Chapter 1: Adrift in a Dream

The first thing I noticed was the sound of waves.

A rhythmic, steady crashing against wood, soft but insistent, like the ocean was whispering something only I could hear. The second thing was the smell—thick, salty air that filled my lungs in a way that was completely unfamiliar. And the third… was the pain.

A dull, aching throb at the back of my head.

I groaned, forcing my eyes open, but the light was too harsh. My body felt stiff, like I'd been sleeping on something hard and uneven. As my vision adjusted, I saw it—clear blue sky stretching endlessly above me. No ceiling. No walls. Just the open sky.

I sat up too fast, my head spinning, and realized I wasn't in my bed.

I was on a ship.

A wooden deck beneath me, rocking with the waves. The smell of seawater was thick in the air, and beyond the railing, there was nothing but the endless blue ocean. No city skyline. No land. Just water in every direction.

Panic hit me like a punch to the gut.

Where the hell was I?

I scrambled to my feet, only to stumble back down when my legs refused to cooperate. That's when I heard the voices.

"Oi, the bastard's finally awake."

I turned sharply at the sound, and my breath caught in my throat.

Pirates.

At least half a dozen of them, standing in a loose circle around me. Rough-looking men, dressed in mismatched clothes with weapons at their belts. The one who had spoken was a burly guy with a scar down his cheek, his arms crossed over his chest as he looked down at me like I was an insect.

My mind was racing, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. Pirates? An actual wooden ship? The ocean stretching endlessly in every direction? There was no way this was real.

"Oi, kid," another one said, stepping forward. "Where'd you come from?"

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. What the hell was I supposed to say?

I glanced down at myself. I was still wearing the same clothes I'd gone to sleep in—a simple t-shirt and jeans—but they were damp, stained with salt water. My hands were trembling slightly. This wasn't a dream. It felt too real.

Before I could say anything, a heavy footstep sounded behind the men, and they all moved aside as someone else approached.

A woman.

Tall, Fat woman, with long black hair and a wide-brimmed hat. She carried a massive iron club over one shoulder, and her eyes locked onto me with an amused glint. I knew her instantly.

Alvida.

Holy shit.

I was in One Piece.

My brain struggled to process it, but there was no denying it. The ship, the pirates, the woman in front of me—this was the Alvida Pirates' ship. I was at the beginning of One Piece.

Alvida stared at me for a moment before speaking. "And just who the hell are you?"

I hesitated. My real name didn't feel right here. This world was different.

"…Ace."

The name slipped out before I even thought about it. Maybe it was instinct, maybe it was because of him—the real Ace, Luffy's brother, the kind of person I always admired.

Alvida raised an eyebrow. "Ace, huh? And how exactly did you end up floating in the ocean like a piece of trash?"

Good question. Too bad I didn't have an answer.

"I… I don't remember," I lied.

The truth was too insane to even consider. What was I supposed to say? That I came from another world where all of this was just a story? That I knew exactly how this was going to play out? No way in hell they'd believe me.

Alvida studied me for a moment, then snorted. "Tch. Another damn freeloader." She turned to the crew. "Throw him to the rats below deck. If he's useless, we'll toss him back where we found him."

The pirates grabbed me roughly by the arms, and before I could protest, they were dragging me toward the stairs.

I clenched my jaw. No way in hell was I going to let myself be some nameless extra in this world.

Not when I knew what was coming.

Not when he was about to show up.

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Below Deck

The storage room they threw me into was dark, damp, and reeked of mold and seawater. A few crates were stacked against the walls, and a single lantern hung from the ceiling, swinging slightly with the movement of the ship.

I leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths, trying to calm my racing thoughts.

I was really here. In One Piece. On Alvida's ship. That meant Luffy was coming.

And soon.

My heart pounded at the thought. My hero. The guy who would one day become the Pirate King. I was about to meet him.

I had no idea how or why I was in this world, but one thing was clear—I had a chance.

A chance to sail with Luffy. To be a part of the greatest adventure of all time.

But first, I had to survive.

I tested my body, flexing my fingers, rolling my shoulders. I wasn't some super-powered protagonist. No Haki, no Devil Fruit powers. Just me. But I knew things. I knew the future. And if I played my cards right, I could use that knowledge to my advantage.

I just had to wait for the right moment.

Then, suddenly—

BOOM.

The entire ship shook violently as something hit the deck above. Shouts rang out, heavy footsteps pounding against the wood as the crew scrambled. My heart leapt.

He was here.

I moved quickly, pressing my ear against the wooden door. Muffled voices. Yelling. The sound of a fight.

Then—

A loud, carefree laugh.

I grinned.

Let's go, Luffy.