He blinked against the harsh sunlight, his eyes slowly adjusting to the unfamiliar sky. The ground beneath him was soft, like sand, but with patches of grass. The air was thick and warm, carrying the salty tang of the sea mixed with a faint sweetness he couldn't place. In the distance, waves crashed against the shore, rhythmic and distant, but everything felt wrong.
His heart raced as he scrambled to his feet, eyes darting around for any sign of familiarity. "Where the hell am I?" he muttered, panic tightening his throat. He spun in a circle, taking in the empty landscape, and felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead.
Nothing here made sense. Just moments ago, he was in his bed, falling asleep. Now… this.
His eyes caught sight of something in the distance—a puddle glistening in the light. He stumbled toward it and froze as he caught his reflection. The face staring back at him wasn't his own. His features were sharper, more defined, with high cheekbones and a strong jawline that seemed almost too perfect. His hair—once plain—was now a striking silver, falling just above his eyes in soft, tousled waves. His skin was flawless, and his dark eyes seemed to burn with an intensity he didn't recognize.
His gaze dropped to his outfit—an intricate combination of modern and traditional styles, with long, flowing pants tucked into sleek boots. A sword hung at his side, its hilt gleaming under the sunlight.
"Is this really me?" he whispered, tracing the edge of his jaw with his fingers. He looked younger, stronger—like someone out of a fantasy novel. The shock of his transformation left him reeling, but there wasn't time to dwell on it.
After a few minutes of frantic searching, his eyes landed on something strange in the sand nearby. A piece of paper fluttered slightly in the breeze, pinned down by what looked like… a fruit? He crouched down, hand shaking as he picked up the note, its words scrawled in a bold, unfamiliar script.
"Here it is—the adventure you always dreamed of!
Things may seem strange, but don't panic. You've been given a new life, a new face, and a whole new world to explore. What you knew before… forget it. You'll find no use for it here, but that's what makes it fun, right?
Don't waste time trying to figure out why. Focus on what's ahead. This world will not wait for you to catch up. Find your own way, or it will find you.
Discover what this place has to offer. It won't be easy, but where's the fun in easy?
This is your chance. I'll be watching, but you won't see me again. Make the most of your new life.
P.S.: I left you two little gifts to help you out with your journey (:"
His hands trembled as he lowered the note. A new life? A new face? He glanced back at his reflection, still struggling to process what had happened. His heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to breathe. There was no time for that now.
After composing himself, he finally took notice of the oddly shaped fruit next to the note. Its strange, swirling patterns and vibrant color looked almost familiar, too familiar. "No way… it can't be…," he whispered. But the thought lingered in his mind: what if it was? What if he really had a chance to become like them?
The fruit shimmered slightly in the sunlight, the swirling patterns seeming to shift, beckoning him. There was a pull, like an invisible hand reaching into his chest, urging him closer. He felt it deep inside, a sense of destiny he couldn't shake. This fruit was meant for him. He could almost feel the power it promised, as if his whole life had been building up to this moment.
His fingers hovered over it. Could this really be happening? Was this some kind of sick joke or a dream?
But then he paused. In One Piece, eating a Devil Fruit meant gaining extraordinary powers, but it also meant giving up something in return. He had to decide, and fast. The rustling in the trees was getting louder, more aggressive, and whatever was behind those trees was closing in.
A low growl cut through the silence, deep and resonant, like something far too large to be lurking so close. His heart hammered against his ribs. "What is that?" His stomach twisted.
The rustling in the trees intensified, and suddenly the figure emerged.
It was a tiger—a massive, terrifying beast straight out of a nightmare. Its fur was a deep orange, marked by wild, jagged black stripes that seemed to pulse with energy. Its teeth were long and sharp, gleaming like daggers in its enormous maw. Its eyes, burning with intensity, locked onto him as it prowled forward. This wasn't just any tiger—this was something from the world of One Piece, where even animals were larger, deadlier, and more terrifying than reality.
His breath caught in his throat as the tiger's rumbling growl echoed across the clearing. It was the size of a house, towering over him, its muscles rippling under its fur with every slow, deliberate step. The ground trembled beneath its weight, and he felt frozen, his legs refusing to move.
This is it. I'm going to die.
His eyes flicked back to the fruit. The pull was stronger now, more urgent. Every second that passed, the invisible force within him screamed to act. He knew, deep down, that this fruit was his only chance. He was destined to eat it, just like Luffy.
His fingers closed around it.
The tiger snarled, ready to pounce.
With a final, desperate breath, he brought the fruit to his lips and bit down. The taste was bitter, but none of that mattered now. He swallowed, the strange sensation of the fruit coursing through him.
The tiger lunged.
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Let me know how this chapter was. Thanks.