Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Arriving in OPM World
Leo's face fell silent as the system laid out its purpose. "So, I have to become an assassin and kill people?"
[While denial is understandable, the assessment is accurate. You will eliminate targets, some potentially innocent by your own judgment.]
Leo scoffed. In his experience, life wasn't so black and white. A vicious murderer could be driven by righteous vengeance, while an innocent façade could cloak a corrupt heart.
[However, unlike others, you possess the objectivity to complete the task. Personal feelings won't cloud your judgment, and even if they did, your exceptional assassination and bodyguard skills ensure the job gets done, no matter the hardship.]
He chuckled, a dry humor lacing his voice. "Damn, my own mother never sugarcoated things this much. You've piqued my interest though. If you're so persistent, spill the details about this contract."
[The proposition is this: you'll be transported to various worlds, tasked with eliminating anomalies – primarily, eradicating these entities known as Paracities. Each successful mission will grant you a random power native to that world. Your performance will be evaluated and translated into points, which you can then use for a ten-pull gacha draw.]
"Gacha?" Leo flinched. "You know my luck with gambling, right?"
[An appropriate adjustment will be made to mitigate that concern. Regardless, the contract binds you for three years. Afterward, you retain the acquired powers with some limitations. The choice to continue beyond that term lies with you. Early termination results in forfeiture of all powers and memories from the other worlds.]
Leo considered the terms with a simple nod. He understood the system's caution.
[There's also the possibility of recruiting individuals from your visited worlds into your mercenary guild, subject to certain conditions.]
"Thank goodness for that," Leo muttered. Unlike most protagonists who thrived in solitude, Leo saw the value of teamwork. He believed in accomplishing tasks through collaboration, not by shouldering the entire burden alone.
[The reward points you earn are also tied to World Stability, so try not to stray too far from the established plot. I'll explain the storyline in more detail as you progress. Additionally, while I, the system AI, can offer guidance and assistance, it's crucial that my existence remains a secret. Any scans or blatant interference from my end will trigger the detection of other Systems, and trust me, the Outer Gods won't hesitate to obliterate me.]
"Understood," Leo replied, his voice steady. He grasped the system's purpose – a helpful companion, not a dispenser of overpowered abilities.
[This journey will be fraught with danger. Death in the other world translates to death here. And if the Outer Gods discover you, well, your soul might not be so lucky. It could be destroyed or devoured.]
Leo's lips curved into a wry smile. "I hear you. Dodging life-or-death situations is practically a hobby of mine at this point. Besides..." His gaze drifted to his robotic left arm, a flicker of determination sparking in his eyes. "There's a reason for all this. I want to be human again."
[Very well. Initiating system integration with host...]
Lines of code scrolled across Leo's vision.
[Process complete. Congratulations, Mr. Leonidas Stellafarius. You are now the host of the Mercenary System and the designated captain of your Mercenary Squad.]
Leo blinked. "Huh. No fireworks or anything?" He'd half expected a surge of power or at least a flutter of excitement, but there was nothing.
[As a reward for successfully accepting the contract, you are entitled to choose two specific weapons for your arsenal.]
Leo's eyes gleamed. "Really? Then give me a Magnum Research Desert Eagle for long-range firepower. And for close combat, a sleek ninja sword with a compact hilt should do the trick."
The Desert Eagle – perfect for taking down enemies from afar. And for close-quarters combat, a single-edged ninja sword, reminiscent of Sasuke's, would be ideal.
[The system has already registered your choice.]
Just then, two items materialized before Leo. One was the latest version of the Magnum Desert Eagle, a weapon so advanced it didn't even exist in this world yet. The other was a katana similar to Sasuke's, but with a smaller guard.
A holographic display flickered to life, revealing the weapons' stats:
[Basic Tool: Desert Eagle
Desert Eagle with a capacity of 100 bullets for single round.
Host can also shoot a Reverse Chaos Bullet one per World.]
[Basic Tool: Straight Sword
Straight single-edged sword that could withstand 1000 cuts.
Host can activate Reverse Chaos Slash one per World.]
Looking at these treasures, Leo's eyes sparkled with excitement. But then a question niggled at him. "This Reverse Chaos thing, what's the deal?"
[Reverse Chaos is an anti-world energy that disrupts the connection between Outer Gods and Parasites. It can also eliminate Systems or Abilities granted by Outer Gods. It won't affect anyone else, though.]
"Interesting..." Leo rubbed his chin, a smirk playing on his lips. He donned his shirt and coat, then strapped on a holster belt before expertly securing his new pistol. He tied a cord to the sheath of his sword and slung it across his back.
"Perfect!" With a grin, Leo asked, "So, how do I get to this new world?"
[I will create a dummy identity for you within the target world. Your consciousness will then be transferred to that identity. No matter how much time you spend in that reality, no actual time will pass here. There may be exceptions to this rule, but I cannot confirm anything about future expeditions.]
"Neet! Let's get this party started," Leo declared, a glint in his eye. "Time to beat up some... I mean, eliminate some of those isekai protagonists." He licked his lips in anticipation.
[Then—]
"Wait! Before that, a quick bathroom break perhaps? I wouldn't want you getting caught with your pants down during a fight, especially after that spicy burrito."
[Understandable.]
Ignoring the system's protests, Leo rushed to his toilet. After dynamiting his toilet, Leo emerged with a groan.
"Seriously, those Mexican food trucks..." he muttered, rubbing his stomach. "Guess I'm sticking to pizza or ramen from now on." With a sigh, he turned back to the voice. "Alright, system, spill it. Which world are we hitting first?"
[An assistance request has been received from a world.]
[World Code: 'One Punch Man.'
Goals: Secure the future hero critical to the world's balance and eliminate the Paracite(s). Transmission commencing in ten seconds.]
"Hold on a damn minute!" Leo sputtered, panic clawing at his throat. "Why the heck are we starting with this world?! Shouldn't we ease into it, you know, low-level stuff first?"
The world of One Punch Man – it was a notorious death trap, as dangerous as, if not more so, than the Dragon Ball Z universe. Saitama, Garou, Blast – any one of those heavy hitters could squash Leo like a bug. Not to mention the sheer number of unpredictable monsters roaming around! He hadn't signed up for a monster-hunting apprenticeship. Demon Slayer would have been a much better starting point – at least the demons there wouldn't actively hunt him down during the day.
[Please remain calm. While the world does harbor threats capable of pulverizing you, I wouldn't have accepted the commission if I didn't believe in your potential for success.]
A sardonic chuckle escaped Leo's lips. "Yeah, thanks for the vote of confidence, system. Feeling real secure right now." This AI companion was proving to be far less reliable than he'd initially thought.
[Furthermore, your initial missions will be classified as 'Preliminary,' meaning you'll be tackling relatively minor issues. The difficulty will scale based on your performance. Client worlds will be assigned accordingly.]
"I don't care about difficulty levels! Stop the transmission! I need time to prep!"
[Negative. Transmission commencing. Please close your eyes to avoid nausea.]
Grumbling under his breath, Leo complied, squeezing his eyes shut. A disorienting shift followed, the plush carpet beneath his feet replaced by rough concrete. The air grew thick and warm, and a strange sensation prickled at his skin.
"System, you malfunctioning shit of scrap…" he groaned, the sudden change in environment sending a wave of dizziness washing over him. He'd underestimated the importance of preparation. Just a few more firearms wouldn't have hurt...
Scanning his surroundings, Leo recognized the familiar sights and sounds of a Japanese street. Apparently, the "One Punch Man" world was basically Japan writ large, just like everyone having Japanese names in Naruto. But unlike the bustling streets he expected, this one was eerily deserted. Not a single soul in sight.
"Great," he muttered, clicking his tongue. "How am I supposed to fight monsters with just a gun and a sword?" He flexed his hand. Casually aiming a punch at a nearby tree, "Dammit! Let's go for—"
BOOM!
A deafening explosion cut him off. He whipped around, jaw agape, at the scene before him. The tree he'd targeted was gone, vanished without a trace. In its place, a gaping crater marred the ground, and the previously intact building behind the tree now sported a perfectly circular hole shaped like a giant fist.
Leo stared, dumbfounded, at his own hand. Then, a slow grin spread across his face as he turned towards the ever-present voice of the system.
[It appears you've unknowingly met the qualifying condition for this world. Congratulations! You've been granted the ability to utilize One-Punch Man-like power… infinitely within this world.]
The lost smile he hadn't realized was missing returned in full force. "I am One-Punch Man…?" he echoed, disbelief tinged with awe. He examined his fist, still faintly smoking from the pulverized tree. "I AM ONE-PUNCH MAN! YEAH, BABY!"
This explained the strange sensation he'd felt upon arrival. Years of idolizing Saitama and mimicking his training regime, a childhood dream he'd eventually dismissed as naive, had finally, inexplicably, come true. He was a real-life One-Punch Man.
His celebration was short-lived, however. Amidst the euphoria, a peculiar detail snagged his attention. A lone strand of hair, not his own, had landed in his palm. He brushed it off, only to watch in horror as a similar strand of his own hair drifted down, landing with a soft plop in his open hand.
[Ahem, much like great power comes with great responsibility, the One-Punch Man power set comes with… baldness. So, yeah.]
The world seemed to tilt on its axis. For a frozen moment, Leo resembled a malfunctioning computer, his processing power overloaded. Then, a telltale sign of his mounting fury – steam began to emanate from his ears. Finally, the dam broke.
"YOU MOTHERFUUUUUUUUUUU—" Leo's enraged roar echoed through the deserted street. Baldness, anything but baldness! He could have dealt with supervillains, monstrous hordes, even the indignity of pineapple pizza sushi with ketchup. But losing his hair? That was a line the system had clearly crossed.
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