Regardless of how the world chooses to define pirates, they are, at their core, thieves.
Thieves who sail the seas in pursuit of wealth, willing to risk everything for their ambitions.
If life offered a choice, Sven Beelzebub would not have minded being one of the Celestial Dragons, living in Mary Geoise, surrounded by servants, protected by Marines, and enjoying limitless luxury without effort.
But there are no such choices.
Having transmigrated into the world of One Piece, survival alone was already a challenge.
If being a thief was the price of staying alive, then so be it.
“Mihawk, I will be back shortly.”
Dracule Mihawk held his chilled iced black tea and gave a slight nod in response.
In just over a month, Sven’s height had barely changed, yet his physique had grown far more imposing.
Even without relying on his Devil Fruit abilities, he could now overpower at least two or three versions of his former self.
This was the effect of Innate Divine Strength combined with his Big Eater constitution.
It was no wonder people were drawn to overwhelming advantages.
The first half of the Grand Line, known as Grand Line Paradise, was anything but gentle.
Compared to the Four Blues, its climate was erratic.
Clear skies could turn into violent storms within seconds.
On the restless sea, the captain of the Gorilla Pirates, a large man known as Goute and nicknamed Gorilla, stood at the bow of his ship.
“Move closer!
Today we make our name known across the seas!”
His crew erupted in cheers, their voices filled with reckless ambition.
They were no different from the countless pirates flooding into the Grand Line since the Great Pirate Era began.
Dreamers, criminals, and desperate souls, all chasing the same illusion of treasure.
Across the distance between the ships, a streak of lightning flashed.
In an instant, Sven arrived.
This was a basic application of the power granted by the Goro Goro no Mi.
In terms of speed, only the user of the Pika Pika no Mi could surpass it.
Sven reformed from lightning and casually sat atop the enemy ship’s sail.
“Oi, I am right here.”
The pirates froze in shock.
“What?
When did he get here?”
Sven did not bother answering.
These rookies needed a lesson.
Thunder.
A massive dragon of lightning surged forward, tearing through the deck.
In an instant, the entire crew collapsed, leaving only their captain standing.
Goute clenched his fists, breathing heavily.
“I ate the Gorilla Gorilla Fruit!
I will crush you!”
His body expanded as he transformed into a towering black-backed gorilla, nearly four meters tall.
Beating his chest, he charged forward with raw force.
“As expected of a Zoan type,” Sven muttered, “your endurance is impressive.”
With a single strike, the Gorilla shattered the mast.
Sven lifted himself into the air, lightning gathering in his palm before forming a glowing blade.
This was his Plasma Sword.
After weeks of being effortlessly defeated by Mihawk, Sven finally had a chance to measure his own strength against someone else.
The Gorilla leapt upward.
“Eight-Step Gorilla Fist!”
Sven raised his blade and swung it down with full force, mimicking the style of Gol D.
Roger.
A single strike decided everything.
The massive body was sent crashing into the deck, unconscious.
Sven landed lightly and clicked his tongue.
“This is Innate Divine Strength.”
Without even relying on Haki, his raw physical power had already surpassed what most could handle.
He dispelled the sword and began kicking the unconscious pirates awake one by one.
“Men to the left, women to the right.
Stand still.
This is a robbery.”
The crew trembled, their confidence shattered.
Their captain, the man they believed to be invincible, lay defeated.
“Step forward if you can sail.”
No one moved.
Sven frowned and kicked one of them into the sea.
“You cannot sail?
Then why come to the Grand Line?”
Finally, one pirate spoke, voice shaking.
“Our captain handles the navigation.”
Sven stared at them in disbelief.
“So he sailed the entire way alone?”
They nodded.
“Useless.”
His expression turned cold.
“Next life, choose a different path.”
Out here, leaving enemies alive was a risk.
The seas were filled with stories of revenge and rising legends.
Sven dealt with them swiftly and cast their bodies into the ocean before gathering all valuables on the ship.
He then picked up an apple and placed it beside the unconscious captain.
With a clean motion, he ended Goute’s life and crouched nearby, watching.
Minutes passed.
Then, as expected, swirling patterns began to form on the apple.
A new Devil Fruit was born.
Sven raised an eyebrow.
“So my luck is this good?”
He collected the Gorilla Gorilla Fruit and sold it through the system.
This time, he used the Direct Sales System instead of the old trading method.
The result was better.
“Ding.
You have received 1200 points.
Current balance updated.”
Satisfied, Sven destroyed the pirate ship with lightning and transformed into electricity, returning to Mihawk.
“Mihawk, let us find an island to resupply.
We should be nearing Jaya.”
The island, along with its connection to the legendary Sky Island, was one of the few reasons Mihawk had not left yet.
Mihawk took the helm as Sven sat on the deck, reviewing his system.
“Swordsman Training Experience, 1000 points…”
Truthfully, his swordsmanship was not poor.
In some ways, a chef and a swordsman shared similarities.
One cut ingredients, the other cut opponents.
Sven glanced toward Mihawk.
“Do I count as a swordsman now?”