Death and journey

In the vast void, a realm where time and space lose their meaning, souls drift in a state of eternal waiting. In this place, where existence and non-existence merge into a single reality, a formless, nameless spirit floats through infinity. Its consciousness is dormant, immersed in absolute silence, devoid of stimuli or emotions. There is neither cold nor warmth, neither life nor death. It is neither being nor non-being. It simply is.

This spirit, once human, no longer feels the weight of the body or the burden of the past. It exists beyond all, suspended in an eternal limbo before judgment catches up. Oblivion threatens to consume it completely.

But just before its journey to the afterlife begins, something unexpected happens. The void envelops it one last time, and suddenly, without warning, the young spirit vanishes from the endless darkness. In the blink of an eye, it finds itself in a different space, one entirely bathed in white light, so intense and pure that everything that once was fades away. The light is neither warm nor cold; it simply is, and its brilliance fills everything.

The man awakens from his lethargy, feeling for the first time in a long while something akin to consciousness. His spirit, now free from physical constraints, moves at will in that strange, light-drenched space. There is no body, only the essence of what once was. He looks around, trying to understand where he is, when he notices a presence observing him with keen interest.

Before he can ask any questions, the presence, serene and majestic, speaks with a voice that resonates in the void:

—You will have many questions and thoughts, but you have been chosen to reincarnate in a world of your choice —explained the divine presence, its voice imbued with infinite calm.

The man's mind swirled in a vortex of confusion. Too much information for a consciousness still disoriented, caught between disbelief and surprise.

—Reincarnate? —he murmured, his voice barely a whisper in the vastness.

—Indeed —confirmed the presence—. You will be able to live again in a world of your choosing. It is the greatest blessing one can receive before crossing into the afterlife.

The man struggled to absorb what was being said. His thoughts were a chaos, but one question persisted in his mind, a doubt he could not ignore.

—And if I don't want to? —he asked, his voice firmer this time.

—All souls that cross over are purified of their thoughts and memories. They then join the great river that flows through time itself —explained the presence with ancient wisdom—. It is strange that you ask this, having resisted crossing to the other side. Normally, souls are not even aware of their passage through the void. Your situation is rare, occurring only on rare occasions.

The man took in the answer. The idea of losing himself in an eternal river, without memory or identity, was unsettling, though somewhat reassuring. Yet, the possibility of a new life, in a different world, sparked a glimmer of curiosity within him.

—I understand —he said, his voice firmer and more determined—. So, can I go to another world?

—Yes —confirmed the divine presence—. You will appear in the world of your choice with the body you had before you died.

The young man, still adjusting to his new reality, absorbed the information and then asked a question with a tone of hope and uncertainty:

—I see. Can I request a fictional world?

The being nodded slowly, its light shining even more brightly.

—Then I choose the world of One Piece. I want to live out the rest of my days there. But if I reincarnate with my previous body, will I have trouble surviving?

The divine presence smiled with a calm that instilled confidence.

—Do not worry. I have prepared some gifts to ease your journey. You will have the gift of tongues, allowing you to communicate with the inhabitants of that world effortlessly. Additionally, you will experience an enhancement in your potential, enabling you to learn more quickly and become stronger. And lastly, you may request one ability or weapon of your choice.

The young man felt relieved and excited by the words he heard. These blessings would be very useful in his new life. As he contemplated which ability to request, an idea crossed his mind.

—What should I ask for? —he pondered—. Perhaps a system like in novels, one that does not determine my life or enslave me.

Looking up, he found the presence waiting patiently for his decision.

—So, what will be your final request?

The young man, with a mix of enthusiasm and caution, made his final request:

—I want to be able to access a kind of store with all kinds of items, including abilities from different anime or series.

The divine presence nodded, a gesture that made the air around the young man vibrate with an unknown energy.

—Very well. You will appear in East Blue, just as the protagonist begins his adventure. You are free to do as you wish, whether you choose to change the story or not.

With a final gesture, the being made the young man disappear. The white light enveloped everything around him, and in the blink of an eye, the young man found himself transported to the world of One Piece, ready to start his new life with a grand opportunity before him.

—Ah —the young man exclaimed, shielding his eyes as the daylight struck him forcefully. The sun's brilliance was intense, and he had to quickly adapt to the brightness of his surroundings.

When he recovered, he looked around. He found himself in the middle of a forest, surrounded by tall, lush trees. The vegetation was vibrant, and the atmosphere was filled with the songs of birds and the whispering wind through the leaves.

He glanced down to check his body. He was wearing the same clothes he had on before he died: blue jeans, white sneakers, and a matching t-shirt. The familiarity of his attire offered a small comfort amidst the confusion.

Despite his nervousness and excitement at being in a new world, a broad smile spread across his face.

—I can't believe I'm in the world of One Piece. From now on, I'll live as intensely as possible. From now on, the new life of Ethel Astaroth begins —he declared aloud, as if he wanted the entire world to hear his declaration of intent.

Regaining his focus, he remembered the store he had requested before arriving in this world. With a blink, an interface appeared before his eyes, floating in the air. It was a kind of holographic menu displaying a variety of items: from weapons from his old world, like guns, to magical abilities like the Sharingan. All items could be purchased using "Belly," the official currency of this world.

—I didn't think things could be bought with this currency —he murmured to himself—. I'll need to find ways to earn more money. Starting businesses might be an option.

However, he recognized that he had more immediate priorities. He needed to find a village or at least get out of the forest.

—That will be for later. First, I need to find my way —he thought, as he began walking forward, venturing into the forest with hopes of finding some clue about where he was.

After about an hour of walking through the forest, Ethel decided to follow the course of a small river winding through the trees. He knew he would eventually find a town or some sort of settlement near the water. As he moved forward, the forest began to clear, revealing a wide field of crops.

—How beautiful! —exclaimed Ethel, admiring the green fields stretching out before him.

It didn't take long for him to spot another person in the field. It was a farmer tending a flock of sheep. Ethel approached the man with a friendly smile and greeted him.

—Hello, beautiful day today —said the young man, trying to appear as natural as possible.

The farmer looked at him attentively, assessing the stranger approaching him. His eyes paused on the absence of visible weapons on Ethel before responding.

—I haven't seen you around here before. Did you just arrive on the island?

—Yes, I had an accident with my boat and ended up here. I'm not exactly sure where I am. Could you point me to the nearest town? —Ethel improvised a plausible story.

The farmer showed a look of concern upon hearing Ethel's tale.

—Son, have the others from the boat survived?

Ethel, aware of the need to maintain his story's consistency, replied:

—Don't worry, it was just me. It was a small boat that I thought would hold up, but I ran into a storm and ended up here.

The farmer sighed in relief and nodded.

—Glad it was only that. A boat can be rebuilt, so it's good to know you're alive. Which island did you come from?

Ethel paused for a moment, considering which island would be more believable. Recalling several from the series, he thought a general geographic reference would be useful.

—I came from one of the islands in the Organ Archipelago. Specifically, from Orange Town.

The farmer furrowed his brow, then nodded slowly.

—Ah, then you're quite far from home, boy —he said as he got up from the ground, dusting off his hands—. Come, I'll take you to the nearest village.

He instructed his dogs to guide the flock towards his home and headed towards Ethel.

—Thank you, I really appreciate your help —said Ethel, feeling palpable relief at seeing someone guiding him to a safer and more familiar place.