first morning of the New Year.
The marine put on the ring.
Stepping outside meant stepping into the headquarters.
Justice knows no holidays.
On the first day of the New Year, the Marine Headquarters building was still bustling with activity.
Storm, dressed in his blue-and-white marine uniform, blended in seamlessly among the crowd of navy personnel.
After navigating a series of twists and turns, he finally arrived outside a top-floor office in the headquarters building.
Knock, knock—
Storm rapped on the door.
A deep, powerful voice responded from within.
"Come in."
With permission granted, Storm pushed the door open, raising his hand in salute, palm facing backward.
"Sir! New recruit Vongola Storm, reporting for duty!"
"Storm? You're early."
The one responding to Storm was a burly, muscular man with purple hair—the former Marine Headquarters Admiral, Black Arm Zephyr!
He was also the head instructor of the Marine Elite New Recruit Training Camp.
Storm had come today to confirm his upcoming rank and assignment changes with Zephyr.
Zephyr looked at Storm and pulled out a letter with his intact left hand.
With a flick of his fingers, the letter flew straight to Storm.
"This is my personal recommendation letter.
"Now, go next door and find Kuzan! He'll explain everything to you!"
Aokiji Kuzan?
Clutching the recommendation letter, Storm walked in a daze to the office of the current Admiral next door.
Aokiji seemed to already know the situation.
The moment Storm pushed the door open, Aokiji got straight to the point.
"Vongola Storm? Did you bring your resignation letter?"
Storm froze in place.
Not a promotion.
But a dismissal? New book, welcome to the might-makes-right seas! Begging for collections, begging for follows, begging for everything!!!
——
Timeline of this book.
Based on Roger's death in the year 1500 of the Sea Calendar.
Meaning Luffy officially sets sail in the year 1522.