The last thing he remembered was the blinding pain. The sensation of his body being torn apart as the car swerved uncontrollably and crashed, followed by the deafening silence that always follows death. It was so quick, so final—no time for regrets, no time for goodbyes.
Then, everything was... black.
But it wasn't the emptiness of oblivion he had expected. No, this was different. There was something pulling him, a strange force, and for a brief, terrifying moment, he thought he might still be alive. Was he dreaming?Or was this something more?
He didn't know how long it lasted, but when his consciousness finally began to stir again, the world around him was entirely different.
He blinked, the soft, warm glow of light cutting through his blurry vision. His limbs felt strangely light, as though they didn't quite belong to him. And when he tried to move, the sensation was all wrong. He couldn't—no, he didn't have control over his body.
A faint cry broke through his confusion.
"W-what is happening?" he muttered, but the voice that came out was high-pitched, almost infantile.
"You have been reincarnated into the One Piece world."
The voice was deep, almost mechanical. It seemed to echo directly in his mind, bypassing his thoughts like a command. He gasped. One Piece? The anime? Was this some kind of joke? A dream?
His mind raced. No, it wasn't a dream. His limbs were too real. The world around him too vivid. He was… a child. A 10-year-old child.
He tried to lift his hand but was met with sluggish resistance, like his body had to catch up to his will.
"You have been granted the 'Skill Enhancement System,' a powerful tool that allows you to enhance or degrade your abilities at will. Choose wisely, for you will face many challenges. This system will help you adapt and survive."
His heart pounded as the system's voice echoed through his mind. Challenges? This was real. He was in the One Piece world—alive, but in a body so unfamiliar.
"What does this mean? What do I do?" he asked aloud, his voice barely above a whisper, but his words were spoken with clarity, his mind sharp—way sharper than it should have been for a 10-year-old.
"You may choose to enhance your physical abilities, your intelligence, or any skill you deem necessary for survival. You have the potential to upgrade anything up to 100 times its normal level, but be mindful—there will be limits. The power comes with a cost."
The flood of information was overwhelming, but his enhanced intelligence, a side effect of his new system, allowed him to process it faster than anyone his age should be able to.
Okay, focus. He needed to survive this. His mind shifted to survival—the unknown island he found himself on. He could feel the rough terrain beneath him, the smell of saltwater on the breeze. His mind scanned the environment: isolated, dangerous. The sea lay in the distance, calm yet treacherous. He had no idea where he was, but he knew one thing for sure.
He was alone.
"Is there anyone here?" he asked, but the answer came with a chill.
"You are on an uncharted island in the East Blue. Dangerous wildlife and harsh environments await you. Your survival depends on the choices you make."
The weight of the situation crashed into him. Alone on a foreign island, surrounded by unknown dangers. But the system was there—he had a chance.
His thoughts wandered to his past life. His love for the One Piece anime, his knowledge of the world, the characters, the dangers they faced. He had always dreamed of living in this world—but not like this. As a kid, no less.
There was no time to waste. He had to make a decision.
"I need to be strong. I need to survive."
He focused on the system, feeling it stir within him.
"Please select your first enhancement."
The pressure was on. He thought of his options carefully. Physical strength? Combat skills? No, those could come later. Intelligence was key. Survival was his priority, and a sharp mind was the best tool for that.
"I choose... enhanced intelligence."
The moment he spoke, a surge of clarity and sharpness hit him. It was like a switch flipped in his mind. He could feel his thoughts processing faster, more efficiently. He could understand the world around him on a deeper level—his senses were clearer. Even the air, the sounds of the waves, the rustle of the trees, felt like they had a deeper meaning now.
"Intelligence enhanced. You now have the capacity to process information and learn at an accelerated rate. Use it wisely."
A sense of empowerment washed over him, but the realization came quickly—this world was far from safe.
He sat up, looking around more carefully. The island, with its dense trees and rocky cliffs, seemed like it belonged to the Calm Belt. The air was still, and the sea stretched out before him, undisturbed, as if it were waiting for him to make his next move.
He had to be careful. He had no weapon, no allies, and no plan.
But he had time—he could use his intelligence to plan. He could analyze the world around him and adapt. He wasn't just any ordinary child. He was reincarnated with a powerful system at his disposal. His mind raced through possible strategies, from food sources to potential threats.
The only thing he knew for certain was that he had a chance.
"Okay…" he muttered to himself, "let's see how far I can take this."