1. The Beginning After The End

"Maybe I'll watch it now," said a man sitting on a black sofa with an IV drip connected to his right hand. He was wearing black trousers and was shirtless, watching TV.

'They keep talking about this One Piece anime; now I'm curious,' he thought as he pressed the button on the TV remote, starting to watch One Piece. But just as he was about to begin the second episode, his vision started to blur. 'Damn, I didn't think it would happen this soon,' he thought, his vision darkening. His breathing stopped, and his heart ceased beating. The remote slipped from his hand and fell to the floor.

Somewhere by a flowing river, where fish could be seen swimming, a black-haired man with his hair shaved on the sides and slicked back on top sat on a rock near the water. He was dressed in a black suit and sunglasses, watching the fish swim. The man let out a sigh and rubbed his temples. "What is this? I was just about to continue watching the second episode, but my time's already up. But wait... wasn't I supposed to be dead? So why am I waking up in a place like this?"

He had once worked for a company, though his life was short-lived due to an overwhelming workload. He had died at what could be considered a young age, exhausted from years of accumulated stress. Even though he'd taken a full week off, it was too late. On top of the stress, he smoked and drank sake with his coworkers, toxins that had built up in his body for years.

"But where am I now?" he muttered, glancing up at the sky. He wanted to believe this was heaven, but it seemed impossible. He thought perhaps it was a dream, but all his senses told him this was real. What he did know was that this place was far from any city. The air was incredibly clean, the kind of fresh air he'd only experienced when visiting rural villages. 'Speaking of villages, there should be one nearby,' he thought as he stood up. He needed information.

"Now, where should I go?" he muttered, scratching the back of his head. This was bad for him. When it came to turning left or right, he was fine, but when it came to cardinal directions, he was hopeless.

So, he only had one option—to gamble. If he followed the river, he might find a village, though he'd ultimately be relying on his luck. "I hope my luck is good here," he muttered and began walking alongside the river.

He walked for almost two hours before spotting some people carrying fishing gear and metal buckets, likely filled with bait. One of the men noticed him walking toward the village and called out, "Hey! Are you lost?"

"Yeah, I'm trying to find the village around here, but I haven't come across it yet," he replied, looking at the fishermen. One of them pointed toward the direction he was heading and said, "Walk toward the sea; the village is near there!"

"Okay, thanks!" he said gratefully. This really helped him out. The fishermen smiled and continued their conversation as they walked on.

He resumed his walk toward the village, reaching into his pocket. He needed a recent newspaper and stealing wasn't an option. As he rummaged through his pocket, he felt something. Pulling it out, he saw a coin with the number 50 on it. He was confused, unsure what currency this was or whether 50 was a high or low amount. "I'll figure it out when I buy the newspaper," he muttered, tucking the coin back into his pocket. After walking a bit further, he finally reached the village.

"Old man, do you know where I can buy a newspaper?" he asked a man carrying a bucket and fishing gear from his house. The old man turned and raised an eyebrow. "You must be new to this island. Just go straight, then turn left. The place you're looking for is in front of the flower shop. It's also a library," he replied, pointing with his thumb before heading toward the forest, likely to gather bait for fishing.

Following the old man's directions, he found the place. It wasn't large, but having a place like this in the village was impressive. He handed the coin in his pocket to the shopkeeper and took a newspaper, receiving a 20-coin change in return. Smiling, he stepped inside and sat by the edge, beginning to read the paper he'd bought.

The more he read, the clearer it became where he was—especially the news about East Blue, the Grand Line, and bounty hunters. 'So, that's how it is. I've been reincarnated into the One Piece world,' he thought, placing the newspaper down after reading it entirely. Suddenly, a system panel appeared before him, causing him to break out in a cold sweat. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, staring at the game system screen in front of him.

<Status >

[Name: Yamazaki Noir]

[Age: 20]

[Title: -]

[Race: Human]

[Devil Fruit: -]

[Potential: SSS]

[Strength: E]

[Endurance: E]

[Durability: E]

[Speed: E]

[intelligent: S+]

[Luck: S+]

[Skills: 1]

[Belly: 0]

'It feels like I'm playing a game,' Noir thought as he removed his sunglasses and stared at the ceiling before putting them back on. Watching just one episode had left him confused, unsure of what to make of it all. The only thing he knew was the character named Luffy, who was no longer just a fictional figure but a real person who had eaten a Devil Fruit and turned into a rubber human.

Noir folded the newspaper and carried it with him as he stepped out of the library. He spotted the old man who owned the place and asked, "Old man, do I need to pay if I want to read books inside?"

"You don't need to pay if you're just reading inside," the old man replied, prompting a nod of acknowledgment from Noir. He gave a slight bow to thank him for the information and then began walking back towards the forest. Noir pulled a golden zippo lighter and a cigarette from the pocket of his suit and lit it. He had found the cigarette by chance while rummaging through his suit earlier. Initially, he had wanted to light it earlier, but when he entered the village, he noticed no one else was smoking, especially with children running around everywhere.

"Ahh, it's been a while since I smoked," Noir said, exhaling a cloud of smoke. The last time he had smoked was quite some time ago since he had been on a full rest, but now, he could indulge again. Strangely, even the brand of the cigarette and the lighter were exactly the same as the ones he had used back in his college days.

What he needed now was a place to stay. He could sleep under the trees, but he preferred to find a proper place to rest and train, preferably close to a river or the sea where he could fish and catch his meals.

Now, Noir decided to head towards the coast. He already knew the way to the river, so if he couldn't find a suitable spot, he would return to where he had first woken up. "Hmm?" After walking for quite a distance, he spotted a house. From the outside, it looked well-maintained and quite large.

'This feels like home,' Noir thought as he exhaled more smoke, making his way towards the house and knocking on the door. "Excuse me! Is anyone home?" he called out loudly while continuing to knock. After more than a minute without any response, he decided to open the door. Upon seeing the inside, it became clear—no one was living here.

The house resembled a traditional Japanese countryside home, a Minka. Noir found it odd—there were no pictures, no decorations. "This is strange. No matter how many times I look at it, this house is way too clean," he muttered, confused. He extinguished his cigarette and threw it outside before taking off his shoes and stepping inside.

Noir observed that the house had only two rooms. The first room looked like a studio apartment where the kitchen, dining area, and sleeping area were combined into one. However, this place was far more spacious than any affordable apartment he had ever seen. There was a large futon, big enough for three to four people, placed near a door that opened to reveal a breathtaking view of the ocean.

The second room, of course, was the bathroom. Although not as spacious as the first, it was still more than adequate. It had a large bathtub, a shower area, and a toilet. From all appearances, this house didn't seem abandoned at all. In fact, it was spotlessly clean, and the furniture was simple yet brand new.

As Noir exited the bathroom, he noticed a sheet of paper lying on top of the Kotatsu table. 'Maybe it's from the owner of this house,' he thought, picking it up. Suddenly, a system panel appeared before him, displaying the contents of the letter, which he now held in his hands.

[If you are reading this letter, it means you have arrived in your new world. You may have forgotten but you met me before you reincarnated, according to the results you got in the Gacha, I have given you gifts from the Gacha starting from the System, House, and Appearance, oh and I also made a background for you so just relax, you are free to do whatever you want in this world, so enjoy your new life, Noir-kun. – Old Man]

'So that's how it is,' Noir mused after reading the letter. Then, the letter in his hand burst into flames, disintegrating into ashes, though oddly, Noir didn't feel any pain from the fire.

Now that he had a place to stay and a system that seemed to track his growth, it was time to begin physical training. If this were a normal world, he would've lived peacefully and started a business. But this world was far from ordinary, with Devil Fruits and all. Noir had already decided to become a pirate, though he wasn't interested in being a captain. He'd probably join Luffy's crew since Luffy was the only character he knew so far.

Noir didn't know exactly when Luffy would set sail, but he could only trust his instincts and rely on the newspaper that mentioned a certain pirate hunter. Noir started to take off his shirt before opening a closet that made him grin widely. He didn't just take off his top—he stripped entirely and changed into his red-and-black sports gear.

"That old man really thought of everything. Who would've thought my clothes would be transferred to this world too?" Noir said, hanging up his previous outfit. He was truly grateful to the old man who had sent him here. After all, it wasn't practical to wear the same clothes for days on end, especially since he'd be working out regularly. If he didn't sweat, it might not be an issue, but since he needed to train, changing clothes was a must.

While changing into his sportswear, Noir started to look at his skills, which he already had 1 of from the start, but he didn't use it at all because he didn't know what his skills were and what their functions were.

[Observe]

[Rank: S]

[Description: A skill that allows the user to gain detailed information about people, objects, or environments simply by observing them.]

"Rank S?" Noir muttered as he had just finished putting on his sportswear and was confused as to why he could immediately get a Rank S Skill. He knew this was a gift from the Old Man, but wasn't Rank S quite excessive? 'And this skill, it seems to be at its maximum,' Noir thought as he saw that there was nothing like exp or skill proficiency.

Noir just thought about it for a moment before waving his hand and closing the system panel, at least he got 1 S Rank Skill and it would be useful too, Noir then put on his shoes and walked out of the house, after he closed the door of his house, Noir adjusted his glasses before starting to stretch, with his current body, crazy training without stretching would make him bedridden for a whole day or worse more than a day.

After stretching properly, Noir started to do his physical training, His first goal was to increase his stamina, so he started jogging along the markers he'd set on the ground, each lap measuring one kilometer. Since he didn't know the full extent of the island's size and didn't want to get lost, he had set up these markers. Right now, his physical strength was just like it was in his previous life—in other words, normal—although, oddly enough, those fishermen he met earlier seemed stronger than him.

He did the Saitama workout, but without counting reps. He simply pushed his body past its limits. Noir had never done such intense physical training in his previous life, so now he would do this until it became part of his daily routine to build strength and keep his body in peak condition. Though he knew age would inevitably weaken him, at least he could keep his body strong even in his later years.

"Who would've thought I'd actually enjoy this brutal training," Noir mumbled through labored breaths, lying on the grass, drenched in sweat after finishing his workout.

His stomach growled. Noir lay there, catching his breath, before summoning enough energy to stand and walk back to the house. Just beside the entrance, he noticed a fishing rod and two large metal buckets. He grabbed them and sat by the sea. After hooking some bait, he cast his line into the water, settling into a peaceful wait.

"Oh? Looks like this fish is really hungry," Noir said, smiling as he got a bite almost immediately. Without hesitation, he pulled with all his might, feeling the fish pulling just as hard. 'What kind of fish did I catch this time?' Noir thought, straining as he hauled the catch out of the water. With one final tug, he flung the fish behind him.

"Looks like I'll be feasting tonight," Noir grinned widely as he looked at the massive fish. It was nearly half his height. Grabbing the still-flopping creature by the tail, Noir dragged it over to the fire pit, ready to cook it.

But first, he returned to the house to fetch a knife for scaling the fish. With the firewood already prepared, he lit the fire using a match, taking his time while cleaning the fish, removing the inedible organs, and skewering it on a large stick. As the fish roasted over the flames, the savory aroma filled the air, even without any seasoning.

'For some reason, I can't wait to set sail and fight strong opponents,' a faint smirk crept onto Noir's face as he imagined fierce battles where he'd be cornered, teetering on the edge of death. 'This is going to be fun,' he thought, inhaling the scent of the fish as it finished cooking. He grabbed the skewer, ready to dig in.

After eating heartily and extinguishing the fire, Noir boiled some seawater from the bucket to drink. Once that was done, he entered the house, stripped naked, and put on his bathrobe before heading to the bathroom. Upon entering, he hung up his robe and turned on the hot water in the bathtub, intending to soak after cleaning himself.

"Ahh, this feels heavenly," Noir murmured, sinking into the hot water. He had thought that living in the world of One Piece meant he wouldn't be able to enjoy a hot bath, especially on an island where the inhabitants lived simply. But fortunately, here he was, indulging in this small luxury.

After his bath, feeling refreshed, Noir donned his kimono and completed his final task of the day—sleep. Besides eating, rest was a crucial part of his training. And since he was still weak, eight hours of sleep was a must. Once he developed his superhuman strength, he figured his sleep time might decrease, but his food intake would skyrocket.

****************

"97... 98... 99... 100!" Noir shouted as he struck the tree in front of him with all his might. His fists, bloodied from the intense training, withdrew from the bark, which was now smeared with crimson.

[A new skill has been created due to a specific action.]

[Through rigorous and disciplined training in the art of Kyokushin, the skill 'Kyokushin Karate' has been created.]

[Kyokushin Karate]

[Rank: E]

[Description: A full-contact martial art known for its emphasis on powerful strikes, rigorous training, and mental discipline. The skill embodies techniques that include devastating punches, kicks, knee strikes, and elbow strikes, all delivered with maximum force. It also focuses on conditioning the body to withstand and deliver intense physical blows, making the user a formidable close-combat fighter. The higher the rank of the skill, the more precise, powerful, and effective the techniques become, allowing the user to break through defenses and withstand powerful attacks.]

[Skill Proficiency: 0%]

"Fiuhh, finally... I did it," Noir muttered, now sitting down, leaning against the bloodied tree. His hands and feet were a mess, bruised and bleeding from using the tree as a punching bag. He looked up at the spot where his strikes had landed, a noticeable crack spreading across the bark.

For an entire week, Noir had been relentlessly training his body, pushing himself beyond his limits. Two days ago, he added martial arts to his routine—Kyokushin Karate, a style he recalled from his previous life. He had watched martial arts shows on TV in the past, and some moves had stuck with him, so he began practicing what he remembered. The first discipline that came to mind was Karate.

On the first day of martial arts training, Noir planned to just throw punches into the air until he collapsed from exhaustion. But that wouldn't be brutal enough, he thought. So, he decided to use the trees around his home as his punching bags. It wasn't long before his fists screamed in agony, but he didn't stop.

"Oh? Smells like it's done," Noir muttered, catching the scent of his roasted fish in the air. He walked over to the fire where his meal was cooking and started eating, devouring three fish that were as large as the first one he caught. Lately, his appetite had grown significantly, which helped speed up his body's recovery from the brutal training sessions.

He ate until the fish were gone, then drank some boiled water to wash it down. This time, he managed to finish his training before the sun set. Lighting a cigarette, he sat on the shore, watching the sun dip below the horizon.

"So this is what freedom feels like," Noir muttered after living a week in his new life following reincarnation. In his previous life, from a young age, instead of playing with other kids his age and gradually learning about the world, Noir never had the chance to play with his friends. He endured intense pressure from his parents, forcing him to study, earn money, and achieve success.

He thought that once he became successful, he would finally be free and able to fulfill all the desires he had as a child. But reality proved otherwise. Even as he grew older, he never felt like a human being, but rather like a machine. To cope with the overwhelming stress, Noir turned to alcohol, though in the end, it led to his death. Now, after reincarnating, Noir no longer felt the suffocating pressure from his parents. For the first time, he truly felt free.

"At least all my money and assets are useful to them," Noir mumbled as he thought of his parents, exhaling the last puff of smoke from his cigarette. He flicked it into the ocean before heading back inside to take a shower before bed.

Tomorrow morning, he planned to hunt some beasts in the forest, as he was getting bored of grilled fish. Plus, he wanted to gain more combat experience while sharpening his Kyokushin Karate skills.