Chapter 2: The Pirate Empress

Yet that classic line from Lan Ran echoed like thunder, stirring his own blood with passion. Who doesn’t long to be strong, to wield power? Especially after recalling those terrifying beasts from his memories, effortlessly tearing apart city walls and shells—such scenes left him feeling deeply unsafe. Only by mastering strength could one truly take hold of their own destiny.

He thought back to his previous life, when he too was young and reckless, joining a special organization by chance. However, having exceeded the age limit, he spent over a decade merely as an outsider, tasked only with gathering intelligence.

Perhaps this was fate, bringing him eight hundred years into the future, into this tumultuous, vibrant world.

Tang Shen’s emotions had already settled, but the schoolyard was now in chaos.

As Lan Ran’s words faded, every teacher and student erupted in excitement.

“No one starts at the top, not you, not me, not even gods. From now on, I will stand at the pinnacle!”

“My god, hearing that line, my scalp tingled all over!”

“Those miraculous powers—the body ablaze, the body electrified, even splitting the sea with a single slash. Can humanity truly achieve this?”

“Even genetic warriors aren’t so formidable. Can we really become this strong?”

“I thought my life would be ordinary since I couldn’t become a genetic warrior, but now a new path to evolution has appeared. Ha! I won’t give up. I will become strong, rise above all others!”

“Do you know what ‘One Piece’ is? Why hasn’t there been any introduction?”

“Wait and see, the official sources should provide some details.”

“Who cares? Now we don’t need talent; as long as we work hard, we can become strong—beauty, wealth, status, all within reach!”

“I must become the strongest!”

Every student in the school, whether a genius or a slacker, blushed with excitement.

From the murmurs, Tang Shen caught some information: “These people seem completely unaware of ‘One Piece’. That shouldn’t be! It was hugely popular back then.”

He hurriedly searched his memories and soon understood. Eight hundred years ago, due to that mutation and the subsequent battles with beasts, Earth underwent tremendous changes, creating a cultural gap. Very little survived, and those who knew of it had mostly perished. Humanity’s ‘War God’ was the last person of that era, who died seventeen years ago.

In other words, Tang Shen alone in this world knew about ‘One Piece’.

Damn, this... this... this is like a windfall from the heavens! An hour ago, he was worried about whether he could become a genetic warrior after reincarnating—what was there to worry about now?

There was nothing to be anxious about; this was beyond cool! These people knew nothing about strength, while he understood ‘One Piece’ in detail: its characters, plot, swordsmanship, martial arts, devil fruits, and more. Wasn’t this the perfect path to dominate the game and reach the peak of life?

Life was thrilling—because you never knew what might happen next.

Soon, the principal emerged, distributing government-issued gaming helmets to students. Of course, they were the cheapest kind, but still cost ten thousand. Each underage student could receive one. Adults, whether in school or society, had to buy their own.

This was a way of supporting the younger generation.

In this world, everyone aspired to become a genetic warrior. Achieving that meant rising above others, soaring to the top, never worrying about food or livelihood, never needing to toil endlessly to survive.

To become a genetic warrior, one had to undergo a test upon graduating high school—a coming-of-age test. The higher your intelligence, the greater your chances; though not absolute, there were exceptions. Failure meant a lifetime as an ordinary person; success led to a completely different path.

But this holographic game shattered that evolutionary route, breaking the fate of contemporary people, igniting a yearning for power in countless hearts.

No one is born wanting to be weak. No one is born wanting to be poor. No one is born wanting to be trampled underfoot.

Thus, Lan Ran’s words struck a deep chord, awakening wild desire for strength—a lifeline, a chance to overturn their lives.

With a gleeful grin, Tang Shen hugged his gaming helmet and walked home. From his memories, he knew his current life was bleak—an orphan relying on government stipends. Once he graduated, if he failed to become a genetic warrior, he would have to work hard to support himself.

But now, he had no worries. He would show this world the true meaning of power.

Almost instantly, as the holographic game was announced, families and corporations across the nineteen cities began mobilizing all their connections to gather information.

Ordinary people saw it as an opportunity, but in reality, it would be a massive upheaval for all humanity. Families and corporations could be reshuffled. Genetic warriors would no longer be the sole standard—a troubling prospect for these families and groups.

Anyone could potentially become strong, even their enemies—those who had no hope of ever rising might now have their day. For them, this was not good news.

So, they had to learn more, seize the initiative, whatever the cost; only then could they secure their positions. Any family or group with foresight freed up their liquid assets, just to gain an advantage.

What exactly was this holographic game?

How could one quickly acquire power?

What was the difference from genetic warriors?

Some families even wanted to know whether this game could be hacked or controlled. Ambitious families were not few, especially those built by or composed of genetic warriors.

After long years at the top, none wished to fall, nor would they allow the ants they once looked down upon to climb above them.

However, it was all futile. They could not gather a single shred of information.

Even the government was bewildered, for this game was beyond their control—not even completed by them, but self-generated. They merely announced it.

As the opening hour drew near, two minutes before launch, the official servers suddenly updated information about ‘One Piece’. A crowd of eager people frantically clicked in, hoping to gain an edge in the game.

Tang Shen, however, did not bother to check. He quietly awaited the game's beginning.

When the clock struck twelve, Tang Shen already had the helmet fitted. His vision darkened, his soul seemed to traverse once more, as if an accelerator had been pressed before suddenly hitting pause. In the next moment, he felt as if standing within the cosmos, suspended in the void.