1 A New Path

"It's time to wake up now, you hear me?" A plain-looking old man sat somewhere inside the endless void watching over a special soul he had handpicked himself.

"Ugh," A single strained sigh came from the soul at first. "Where am I?" The soul asked.

"That would be the land between existence."

"The land between existence?"

"Indeed! Let's make it easier on you and just say that this is heaven. Or at least something similar to it." Even though it looked nothing like it.

"So I really died then. What a strange feeling it is knowing that I am dead. Maybe it took death for me to finally get to feel something."

"For someone who just died, you say the most peculiar things, but again, I picked you for that reason." The man said calmly.

"Peculiar? I always thought of myself to be lacking in that department. I haven't said anything peculiar in seventy years."

"You're more interesting than you think. " The man dressed in only white stated.

"They say you learn new things every day. Hm, perhaps that doesn't apply to me now that I am dead."

"You might still see tomorrow come. It will depend on the choices you make from now on. Allow me to jump ahead a little bit and get to the issue at hand." The old man made sure that he looked taller and bigger as he sat there. "I am God, as I assume a man as clever as you already have figured out."

"Yes, I believe even a monkey could figure that out."

"So, the question remains. What do you want with me?"

"I am here to grant you your wishes for your life after death. Anything you want, tell me and I shall grant it."

"Is that even something I deserve after the life I led? I thought the rule was only the good and pure get chances like this."

"The actions while alive is not what is judged when one's time comes. It's the willpower and confidence of one's soul that counts. Among the ants running around on your homeworld, you have the most impressive soul."

"Oh, I didn't know we had souls. But, to be fair, I am not a believer in you either so why would I believe a soul exists."

"I can already tell you will bring me endless amusement. State your wishes, human."

"How many do I get?"

"I am God! You can sip on the water, or drink the whole ocean. State your wishes, big or small, lengthy or short. I do not mind."

"You are making it harder. Now I have no pressure or motivation to think of and pick a few very good wishes. Let's then go for a mediocre one."

"Give me a guiding system. Something that holds knowledge and that I can rely on when I encounter unknown enemies or situations."

"Done. I will make sure it has everything you'll need." God said and waited for the next wish.

"Good. If possible, give me the appearance of the father of Monkey D Luffy. My grandson made me read that manga when I was in the hospital. This fictional character was his favourite so as a tribute to my grandson, let me walk in the shoes of his hero."

"Is that sentiment I hear? I didn't think you were capable of that."

"Me neither. It would appear death changes people."

"You are right!" God said with a smirk.

"Anything else you got that you need to get out there before I send you on your way?"

"No, you can go ahead and send me on my way." The soul spoke solemnly.

"Quite eager to get out there aren't you?

Live well!" God said and sent the soul on his way to his new life.

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Inside a darkened alley, a rift opened up and spat out a man on the ground. The man was tall, much taller than any other person living in this city. He stood up and dusted off his clothes.

"hmm, I wonder where God sent me. I forgot to ask him about that ." He said as he looked around. He suddenly noticed that something felt different. He had all his memories from his past life and he was sure that this is not his old body.

"So I got a similar outfit as well. Guess the change occurred already." He looked down and noticed that he was wearing the clothes Dragon had on in the One Piece manga. It was weird going from normal height to well above two meters. The ground seemed so far away.

"I like it. Definitely better than before. I like this body as well." He didn't literally tower over houses or anything but this height felt just that different from his past.

"Now I should explore this system first. Then I can explore the world. Now how would someone go about activating a fantasy system?" He sat down against one of the walls of the alley. Even in this position, he would tower over the average kid.

"Activate? System. I command you to start?!" He tried many different commands but nothing happened.

"He could have at least explained how I activate the system before sending me away"

[I am here to serve!] A soothing older female voice echoes inside his head.

"System? is that you?" He said out loud again and it took a few seconds before he got a response.

[Yes! Please speak to me internally. We don't want anyone finding out about me now do we.] The voice of the middle-aged woman sounded out inside his head again.

'I suppose. This actually makes it easier. Lucky that the god thought about this.' He closed his eyes to focus more on the voice in his head.

'Let's just keep it like that. Now show me your feature.' he said and opened his eyes.

[Understood. Close your eyes again and say the word status.]

'Status'

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[Name:

[Age: 114

[Title: Blessed By God

[Race: Human

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'Do you have any more features?' He asked the system. He wanted to know everything about it before dealing with the loose ends. Like the whole naming thing.

[I have three more features. Inventory, store and World Travel. Would host like an explanation.]

'No, I think they are pretty self-explanatory. Something to put things into and the other to travel worlds. The last one is used to buy things. Does any of them have any limits?'

[No! God creates nothing short of perfect. You have infinite space and you can travel anywhere you desire. You can buy anything that has ever been created and it's all free.]

'Okay, that is surprising. Not unwelcomed though. Now to figure out in which world I am in. I could probably ask the system, but it's more fun to find out for myself.'

"Oy, man. You look like a rich fellow, so hand over the wallet you're hiding under that robe of yours"

"Perfect." He whispered. He looked upon the four rough-looking youngsters holding knives. The leader among them held one knife in each hand.

"Are you deaf, old man? Give us everything you have on you or die. We are four against one. Don't try and be clever." one of the boys beside the leader said to him. He simply frowned at them, to which they smiled thinking he was afraid or nervous.

"How old are you four. sixteen? seventeen?" So young and already walking such a dangerous path.

'Not that I have the right to judge. What a hypocrite I am.' He was still sitting down against the wall so the four boys didn't exactly realize just how abnormally tall he was.

"Shut up old man! Just give us everything you have." The leader said while raising his knife a little higher.

"You have never killed anyone before, have you. Not even hurt an animal. Right?" He stood up and his incredibly tall height coupled with his deep and growl like voice scared the shit out of the boys.

"B-Boss. Maybe we should rethink this whole thing. L-Look at him. he is a freak of nature." A boy in the back said with a hushed tone so the man couldn't hear him. Little did he know that there was nothing he said that he could hide from the giant before them.

"Shut up! stay back there, coward. We should never have brought you. Let's go, guys!" The leader said to the other two beside him and all three ran at the man with knives in hand.

He scanned the boys properly. Time seemed to have slowed down as his eyes darted from each boy to the next and he already knew almost everything about their technique. From just one look he had figured out exactly what each boy would do in a fight. They were complete rookies in every sense of the word.

'He in the back reminds me so much of Riley. I won't hurt him as much.'

In this small alley, he had one boy on his right and left side. The leader stood in front of him. The leader jumped forwards with his lackeys joining him soon after.

"TAKE THIS!" He thrust the knife forward and was shocked when he felt the knife stop dead in its tracks by a large hand.

"What's the problem, boy?" The man glared at the other two approaching and they stopped immediately.

"No Do-" The leader said before shutting up. His hands were shaking.

"Why don't you guys just get back home and go to bed. But first, let me administer punishment." He said, and the next second he stood above three downed boys that had lost consciousness.

"Wh-What are you?!" The last boy dropped his knife and fell down because his knees were too weak to hold him up anymore.

"What am I? Who am I? Great questions, are they not." He put a hand on his chin.

'I have taken a body from One Piece so I should take a name from there as well. Well, I only know a few names so let's combine two of them.'

"I am Portgas D Dragon. I am a traveller." Dragon said and offered a helping hand to the boy.

"N-Nice to meet you, M-Master Dragon!!" The boy said while being incredibly unsure of how to address this man before him.

"No need to fear me. Your friends are not dead, I only knocked them out for a while. They are fine." Dragon said while he started walking away from the alley.

"T-They aren't my friends!" The boy yelled by mistake. He was uncharacteristically loud. His fear controlling his volume.

"What are you waiting for. Come along, boy." Dragon said.

The boy showed shock, but quickly shook it away and ran after Dragon.

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End