In the year 1493 of the Hainan Calendar, on the "paradise" of the first half of the Grand Line, lies Gaya Island.
In the early morning, a gentle sea breeze blew, carrying the distinctive scent of the ocean. The sun rose from the horizon, its rays piercing the dim dawn and illuminating the earth in all directions. The island began to come alive.
Waves crashed rhythmically onto the golden beach, and seagulls chirped, heralding the new day.
Nestled by the seaside was a small village. Behind it, rocks stood tall, their backs facing the sea at the edge of the island. On one of the larger rocks was a naturally formed cave, within which a tall figure rested—a boy sleeping soundly.
The cries of seagulls served as the perfect alarm clock, waking a handsome boy, around thirteen years old, from his deep sleep.
"It's dawn!"
The boy, rubbing his groggy head, yawned and stretched. Tossing aside a quilt made of animal skins, he climbed out of the small cave—just big enough for two or three people—and stepped outside.
He was delicate and handsome, with dark hair and eyes, but his tattered clothes, unchanged for a long time, revealed his humble circumstances.
The scene before him was idyllic: sunlight dancing on the shallows, waves glistening in the morning light—a vision worthy of inspiring a poet's verses. Yet, the boy remained unmoved, for this was not his original world.
A New World
Have you ever seen fish, tens of meters long, capable of swallowing a boat in a single gulp? Or beasts in the forest towering higher than houses?
Behind the boy, in the misty sea, pirate ships could be faintly glimpsed, coming and going.
This place was nothing like Earth. This was the world of One Piece: Gaya Island in the first half of the Grand Line—a lawless land outside the Navy's jurisdiction, a haven for sea outlaws, pirates, and bounty hunters alike.
The boy's name had once been Ye Bowen, but now it was Xibolai D. Asa. And he wasn't originally from this world.
Before his journey through time, Asa had lived an ordinary life as a loner. He'd been single for over 20 years, with no house, car, or girlfriend. After graduating from a modest university, he had trained as a welder—a practical skill that kept him from starving.
Life was simple, yet decent. He earned enough for himself and enjoyed occasional weekend outings to bars. But one day, a faulty welding tool cause a short, electrocuting him to death.
When he awoke, enveloped in darkness and still filled with the resentment of his single life, Asa found himself transported into a younger body—only eight years old—now part of a merchant family involved in seafaring trade.
This merchant family was relatively influential, operating trade routes that spanned the Grand Line and the West Blue, thriving amidst pirates and the World Government.
At first, Asa embraced the excitement of his new life. Realizing he was in the world of One Piece, his favorite anime, and now part of the fabled "D Clan," he was ecstatic. For three nights, he couldn't sleep, dreaming of conquering the seas—defeating the Navy and challenging the Four Emperors.
But reality struck just days later. The Grand Line's unpredictable weather and an inexperienced navigator doomed their merchant ship. Torrential rain and massive waves sank the vessel, leaving Asa as the sole survivor. Clinging to a piece of driftwood, he eventually washed ashore on Gaya Island.
Rejected by the island's inhabitants, Asa sought refuge in a cave by the shore. He survived by collecting shells, fishing, and setting traps for small animals in the forest—a struggle that lasted five years.
The Pursuit of Strength
Sighing, Asa gazed out at the endless sea before beginning his daily training.
In the world of One Piece, one could survive without wealth or possessions, but never without strength. Strength was the key to freedom in this dangerous world. Without it, people lived in constant fear, unsure if they would see the sun rise the next day.
Asa's training methods were simple: push-ups to build upper body strength, squats and frog jumps for his legs, and carrying heavy objects to increase endurance.
Bent over with a large stone on his back, Asa began his workout.
"One, two, three, four..."
He maintained a steady rhythm, adjusting his breathing to endure longer.
In this world, human physical limits were extraordinary. Hard work yielded incredible results, and even the food contained energy unimaginable on Earth.
This was a world of great swordsmen who could slice islands in two, fighters whose punches caused tsunamis, and warriors capable of sinking ships with a single kick.
"One hundred and ninety-eight... one hundred and ninety-nine... two hundred..."
Sweat dripped from Asa's forehead onto the beach. Despite his age, he completed more than 200 push-ups with a heavy stone on his back.
Most adults would be gasping for air after such an effort, yet Asa's breathing was only slightly heavier. His limbs remained steady, a testament to his extraordinary physique.
After a few minutes, Asa reached 500 push-ups before finally dropping the stone and lying on the sand to rest.
Brushing off the sand stuck to his clothes, Asa stood. His body, though exhausted moments before, recovered in mere minutes—a perk he considered a "time-travel gift."
"If not for this recovery ability, who could be so energized after such a grueling workout?" Asa mused.
He moved on to frog jumps, exercising his leg muscles until an hour had passed. Finally, drenched in sweat, Asa sat down to enjoy the sea breeze and reflect on his plans for the future.
Author's Note:
I've always felt that Enel's potential was wasted. A fruit with such immense power deserved a stronger wielder! Losing to Luffy, who didn't even know Haki? Absurd! Even if Luffy were immune to electricity, the heat alone should have scorched him!
Enel, with better abilities, could easily reach Admiral-level power. At the very least!
I've often dreamed of replacing Enel, and now that dream is reality.