My first stop was a bookstore on the main street. The wooden sign creaked as it swung in the breeze, painted with the words Tome & Gear. Inside, the smell of old paper and oil from nearby workshops mixed to form a familiar, almost nostalgic scent. Shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, filled with books about machinery, navigation, and the history of seafaring.
The shopkeeper, a stout man with greying hair and a pair of goggles pushed up on his forehead, looked up from a tinkering project. "Morning, traveler," he said, his voice rough but welcoming. "Looking for something specific?"
"Books on navigation, particularly ones focused on the Grand Line," I replied, eyes scanning the titles.
He nodded, motioning to a nearby shelf. "Third row, second shelf. You'll find what you need there."
I ran my fingers along the spines, pulling out a few promising volumes. The Art of Grand Line Navigation, Surviving the Ever-Changing Seas, and a thinner book titled Understanding Log Poses. I brought them to the counter, placing 3,000 berries in front of the shopkeeper.
"These should do," I said.
He counted the coins and nodded. "Be careful out there. The Grand Line's not for the faint of heart."
I smirked, slipping the books into my satchel. "Good thing I'm not."
The next purchase was more practical. I found a small shop that specialized in navigation instruments. The shopkeeper, a lean man with sun-darkened skin and quick hands, showed me a collection of compasses, log poses, and other tools essential for navigating the unpredictable Grand Line. After a short negotiation, I bought a standard log pose and an extra compass for 8,000 berries.
"Planning a big trip?" the man asked, wrapping the items in cloth.
"Something like that," I replied, tucking the wrapped instruments into my satchel. With 29,000 berries left, I knew I had to be smart with the rest of my money.
....
Back in the town Orion had left, Livia stood outside the abandoned workshop, eyes narrowed in thought. She had watched him rise from a quiet newcomer to someone who had begun to draw attention. And now, without warning, he had disappeared. The moonlight cast a silvery glow on her brown skin, highlighting the sharp angles of her face and the silver pendant that rested against her collarbone. She glanced at the group of men she had gathered, their faces a mix of greed and uncertainty.
"Are you sure he's not coming back?" one of the men asked, shifting nervously. He was broad-shouldered with an unshaven face that might have been intimidating under different circumstances. But here, under the pale moon, he looked wary.
"I'm sure," Livia said, her voice sharp and commanding. She had spent weeks pretending to be Orion's ally, playing the role well enough to earn glimpses of his inventions and routines. But despite her efforts, he had kept her at arm's length, guarding his secrets carefully. Now, with him gone, she intended to claim whatever was left behind and reverse-engineer the inventions for her own gain.
She pushed the door open, the hinges creaking in protest as if they knew they shouldn't be disturbed. The men followed her inside, their footsteps tentative. The workshop was exactly as Orion had left it: meticulously organized, each tool and paper placed with intent. The silence inside was heavy, almost unnatural.
"Check that cabinet," Livia ordered, pointing to a large wooden cupboard where Orion had often stored blueprints.
The tallest man stepped forward and gripped the handle, pulling it open. A metallic click echoed through the room, freezing them all in place. Livia's eyes widened, recognition dawning too late.
Before she could shout a warning, the workshop exploded. The force shattered the windows, and flames roared outward, licking at the night air with a ferocious hunger. The blast sent debris flying, consuming everything within moments and turning the carefully maintained space into a storm of fire and smoke.
The town erupted into chaos as people scrambled from their homes, shouts filling the streets. They watched in stunned silence as the fire devoured what had been left behind, an inferno fueled by secrets and betrayal. By the time the flames died down, nothing of Livia or her men remained to tell their story.
....
Morning light sparkled on the water as I secured my supplies aboard a larger vessel I had purchased for 10,000 berries, a modest but seaworthy boat with enough space for cargo and tools. The rest of my money had gone to provisions, spare parts, and a few mechanical trinkets that I knew would come in handy.
I stood at the helm, the navigation books already memorized and the log pose strapped securely to my wrist. This wasn't just another move; it was the start of something bigger. The next island, rumored to be a hub of engineers and inventors, promised the resources and minds I needed to take my ambitions further.
The wind filled the sails, and the boat pushed forward, slicing through the gentle waves. As the island behind me faded from view, I felt the weight of the past few weeks lift off my shoulders. The memories of blood-streaked nights and whispered betrayals sank beneath the waves, leaving only the open sea and the path ahead.
For the first time, the horizon felt like a challenge I was ready to meet head-on.
....
The open sea was vast and indifferent, stretching endlessly in every direction. The rhythm of the waves had lulled me into a calm focus, my eyes scanning the horizon as the log pose adjusted slowly, its needle pointing unwaveringly toward my next destination. But that peace was shattered in an instant.
A deep rumble vibrated through the deck, and I staggered, gripping the railing as the boat shuddered violently. The water around me bubbled, churning into a furious froth. A massive shadow passed under the surface, too large to be anything but a sea beast. My pulse quickened as I reached for my crafted gun, a reflex that felt pitifully small in the face of what was coming.
The creature breached the surface, scales glistening like polished obsidian and eyes burning with a predatory gleam. It roared, the sound splitting the air and vibrating in my chest. The sheer size of it was overwhelming, dwarfing my vessel.
I raised the gun, taking aim at one of its eyes. The shot echoed, a sharp crack that momentarily silenced the roar. The bullet hit its mark, and the beast recoiled, a screech tearing from its throat. But it wasn't enough. With a sweep of its colossal tail, the sea beast slammed into the side of the boat, splintering wood and sending me flying.
Cold water engulfed me, and for a terrifying moment, I was weightless and blind. I surfaced with a gasp, coughing and sputtering, the taste of salt burning my throat. My boat, now half-submerged and broken, bobbed in the waves like driftwood. The beast thrashed in the distance, the injury I'd dealt it making it retreat back into the depths.
I clung to a piece of wreckage, breathing hard, muscles straining with exhaustion. The sun, now hidden behind storm clouds, cast everything in a muted gray. Each breath was a reminder of my fragility, the raw truth that intelligence alone wasn't enough out here.
The current pulled me, merciless and strong, until I spotted the faint outline of an island on the horizon. Adrenaline and desperation pushed me to kick and paddle toward it, every stroke a battle against the fatigue weighing down my limbs.
....
I staggered onto the beach hours later, collapsing onto the sand as the broken remains of my vessel washed ashore behind me. My chest heaved, salt crusting my skin and clothes. Pain shot through my side, a reminder of the tail's blow, and I forced myself to sit up, taking in the dense jungle that bordered the shore.
Strength. The word echoed in my mind, pressing down like an iron weight. I needed more than strategy, more than plans. Out here, on the Grand Line, power was everything.
My fingers dug into the sand as I made a silent vow: I would find a way to gain it. No matter the cost.
----
In these 10 chapters, i wanted to show Orion personality and thought process, how he can quickly change ideas and be unpredictable.
But i also showed the reality of One Piece, not everyone is like Luffy that can go to sea and always come out unscathed.
I tried to capture the Grand Line unpredictability.
If you liked these 10 chapters of prologue, you can continue to read and support me.
I'm a new writer so i will make mistakes, and i ask you all to be understanding and leave feedbacks.
At 10 stones i will drop a bonus chapter
Thanks for reading.