The first thing Jeremy noticed was the silence.
Not the kind you find in a library or during a power outage, but the kind of deep, otherworldly stillness that made his ears ring. The second thing he noticed was that he was standing barefoot in what looked like a field of clouds, wearing a fluffy white bathrobe that suspiciously resembled the one he stole from a hotel in Reno three years ago.
"Okay…" he said slowly, glancing around. "Either I'm dreaming, dead, or I passed out watching anime again and landed in a weird Crunchyroll ad."
A polite cough made him spin around—and promptly slip, landing flat on his back with an undignified thump. He groaned and looked up.
Standing over him, sipping from a coffee mug that read #1 Creator, was a bearded man in sandals and a hoodie that said in bold cosmic letters: LET THERE BE CHILL.
"Morning," the man said cheerfully. "Well—eternal morning, technically. Welcome."
Jeremy blinked. "Wait. Hold on. Are you… God?"
The man tilted his head. "If that's the name you're comfortable with. I go by many things. Creator. Cosmic Overseer. Multiversal Architect. Steve, to close friends."
Jeremy stared, open-mouthed.
"Would you like coffee?" God—Steve?—offered, holding up a second mug labeled 'Property of the Timeline Dept.' "We have all blends. Even decaf, but that's mostly reserved for people who watched anime at 2x speed."
Jeremy sat up slowly. "Okay, hang on. The last thing I remember is finishing Thunderbolt—you know, the new Marvel thing with the asterisk because it's technically the New Avengers—and then watching the new One Piece episode. It was insane. Luffy did that Gear 5 moment again, but—" He stopped himself. "Wait. Doesn't matter. I was sitting on my couch, eating ramen. Then… what? Did I—?"
God made a flicking gesture, and a floating screen popped up beside them. It read: JEREMY THOMPSON – FINAL MOMENTS. A rainbow-colored loading wheel spun in the middle.
"Apologies," God said. "Our Wi-Fi's a bit slow on Monday multiverses."
Jeremy frowned. "I died?"
"Yes," God said, sipping. "According to our records, it was a lethal combo: emotional overload, severe sodium spike, and yelling 'LET'S GOOOOOO!' with enough force to register as a minor seismic event."
Jeremy's mouth hung open.
"Congratulations," God added. "You are now the 27th human to perish from hype in the last fiscal cycle. Most of them during anime finales."
Jeremy slumped. "So I died from anime."
"Technically, anime and bad life choices," God corrected. "But I admire your passion. That's what brings us here."
"...Here being… Cloudland?"
"Think of it as a celestial lobby. Normally, you'd be sent off to the Afterlife Department. Harps, peace, occasional spirit ping-pong. But—" He set down his mug on a floating coaster. "You qualify for a new pilot program."
Jeremy's brows rose. "Pilot program?"
God snapped his fingers. A cosmic touchscreen hovered in front of Jeremy, listing options under the header: ALTERNATIVE ETERNITY PATHWAYS.
"You, my friend, get a choice," God said. "You can take the standard eternity package. Peace, fulfillment, buffet access. Or… we reincarnate you into another universe."
Jeremy's eyes sparkled. "Like… Isekai?"
God grinned. "Exactly. And not just any random fantasy world. You get one that fits your soul."
"And that would be…"
"The Marvel multiverse."
Jeremy's breath caught. "Wait. You're serious? You'd put me in Marvel? With superpowers? And I keep all my fan knowledge?!"
"With a twist," God said. "You don't get to choose your powers directly. But based on your soul profile… we're syncing you with another universe's power system."
Jeremy narrowed his eyes. "You mean…?"
"You're getting powers from One Piece."
Jeremy's brain stalled. "So like, Devil Fruit abilities? Haki? Gum-Gum powers?!"
"Correct. One set. Fully integrated. You'll be reborn on a Marvel Earth, and the powers will awaken gradually."
Jeremy gasped. "Do I have to worry about seawater?"
God winked. "No seawater weakness, but we are keeping the can't swim clause. For comedy."
Jeremy pointed a finger dramatically. "If I end up with Buggy's body-parts-go-whee nonsense, I'm suing."
"No refunds," God said smoothly. "But I'll do you a favor—I'll give you a legacy title. You'll be known as Monkey D. Luffy. Sound familiar?"
Jeremy went pale. "Wait, wait, no way—I'm actually becoming Luffy?"
God just smiled. "Not a clone. Not a carbon copy. Just… you, born with his will and gifts. Call it reincarnated potential."
Jeremy hesitated. "But I'm not like him. I'm not wild or reckless or loud. I'm… me."
"And that's exactly why this version of Luffy will be different. Your mind, his gifts. A new story."
Jeremy looked out across the clouds, thinking. This was crazy. Beyond crazy. But if he stayed? He'd get peace. Serenity. Eternal calm.
If he went?
He'd get a second chance. Adventure. Purpose.
He looked back at God. "Alright. Let's do it. Throw me into Marvel. Give me the Straw Hat legacy."
"Final answer?"
"Final answer."
God raised his hand, and the sky began to pulse with golden light.
"Oh," he added, almost as an afterthought. "You're being reborn as a baby. Good luck with that."
"WAIT, WHAT—"
Snap.
Earth-1312 – 10 Seconds After Birth
Crying. Screaming. Blurry lights. The scent of antiseptic and fresh carpet.
Jeremy tried to move. His limbs flailed like wet noodles. His head flopped back and forth.
Oh no. Oh no. He couldn't speak. He couldn't see properly. He was a baby.
I didn't mean reincarnated like this!
"Look at him!" a warm voice cooed. "Such strong little hands!"
A second voice—deeper—chuckled. "He's gonna be a wild one, I can already tell."
"Any name ideas?" the mother asked.
"Well," the father replied, "we were thinking… Monkey. Monkey D. Luffy. After that old anime we loved."
Jeremy—now Luffy—froze mid-scream.
You've got to be kidding me, he thought.
As he gurgled helplessly, the mobile above his crib spun, and one of the toy giraffes glowed gold. A familiar voice whispered into his baby-brain.
"Surprise! Welcome to Earth-1312, Monkey D. Luffy. Powers unlock starting on your tenth birthday. Don't eat glue, don't punch holes in walls, and remember: you still can't swim. Have fun."
P.S.: "The One Piece is real."
Jeremy—no, Luffy—let out one final, stunned hiccup.
The mobile began to play a reggae version of the One Piece theme.