Rocky opened his information bar, his heart pounding against his ribs.
**[Host: Rocky]**
**[Race: Human – Kuruta]**
**[Nen Talent: Top]**
**[Physical Potential: Intermediate]**
**[Bloodline Ability: Low-level Scarlet Eyes]**
**[Physical Condition: Good]**
**[Modification Permission: Available]**
The digital text flickered faintly before his eyes, the calm blue glow of the interface starkly contrasting with the violent storm raging around him. His soaked clothes clung to his skin, and icy seawater dripped from his hair, but Rocky barely noticed.
He had planned to save his modification privileges for later—when things settled down, and he had time to study the mechanics behind it. There was a lot he didn't understand yet, but right now wasn't the time for careful thought.
Their ship was barely holding together, battered relentlessly by towering waves. The air was thick with salt and fear, and every second felt like it might be their last.
Rocky's eyes locked onto the **[Physical Potential]** line in the interface.
If there was any hope of survival, it had to start here.
His fingers trembled slightly as he began to input a modification he had long dreamed of testing.
**[Physical Potential: Immortal, Unlimited Potential]**
The words felt absurd as he typed them, but desperation often birthed crazy ideas.
Just as he was about to confirm the change, a new window abruptly flashed across his vision:
**[Notice: Full acquisition of physical data is required for deep modification.]**
**[Modification Failed. Please try again.]**
Rocky's eyes widened, and for a brief moment, frustration gripped him. But almost immediately, realization struck.
The system wasn't rejecting his request outright. It was telling him that deeper modifications were locked—at least for now.
"Full acquisition…" he muttered under his breath, water streaming down his face.
He glanced at the **[Bloodline Ability]** line and noticed the subtle change in its description. Initially, it had been a vague **[Low-level]** label. Now, it read **[Low-level Scarlet Eyes – Level 2].**
Progress.
Somehow, by tapping into his bloodline or pushing his Nen further, he had expanded that section.
The pieces slowly clicked into place.
If he could gather more data about his own potential—push his physical limits and reach a higher state of understanding—perhaps deeper, even reality-bending modifications would become possible.
But for now, survival was the only goal.
Rocky erased the "Immortal" modification and replaced it with something more grounded.
**[Physical Potential: Top]**
**[Modification Complete]**
**[Next Modification Countdown: 39 Days, 23 Hours, 59 Minutes, 59 Seconds]**
As soon as the change finalized, a surge of raw energy rippled through him.
Rocky's eyes snapped open, and for a moment, it felt as if the entire world had sharpened. His muscles pulsed with newfound strength, and his Nen flared more violently than before, practically crackling beneath his skin.
He clenched his fist and watched the thin vapor of Nen swirl around his arm.
His nen—his life force—had grown stronger.
The change wasn't subtle. His heart pounded faster, his lungs drew in more air with ease, and every fiber of his body felt… enhanced.
Even without proper training, the simple act of boosting his potential had allowed his Nen to evolve.
"Rocky!"
Piro's frantic voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
Rocky turned, finding Piro desperately clinging to the ship's railing as the vessel lurched violently. Waves crashed over the deck, and the ship groaned under the strain.
"Hold on!" Rocky shouted, darting to Piro's side.
Another massive wave struck, sending Piro sliding across the deck. Without hesitation, Rocky reached out and caught his arm. The force nearly pulled them both overboard, but Rocky planted his feet and held firm, anchoring them against the raging sea.
"You alright?!" Rocky yelled over the howling wind.
Piro nodded weakly, coughing up seawater. "Yeah… but I almost flew over."
Rocky lifted Piro and propped him against the guardrail. Even though Piro was older, Rocky's strength far exceeded his. Piro winced as Rocky's grip left a purple mark on his arm.
"Jeez… how strong are you?!" Piro groaned, rubbing his shoulder.
Before Rocky could respond, the captain's booming voice echoed across the deck.
"Brace yourselves! This is the big one!"
Rocky turned toward the bow, his breath catching in his throat.
A monstrous wave—easily over a hundred meters tall—loomed ahead, rising like a liquid mountain. Their ship teetered on the crest of the previous wave, dangerously close to tipping over the edge.
The captain, drenched and grinning ear to ear, glanced at Rocky.
"Kid! Isn't this beautiful?"
Rocky's eyes narrowed. "Beautiful? We're about to die!"
The captain laughed. "Life's an adventure! If we survive this, we'll have a tale no one will believe!"
Before Rocky could argue, the ship plunged forward, racing down the wave's slope.
**CRASH!**
The hull slammed into the sea below, the impact shaking Rocky to his core. Water flooded the deck, swirling around their legs as the ship fought to stay afloat.
Rocky tightened his grip on the rail, pulling Piro closer. His enhanced strength kept them grounded, but the situation was worsening.
After an unknown amount of time in the water, the boat broke through the surface of the water and sailed straight toward the depths of the storm.
…
Accompanied by the gentle beating of the waves, on a beach at an unknown location.
Rocky opened his eyes and looked at Piro lying on his side.
He got up and woke Piro up.
There was no time to check Piro's condition, Rocky stood on the beach, with the dilapidated boat behind him.
And the others were also washed onto the beach by the sea water one after another.
Rocky looked at these people, some of them were crew members, and the other part were people from the Kuruta tribe.
It seemed that the people from the Kuruta tribe were in trouble, they had drunk too much sea water and had not woken up yet.
But thankfully, not a single person was missing.
This was a blessing in disguise, and it was not in vain.
Piro: "Where is this?"
"I don't know. Wake up all the tribesmen first!"
"This storm wasn't normal," Rocky muttered.
Something about the way the waves moved—the unnaturally strong currents—felt off.
While Rocky was talking, he suddenly stopped.
He turned around quickly and pulled Piro behind him.
Rocky looked up at the boat.
A figure stood atop it, bathed in the light of the rising sun. Because he was facing the opposite direction, Rocky couldn't see the other person's appearance clearly, he could only see the outline of his body.
The man's muscles rippled under his clothes, and his presence alone exuded a terrifying aura.
Even from afar, Rocky felt it—this man was no ordinary person.
The figure slowly stroked the broken mast, his expression unreadable.
"Impressive," the man muttered, his voice carrying unnaturally through the storm. "To survive this far with such an ordinary boat… your captain and crew must be exceptional."
Rocky's heart raced. His instincts screamed danger.
Instinct told Rocky that the man in front of him was strong! Very strong! Even facing Phantom Troupe was not as oppressive as standing before him!
"Who… is that?" Piro whispered.
Rocky didn't answer. His focus remained on the figure.
The man shifted, finally turning his gaze toward Rocky. A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"Your perception is very sharp, kid. You've got quite the potential. But unfortunately…"
The man raised his hand, pulling something from his pocket.
"In any case, whether you've come here intentionally or not…You can't stay here."
Seeing the other party take out something, Rocky instinctively grabbed Piro!
Before Rocky could do anything else, the man's voice echoed clearly:
"**Use: Expel.**"
A rush of energy enveloped Rocky and Piro.
In the blink of an eye, the two were launched skyward, leaving the island far behind.
As Rocky tumbled through the air, realization struck like lightning.
**Greed Island.**