I expected myself to be dead…. but I wasn't… was I? I don't actually know whether I'm alive or dead right now. I should've felt intense pain, considering the way I died… but… I feel nothing. I don't even know how long I've been here now, hours, days, or who knows, maybe even months…
When I opened my eyes, I didn't see anything. When I tried to grab on to something, I felt nothing around me. I can't even walk in this… dark place… just, float I guess. What even is this place?
Anyway, when I first found myself here, I was… broken… utterly broken and betrayed. And now? I don't even know how I feel anymore… just talking and thinking to myself to maintain my sanity…
But I guess, like she said, Stacy maybe really was just after my money, huh. Well, by no means am I ugly though… not that I'm handsome either, but slightly above average at least, enough that I'd give myself a solid 7.5 out of 10, thanks to my half German genetics I guess since my German mom was pretty darn beautiful.
I'm pretty healthy too. I don't have abs and a perfect body, but I do have prominent muscles, veiny arms and a well built back.
My mother was a neurosurgeon and my father was a famous lawyer. Yes, they were, not are. They died in a car accident when I was 16. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, huh, haha….
I, thus, grew up in a very good background. And when they died, they left about 21 million dollars for me. Yeah, I'm rich… or was since I'm dead now. But I donated half of that to charity and orphanages though… but now I think it was a pretty stupid decision, I shouldn't have donated anything above 1 million or maybe not donated at all… but at that time I was pretty emotional, so yeah.
Then I became a portfolio manager in a big MNC by the time I was 24, yeah I climbed the ladder pretty damn fast. And that was 3 years ago now, and I have been making over 150k per annum since…
Sounds good, right? But obviously I have my problems too. I've got an average face, with blonde hairs and emerald eyes that improve my looks, and a pretty good body. But… I'm short. Not much, but barely 5 feet 6 inches tall, so yeah, short. And well… a small dick to top that… barely above 4 inches like Stacy said…. Sigh…. That bitch…. She really was just after my money.
And saying, how could I ever satisfy her with just 4 inches, right to my face was seriously heart breaking and rude. And now I'm dead, that too because of her… fucking bitch!
As for hobbies… I didn't have much time for that, considering the kind of job I had. But I did watch some mainstream animes like naruto, one piece, bleach and a few more. One Piece is my favorite. But it's been over 2 years since I last watched it, I just didn't have time for it. I think it was mid or starting of Wano arc when I stopped watching. I wonder what happened… have they found the one piece treasure by now?
Sigh…. Seriously, how long has it even been?
'Wait… what's that?'
In the dark, lightless and lifeless void, I noticed something… happen. Like, the void which literally supposed to mean empty, was stirring, swirling, distorting and changing.
Then… I saw an entity, cloaked in darkness with no facial features whatsoever, walk or maybe float… or whatever, coming out of that distorted portion of the void.
It stopped some distance away from me, while I just kept stupidly staring at it.
"Hugo Silverman" the entity said in a disturbing yet soothing, feminine yet masculine, foreign yet familiar and aggressive yet calming, paradoxical voice.
I snapped back to attention at the mention of my name. "Huh? Of yeah, who are you? What is this place? Am I dead?". I bombarded the entity with the questions I thought were most important.
The entity replied in it's strange paradoxical voice, "Yes, you are dead. You died the way exactly as you remember. This place is… don't bother, you won't understand. Just think of this as an assessment center of sorts, in your terminology. As for me… you can say I'm a 'God'"
"God"... I mouthed to myself.
"Then what does a God want from me? Why am I in this assessment center?"
"When humans die, they are given chances, sent for reincarnation cycle or have their souls permanently destroyed depending on the type and amount karma they accumulated in their life"
"I see… so you are the one who does this? And no heaven or hell?"
"Me and more like me, but that's none of your concern. And yes, there is no such thing as heaven or hell." The God gave me my answers patiently, but given it's paradoxical voice, I couldn't really tell.
'I don't think it'll tell me who or what it really is… so let's not ask', instead I asked, "What is gonna happen to me? How much Karma do I have?"
"Karma can't be described in a numerical value, but for reference, you have 72,372 positive karma. Normally it is between positive 150 to negative 50 for most."
"I have that much? Ah right, because I donated 10.5 million dollars to charity and orphanages… so those people were genuine and put my money in for really good work, huh…"
"Now, onto the main topic.", the God entity said and I tensed up. "You can be sent for reincarnation with your current memories, but only to your original world. Or be sent to another world altogether with some… gifts. You have enough karma for that."
"Even fiction world?" No way I'm gonna go back to the real world after what Stacy did to me.
"Yes"
"Even One Piece?"
"Yes."
"Can I reincarnate there?"
"Like I said earlier, reincarnation with memories is only possible in your world, given the amount of karma you have accumulated. What you can do is, go to that world with your current body with a gift, let's say, a Devil fruit"
"I see…" really patient for someone who calls themselves a God, I noted. Though I am disappointed, I think that reincarnation would be a better choice. But whatever now.
"Then which devil fruit can I get?"
The entity pointed at a direction, and I followed it's finger… or whatever it had for a finger. And there I saw a movable wheel with an arrow in the center. The wheel was divided in over a 100 sections. Each section had a devil fruit name written on it. Most of those devil fruits were from the original series, while some names were ones that I had never seen before.
'That wasn't there before…' I thought to myself.
"Spin it." The entity said in it's authoritative yet suggestive voice.
I nodded and complied, then floated towards the wheel. Or maybe the wheel floated towards me. I have no idea.
I spun the wheel, and crossed my fingers and prayed to Jesus and Vishnu that I get a good Devil fruit. Wait… there is a God right beside me, did I just commit blasphemy?
Anyway, the wheel finally stopped on a devil fruit name I had never ever heard about. It was 'Gashadokuro'.
"What is this?" I asked the Godly entity.
"Mythical Zoan: Human Human Fruit, Model: Gashadokuro. Gashadokuro is a gaint skeleton from japanese mythology." It explained.
'Damn… if it's Mythical Zoan, like that of Kaido, then it must be an awesome fruit. I lucked out!'
"I see." I asked excitedly, "What abilities does it give me?"
"You'll know when you get the powers. Next, choose the time and place. I will send you there at that time."
'Time and place? Let's see… 5 years before luffy sets sail would be nice. I'll have enough time to see the world and even make some preparations before the main events of the show starts. And let's go to east blue. Since pirates are weakest there, I'll be pretty safe.'
"Ok then, 5 years before Luffy sets sail, and in East Blue."
The entity nodded and the void beside it swirled, twisted and distorted. A portal of sorts was created.
"What about my Devil Fruit?"
"You'll gain it's abilities the moment to step through this portal. It leads to a island in East blue in year 1517. If you walk across the island, you'll find a village. And no need to worry about language barrier, you'll understand their language and they will understand your words. But writing is a whole another matter, you'll have to learn it yourself."
"Got it, Understood. And thanks… I guess. Oh and if I die again and have accumulated enough karma, will we meet again? Will I get another chance?"
"No. This is all you get."
"Alright."
'Let's live this life to the fullest.' I made this commitment inwardly and stepped through the portal. 'I am coming, One Piece!'