"This has to be a joke."
Zac opened his eyes to feel the salty breeze brushing against his face, mingling with the sharp scent of sea and wet sand. He stood up, slightly stumbling, adjusting to the strange coordination of his newly transformed body—long, lean muscles, strong arms, and agile legs. Every movement felt almost too natural, yet the sense of power did nothing to calm the fear rising in his chest.
"Someone must be filming me… some kind of prank. This can't be real," he murmured, trying to convince himself. The sea stretched endlessly before him, waves still restless after a storm, and the wind carried the distant rumble of thunder—a reminder of the recent chaos.
Zac scanned his surroundings. No signs of life anywhere. Palm trees bent under the wind, sand marked by the turbulent waves. Everything seemed larger, sharper, and more alive than anything he had ever known. His gaze swept the horizon, searching for any clue, any hint that this might be a dream. But there was nothing—just the vast sea and the deserted beach.
"Okay… breathe, Zac… you must be dreaming. Or maybe someone really did set up a massive prank… right?"
He pressed a hand to his head, adrenaline and fear mixing in his veins. Every sound seemed magnified, every movement of his new body reminding him of his fragility in this unknown world.
As he walked along the shore, something caught his eye. Among rocks and sand, a soggy piece of paper shimmered under the rising sun peeking through scattered clouds. Zac approached cautiously and picked it up, half expecting it to be nothing more than litter.
"Let's see… maybe it's just trash, a lost letter… or, of course, another prank."
Unfolding it, he discovered a newspaper, damp and crumpled but still readable. The headline froze him:
"New pirate crew wreaks havoc on East Blue islands, defeats renowned pirate crew, and heads for the Grand Line!"
The article described how a newly formed pirate crew had attacked islands across the East Blue, defeating a famous crew known for controlling merchant routes and making a name across the southern seas. It detailed the destruction, the impact on residents and traders, and the political ripple effects in the region. No bounties or specific names were mentioned, but Zac could feel the lurking danger just from the tone of the report.
"So… this is real. I… I'm actually here…"
A chill ran down his spine. Every detail—the islands, the ocean, the news of pirates—confirmed that this world was more than stories or dreams. He wasn't just imagining it. He was inside One Piece, and everything he had read about was about to unfold in reality. Fear gripped his chest, reminding him of his vulnerability. He wasn't a spectator here; every step could be deadly.
Zac tucked the soggy newspaper under his arm, the weight of the discovery settling on him. The storm was moving away on the horizon, leaving the sky clear and lit by the rising sun. Smaller waves lapped at the shore, but the memory of recent chaos lingered. He began to walk, testing his body—every muscle responding with strength and fluid coordination, yet still without any special abilities. A body ready for adventure, but still vulnerable to the dangers of this new world.
"Three years… three years to prepare. Train, learn, survive… and maybe help those I can, without messing anything up…"
The newspaper not only confirmed the reality of this world but hinted at major events looming on the horizon. Zac realized he would need discipline, training, and careful planning. If he wanted to truly live here and pursue the freedom that Luffy embodied, he had to be ready for anything.
The East Blue stretched endlessly before him. Distant islands dotted the blue expanse like green jewels, and the breeze reminded Zac that this world punished carelessness. Yet, in his blond eyes, a spark of determination ignited. Now, he had the chance to live this story firsthand, learn from it, and maybe even change small destinies without breaking the flow of time.
"Freedom… this is where it begins.