The sun beat down fiercely over the jagged cliffs of Dawn Island, a wild, untamed patch of earth surrounded by endless blue sea. The wind carried the sharp cries of seagulls and the scent of salt and pine. Far below, waves crashed relentlessly against rocks, pounding out a timeless rhythm.
But atop one craggy ledge, a boy stirred.
His body ached like he'd been asleep for centuries. Every muscle throbbed, and his head spun like a storm inside a seashell. He blinked slowly, trying to focus on the unfamiliar sky above—a brilliant canvas of blue, unmarred by clouds.
Where... am I?
He tried to move but stumbled to a sitting position, arms trembling. His skin felt odd—warm and tough like it had been kissed by the sun itself. His fingers flexed, revealing dark tan flesh, smooth but strong-looking.
What's going on?
The boy's chest rose and fell sharply as he struggled to catch his breath. A strange sensation crawled up his spine—a sudden heat blossoming across his back. He twisted his head slowly and froze.
Behind his shoulders, two massive wings shimmered into view. Not feathers, but flames—white-hot, with flickering orange edges. They stretched wide, crackling softly like a fire breathing life.
"Wh—what... are you?" he whispered, voice rough. The flames flared involuntarily, burning hotter with his surprise.
Panic tightened his chest. He tried to fold the wings, but they resisted, flickering with untamed energy. His mind raced—This isn't normal. This body... these flames... I'm not human anymore.
He forced himself to stand, legs unsteady but growing stronger with each step. Below him, the forest spread dense and green, a wild kingdom filled with unseen creatures.
Above, a familiar cry cut through the air—a bird.
But it wasn't just any bird.
A News Coo—the messenger pigeon of the seas—glided by, its small satchel bobbing with every flap.
His heart skipped.
No... it can't be...
He stumbled forward, eyes scanning desperately until they landed on a crumpled piece of paper pinned to a tree trunk by a rusty nail. He yanked it free.
The faded image staring back at him was unmistakable—a wanted poster.
A pirate, one of the many infamous faces that had filled his childhood dreams.
I'm... inside the One Piece world.
He sank to his knees, overwhelmed. His past life, his memories as a simple guy watching this anime from another world—none of it prepared him for this raw, vibrant reality.
The wings on his back flickered again, a subtle blaze of wild fire.
Suddenly, a sharp voice broke through the moment.
"Hey! What're you doing here?!"
A small boy burst from the forest, wild eyes blazing with energy. His black hair was messy, and a straw hat dangled from his back by a string.
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy! This is our training ground!"
The boy—Kael—stared, startled. The wings stirred again as he instinctively twisted his body, trying to hide their full span.
But there was no hiding something that big.
Luffy's grin stretched wider, full of awe and excitement.
"Whoa! You've got wings! Can you fly? Are you a bird?"
Kael swallowed hard, trying to steady his breath.
"I... don't know."
Before he could say more, Luffy's fist shot forward like a cannonball.
"Let's fight!"
Instinct took over. Kael dodged the punch, feet digging into the rocky ground. He threw a heavy kick back—not thinking, just reacting. Flames flared along his calf as the air hissed, but the fire was wild, uncontrolled. It didn't obey him.
The kick connected solidly, sending Luffy stumbling back into a tree with a thud.
"Whoa! Hot! Hot, hot, hot!" Luffy laughed, rubbing his chest but beaming. "You're really strong!"
Kael stared down at the flickering fire trailing from his leg, fear and fascination mingling inside him.
I can't control this yet. Not like I want.
Before things could go further, voices called from deeper in the trees.
"Luffy! What the hell are you doing?"
Two boys stepped out. One with dark spiky hair and piercing eyes. The other blond and cocky, arms crossed.
"Ace," said the black-haired boy. "Who's your new friend?"
Luffy bounced over, practically bursting with excitement.
"This is Kael! He just woke up here, on the cliffs!"
Kael forced a small smile.
"I don't remember how I got here. I just woke up."
Ace narrowed his eyes, stepping closer.
"Wings and fire? You're no normal kid."
Kael nodded slowly.
"I don't know much yet. But I want to survive."
Sabo grinned, crossing his arms.
"You're strong. Maybe you're the rival we need."
Luffy's grin was infectious.
"Rivals who eat meat together!"
They laughed, sharing scraps of bread and fish by the cliff's edge. Kael felt a flicker of hope.
The flames along his wings simmered down as the sun dipped low.
He knew this world was dangerous—especially for someone like him.
But maybe, just maybe, here he could find a place to belong.