Reincarnated In One Piece: The Odyssey of Jack the Black Blade

The first night was dreadful. I barely managed to fall asleep and got very little rest. You're probably wondering why. Well, the answer is simple: I needed to figure out my place in this world. My mind raced as I considered my options—what could I do, what should I do, what opportunities did I have?

The Marines were out of the question. I refuse to be a lapdog for the Celestial Dragons; that path doesn't suit me at all. Besides, I'm currently on a route that will lead me to the Straw Hat Pirates, and who wouldn't want good friends like that? Who wouldn't want to embark on an adventure with Luffy, witness Zoro's determination firsthand, help Sanji charm the ladies, or share some sweets with Chopper? And then there's Nami—an incredible woman, even if I never fully understood her obsession with money in the series.

With that in mind, it seemed clear: I should try to join the Straw Hats. Even if I fail to grow stronger in this world, I'd still have a place with them. But that's not my goal. This time, things will be different. This time, I won't be helpless. I need to understand why I died and, more importantly, what I lived for. Starting today, my life will change. Jack will conquer this world.

Once I settled on my plan, sleep came more easily. But what awaited me in my dreams—nothing could have prepared me for that.

I found myself waking in some kind of ruin. Beside me lay a massive sword, pitch-black and towering at roughly 2.15 meters. It reminded me of a blade from an anime called Berserk, though it wasn't an exact replica. I tried to lift it, but it was unbelievably heavy—I couldn't even budge it.

Shifting my gaze from the sword, I noticed a corridor ahead of me. From it, I heard the sound of thunderous applause. Curious, I ventured forward. At the end of the corridor was a coliseum filled with people, all screaming and cheering as if I were the reincarnation of Ares himself.

But what was this place? As I stepped into the arena, a screen appeared before me, offering me the chance to select an opponent. My options were limited, as I hadn't encountered many people in this world yet—mostly Marines and Captain Morgan. So, I chose a Marine soldier as my opponent.

Big mistake.

I'm no fighter, and he quickly overwhelmed me. It was a foolish move on my part, but what I didn't expect was him driving his sword straight through my heart. Just as the blade pierced me, I woke up in a panic. My hand flew to my chest, but there was no wound, no hole. Still, I felt different—stronger, somehow.

Could this be a phenomenon of the One Piece world? It seemed that fighting with all your might, even against impossible odds, could lead to growth. Perhaps this is the key to reaching the top of this world.