The sun hung high in the sky, its golden rays piercing through the thick canopy of trees above. The salty scent of the ocean mixed with the earthy aroma of damp soil, and a gentle breeze rustled the foliage.
He sat up, his small hands pressing into the rough ground beneath him. His mind was still adjusting to the reality of his situation, but the clarity he felt was undeniable.
"I'm really here…" he muttered, taking a deep breath.
He wasn't dreaming. He wasn't hallucinating. This was real.
His enhanced intelligence allowed him to process everything far more efficiently than before. His memory was sharper, his reasoning quicker, and even his instincts felt heightened.
Step one: Assess the situation.
He scanned his surroundings. He was in a dense forest, the massive trees towering over him like natural skyscrapers. Thick vines curled around the trunks, and patches of wild grass covered the ground. The air was humid, the chirps of unseen creatures echoing in the distance.
There was no sign of human civilization. No footprints, no huts, no smoke rising from a distant fire. Just pure, untouched wilderness.
Step two: Identify threats.
His eyes darted toward the underbrush, noting the subtle movements in the foliage. The island wasn't empty. He could hear rustling, faint growls, and the occasional sharp cry of a bird-like creature.
If this island was anything like Ruskaina—the place where Rayleigh trained Luffy—it was filled with dangerous wildlife. And with his current 10-year-old body, he wasn't exactly in peak fighting condition.
Step three: Find food and water.
Survival in a harsh environment came down to basics—water, food, and shelter. Without those, he wouldn't last long.
"Alright, let's do this," he whispered to himself.
With a deep breath, he pushed himself up and took a few cautious steps forward, his bare feet sinking into the soft earth. Every movement felt awkward—his body was young and weak, but his mind was that of someone far older. The disconnect was frustrating.
[New Passive Skill Acquired: Survival Instinct (Basic)]
The system notification flashed in his mind, and instantly, his awareness expanded. It was subtle, but he could now process his surroundings with greater detail—analyzing threats, noticing movement patterns, and even detecting the safest paths through the terrain.
A small grin tugged at his lips. "This system is already proving useful."
But just as he was about to take another step, a deep growl echoed from the bushes.
His body tensed. His instincts screamed at him to move.
Without hesitation, he leaped backward—just as a massive creature lunged from the shadows, its razor-sharp claws slicing through the air where he had stood just moments before.
It was a tiger-like beast, its fur a mix of dark brown and black, with glowing red eyes that locked onto him hungrily. Saliva dripped from its fangs as it let out a thunderous roar, shaking the very ground beneath them.
"Shit—" His eyes darted around, searching for an escape. Running in a straight line wouldn't work—tigers were faster. Climbing a tree? Maybe, but that depended on how well this thing could climb.
He had seconds to react.
[Skill Enhancement Available: Agility x2]
His heart pounded. Did he use it now?
His rational side screamed at him to save his enhancements for emergencies… but this was an emergency.
"Enhance agility x2!"
A surge of energy shot through his body, and suddenly, his legs felt lighter. His reaction time sharpened, and his movements became more fluid.
The beast lunged again—but this time, he was ready.
He dodged to the side, barely escaping its claws, and took off into a sprint. The world blurred slightly as he dashed through the jungle, weaving between trees with unnatural speed.
The beast chased after him, its heavy footfalls shaking the ground.
He needed a plan. Fast.
His eyes darted around. Then he saw it—a massive tree with thick, twisting roots and an overhanging branch. If he could time it right…
He jumped, using every ounce of his agility to propel himself onto the lowest branch. His hands gripped the bark tightly as he pulled himself up just as the beast slammed into the trunk below, snarling in frustration.
Breathing heavily, he climbed higher, finally reaching a safe perch.
The beast circled below, growling, but after a few moments, it huffed and stalked back into the shadows.
His heart was still hammering. He had survived.
He collapsed against the tree, taking deep breaths.
[Skill Enhancement Progress: Agility +1 XP]
So, using the system improved his skills naturally over time? That was good to know.
But this was just the beginning.
He wasn't just some random reincarnated kid with a cheat ability. He was in the One Piece world—a world where power ruled, where the strong thrived and the weak perished.
And if he wanted to survive, if he wanted to grow strong enough to carve his own path, he needed to train, learn, and adapt.
Because this island wouldn't show him mercy.
And neither would the world beyond it.