One Piece: The Tyrant

Chapter 3: Land

"We're going to die!" Koby cried loudly as the boat shook violently in the storm. The boy tried to grab onto the sides as best he could, barely holding on.

"No, we're not." Khoras rowed calmly, the boat's movements not affecting him at all. "Stop complaining and look over there."

As he spoke, he gestured with his head, pointing forward. Koby tried to calm himself down and glanced in the direction Khoras had indicated.

"T-That's land! We've reached solid ground!" A sense of relief flooded his heart, filling him with joy. These two days had been torment, yet he was thankful to have found some provisions on Alvida's boat.

Khoras had seemed like a strange but sensible guy at first. However, Koby quickly realized that the man was completely and utterly crazy, out of his mind.

For starters, he didn't even flinch at the prospect of being swallowed up by the various whirlpools they encountered, any of which could have sunk a decent-sized ship. Worse, at one point, a particularly high wave had caused some of their supplies to fall into the water, and Khoras had no better idea than to dive in after them. The boy still wasn't entirely sure how Khoras had managed to reach the boat again after that.

'Is he a fish?' That question swirled in his mind, and he had no answer for it, but one thing he was sure of—Khoras was anything but normal.

Khoras himself let out a grunt. 'I hope there's a tavern where I can get something hot to eat on that island.'

He thought carefully about how to proceed next. Alvida hadn't been particularly wealthy in Belly, but from what Koby had told him, it was enough to live modestly for a few months.

Still, he had no intention of staying idle. He needed to go out to sea, seek information, and grow stronger if he wanted to find a way to travel between worlds.

In fact, he knew almost nothing about the kinds of powers that existed in the world of One Piece, but he was well aware of the extent of a Beyonder's powers. If he wanted to stand a chance, he would need to reach the top of his pathway.

He sighed—something that had become a habit since arriving in this world. 'I must be vigilant. Both madness and divinity can take root in me without me realizing it. By then, I'll be screwed.'

His brow furrowed, sending a chill down Koby's spine. This guy was terrifying.

Luckily, not everything in Khoras' mind was bad news. This world seemed extremely compatible with the Tyrant pathway—a couple of days in the storm while sailing in a small boat had done wonders for the potion's digestion. At this point, he could clearly feel himself advancing faster and faster. Perhaps it wouldn't take him more than a couple of weeks to digest the potion completely.

With some effort, they reached Shells Town—or at least, they assumed it was the right place. The large blue tower-like Marine base was a clear indicator they hadn't strayed off course.

They both disembarked, although one of them's legs were trembling.

Khoras glanced sideways at Koby, who noticed and quickly bowed.

"I-I'm sorry, sir. Thank you for bringing me here and giving me this chance." He hesitated, then added, "I swear, when I've joined the Marines, I'll find you and pay you back in full."

"Ah, no..." Khoras tried to tell him it wasn't necessary—it hadn't been too much trouble—but Koby dashed off toward the Marine base before he could respond.

Khoras stood with his hand raised, feeling a small pang of regret that he hadn't managed to say a few words to the boy before he left. After all, they had spent two days at sea together, and while Koby was a crybaby, Khoras had grown a bit fond of him.

Khoras sighed again and scratched his head.

"Well, I guess I should find somewhere to eat," he muttered, glancing left and right.

Shells Town was a decently sized island, fully populated, with rows of houses spread along the hill's slope.

His stomach growled with hunger. The canned food he'd salvaged on the boat had done little to satisfy him, even though he'd made sure to recover anything that fell into the water.

...

Koby dashed toward the towering Marine base, his chest heaving with excitement and exhaustion. For the first time in what felt like forever, hope burned in his heart like a steady flame. This was it—the start of his dream. His legs trembled, but he forced himself forward, wiping sweat from his brow as he reached the gates.

"E-Excuse me!" Koby stammered, his voice cracking. "My name is Koby, and I've come to join the Marines! Please, let me—"

One of the guards at the gate glanced up lazily, adjusting his hat as he yawned. "Join the Marines, huh?" His voice dripped with mockery. "What are you, twelve?"

"N-No, sir!" Koby stood straight, though his knees wobbled. "I want to fight for justice, to protect people!"

The second guard burst into laughter, clutching his stomach as though Koby had told the world's funniest joke. "Protect people? You? You look like you'd blow away in a stiff breeze!"

Koby flushed, heat rising to his cheeks as he clenched his fists. "I'm serious! I'll do anything to prove myself! Please, give me a chance!"

The first guard rolled his eyes, taking a sip from a chipped mug. "Listen, kid. You'd trip over your own feet before swinging a sword. Go home. This place isn't for dreamers."

"I'm not lying!" Koby's voice cracked again, but he didn't back down. "Please, give me a chance! I'll work hard—I'll do whatever it takes!"

The guards exchanged amused looks before the first one sighed dramatically, waving a hand. "Fine, fine. If you're so desperate, come back tomorrow at sunrise. Maybe we'll find something for you to mop around here."

"But—" Koby started to speak, but the second guard cut him off with a sharp laugh.

"Unless you're scared of hard work. We don't need crybabies."

Their words stung, but Koby forced himself to bow deeply. "Thank you! I'll be here tomorrow!"

He turned and began walking away, fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms. The guards' mocking laughter echoed in his ears, but he refused to let it stop him. Each step felt heavier, but he whispered under his breath, 'I'll prove them wrong. I will become a Marine, no matter what it takes.'

Koby felt the salty air sting his nose as he dashed toward the Marine base, his worn shoes slipping slightly on the uneven cobblestone path. The laughter from the guards still echoed in his ears, but he pushed it aside, clinging to the memory of a Marine helping his village long ago. That was the justice he wanted to fight for.

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You know the deal, tell me if you find any mistake.