One Piece Solar Rift Conqueror!

The morning sun cast its golden rays across the endless sea, bathing Solian in warmth. He sat cross-legged on his raft, stretching his limbs and flexing his fingers, trying to process the subtle yet profound changes in his body. Something was different.

His breathing was deeper, smoother. His body no longer ached from exhaustion, and his muscles felt denser, stronger. The constant strain he had felt before—whether from hunger, fatigue, or simply existing in this world—had lessened dramatically.

Solian clenched his fists and exhaled. "This… actually feels amazing."

Then, the system screen appeared in front of him:

Devil Fruit Mastery: 9%

Constitution: 9

Strength: 6

Agility: 6

Endurance: 5

Devil fruit: 9 points 

System Points: 0

He took a moment to process this.

According to the system's descriptions, an average person in this world had a base stat of 4 in physical attributes like strength, constitution, and agility. That meant his body was now 50% stronger than a normal person, and his constitution was more than double the average. He could recover faster, withstand exhaustion longer, and his body was far sturdier than before.

"This explains why I feel so… solid," Solian muttered, flexing his arms. "If a normal person is at 4, then I really am built different now."

He wanted to test his strength.

Looking around, he found a floating wooden plank from his raft and gripped it tightly. Before, he would have needed to strain a little to snap something like this. Now? The plank splintered in his hands, breaking apart with a firm squeeze. Solians eyes widened. "Holy crap… I wasn't even trying that hard."

Then, he focused on his Devil Fruit ability.

He raised his palm, concentrating on the space in front of him. The air rippled, and a small rift of golden energy flickered to life. It was still unstable, but this time, instead of vanishing instantly, it remained for nearly five seconds before collapsing.

A grin spread across his face. "That's progress."

Before he could continue experimenting, a distant creaking sound reached his ears.

Turning toward the horizon, Solian saw a medium-sized ship with dark brown sails and a sturdy wooden hull approaching him. Several figures moved across the deck, adjusting ropes and checking cargo.

Finally, a burly man with a thick mustache and a red bandana leaned over the railing, squinting down at him.

"You lost out here, kid?" the man called.

Solian hesitated. Should he lie? No, right now, he needed information.

"Something like that!" he called back. "Mind giving me a lift?"

The man exchanged glances with his crew, then sighed. "Fine. Bring him up!"

A rope ladder was tossed over the side, and Solian climbed aboard. The moment he set foot on the deck, he immediately noticed something. These men were bigger and stronger than he expected. They weren't just merchants—many of them looked battle-worn, with scars and well-built physiques. Even though he was physically superior to a normal person, he wasn't going to underestimate them.

One of the crewmates, a lean man with goggles on his forehead, nudged his companion. "Think he's a pirate?"

Solian shook his head. "Not a pirate. Just a traveler looking for information."

The mustached man stepped forward, arms crossed. "I'm Captain Mardin of the Blue Gull Trading Company. We don't take in strays for free, kid."

Solian nodded. "I can work for my passage. I just need to know where we are and what's around here."

Mardin raised an eyebrow, then motioned for him to follow. "Fine. We'll talk in my cabin."

Inside the captain's cabin, a large map was pinned to the wall. Mardin tapped a spot near the West Blue.

"You're lucky you found us," he said. "You're in the open waters of West Blue, not far from Dawn Island—the birthplace of Monkey D. Luffy."

Solian kept his expression neutral, but internally, he was hyped.

Mardin continued, "If you need a place to rest, there's an island called Silvershore about two days from here. Quiet place, no major conflicts, good for laying low."

He paused, then smirked. "But if you're looking for strength, there's another option…"

Solian leaned in. "Go on."

Mardin's eyes gleamed. "There's been talk of a strong fighter on Stormwatch Island—a mercenary who takes on challengers for a price. Some say he's an ex-pirate, others say he's an old Marine who went rogue."

Solian's mind raced. A fighter-for-hire? That sounded exactly like what he needed to test himself.

Silvershore was the safe option, a place to get his bearings. Stormwatch was the risky one, a chance to test his power against a real fighter.

Solian clenched his fists. The answer was obvious.