One Piece: The Thunder God

[2188 words]

After seizing the books and other necessary items from the pirate, Cain and Pirate B departed the island, setting sail toward the nearest Marine base.

As they navigated the seas, Cain continued his interrogation of Pirate B, uncovering information about a renowned Marine named Garp—also known as the Marine Hero for his legendary battle against the pirate captain Rocks. The battle had taken place in a now non-existent valley, and despite lacking any Devil Fruit powers, Garp possessed strength that far surpassed human limits.

In this unfamiliar world, Cain aspired to wield that kind of power. Though his control over lightning was formidable, and with years of training, he might even be able to destroy entire islands, he doubted his ability to challenge someone like Garp. And Garp was just a Vice Admiral. Cain suspected there were others like him, hidden from public view. The newspapers had reported Garp's refusal of an Admiral position, hinting at the existence of even more powerful figures within the Marines.

Then there were the infamous pirates, Whitebeard and Gold Roger, who reigned as the most formidable forces on the seas. The World Government, with its military might, seemed to be the only entity capable of standing against such powerhouses. To grow stronger, Cain realized he had two paths: join the Marines or align with the pirates. Given his background in the army, the former was a more appealing choice, especially since the Marines were actively recruiting.

-

After several weeks of fast sailing, Cain and Pirate B arrived at the G-8 Marine base.

"State your business and explain why you're aboard a notorious pirate's vessel," demanded a loud voice from a microphone as the ship approached the dock. Marines armed with rifles trained their sights on Cain and Pirate B, while a larger man—likely a commanding officer—stood at the forefront, glaring at the newcomers.

Once ashore, Cain handed Pirate B over to a Marine officer and recounted his story. After verifying Pirate B's identity and Cain's account, the Marines' initial suspicion gave way to surprise. It wasn't every day that someone defeated a Logia user, and Cain was soon taken for further questioning. He cooperated easily, even demonstrating his abilities, which left the Marines astonished.

"There's no mistaking it," said one of the more nerdy marine with glasses, "that's the 'invincible fruit', the Goro Goro no Mi—lost for hundreds of years until now." A collective gasp swept through the base. The news of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's reappearance caused a stir, drawing the attention of the base's Vice Admiral.

-

Vice Admiral Bippos, a tall man with a scarred face and a commanding presence, approached Cain quickly. As they locked eyes, Cain sensed an unexpected opposition from Bippos. It was an unusual feeling that Cain couldn't quite place.

"So, you're the one who wiped out the Moras Pirates. Good good," Bippos said, his tone approving. "Although, with the Goro Goro no Mi, it shouldn't have been too difficult. After all, they don't call it the 'invincible fruit' for nothing. Bohohoho." The Vice Admiral seemed to be in high spirits as he praised Cain's Devil Fruit abilities, and the other Marines nodded in agreement.

"I've always wanted to join the Marines," Cain replied enthusiastically. "When I acquired this fruit, I knew I had to take to the seas and hunt down pirates."

Bippos couldn't hide his satisfaction. Ten minutes earlier, when he'd heard the report about a pirate-hunting newcomer arriving at the base, he hadn't paid much attention. But learning that this person wielded the Goro Goro no Mi had changed everything. He had immediately contacted Admiral Sengoku to discuss the matter.

The instructions were clear: persuade Cain to join the Marines at all costs, or at least keep a close eye on him. Sengoku was cautious, advising Bippos to be ready to neutralize Cain if he showed signs of malicious intent. Cain's abilities (if he was fluid with it) posed a potential threat on par with, if not greater than, those of Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit. Thus, it was unwise to make an enemy of someone with such power.

Seeing the eagerness in Cain's eyes, Bippos exhaled in relief—this was good news for the Marines. He promptly arranged for Cain's temporary stay at the base and hurried off to call Sengoku, personally filing the application for Cain's enlistment. Cipher Pol would investigate Cain's background soon enough, but from what Bippos could tell, Cain wasn't an ordinary citizen who stumbled upon a Devil Fruit. There was a refined quality to him, suggesting a disciplined past. Regardless, the Marines would train him to embody Justice.

-

Currently, Cain was drenched in sweat from head to toe, working intensely in one of the base's training halls.

It had been three days since his arrival, and with the Vice Admiral's permission, he was allowed to stay until his transport to Marineford arrived. Although he was now officially a Marine officer, he hadn't been assigned a rank yet. 

From what little he had gathered, the Fleet Admiral wanted him to go to Marineford and join Admiral Zed's new training camp, which was set to begin in six months. Only after completing the training would he, along with the other graduates, receive a rank based on their performance.

With no other immediate duties, Cain had decided to focus on refining his Devil Fruit abilities. In the original timeline, Enel had possessed the Rumble-Rumble Fruit for years, allowing him to develop his control and mastery gradually, much like building muscle over time. However, Cain had the advantage of a military background and extensive combat experience, which allowed him to progress at a much faster pace. His knowledge of the fundamental laws of electricity and current also played a critical role in accelerating his development. As a result, in just three months since his arrival in the new world, he had reached a level of mastery that had taken Enel years to achieve.

"I'm getting better at using the gun-type attacks," Cain mused aloud. "Back on Skypiea, I didn't have human-sized moving targets, but here, they have pretty much everything I need."

As he continued to think about developing his techniques, Cain decided to categorize his abilities into four types: gun, blunt, sharp, and bomb. He had already created three blunt-type attacks, which he had tested on Marsh. Although these techniques initially involved nothing more than wrapping his weapons or hands in lightning and shaping them into blunt forms, with practice, what had started as simple maneuvers had become deadly.

While [Divine Thunder] technically belonged to the gun-type category, it functioned more like a blunt attack and was most effective at close range. It involved concentrating a large amount of electrical current within a limited area to maximize damage.

He hadn't yet developed any techniques for the sharp or bomb categories, though he had some ideas.

'Sharp techniques might just end up being a combination of blunt and gun types,' he thought. 'But no need to rush; I'll keep working on it.'

Having finished his training session, Cain was about to head off to grab some food when he noticed Vice Admiral Bippos approaching. Cain walked over to greet him.

"Good morning, Vice Admiral!" he called out, his tone respectful but casual.

The Marines nearby frowned at Cain's lack of a proper salute, but Bippos didn't seem to mind. He knew that Cain hadn't gone through formal Marine training like the others and dismissed the oversight.

With a friendly smile, Bippos said, "Good morning, young Cain. I was looking to have a few words with you, but it seems you've been busy with your training. Good good. Ah, before I forget, your transport to G-1 has arrived—it's more commonly known as Marineford to the public."

'Finally,' Cain thought, barely containing his anticipation. "So, when do I leave?"

"Eager to officially join the Marines, eh?" Bippos teased. "You leave tomorrow morning. The warship needs to restock before setting off."

"Thank you for letting me know, Vice Admiral," Cain replied.

"Of course, of course. Now, lets go get something to eat. We can talk over a meal. And do take a bath—you reek of sweat. Bohohoho," the Vice Admiral added with a chuckle.

-

After a brief stop at his room for a quick shower, Cain made his way to the bustling cafeteria, where Vice Admiral Bippos and another officer were waiting for him. Normally, Bippos would have preferred to meet in his office and have their meal delivered, but recruiting Cain had come with its perks so the Vice Admiral was feeling unusually generous and energized, since Cain's arrival.

As Cain approached, Bippos gestured to the other officer and introduced him, "This is Rear Admiral Hasu from Marineford. He has assisted Admiral Zed on numerous voyages and was eager to meet you."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Cain," Hasu said, offering a friendly smile. "You can call me Hasu in private, since we'll be fellow disciples soon. When I first joined the Marines, Admiral Zed was my instructor, and he continues to guide me even now."

"Nice to meet you too, Hasu-san," Cain replied with a respectful nod. "I look forward to working together after the training camp."

With the introductions made, the three men proceeded to get their food. Cain approached the buffet-style serving area and, true to his appetite, piled his plate high with a variety of dishes.

As they ate, the conversation was mostly dominated by Bippos and Hasu, while Cain focused on satisfying his hunger, occasionally nodding or making brief comments. Half an hour later, with their plates nearly empty, Bippos and Hasu stood up to leave.

"You sure can eat, boy," Bippos remarked, chuckling. "You remind me of Garp-san. Well, good luck with your new journey. I hope to see your name in the newspapers soon. Bohohoho."

With that, both men departed, leaving a very full Cain to finish the last of his dessert.

-

The day continued much like the others, with Cain diving into his training routine. He pushed himself relentlessly, but lately, he felt like he had hit a plateau. Concerned, he consulted the Navy doctors, who explained that his growth had reached a temporary limit due to his still-developing body. His muscles and bones were still maturing, and pushing too hard could hinder his progress. 

To avoid unnecessary strain, Cain spent his free time reading. He sifted through old newspapers from the past decade—those that hadn't been burned during cold nights—or delved into the books he found in Bippos' office.

"So, twenty countries came together to form a united government, establishing the World Nobles, while new families took over as rulers of those nations," Cain muttered to himself as he jotted down key information in a personal notebook. He wrote in English, a habit from his past life, as his writing in the local language still felt a bit awkward. "And recently, a family of these Celestial Dragons decided to give up their noble status to become ordinary citizens?"

He paused, pondering the implications. "What existed before this World Government was formed? How did twenty families gain the power to control the entire world? There's obviously more to this than what meets the eye."

In a more recent edition of the newspaper, he came across articles about Admiral Zed's resignation and Vice Admiral Garp's refusal to accept a promotion. The reports also mentioned the Marines' intensified recruitment efforts and the increased movement of former members of the notorious Rocks Pirates.

"Seems like they're getting desperate for fresh blood," Cain mused. "Well, that works in my favor."

–

The next day, Cain, along with Rear Admiral Hasu and his seamen, set sail for Marineford. There were a few new recruits on board, picked up by Hasu on his way to G-8. The journey was largely uneventful; though they occasionally encountered pirate ships, the encounters were few and easily handled. After a month at sea, with a brief stop at Water Seven, they finally arrived at Enies Lobby. From there, they took the Tarai current and soon reached their destination: Marineford.

-

"It's magnificent," Cain murmured, taking in the sight before him. The fortress was a marvel, its imposing architecture and strategic placement exuding strength and grandeur. As they approached the port, he noticed a group of people standing at the dock, clearly waiting for their arrival.

As soon as the ship docked, a man with a distinctive afro stepped forward, his gaze fixed solely on Cain. "Welcome to Marineford, Cain. I've been looking forward to meeting you," he said, completely ignoring the others, as if they were invisible.

Cain immediately recognized the figure before him—Admiral Sengoku, known as the "Golden Buddha." He had seen the Admiral's face in countless newspapers.

"Happy to be here at the heart of justice, Admiral Sengoku," Cain replied, saluting sharply like a proper soldier. "It's an honor to meet you."

Sengoku chuckled. "Haha, follow me. I'll take you to Admiral Zed. He's eager to have a look at you and a few other candidates before officially accepting your applications into his new Elite Training Program."

"Yes, sir," Cain responded, falling in step behind the Admiral.