Watching Roger's Execution at the Start

Marine Base, Colonel's office.

Wright stood before the desk, reporting on his meeting with Atlas.

Behind the desk sat a middle-aged man with a cigar between his teeth. Smoke curled around him, hiding his face. Only a pair of sharp eyes showed through—steadfast eyes that had seen blood and fire...

"Kanos Atlas was born in Shells Town, within Marine Branch 153's jurisdiction. A year ago, pirates attacked while he was traveling with his parents. He wandered to Loguetown and lived there for six months. His parents' whereabouts are unknown..."

"Attacked by pirates..."

"What a chaotic age."

An Unfair Advantage! The Zodiac Talismans

East Blue, Loguetown Marine Base cafeteria.

The cafeteria should have been bustling, but for some reason, it had fallen quiet. Follow the astonished gazes, and the reason became clear...

A somewhat scrawny boy had buried himself in a mountain of food and was steadily devouring it.

The boy was Atlas, who had been ordered to come fill his stomach.

"That's his third serving already..."

Everyone nearby watched Atlas battle his food with keen interest.

Atlas paid no attention to what they thought. The hunger in his belly left him no room to think about anything else. How his thin body held so much food was anyone's guess.

Still, it gave Atlas a little confidence that he could become strong. To his mind, eating more than an ordinary person meant this body had decent potential. More food meant more energy stored; that followed the law of conservation of energy. In the world of pirates, not everyone who ate a lot was strong, but every strong person could eat a lot.

His appetite was nowhere near the terrifying level of Garp's or Luffy's, but Atlas finally ended the battle after eating five servings.

"Burp~~"

Atlas patted his slightly bulging stomach and let out a satisfied burp. Then he strutted toward the dormitory as though he owned the place.

Back in his room, Atlas slowly went through a few exercises to help digest his meal. He had no choice. He didn't know Life Return, with its powerful ability to digest food quickly, nor was he like Luffy and the others, who seemed to have turned it into a ridiculous passive skill.

After a long while, sweat beading faintly on his forehead, Atlas stopped his post-meal exercise and settled down to examine his situation.

He slowly sank his consciousness into his mind...

Twelve octagonal objects, each bearing a different design, floated in endless darkness. This was Atlas's special advantage. No system, no inherited legacy—just twelve Talismans.

Yes, Talismans. If Atlas wasn't mistaken, these were the twelve zodiac Talismans from Jackie Chan Adventures, which he had watched as a child. As he remembered it, their abilities were every bit as impressive as Devil Fruits!

The twelve zodiac Talismans came from Shendu, the Fire Demon, and their powers were downright magical. You could use one the moment you obtained it, with no need to develop its power. How strong it proved depended on its user, but the Talismans also had one advantage no Devil Fruit could match: the sea would not reject their bearer!

"I wonder if they've reproduced all twelve Talismans' powers in full?"

Atlas murmured to himself.

With that thought, he directed his consciousness toward the Talismans.

The excitement on his face slowly faded...

He had gotten excited too soon. Who would have thought these things came with so many restrictions?

Atlas's expression darkened.

From what he had learned so far, his current body could activate only one Talisman. Unlike in their original world, these Talismans could not be used simply by picking them up. Activating one consumed the bearer's stamina, and even qualifying to activate one required a strong body. His physical condition had to reach a certain standard first. As for bearing two or more Talismans at once, that was a pipe dream for Atlas right now.

"So which Talisman should I choose?"

Atlas found himself torn.

From what he remembered as a child, the Rat Talisman could bring inanimate objects to life. It sounded a little like the Homies created with Big Mom's Soul-Soul Fruit. That alone sounded powerful—it was a Four Emperor's ability, after all!

The Ox Talisman could grant Atlas immense strength. Whether it enhanced his base strength or added power on top of it remained to be seen, but either way, it was a formidable weapon in a fight. Atlas badly wanted it.

The Tiger Talisman could keep the various powers within its bearer from conflicting, unifying the strength of all the Talismans. When split in half, it would divide its bearer into good and evil selves. That caught Atlas's attention. On the surface, the ability looked almost useless, but if it allowed someone to use multiple Talismans at once, the result would be far more than one plus one equaling two.

For example, using super speed and super strength together would multiply their power to a terrifying degree. As Borsalino, Kizaru, had said: speed was power.

The Rabbit Talisman could grant its bearer super speed and sharpen their reflexes. Whether it could enable time travel was another matter.

The Dragon Talisman could give its bearer powerful explosive attacks. Focused on destructive force, it was a formidable offensive ability.

The Snake Talisman could make its bearer invisible. Wasn't that another version of the Clear-Clear Fruit? He just didn't know whether it could evade Observation Haki.

The Horse Talisman could cure every disease—or, more broadly, remove harmful effects from the human body. Hmm... Injuries and pain ought to count too, right? If so, it would be the perfect aid for training! He could push himself without worrying about injury, then repair his body as long as he had enough stamina and energy.

The Sheep Talisman could let its bearer's soul leave their body and enter other people's dreams. It seemed to strengthen the soul, though he didn't know whether that would help with Haki training. Haki was, after all, an extension of one's will, and will was much like the soul.

The Monkey Talisman could let its bearer turn anyone into an animal. That was interesting. It might be the only one that could affect other people. But if it changed only their appearance, its value would drop considerably. If their strength and speed stayed the same, it would be useless against powerful opponents.

The Chicken Talisman could grant its bearer the power to make things float. Apparently, it worked through telekinesis, though Atlas had no idea what would be required to use it in the world of pirates. It resembled the Float-Float Fruit somewhat. For escaping danger, it was first-rate: flight was rare in this world and offered tremendous mobility.

The Dog Talisman could grant its bearer immortality. The moment Atlas activated it, he would essentially stop aging, as though he had undergone the Perennial Youth Operation with the Op-Op Fruit. It was absurdly powerful. Eternal youth had always been one of humanity's greatest pursuits, and now it lay before him, obtainable with a single thought. His breathing quickened.

The Pig Talisman could let its bearer fire lasers from their eyes—laser vision, in other words. Compared with the Dragon Talisman's explosive destruction, its beams were better suited to cutting.

Atlas didn't know how these Talismans would perform in the world of pirates. He could only choose based on what he knew and explore their abilities further later.

After reviewing them all, Atlas was still torn. Should he pick a Talisman that would quickly give him serious fighting power, or one that would support his growth?

He focused his consciousness on the Talisman he wanted, and a thrill ran through him.

"This one..."

The Horse and One Year

Sea Circle Calendar 1499, June. Loguetown Marine Base, East Blue.

The morning light was soft, with faint starlight still scattered across the Training Ground. A lean, powerful figure ran lap after lap into the cool breeze, heavy weights strapped to his arms and legs.

"Huff... huff..."

Atlas sprinted on, breathing like a bellows.

He spent four hours on physical conditioning every day. In this world, every ability needed a strong body behind it. Admirals and Four Emperors could fight for days and nights at a stretch. Without stamina, wouldn't they collapse halfway through?

The sun climbed higher, and Atlas's conditioning session drew to a close.

He picked up a bamboo sword from a corner of the Training Ground and began to swing it!

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The blunt bamboo sword cut through the air with a fierce whistle!

Chop! Slash! Slice! Thrust! Flick! Sweep!

Atlas practiced the fundamentals with disciplined precision. Of course, fundamentals were all he knew; he hadn't learned any proper techniques yet. A towering building had to start with a solid foundation.

Hadn't Zoro practiced the basics as a child too? That solid foundation was what had let him grow stronger so quickly later on.

"9,992, 9,993, 9,994..."

Atlas completed his morning routine without cutting a single corner. Sweat had long since soaked the ground around him.

He was in the world of pirates, after all. Even here in East Blue, the so-called Weakest Sea, plenty of "great pirates" could threaten his life. This body was only thirteen years old!

"Training really wears me out. Good thing the Horse Talisman repairs all the hidden damage to my body. If I trained like this without it, I'd either die or end up riddled with old injuries. Forget getting stronger—I'd be lucky to live to thirty."

With his training finished, Atlas sprawled on his back in the middle of the Training Ground. The newly risen sun shone on him, and sweat gleamed across his sharply defined muscles. Compared with a year ago, he had changed enormously—not just in his soaring height, but in his rapidly growing strength.

Over the past year, aside from routine chores like washing clothes and mopping floors, Atlas had devoted nearly all his time to training. He had even forced himself to cut his sleep to five hours a night.

Training that had nearly broken him at first was now something he could handle with ease, largely thanks to the Horse Talisman.

Atlas was glad he hadn't let the other Talismans' tempting powers distract him. Instead, he had chosen the Horse Talisman, the best support ability for him at the time. In the world of pirates, a strong body was the foundation of every power. Devil Fruit Users and masters of physical combat alike needed one to grow stronger.

To his delight, the Horse Talisman did far more than the words "cures every disease" suggested.

It healed injuries from training, and eating more food accelerated his recovery, somewhat like Life Return. In battle, he could also spend stamina to heal wounds, achieving an effect similar to a Zoan Devil Fruit!

Through experimentation, Atlas discovered that the Horse Talisman drew on more than stamina. It could also use the energy stored within his body. What's more, the mark of the Talisman in his mind had gradually faded with repeated use. That certainly didn't mean its power was disappearing.

If his guess was right, once the mark vanished completely, the Horse Talisman's power would become an innate part of Atlas's body, as instinctive as breathing—a state resembling Awakening! It would not be as extreme as Devil Fruit Awakening, of course, but it should at least reduce the stamina or energy the power consumed.

In the past year, he had grown to an astonishing 1.9 meters. Before that, he had been a little over 1.6 meters tall. With ample food and relentless training, he had also transformed from a stick-thin kid into a broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted young man whose arms nearly burst through his sleeves.

Each of his limbs and his torso carried sixty kilograms of weights. He never removed them except to bathe, not even during physical training.

Over that year, he had challenged practically everyone at the base. He had gone from being unable to beat anyone to having no equal below officer rank. Only he knew how many beatings it had taken to get there.

Captain Wright, who had brought him into the Marine Base, was no longer a match for him. Wright had been down about it for quite a while.

After lying there a little longer, Atlas brushed nonexistent dust from his backside and strode toward the cafeteria. These days, it took ten servings to leave him only eighty percent full. He was worlds apart from the boy he had been a year ago!

"Hey, Uncle Carl! Ten servings for me."

The moment Atlas entered the cafeteria, he waved at a burly, bearded man, his excitement plain to see.

"Huh? You again, kid..."

Uncle Carl's face fell at once, though despite his grumbling, there was no trace of impatience in his eyes.

Carl Mai was the base cafeteria's head chef. He had met Atlas because of the boy's enormous appetite and thought highly of his youthful drive. Atlas had become a role model for the base's younger generation, after all!

"...Don't be stingy, Uncle Carl."

Atlas just grinned.

As they spoke, Atlas's meal was prepared. He wasted no time, grabbing a piece of meat and stuffing it into his mouth...

The base colonel's office...

"Understood. I'll get there with reinforcements as soon as possible!"

Colonel Arthur Randall spoke with a grave expression.

Arthur Randall was the highest-ranking officer at the Loguetown Marine Base in East Blue. He was also the man who had approved Atlas's enlistment a year earlier.

With a click, Colonel Randall hung up the Den Den Mushi and shouted toward the door, "Messenger!"

"Sound the alarm immediately! Everyone to the Training Ground!"

"Yes, sir!"

Footsteps hurried away outside the door...

Woooo! Woooo!

The urgent alarm rang through the entire Marine Base. Everyone not on duty sprang into action, including Atlas, who had just emerged from the cafeteria with a full stomach.

"Heh. Time to see what all my training has done."

An inexplicable excitement seized Atlas. His expression sharpened, and he hurried toward the Training Ground...

Five minutes later, nearly everyone had assembled.

Colonel Arthur Randall, draped in a coat bearing the word Justice, took his place before the troops. He gave the orderly ranks an approving look and roared:

"Everyone, listen up! Pirates are attacking a town in our jurisdiction. All combat personnel, come with me to uphold justice! Justice will not be defiled!"

"Justice! Justice! Justice!"

Every Marine on the Training Ground shouted with fervor. Atlas, standing among them, was no exception. His blood surged, and he felt power coursing through his whole body.

The Sharp Sword Pirates

An unnamed town in East Blue.

"Wahahaha! Get in there, boys! Take the food and the women!"

A fierce-looking man two meters tall stood at the bow, a captain's hat sitting crookedly on his head. He brandished a rapier and bared a mouthful of yellow teeth as he roared at the town ahead.

Captain of the Sharp Sword Pirates: O. Toman! Bounty: eight million Beli!

"Whooo! Whooo! Whooo! Whooo!"

The pirates could no longer restrain their urge to plunder. They rushed off the ship and scattered through the town. In an instant, the once-peaceful streets became a living hell, filled with cries and pleas for mercy...

"Hey, Captain. Won't a raid this loud draw the Marines?"

A man with a cigarette in his mouth walked slowly up to O. Toman, his expression uneasy.

"Hey, hey, hey! Frank, who do you think I am? I'm O. Toman!"