Blue sky, white clouds, sunshine, seagulls...
West Blue, Marine Branch 88 Base.
"Stand up, kid!"
"No way, are you done already?"
"Pathetic!"
"Watch closely, recruits! This is what happens when you don't follow the rules!"
"Jay, stop being stubborn, just surrender!"
"Yeah, if you keep this up, you'll be beaten to death!"
...
"So noisy... my body hurts."
"Damn it... where am I?"
"Hiss... that truck... Mad! If Bingbing hadn't insisted on doing something thrilling, how could my top-tier driving skills have failed to dodge...!"
Covered in blood, Jay slowly opened his eyes, clutching his throbbing head as he struggled to get up from the ground.
The sharp pain on his face, coupled with his last memory of a massive truck charging toward him with a blaring horn, left him utterly confused about his current situation.
After all, just being alive in that kind of accident was already a miracle!
Everything else seemed secondary...
However, the onlookers, who had been waiting for entertainment, immediately howled like wolves when they saw this dazed recruit actually stand up again.
"Ohhhhhh~!"
"Not bad, he's got guts!"
"Johnson, are you even trying?"
"Come on, kid! Knock Johnson down, and I'll wash your underwear for a month!"
"Hahaha, you bastard, that's cruel!"
"Johnson is gonna crush this kid's bones for sure!"
Most of the cheers were filled with schadenfreude and the excitement of watching a good show.
The other new recruits, however, mostly cowered on the sidelines.
Those who weren't outright hiding still only watched, too scared to speak out.
After all, the consequence of standing up was laid bare before them. If they didn't want to end up like Jay, their only option was to obey.
Let these so-called "senior recruits" teach them the "rules" here.
BANG!
Just after getting up, Jay was knocked down again.
The brutal impact churned his stomach, and at the same time, new memories flashed through his mind.
He realized that he was no longer on Earth. He had arrived in a new world, with a new name, Nova Jay.
A noble lineage that had fallen into decline, now reduced to nothing but a small plantation.
To make matters worse, another noble had set his sights on this plantation, wanting to turn it into a beautiful garden for his seventeenth wife.
Determined to restore his family's honor, Jay fled his "territory" and resolutely joined the marine, becoming a glorious... trainee recruit!
But reality was far from what he imagined.
Not only did he have to scrub decks, clean cabins, take out the trash, and scrub toilets every day, but after finishing his grueling chores, he also had to wash his senior recruits' clothes, socks, and even their underwear at night...
They called it: "Training!"
A way for the seniors to "care" for the newcomers.
And the consequence of refusing? Well, everyone just saw it...
Jay had clearly overestimated both his strength and his ability to endure humiliation.
Publicly humiliated and beaten by Johnson, he had been so overwhelmed with grief and rage that he blacked out, allowing another soul to take over his body.
Now fully aware of his situation, Jay was furious!
This starting point was way too miserable!
Comparing their size and build... he had no chance of winning!
If he didn't want to meet the same fate as his predecessor, his best move now was to surrender and apologize...
But then, Johnson sneered.
"With that pathetic strength, you dare act tough? Who gave you the courage, huh? The Pirate King?"
"Now, kneel down, knock your head on the ground three times, and crawl under my legs. Do that, and I'll let it slide."
"If not, I promise to make your life a living hell every single day!"
Johnson flexed his massive muscles and cracked his knuckles, grinning as he spread his legs apart.
It was clear, he enjoyed this.
He loved being the center of attention, especially when it came to breaking people.
He wanted to utterly destroy the kid in front of him, mind and body!
Jay, who had been telling himself to "endure" for a peaceful life, suddenly narrowed his eyes coldly.
He wasn't exactly a patient person.
"An eye for an eye" had always been his motto.
So he immediately abandoned the idea of backing down and prepared to fight to the bitter end.
"Damn it! If I die, I die!"
Jay glared at Johnson, already mentally prepared for the worst.
And just then, his golden finger finally activated.
[Character Life System Bound. Would you like to open your Starter Pack?]
"Cut the crap! Open it now!"
A system cheat? No complaints here!
Jay's eyes lit up.
Having a cheat system vs. fighting raw? Those were two completely different experiences.
He desperately hoped this cheat would be strong enough to smash that smug face into the ground!
[Starter Pack Opened. Received One Red Character Card. First Card Pool Unlocked. Free 10-Pull Granted.]
[Character: Yujiro Hanma]
Origin: Baki Universe
Title: The Strongest Creature on Earth
Rarity: Red
Passive Ability:Hanma Bloodline – Superhuman combat learning ability, limitless potential, and extreme resilience. (Activated)
Activation Condition: Experience a near-death encounter.
Active Ability:Demon Back – When activated, muscles form a demonic visage on the back, unleashing the body's maximum potential.
Activation Condition: Endure 10,000 attacks.
Ultimate Move 1:Demon Suit!
Activation Condition: Defeat 100 enemies in battle using nunchaku.
Ultimate Move 2:Demon's Cry!
Activation Condition: Survive a lightning strike.
Fusion Status: Not Available.
...
Jay had no time to study the system's full capabilities, but he knew who Yujiro Hanma was.
Back in the day, he had even binge-watched Baki just to impress a cosplay girl.
And whether it was his imagination or not, after loading the Yujiro Hanma card, the pain in his body lessened significantly.
A surge of confidence flooded through him!
"Damn you, Johnson..."
"I'm gonna crush you!"
With a sudden burst of strength, Jay leaped from the ground and slammed a punch straight into Johnson's unsuspecting face.
The crowd's jeering instantly stopped.
T/L: Here the first chapter of the new novel translation! Hope you enjoy the read :)