A New Beginning in One Piece

My journey through Europe was coming to an end. I had seen the ancient ruins, the bustling cities, and the breathtaking landscapes. I had tasted delicious food, met friendly locals, and experienced the beauty of European culture firsthand. But there was still one more adventure I wanted to have before returning home.

I decided to spend my last few days in the Italian Alps, hiking through the mountains and enjoying the fresh air. I packed my backpack with supplies and set off on my trek.

As I hiked through the mountains, I was struck by the beauty of the scenery. The towering peaks, the lush forests, and the crystal-clear lakes were truly breathtaking. I felt a sense of peace and tranquility as I walked through nature.

But the weather can be unpredictable in the mountains. One day, as I was hiking through a dense forest, a sudden storm rolled in. The rain poured down in torrents, soaking me to the bone. I tried to find shelter, but the forest was thick and there were no trees large enough to provide cover.

I was forced to keep going, hoping to find a clearing or a cave. But the rain continued to pour, and the path became increasingly muddy and slippery. I was exhausted and shivering, my body aching from the cold and the rain.

Just when I thought I couldn't go on any longer, I spotted a small cave ahead. I rushed towards it, grateful for the shelter. I crawled inside and huddled in a ball, trying to stay warm.

The storm raged outside, the wind howling and the rain beating against the cave walls. I spent the next few days trapped inside the cave, surviving on the food I had brought with me. I tried to stay positive, but the isolation was taking a toll on me.

Trapped in the cave, I spent my time reading few volumes of the One Piece manga that I had brought with me. The pages transported me to a world of adventure and excitement, a welcome escape from the monotony of my situation. As I delved into the story, I felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins. I followed Luffy and his crew on their daring escapades, cheering them on as they faced formidable foes and overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

The characters were so vivid and relatable, their personalities and quirks leaping off the page. I found myself laughing with them, crying with them, and cheering them on with every victory. The world of One Piece was so rich and imaginative, filled with fantastical creatures, ancient civilizations, and hidden treasures. It was a world where anything was possible, where dreams could become reality.

As I sat in the cave, surrounded by darkness and uncertainty, the pages of One Piece illuminated my world. They filled me with a sense of wonder and excitement, and they gave me the strength to endure the hardships I was facing.

The rain eventually stopped, but the river had swollen, making it impossible to cross. I was stranded in the mountains, with no way to get back to civilization. My food supplies were running low, and I was starting to feel weak.

I knew that I was in trouble. I tried desperately to signal for help, waving my arms and shouting at the top of my lungs, but my cries were met with an eerie silence. I was alone, lost, and facing the grim prospect of starvation. The thought of my impending doom was terrifying, but strangely enough, my mind kept wandering back to Luffy and his crew. I wondered what adventures they were having, what challenges they were overcoming, and whether they would ever make it to the One Piece. My concern for their well-being was almost comical, given my own precarious situation, but I couldn't help but feel a deep connection to their story.

As I lay there, weak and delirious, I felt a strange sensation. My vision blurred, and my head throbbed with a blinding pain. A wave of dizziness washed over me, and I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, I was no longer in the cave.

The ground shook beneath me, the rhythm of the ship's unsteady dance. My head throbbed, a dull ache that pulsed with every lurch. Darkness swirled around me, a thick, suffocating blanket. I blinked, trying to pierce the veil, but the world remained a blur.

Pain lanced through my body, a sharp reminder of my ordeal. I tried to move, but my limbs felt heavy, as if encased in lead. A wave of nausea washed over me, and I gagged, the taste of bile rising in my throat.

Gradually, my vision cleared, and I could make out the dim outlines of the room. The air was thick with the stench of stale beer and sweat, and the only sound was the creaking of the ship and the occasional crash of breaking glass.

I was lying on a hammock, one of many suspended from the ceiling. The room was dimly lit by a few lanterns, casting dancing shadows on the walls. Scattered around were empty wine bottles, their shapes distorted in the flickering light. A collection of swords and daggers hung from the rafters, their blades gleaming ominously.

I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my head. I groaned and sank back onto the hammock. My body ached, every muscle sore and bruised. I couldn't remember how I got here, or what had happened to me.

A memory flickered into my mind. A torrential downpour, a treacherous path, and a wall of mud that swept me away. I had been washed into a river, and then... nothing.

I tried to recall more, but my mind was foggy. The only thing I was certain of was that I was no longer the same person. My body felt different, smaller, and lighter. I reached up and touched my face, feeling the smooth skin of a child.

Panic surged through me. What had happened to me? Was I dreaming? Or was this some cruel joke?

I tried to stand, but my legs buckled beneath me. I fell back onto the hammock, my heart pounding in my chest. I was terrified, lost, and alone.

Suddenly, a wave of memories crashed over me, a torrent of images and sensations that overwhelmed my senses. I felt the fear of a little boy, the pain of a brutal beating, the despair of a life stolen from him.

The memories were not mine, but they were somehow intertwined with my own. I realized that I had been reborn, that I was now inhabiting the body of another person.

A sense of awe and wonder washed over me. I was in a new world, a world filled with adventure and danger. A world where anything was possible.

I was in the world of One Piece, a world I had only ever read about in manga. A world filled with pirates, treasure, and incredible adventures. I was excited, terrified, and exhilarated all at once.

I knew that this world was dangerous, that there were powerful enemies lurking everywhere. But I was also determined to survive, to thrive, and to make a name for myself.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I was no longer a helpless child. I was a survivor, a fighter. And I was ready for whatever challenges this new world had to throw at me.

The deck lurched again, the boom of another cannon echoing through the hull. I clung tighter to the wooden pillar, the excitement I felt earlier replaced by a steely calm. Escape. That was my only goal. With my scrawny frame, these pirates wouldn't hesitate to snuff me out if they felt like it. Survival, not some grand adventure, was my top priority.

Though I couldn't see what was happening above, the constant tremors and deafening noise painted a clear picture: our pirate ship was locked in a fierce battle. Panic welled up in my chest. It didn't matter if it was the Navy or another pirate crew; either way, they wouldn't hesitate to see me as an enemy and send me to Davy Jones' Locker.

My escape plan was simple: find a small boat while the chaos reigned and slip away unnoticed. Both sides would be too preoccupied to notice a single, insignificant dinghy.

With a plan in mind, I dragged myself up from the floor and crept towards the door. The pirate ship had taken a beating, the hull already groaning under the strain of incoming shells. Sinking in the middle of the ocean was not an option for my scrawny body. I needed to get topside, and fast.

The corridor outside was deserted. Every pirate, except for those manning the cannons below, was scrambling towards the deck. "Looks like it's hand-to-hand combat next," I thought, urgency pushing me forward.

Memories guided me as I quickened my pace. A few steps later, I emerged onto the deck, squinting against the harsh sunlight. This pirate ship was a classic three-masted galleon, easily exceeding a hundred meters long and nearly thirty meters wide. Even though I'd seen giant cargo ships dwarfing this one in my previous life, the sight of such a massive wooden vessel still took my breath away.

Awe, however, was a luxury I couldn't afford. The pirates were all huddled on the right side of the ship, locked in a tense stare with a looming Navy battleship in the distance. Now was my chance.

Using the cover of wine barrels and wooden crates, I inched my way towards a small boat not far off, my steps light and cautious. But sometimes, reality mocks the best-laid plans. Just as I thought I was being clever, the pirates who'd been firing cannons below emerged, heading straight for the fight.

Panic surged through me. I desperately wished they'd ignore me, but no such luck. My mind raced, searching for an escape route, but every option seemed suicidal. These pirates, facing imminent annihilation at the hands of the Navy, wouldn't hesitate to take me out on a whim. I was stuck.

As they approached, I braced myself for the worst. But to my surprise, they simply brushed past me, their faces devoid of any recognition, as if I were invisible.

A wave of humiliation washed over me. I lowered my head, clenching my fists. A deep-seated resentment burned in my eyes. I saw the utter disdain they held for me, a weakling barely worth a glance. But then, a bitter laugh escaped my lips. In this world, without strength, you were nothing but an ant. And right now, I was the weakest ant on the entire ship.

Seeing their indifference, I abandoned my pretense of hiding and walked openly towards the boat. My hopes were dashed the moment I reached it. Every single small boat had been deliberately damaged, a gaping hole marring their hulls.

It was clear now. These pirates knew they were outmatched, and this desperate act was their last stand. Retreat was cut off, leaving them with no choice but to fight to the bitter end.

A grudging respect bloomed in my chest for their fighting spirit, even though it meant the end of my escape route. Leaning weakly against the railing, I could only pray to survive the upcoming melee, hoping to somehow fall into the Navy's hands and maybe, just maybe, find a way to survive.

The distance between the two ships narrowed rapidly as the Navy battleship cleverly used the wind to its advantage. Soon, they were a mere three hundred meters apart, a collision imminent.

"Again..."

A pirate exclaimed, fear lacing his voice as he looked out at the approaching warship. "Who's that powerful Admiral on the other side? Why would he even waste his time on us?"

Dread coiled in my gut, mirroring the fear in the pirate's voice. I followed his gaze skyward. Understanding dawned on me as I saw the dark shapes blotting out the sun – hundreds of cannons aimed directly at our ship. No wonder escape wasn't an option. With such overwhelming firepower coming our way, these pirates were trapped. They might as well fight to the bitter end.

But amidst the rising panic, a flicker of hope sparked in my chest. This way of fighting, the sheer number of shells – it pointed to only one person: the legendary Navy hero, Garp.

If that warship truly belonged to Garp, then these pirates wouldn't stand a chance. But maybe, just maybe, that meant there was a chance for me. With their strength compared to Garp's, they wouldn't be a threat. Perhaps I could use this situation to my advantage. I could somehow surrender to the Navy, maybe even find a way to become Garp's apprentice. That would significantly increase my chances of survival in this crazy world.

But first things first – I had to survive this barrage. Hope surged through me, replacing the fear that had gripped me earlier. I bolted towards the top deck, my heart hammering against my ribs. The captain's quarters, the only place sturdy enough to offer some protection, was my only hope.

The captain of this ship, Aimu, was a powerful pirate with a bounty of 125 million Beli. He could transform into a black bear, granting him incredible strength and defense. But even Aimu wouldn't stand a chance against Garp. The legendary hero was in a league of his own.

Aimu's strength was also the reason why his quarters were built like a fortress, reinforced with steel in many places. Now that all the pirates were scrambling to meet the Navy head-on, the captain's quarters were deserted – the perfect makeshift bomb shelter for a scrawny kid like me.

Ignoring the burning pain in my legs, I sprinted towards the quarters, my breath ragged in my lungs. Reaching it just before the first shells began to rain down, I threw open the heavy oak door and slammed it shut behind me with all my might. The deafening explosions that followed were unlike anything I'd ever experienced. The entire room shuddered violently with each blast, the floorboards groaning under the immense pressure.

How many shells hit the ship? I couldn't tell. All I could hear was the continuous booming that seemed to last for an eternity. It felt like I was trapped in a nightmare, the thunderous explosions threatening to shatter my eardrums. Finally, after what felt like an hour (though it was probably only a few minutes), the noise died down. An eerie silence descended upon the ship, broken only by the distant creaking of wood.With a pounding heart, I waited for a long moment, the silence pressing down on me almost as heavily as the explosions had. Slowly, I crawled out from under the sturdy table where I'd taken cover. The air was thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder smoke, and dust motes danced in the faint light filtering through the cracks in the boarded-up windows.With trembling hands, I cracked open the door a sliver, peering out cautiously. The sight that greeted me was one of utter devastation. Most of the buildings on the deck were destroyed, reduced to smoldering ruins. Smoke billowed into the sky, obscuring the afternoon sun and casting an eerie pall over the scene.

But amidst the wreckage, the pirates were still alive. Standing defiantly in front of them, a towering black bear – Aimu – had managed to block most of the cannon fire with his bear form. His thick fur was scorched and singed, but he seemed to be relatively unharmed.

In the distance, the Navy battleship drew closer, its sleek lines a stark contrast to our battered vessel. Atop the deck stood a vice admiral with a distinctive dog-head hat. The sight of him sent a jolt of nervous energy through me.

The Navy Hero – Garp. The legendary Marine who could send shivers down the spine of even the most hardened pirate captain.