The only thing he could do was fight, grow stronger, fight, and grow stronger again.
The only thing he knew for sure was that he was in the world of One Piece.
Now that he had gained enough strength, it was time to pursue something else.
At the very least, as a human being, he couldn't live like a wild beast, aimlessly surviving day by day.
For five years, his diet had consisted solely of roasted meat and fruit. His stomach had long grown tired of it. He was desperate to see what the outside world had to offer.
He had thought about leaving many times before, but the truth was clear: without power, escape was impossible.
The few times he tried venturing out, he barely escaped death.
And let's not forget—he was a total landlubber. If he touched seawater, he'd be as good as dead.
Those brushes with death taught him one thing: leaving without sufficient strength was a fool's errand. That's how he ended up stuck on Kuroro Archipelago for a full five years.
Over those years, he hadn't gained much besides strength—but his appetite had grown immensely.
Now, he could devour enough food to rival a mountain and still not feel full.
Thump, thump, thump!
After staring each other down for over a minute, the giant ape let out an unwilling roar, shaking the island. It beat its chest a few times, the booming sound echoing across the jungle, before finally turning around and leaving.
It had acknowledged Shirayama's victory, relinquishing the title of King of the Forest to him.
"Ha! Ha! Ha!"
"I did it! I've conquered the five-year trial! Hahaha!"
As the ape lumbered away, Shirayama collapsed onto the ground, laughing through labored breaths. His face was alight with joy.
"The One Piece world… How can I not explore it?"
"Luffy, Red-Haired Shanks, Garp, Whitebeard—so many fascinating people to meet!"
"Once I'm out at sea, should I become a pirate? Or maybe join the Marines? Hmm… I haven't decided yet. Guess I'll figure it out later!"
"But first things first—I need to set sail!"
"Oh, beautiful ocean, here I come! Shirayama, at your service!"
An hour later.
At the largest port on the central island of Kuroro Archipelago, Shirayama stood aboard a sturdy vessel, roughly 15 meters long and 7 meters wide, ready to embark on his journey.
The ship was stocked with ten barrels of fresh water—his lifeline.
He could go a long time without food but not without water.
On the open sea, food was plentiful, but fresh water was a rare treasure.
His ship wasn't made of ordinary wood.
It was constructed from hollow ironwood, a rare material native to Kuroro Archipelago. Lightweight yet incredibly sturdy, it was perfect for long voyages.
Shirayama had never seen the legendary Treasure Tree Adam from the One Piece world, but he was confident this ironwood was just as good.
"All those nights spent dreaming of this moment, and now it's finally here!"
Standing at the bow, he spread his arms wide as if to embrace the entire world.
Then, with a loud shout, he declared, "Let's set sail!"
As his voice echoed over the water, a brilliant white light burst from the stern of his ship, propelling it forward with incredible speed.
"Roar!"
The moment Shirayama left, the entire Kuroro Archipelago erupted with joyful howls, as if celebrating the departure of their long-feared tormentor.
It was as if the islands themselves breathed a sigh of relief. The sun, long obscured, now shone brightly upon the archipelago, casting a warm and cheerful light.
"This is what sailing feels like. This is freedom! Haha, it's amazing!"
Lying on the deck, Shirayama closed his eyes and smiled, letting the salty sea breeze wash over him as he basked in the thrill of his newfound freedom.