Kaizen stood at the shoreline, the ocean breeze brushing against his face as the waves lapped at the hull of his handmade boat. Two years of sweat, pain, and survival had led to this moment. The island—once a hellish prison—had become a crucible that forged him into something more.
He placed his hand on the worn wood of his vessel. Every plank, every knot in the rope, every inch of the sail had been built with his own hands. It wasn't the most beautiful boat, but it was strong. It was his way out.
At his side stood his newly found companion, a monkey with intelligent eyes and a mischievous grin. The creature had once been a normal animal, but after eating a strange fruit Kaizen had discovered deep in the jungle, everything had changed.
It was the Human-Human no Mi, Model: Adam—a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit that granted sentience, speech, and a powerful humanoid form. The monkey had taken the name Adam, after the fruit itself.
"Are you sure about this, Kaizen?" Adam asked, his voice surprisingly deep for his size.
Kaizen nodded, his eyes hard with resolve. "I've trained enough. It's time to find out what this world has to offer."
They pushed the boat into the water together, Kaizen jumping aboard with practiced grace. Adam followed, taking position at the front with a pair of hand-carved binoculars.
As they sailed away from the island, Kaizen took one last look back. The dense jungle, the cliffs, the caves—it had all been his world. But now, it was behind him.
He turned to the sea. "Let's see where the currents take us."
Three Days Later…
The sea was vast, but Kaizen had planned well. They had enough dried meat, fruit, and clean water for the journey. At night, Kaizen watched the stars, plotting their course based on constellations he remembered from his past life's knowledge and what he had observed on the island.
On the third morning, Adam spotted something.
"Land! And… a ship!"
Kaizen stood, peering ahead. A medium-sized merchant vessel drifted along the coast of a small island. The flag it flew bore a distinctive symbol—the emblem of the Goa Kingdom.
Kaizen's eyes widened. "Goa Kingdom… that's where Luffy grew up. That means we're still in East Blue."
Adam looked up, curious. "Who's Luffy?"
"A storm that's going to shake the world," Kaizen muttered. "But not yet."
The merchant ship docked at a small port town on the nearby island. Kaizen steered toward the coast, choosing to anchor near a hidden cove. He and Adam approached the town quietly, blending in among the rocks and foliage.
From the top of a cliff, Kaizen spied on the bustling port, listening in on the chatter of dockworkers and sailors.
"Did you hear? The Revolutionary Army caused trouble again in the West Blue."
"Yeah, and they say the World Government's covering it up."
"I just hope we don't run into any pirates."
Another man laughed. "Come on, there's barely any around these parts. The age of pirates hasn't even really begun yet."
Kaizen turned to Adam, a thoughtful look on his face. "We're about ten years before the Pirate King's successor sets sail. That gives us time. Time to build, to prepare."
[System Notification: World Timeline Confirmed — 10 Years Before Monkey D. Luffy's Journey Begins]
[Current Sea: East Blue — South Quadrant]
Kaizen grinned. "Perfect. We're exactly where we need to be."
He didn't plan on sailing straight into chaos—not yet. First, he needed information, resources, and a proper ship. But now he had a direction.
And the world had just gained a new player.
He and Adam disappeared back into the forest.
They had work to do.