A New Beginning

Ling had heard of these stories—fantastical tales where people were whisked away to other worlds, caught in absurd circumstances. Sometimes they gained powers, sometimes they faced incredible challenges. Yet never once did Ling imagine that his own life would turn into one of these stories.

It started on a perfectly ordinary day. Ling had just finished a long day at work and was walking back home, his mind wandering to the latest episode of One Piece he'd been watching. As he crossed the street, headphones in his ears, he didn't even hear the sound of the approaching truck.

Before he could react, the infamous Truck-kun came out of nowhere.

BAM!

The world went black in an instant.

When Ling opened his eyes, he was no longer lying on the pavement. Instead, he was in an endless void, surrounded by nothing but a pale, white light that stretched on for eternity. It was unsettling, like being stuck in a dream, but too vivid to be a hallucination.

Before he could even comprehend his situation, a voice called out to him, startling him.

"Ah, you're awake."

Ling whirled around and saw a tall figure standing before him. The figure was dressed in flowing robes, and his eyes seemed to shimmer with cosmic energy, ancient and powerful. This was no ordinary person; Ling could feel it in his bones.

"Who are you?" Ling asked, his heart still racing. "What... where am I?"

The figure smiled in amusement, as if this scenario played out far too often. "I am a god—or at least, that's what you humans would call me. As for where you are, let's just say you're in the space between worlds."

Ling's breath caught in his throat. "Truck-kun…" he muttered, piecing it together.

The god raised an eyebrow. "Ah, so you're familiar with the concept. Yes, it was my unfortunate truck that ended your previous life. It was an accident—one that shouldn't have happened, but these things occasionally slip through the cracks."

Ling was taken aback. The sheer absurdity of the situation was starting to sink in. This wasn't a joke. He had actually died and was now standing in front of the god responsible for his death.

"So, what happens now?" Ling asked warily. "Am I just dead? That's it?"

The god smiled again, this time with a bit more kindness. "Not quite. You see, when a mortal dies prematurely due to an error on our part, we offer them a compensation: one wish. You can choose to be reborn in another world, and I'll grant you any one thing you desire."

Ling's mind raced. A wish? A new world? Could this actually be happening?

The world of One Piece immediately popped into his head. As a long-time fan of the series, he had always daydreamed about what it would be like to explore that vast world of pirates, treasure, and adventure. But at the same time, he knew how dangerous it was. The seas were filled with monstrous enemies, and the power structures were immense. It was no place for a weakling like him.

"If I'm going to survive there…" Ling muttered to himself, then looked up at the god. "Can I be reincarnated into the One Piece world? Two years before the main events of the story?"

The god nodded, as if that were a simple request.

"And I get one wish, right?"

"Indeed. Ask for anything, and it shall be granted."

Ling paused, thinking carefully. He could ask for incredible strength, or the knowledge of Haki, or even a powerful Devil Fruit that would allow him to conquer the Grand Line. But his thoughts kept returning to one particular power—a power that terrified him. The Toki Toki no Mi, the Time-Time Fruit. A Devil Fruit with the ability to send someone or even an entire group into the future. It wasn't a flashy or offensive power like the Gomu Gomu no Mi or the Magu Magu no Mi, but in the wrong hands, it could alter the course of history.

The mere thought of someone else wielding that kind of control over time sent a shiver down Ling's spine.

He didn't want that power for himself, but he also couldn't stand the idea of someone else using it. In the chaotic world of One Piece, with its constant wars and power struggles, someone could use the Toki Toki no Mi to wreak unimaginable havoc.

"I have my wish," Ling finally said. "I want the Toki Toki no Mi, but not to eat it. I want it so that no one else can ever have it. I want to keep it safe, to gatekeep it."

The god tilted his head, surprised by the request. "You don't want the power for yourself?"

Ling shook his head. "No. Someone wielding that power could disrupt the balance of the world. I want to ensure that no one else ever uses it. The ability to send people into the future is too dangerous."

The god smiled, clearly intrigued by Ling's thoughtfulness. "Very well. Your wish is granted. You will be reincarnated in a 15-year-old body, two years before Luffy's adventure begins, and you will possess the Toki Toki no Mi. But remember, that world is dangerous. You'll need more than a Devil Fruit to survive."

Ling nodded, taking a deep breath. "I understand."

The world around him began to shimmer, and a bright light enveloped his vision. As the god's form dissolved, Ling's consciousness was pulled into a new reality.

Ling awoke with the sound of crashing waves and the calls of seagulls echoing in his ears. Blinking against the harsh sunlight, he slowly sat up, feeling the gritty texture of sand beneath his palms. The salty scent of the ocean filled his nostrils.

He was on a beach.

Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Ling's eyes scanned the horizon. Dense forest surrounded the shoreline, with no signs of civilization in sight. This must be some remote island. He wasn't sure where he was yet, but one thing was certain: he was in the world of One Piece.

Ling looked down at his hands, his new, younger body. As promised, he had been reincarnated as a 15-year-old. His limbs felt strong, his senses sharper than they had been in his previous life. He would need to grow stronger still if he wanted to survive in this world.

But first, there was something more important.

"The Toki Toki no Mi..." Ling whispered.

He patted his pockets, his heart racing as he searched for the Devil Fruit. After a moment, he found it—a peculiar fruit, the shape of which seemed almost like a clock's spiral, with mysterious swirling patterns etched into its surface.

Ling held it up, marveling at its design. This was it. The power of time itself, resting in his hands. A power he had sworn to protect, not for his own gain, but to prevent anyone else from wielding it.

He didn't intend to eat it. In fact, the idea of consuming it made him uneasy. The ability to send people forward in time, while not inherently destructive, was terrifying when he considered the implications. What if a pirate, a warlord, or worse—a member of the World Government—got their hands on this fruit? What chaos would they bring to the timeline?

"No," Ling muttered to himself. "I can't let anyone have this."

He carefully wrapped the fruit in a piece of cloth and tucked it away into a pouch he found washed up nearby. As long as he had the Toki Toki no Mi, he had a responsibility to protect it.

But simply possessing the fruit wasn't enough. Ling knew that in this world, information was everything. He had an advantage—his knowledge of future events from the anime and manga. But even that knowledge would only take him so far. He needed to grow stronger, gather resources, and forge alliances if he was going to survive the two years leading up to Luffy's journey.

His mind began racing with plans. He could travel to specific islands and key locations, intercepting events and players before they became dangerous. He could use his knowledge of the world's power dynamics to avoid dangerous encounters and secure safe passage through hostile territories. The seas were dangerous, and with the Toki Toki no Mi in his possession, he couldn't afford to stay in one place for too long.

But before all of that, he needed a way off this island.

Ling stood up, dusting off his pants, and began surveying his surroundings. The island was lush and wild, filled with thick trees and undergrowth. If he was lucky, there might be a village or port nearby where he could find a ship to hitch a ride. If not, he'd have to figure out how to build a raft or signal for help.

As he ventured into the forest, his mind raced with thoughts of the future. His survival here wasn't just about living—he had to prevent a disaster. And while the world's great powers were focused on their own ambitions, Ling's goal was clear: protect the Toki Toki no Mi at all costs.

The survival guide to One Piece had begun, and Ling was ready to face the challenges ahead.