Chapter 2 : First battle

The sky was tinged with a soft hue of white as gentle sunlight bathed the land. Amidst the wooden houses, Noel observed Garp and Luffy snoring away, their snores shaking the skys, while Ace slept nearby. He shook his head, then quietly left.

Foosha Village had delayed his departure to sea. If it weren't for the system, he would have set sail long ago.

As Noel stepped out of the wooden house, Garp, still asleep, suddenly showed a glimmer of consciousness. He bypassed Luffy and quickly followed Noel.

Not only Garp, but Ace had also awakened without anyone noticing. He glanced at Luffy, gritted his teeth, and swiftly made his way out.

By the beach, with his left foot firmly planted on the ground, Noel's figure transformed into a blur before soaring into the distance.

Upon landing on the ship's deck, Noel looked around with satisfaction before his gaze settled on a man with short blond hair and a black outfit.

"Genos... Thanks for your hard work," Noel smiled.

"Captain..." Genos nodded in a daze and scanned the far side of the beach without showing any emotion.

Seeing Genos's indifferent expression, Noel shook his head helplessly.

The person before him was a character he had acquired from the system, a character from his previous life in "One Punch Man" — a character from an anime, a man who could transform.

"Let's go," Noel took a deep breath, gazed in the direction of the forest, and spoke in a deep voice.

"Yes, Captain," Genos nodded, then headed toward the ship's cabin.

The ship moved slowly, and on the edge of the forest's cliff, Garp watched as the ship dwindled into a mere black speck. His face bore a look of puzzlement and gravity as he pondered the man who had been with Noel earlier.

Garp had never seen Genos before, but that person had clearly noticed him just now...

*Step on!*

With the sound of gentle footsteps, Ace also emerged at the edge of the cliff, staring at the vanishing ship. His fists clenched involuntarily.

Three days passed slowly, and during their journey, aside from occasional encounters with Sea Kings and two merchant ships, Noel and his companions had not encountered any pirates.

On the ship's deck, Noel furrowed his brows, his eyes fixed on the virtual panel in front of him.

**Name:** Portgas D. Noel

**Abilities:** Observation Haki (Intermediate), Armament Haki (Intermediate), Conqueror's Haki (Elementary), Force Field Ability (Proficiency - 30%), Moonwalk, Shave...

**Lucky Draws:** None

**Crew:** Genos

**Lottery Points:** 300

Two years ago, with Genos's assistance, he had been cultivating Haki, reaching intermediate levels in Observation and Armament Haki.

"It seems that my abilities are the biggest challenge right now," Noel sighed, his eyes gleaming.

His abilities were currently his strongest assets, his source of power. He hadn't explored the full potential of his Force Field Ability yet. As for Haki cultivation, it was a time-consuming process.

*Huh...* Suddenly, Noel's eyes lit up, and he stood up slowly, focusing on a distant black spot.

Genos also emerged, his eyes fixed on the increasingly emotive ship in the distance.

"The Pirate Crew..." Noel smiled. In just three days, they had finally encountered a Pirate Ship.

"The captain is from the Blood Wolf Pirate Group, and the opposing captain has a bounty of 20 million Berries..."

Observing the Pirate Flag in the distance, Genos spoke in a cold tone.

Noel nodded. Two years ago, he had recruited Genos to provide him with intelligence about the Four Seas. It seemed like the right decision.

A 20-million-Berry bounty was already considered high in the East Blue, marking the pirates as a significant threat.

On the opposing ship, the Blood Wolf Pirate Group also noticed Noel and his companions. One of their crew members lowered his telescope and informed the sturdy-looking middle-aged man beside him.

"Captain, it doesn't appear to be a merchant ship; there are only two individuals on the other side..."

At this news, the blood wolf, Ken, was momentarily taken aback, his expression turning fierce. "Men, fire at them and destroy their ship."

"Yes, Captain..." The pirates on the deck chuckled as they prepared to carry out Ken's orders.

Boom, boom!

As they watched the dozen or so cannonballs hurtling towards them, Noel couldn't help but smile. This was the life of a pirate, the cruelty of their world.

Most pirates employed ruthless tactics, unlike adventurers like Luffy and his crew, who were relatively kind-hearted in the vast sea.

As the shells neared, the Blood Wolf Pirate Group's members grinned cruelly, anticipating a swift victory.

Explosions resonated, smoke billowed into the air, and Genos kicked off the deck before intercepting one of the shells with his fist.

Shoo!

After diffusing the cannonball, Genos activated his powers, creating fires beneath his feet, propelling himself towards the Blood Wolf Pirate Group.

Seeing a figure emerge from the smoke, unscathed, and their ship intact, the Blood Wolf Pirate Group stared wide-eyed, while Ken's expression turned serious.

In the next moment, screams echoed across the sea, bullets flew, flames danced, and the massacre began. The Blood Wolf Pirate Group fell one by one, staining the sea with blood.

"Monster..."

"Run away..."