4

With a heavy heart and a mind swirling with apprehension, I decide to approach the pirate ship. But before I take a step towards the beach, I carefully hide all my weapons in the forest. It's a risk, leaving behind my only means of defense, but I know that appearing armed could provoke an immediate and lethal response from the pirates.

As I near the shore, I catch sight of several pirates already on the island, scouring the beach, likely for supplies or perhaps other castaways. My heart pounds against my chest, adrenaline coursing through my veins. This is it — there's no turning back now. Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I step into the open and start yelling, trying to attract their attention.

My hands are raised high in the air, a universal sign of surrender and non-threat. The pirates whirl around at the sound of my voice, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons. For a moment, everything stands still — just me and the pirates, caught in a tense standoff.

The pirates shout at each other, their words a mix of surprise and caution. They're rugged, weather-beaten, and carry an air of danger around them. As they approach, I remain still, my hands still raised. My mind races with possible outcomes — will they help me, take me prisoner, or worse?

After what feels like an eternity but is only a couple of minutes, the pirates are close enough for me to see their suspicious eyes and the scars of a hundred battles etched into their skin. I try to speak, to explain my situation, but before I can get the words out, everything goes black.

A sharp blow to the back of my head sends me spiraling into unconsciousness. The last thing I'm aware of is the rough hands of the pirates grabbing me as I collapse to the ground.

When I come to, I have no idea how much time has passed. My head throbs with pain, and I'm disoriented. It takes me a moment to realize I'm no longer in the forest or on the beach, but somewhere dark and confined. The gentle rocking motion and the sound of waves tell me I'm on a ship — presumably the pirate ship.

I'm lying on a hard surface, and as my eyes adjust to the dim light, I see bars. I'm in a cell, a prisoner on a pirate ship in the world of One Piece. Fear and uncertainty grip me, but there's also a glimmer of hope. I'm no longer alone on the island. Now, I need to figure out what the pirates plan to do with me, and how I can survive this new challenge.

For several days, I continue my routine of hunting in the dense forest, each day venturing deeper with the hope of finding other people on the island. I follow the rivers inland, thinking they might lead to a village or settlement, but my attempts always end in disappointment. The island seems deserted, or at least, I'm unable to find any signs of civilization.

My concern grows as the supplies I salvaged from the shipwreck, especially the water, begin to run low. I estimate I have about a week's worth of essentials left. The urgency to find a sustainable source of food and water presses heavily on me.

On the tenth day, while scanning the horizon from the beach, my heart leaps at the sight of a ship. Initially, joy and relief flood through me, but as the ship draws closer, my excitement turns to dread. It's flying a black skull flag — the unmistakable emblem of pirates.

Panic sets in. Pirates in the One Piece world are often ruthless, and there's no telling what they might do if they find me. Without hesitation, I start running towards the forest, away from the beach, as the thought of encountering these pirates could mean certain death.

I spend the rest of the day deep in the forest, far from where I saw the ship. My mind races with fear and uncertainty. What if the pirates come ashore? What if they're already on the island? I resolve to be extra cautious from now on.

That night, I find a secluded spot to camp, far from my usual shelter on the beach. It's uncomfortable, and I hardly sleep, jumping at every sound. By morning, I feel exhausted but know I can't let my guard down.

After some time, I realize that if this pirate ship leaves the island, I might be stranded here forever. So, I decide to try and communicate with them, hoping to become part of the crew as a better option than being sold as a slave.

Approaching the ship, I hide all my weapons in the forest. Once I see the pirates on the island, I start screaming, letting them notice me. They immediately take weapons in their hands, but I keep my hands in the air, showing I'm unarmed.

After a tense couple of minutes, the pirates approach me. The next thing I know, everything goes dark. I've been hit and rendered unconscious.

Upon awakening, I realize my precarious situation. The pirates could sell me as a slave or take me as a crew member, the latter being the preferable but still perilous option. I need to find out what timeline I'm in and if I'm anywhere near the canon story of One Piece. I know about several devil fruits that I might try to get.

While lost in thought, I notice someone approaching. He must be one of the pirates.

"Hello, boys. Good that you're awake," he starts. "We were already going to throw you overboard. As you're on this ship, you have two options. First, become our crew member. Second, we sell you as a slave. But if you choose the first, you need to pass a test. So, what's your choice?"

I try to speak, but he interrupts, "I need only an answer. Not interested in your name. If you fail the test or choose the second option, I'll never see you again. So, what's your choice?"

"I'll take the first option," I respond.

He laughs, "Prepare for the test. Your task is to fight the other prisoners. There are five; you're the sixth. The last survivor becomes part of the crew."

He turns and leaves. My mind races. I can't kill; I've never done it. But then, survival instincts kick in. If I want to live, I must be willing to fight, perhaps even kill.

I start looking for anything I can use as a weapon. I find some nails but can't pull them out without hurting myself. Then, I manage to break some wood to create a makeshift weapon, a short, sharp piece of lumber.

After two hours, a pirate comes in. "It's your time to shine," he says, pulling me out of the cage. I'm led to where over thirty crew members stand, forming a circle with five people in the center — my opponents.

One of the crew members throws knives into the circle. "If any of you try anything foolish, like attacking us, you'll face your worst nightmare," he threatens. "Only one survives, or if the last one is too injured, he goes overboard too. Now, take your knives."

We each grab a knife. I try to maximize the distance between myself and the others, trying to appear bigger, stronger. My goal is to survive, not to fight needlessly.

The fight begins. Two prisoners immediately attack each other, both falling quickly. Another attacks me, but I dodge and, in a desperate move, strike him with my knife. Adrenaline surges through me as I realize I've just taken a life.

The fight continues, chaotic and brutal. I manage to stay on the defensive, avoiding direct confrontations. But then, I'm cornered between two opponents. In a frantic struggle, I manage to take down another, my mind a blur of fear and survival instinct.

Now, it's just me and one other left. He rushes at me, knife in hand. In a swift move, I strike him down. He's defenseless on the ground, and I hesitate. My morals clash with my instinct to survive. But I know what I must do. I end his life.

The crew erupts in cheers and shouts. I've passed their test, but at what cost? I've killed three people, one defenselessly. The weight of my actions crashes down on me, and I feel my consciousness slipping away. The world goes dark as I collapse, overwhelmed by what I've done and what I've become.