"Where… where is this? Didn't I die…?"
Jin awoke from darkness, breath ragged, his mind a swirling fog. The world around him was pitch black—featureless, heavy, oppressive. He pushed himself up, every muscle trembling with weakness.
Memories tangled in his mind: the Middle East, encircled by the Bloodhound Mercenary Corps and local militants. They'd sacrificed half their men to break free. Jin, the "Battle Emperor," one of the three kings of mercenaries, stayed behind to cover the retreat. Mid-stage internal power, hardened body—he should have made it out alive.
But he hadn't predicted the enemy would stop chasing his comrades and instead fire a land-based mid-range ballistic missile at him. Even the mightiest flesh couldn't block that.
"Ah—!"
A splitting pain shot through his skull. Another set of memories surged in, crashing over his mind like a wave. The strain overwhelmed Jin's frail new body; everything went dark once more.
When he came to again, dawn had broken. Sunlight spilled over an endless blue sea. Jin dragged himself up, sweat beading on his brow, and let out a shaky breath.
"It's good to be alive… Even if I'm not quite me anymore."
Because he truly had died.
Yet now—reborn, inexplicably.
And this wasn't just any world. This was the world of pirates.
The former owner of this body? Son of a newly promoted navy Rear Admiral. To celebrate, the father had taken his six-year-old boy back to their hometown in the East Blue. But a sea storm had torn the ship apart. The boy's mother had died years earlier, and other than a few childish memories of playing and watching his father train, there wasn't much else left.
Jin stood at the shore, small frame barely reaching a meter in height. Salt wind brushed across his face, hair damp and messy.
"A truly great father… Rest easy. I'll live this life well, for your sake."
A bittersweet smile crossed his young features—far too mature for a child's face.
In his previous life, Jin had been an orphan taken in by an old martial artist, raised in hardship. Betrayed and beaten by society, he'd turned mercenary—blood-soaked years where only skill and ruthlessness mattered. Through dozens of battles dancing with death, he'd built an iron will—and learned to cherish the taste of survival.
"A world of pirates, huh… Not exactly peaceful, is it?"
"…Eh, what am I worrying about? I'm only six—who am I afraid of!"
With a forced chuckle, Jin rubbed his aching forehead and scanned the coastline.
Luckily, his past life had left him used to solitude. Off the battlefield, he'd passed time watching anime and chasing women—normal pleasures for a man with blood on his hands. Anime had been a childhood wish finally fulfilled in adulthood; women… well, that hardly needed explanation.
Focus.
He calmed his breath, stretched his body, and began scouting the beach.
The island was larger than it looked.
Dense jungle loomed beyond the shore, shadows hiding unknown dangers. At his age and size, charging in blindly was asking to be eaten. Instead, Jin searched the tide line.
Wreckage littered the beach: rotting ship timbers, rusted nails, scraps of rope. Nothing edible. Nothing useful.
For an hour and a half, he searched until hunger gnawed at him and exhaustion burned in his limbs. Defeated, he slumped back to where he'd awoken.
"Too weak… this body is so damn young…" Jin muttered, clutching his rumbling stomach.
Just then—something bobbing in the waves caught his eye.
A large fish, belly up, drifting ashore.
"What a brutal world… Look at those fangs… insane…"
Mustering all his strength, Jin dragged the fish—twice his own size—onto dry land. Its skin was black as tar; mouth wide, teeth like daggers.
"Not bad… won't go hungry for a few days. And these teeth might work as weapons…"
The scent wasn't bad; it was fresh. Jin found sharp stones nearby, his mercenary's instincts guiding him.
"Tch, too fatty… but beggars can't be choosers."
He hacked into the soft white belly, slicing off thick strips of blubber. The taste made him gag, but hunger trumped disgust.
Full, though unsatisfied, Jin glanced at the sky—nearly mid-morning.
"Wonder if there are people on this island… First, I need fresh water."
He crept toward the jungle edge, stick in hand. Experience taught him to move quietly, eyes sharp for danger.
Then—movement.
In the shadows, draped across a huge tree, lay a massive serpent, thick as a barrel, devouring what looked like a tiger.
"Shit! Are you kidding me?!"
Heart pounding, Jin backed away silently, sweat pouring down his neck.
"Even in my prime, this would be a fight… but now? Forget it…"
Outside the jungle, he exhaled shakily.
"At least dark force level before I could hope to kill that… Damn, this world is more savage than the anime showed…"
Yet fear sparked something else inside him: excitement.
"If the beasts are this terrifying, what about the pirate captains, the navy admirals…? Heh… plenty to look forward to."
Sitting on a sun-bleached rock, Jin wiped sweat from his brow.
"Need to recover my old strength—and go beyond. Here, power rules all."
With resolve burning in his young chest, Jin turned to follow the coastline again—hoping for a coconut tree, or a hint of civilization.
"Let's see what this pirate world has in store…"
This story is inspired from various fanfics i have read from around the world so if you find any similarities please dont mind . Thank you
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T/N :
Access 30 chapters in Advance on my P@treon: patreon.com/GodFicThis story is inspired from various fanfics i have read from around the world so if you find any similarities please dont mind . Thank you