Jinu raised his right hand in front of his face, his eyes fixed on the strange mark imprinted there—a black diamond, pulsing as if breathing beneath his skin.
His gaze then shifted to the holographic letter floating in the air, a luminous scroll with golden edges emitting a soft glow, contrasting with the darkness around him. Most of its surface was blank, like a canvas waiting to be filled, but a few lines of text stood out, etched in a bluish hue that seemed to vibrate with energy.
[Momoshiki's Karma: Karma is a backup file coated in highly compressed genetic material that is slowly extracted. Once the process is complete, the vessel's body is overwritten by Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki's biological matter.
Integration: 0%
Available Abilities:
Ōtsutsuki Transformation (Stage 1): Unleash a fraction of the Karma's power, enhancing your strength (Physical and Spiritual).]
As he read, Jinu felt a tingling in his palm. The black diamond began to expand, sinuous lines radiating from it like the roots of an ancient tree, weaving intricate patterns that climbed up his wrist. His skin burned—not with pain, but with a strange heat, as if something dormant within him was awakening.
He clenched his fists, feeling raw energy coursing through his muscles, his tendons strengthening, his senses sharpening. A power that hadn't existed before now pulsed in his veins—subtle, yet undeniable.
'I don't know if this is luck or a curse.'
Jinu's inner voice echoed in his mind, heavy with conflict. He knew this power wasn't free—there was a price, a shadow looming over him. Karma was a double-edged sword: immediate strength in exchange for the possible annihilation of his very identity.
It was ironic. He, a transmigrator who had awakened in this world of One Piece, far from any notion of home, had joined the Marines precisely to escape the fragility of a civilian's life. Living as an ordinary citizen was an invitation to suffering—pirates swept in like storms, ravaging entire villages before any help could arrive. And when the Marines finally appeared, it was often too late—or worse, they left the innocent to die.
Jinu knew the rot festering beneath the cloak of justice. In his previous world, he had dreamed of purging corruption but failed. Now, here, he saw the same decay—and even as a mere recruit, a spark of determination burned in his chest.
But wanting and being able are two different things...
He let out a sigh, his eyes still fixed on his Karma. The road ahead was long, and he had barely begun to walk. But now, at least, he had taken the first step.
...
The Marineford training grounds, once bustling with recruits sweating under the relentless sun, now stood nearly empty. The Great Pirate Era was draining the Marines' resources—most soldiers were out at sea, either chasing criminals or defending territories under constant threat. Only a few high-ranking officers and seasoned instructors remained, all on high alert. After all, in this age of madness, even Marineford HQ wasn't immune to bold attacks.
Boom!
Boom!
The sound of brutal strikes echoed across the docks, where a single recruit trained with fierce determination. Jinu, whose body now channeled the power of Karma, had adopted an insane training method—similar to that of Vice Admiral Garp and Admiral Aokiji. His fists slammed against the hull of an abandoned warship, each impact leaving deep dents in the reinforced steel.
Before, such a feat would've been impossible for him. But now, with active Karma, his physical strength and endurance had increased dramatically. His muscles burned—not from exhaustion, but from sheer accumulated power, as if every cell in his body was being reinforced by the Ōtsutsuki's genetic material.
Karma wasn't static power—it evolved. The more Jinu used it, the deeper the alien genetic code seeped into his biology, unlocking progressive stages of transformation:
1st Stage – Basic physical and spiritual enhancement.
2nd Stage – Deeper refinement, ability to absorb chakra.
3rd Stage – The maximum limit of a Vessel and the capability to access Ōtsutsuki Space-Time Ninjutsu.
4th Stage – The body would be taken over by the Ōtsutsuki.
5th Stage – Complete reincarnation.
However, Jinu knew his Karma was different. There was no consciousness of Momoshiki within him—only his pure genetic material, like an ownerless power file. This relieved him, but it also made him wonder:
"A One Piece body... enhanced by Ōtsutsuki DNA..."
The mere idea was terrifying—and exhilarating. If he could master this power without being consumed, what wouldn't he be able to achieve?
BOOM!
Jinu's final punch echoed like a cannon blast, forcing the iron hull of the warship to recoil with a metallic groan. The structure, though unbroken, was deformed, with massive dents marking every point of impact. His fists ached, his muscles trembled from exhaustion, and his system activated.
[Domain: 1.2%]
[Stage 2 Release: 1%]
A weary smile crossed his face. "Progress…"
Karma didn't demand as much from him as he'd imagined. After all, this was One Piece—a world where ordinary humans could shatter boulders with their fists, survive falls from hundreds of meters, and fight for days without rest. His body, even before Karma, had already been superhuman by the standards of his original world. Now, with the power of the Ōtsutsuki infused into his cells, his limits were expanding rapidly.
He spat blood onto the ground, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and rose once more.
"Resting now is the same as dying."
His fist clenched again, his knuckles marked by cuts and bruises. The warship still stood there, structurally intact—but not for long.
BOOM!
Another strike. Another tremor.
High atop the walls of Marineford, a towering figure watched in silence.
He was a tall man, with close-cropped white hair and dark skin etched with scars from past battles. His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, missed none of Jinu's movements—every punch, every labored breath, every drop of sweat rolling down the recruit's face. All of it was analyzed.
And then, a smile appeared on his face.
"Interesting."