East blue
"Three years… three years to become someone capable of surviving in this world. Three years not to be just another lost boy in the vast East Blue."
Zac took a deep breath, the newspaper from the beach still clutched in his hands. The fear that had gripped him when he first arrived had transformed into determination. Every single day on this deserted island was another step toward his goal: to become strong enough to make history without becoming a burden—or a threat.
The first months were brutal. No powers. No special abilities. Zac had only his body and his wits. He learned to fish with his bare hands, hunt small animals, and find shelter among the rocks and palm trees. Each day brought a new test—sudden storms, treacherous waves, scorching sun, icy nights. But with every challenge, his body adapted. Muscles grew precise, reflexes faster, steps surer on sand and stone.
"I can do this. I have to do this. For me… and for everyone I want to protect."
Thoughts of Luffy and the Straw Hats—still just characters in his old world—drove him forward. He remembered their adventures, the trials he knew were coming, and fear no longer held him back.
Training became his life. He ran along the beaches, swam long stretches in the open sea, scaled palm trees and cliffs, and crafted improvised exercises to strengthen every muscle. Each day pushed him further. Even the island's wildlife took notice: small predators instinctively stayed away, recognizing a speed and agility they couldn't easily challenge.
"Sometimes I wonder if anyone could survive alone like this… but I can't think about that. I cannot fail."
Even in his loneliest moments, Zac found strength in the image of Luffy: a boy who dreamed big, laughed in danger, and sought freedom above all. It was almost like a presence was guiding him, silent but constant, whispering of what was to come.
As his body strengthened, Zac expanded his skills. Inspired by tales of swordsmen and pirates, he started with a simple stick, eventually progressing to a heavier piece of wood to simulate the weight of a real sword. Air slashes, blocks, and dodges became routine. Each swing honed his hand-eye coordination, balance, and reaction speed.
"It's not just strength. It's technique… reflex… instinct. The sword must feel like part of me, an extension of my arm."
Weeks bled into months. His discipline was relentless. Pain no longer slowed him; his reflexes sharpened, endurance grew. But something new stirred within—a sensation he couldn't name, a hidden power present in the strongest pirates and marines.
Zac didn't know it yet, but this was the beginning of his Haki. During runs, climbs, and sparring with the wooden sword, he felt a strange tension in his muscles, a shiver when invisible forces approached, an instinct to anticipate movements before they happened. Subtle signals, barely noticeable—but his body reacted, and his mind began to see patterns once hidden.
"Something… has changed. I can't explain it… but I can feel when something's near, even if I don't see it. It's like… my body knows more than my eyes."
Fear began to turn into fascination. Even without powers, Zac was discovering abilities beyond what most humans could imagine. Every day, every challenge, every moment of survival was a lesson in growth.
The second year brought even greater tests. Zac ventured further into the sea. In small, improvised boats, he learned to read currents, withstand strong winds, and navigate treacherous waves. Every journey was a lesson in strategy, endurance, and patience. He learned to read the ocean like a teacher: cloud patterns, approaching storms, risk calculations. The sea became more than a playground—it became a mentor, teaching him respect and precision.
"I can face anything… if I can anticipate it, if I can prepare. But there's still so much I don't know… so much I can't control."
Zac's mind balanced between training, studying his environment, and memories of his old world. When he finally met Luffy and the others, he needed to react, adapt, and learn in the moment.
The third year marked the first stirrings of Observation Haki. During sword drills on the beach, he sensed a strike before it came—knowing instinctively where it would land. His reflexes sharpened further, and he began noticing subtle intentions of living beings around him. Not magic. Not supernatural power. Amplified instinct—the beginning of skills he could not yet fully comprehend.
"This… is incredible… it's like I can feel the world differently… predict movements, sense danger… but it's only the beginning. I need to train more… much more."
Zac's strength and confidence grew, but so did his awareness that the timeline he knew was waiting. Each day of training was more than physical—it was mental preparation to survive, protect, and, if possible, influence the paths of those he cared about in One Piece.
By the end of the third year, Zac was ready. Agile, strong, and resilient. Skilled with the sword and sensing the first whispers of Haki. Most importantly, disciplined and mature. He was prepared to step into history, follow Luffy from the start, and face the real One Piece world with determination, courage, and hard-earned knowledge.
"Three years… and I'm finally ready. Luffy, Nami, Zoro… I'm coming. And this time… I won't just watch. I'll live, fight, protect, and chase the freedom I've always admired."
With the East Blue horizon stretching ahead and memories of storms and danger in mind, Zac smiled. The journey would be long, fraught with challenges. But after three years of solitary training, he felt ready to sail the seas, face pirates and marines, and follow the path to the Grand Line—with the determination of someone who knew the story, but wanted to write an even better version.
"Freedom… and adventure. Here I go."