Bab 5: Chapter 5
Chapter 5
A/N: A humble thank you to everyone who left a review.
Halnola, South Blue
Ding!
New Quest Alert!
Quest: Defeat Blackjack!
Reward: 2,400 Exp and Lv.3 [Skill Disk].
[ACCEPT/DECLINE]
'Hell no! I don't want to fight this guy!'
Error! Error!
[DECLINE] not possible! Initiating auto [ACCEPT] in 3...2...1..
'Oh fuck me!'
Blackjack begins the fight with a mad dash and sends a crushing blow downwards that could turn an ordinary man into a bloody smear on the floor. I barely manage to twist my body out of the way in time and watch as the earth cracks open under his fist.
The mobster seems mildly surprised that I managed to dodge. He's probably used to being the one with both power and speed. "Alright. So you're faster than you look. This might be fun." he mutters darkly.
I meanwhile, am trying to put a serious amount of distance between the two of us. 'What the hell is up with this guy's stats! 168 STR, 201 VIT, but only 4 fucking WIS? No one else is this crazy unbalanced!'
Blackjack apparently wasn't feeling like letting my reprieve last though as he springboarded off the ground and closed the gap between us in a manner of seconds.
I renew my efforts of frantically dodging and become instantly aware of a massive oversight in my preparation. 'Why the hell didn't I put any guns in my [Inventory] when I had the chance!'
I ask myself the question, but I already know the answer. I could make some flimsy excuse that firearms don't work well against a lot of the people in this universe, so I chose not to dole out the cash for them.
But that would be a lie.
The truth is more sad. The truth is, that despite all their usefulness, guns just aren't my style. Never have been. I've always preferred to get more up close and personal.
I barely duck in time and feel the titanic fist caress my hair as it sails overhead. 'And look where that's gotten me now.'
The next blow, I don't dodge -not completely anyway-. It glances off my upper arm as I'm turning and my entire body is sent reeling.
-53 HP!
HP Regen Skill Active!
-Current speed: 0.1% max health per minute.
I sucked in a painful breath through my teeth and nearly stumbled onto my ass. 'What the fuck!' I internally cry as I clutch my shoulder in pain. 'That was barely a sideswipe and it feels like my arm almost got ripped out! 53! I took less damage from getting shot!'
"You're durable too. That's good." Blackjack compliments. "Most men go down screaming after one hit. The last time someone stayed standing was before I had to quit pirating." Blackjack cracked his knuckles again and smiled. "I was much weaker back then."
Oh. Good. He kept training even after getting the 8.2 M on his head. As if I didn't have enough on my plate to worry about.
The brawl begins again and I just can't seem to get off the defensive. I may be just a bit faster than he is but his reach dwarfs mine. If I move in to land a body blow there's no way I'll make it out scot-free.
And then, just to prove me wrong, Blackjack overextends himself on a lunge and the perfect opportunity appears before my eyes.
Maybe it's the world itself taking pity on me but I sure as hell am not going to turn down the offer.
I slide to the right, away from his outstretched arms, and ram the strongest punch I can summon into his side. A strike even more devastating than the one that shattered Reggie's jaw.
My only reward for taking advantage of this golden chance is almost losing my head a second later on his retaliatory swing.
I successfully ducked below the reprisal but inside I was panicking. 'He barely budged! Good god what is this guy's body made of? Is this related to him having over 200 VIT? And I don't even have time to re-check his profile to see how much damage that did!'
Would you like to turn on 'Damage Notifications'?
'THAT'S AN OPTION? YES GODDAMNIT!'
I shouldn't be focused on the [Game].
It cost me dearly.
A lariat connects to my torso and I'm hammered into the ground. Blood spurts from my mouth and I can feel something in my chest crack.
-167 HP!
A massive meaty hand encircles my neck, rips me from the earth and suddenly I'm being hoisted into the air by an iron grip around my throat.
My legs kick about feebly as he raises me high, my fingers are clawing desperately at his hand but Blackjack's hold is like a steel vice.
It's a terrifying moment.
When you know you're not strong enough to free yourself. To have actual numerical proof of your own inability.
'Is this how it ends?'
[Adrenalin Rush] Activated!
STR (100 +70%) → (170)
'Fuck no it's not!'
I feel the boost activate and I'm able to slowly start wrenching his fingers off my windpipe. Blackjack's eyebrows furrow mildly in amazement before he sneers and presses back down even harder.
Our strengths are basically at a standstill and I know I need to do something to shake up this match. 'GAME!' I thunder inside my mind. 'Can you dump all my points into STR?'
I honestly don't even know if this will work. Every time before I've just distributed the points manually through the [Status] menu.
Request Acknowledged!
Points to spend (15) → (0)
STR (115 +70%) → (195.5)
A malicious smirk crosses my face. 'Success!' I throw Blackjacks massive meat hook aside and feel my feet land safely on the ground. The towering man stumbles for a moment, confused as to whats just happened.
And that's all I needed.
I rush inside his guard and with all the speed my 50 DEX will allow I thrash him with as many blows as I can muster.
72 Damage! (1,886/2,010)
69 Damage! (1,818/2,010)
75 Damage! (1,743/ 2,010)
Blackjack's body twists and contorts with each strike. He stumbles, grimaces, and wheezes with every hit and internally he's probably wondering why his monstrous stature isn't protecting him like it usually does.
And still I push my arms faster.
78 Damage! (1,665/2,010)
81 Damage! (1,584/2,010)
59 Damage! (1,525/2,010)
73 Damage! (1,452/2,010)
Again and again I launch my fists. Solar plexus. Floating ribs. Liver. The [Anatomy] [Skill] I picked up on Kivuruk sure as shit doesn't make me a doctor but damn if it doesn't help me know where to aim!
Skill Lv Up! Unarmed Combat Lv (6/50) → (7/50)
-Your instinctive knowledge in fighting with your bare hands.
YES!
64 Damage! (1,388/2,010)
75 Damage! (1,313/2,010)
Alert! [Adrenalin Rush] has expired!
STR (195.5) → (115)
41 Damage! (1,272/2,010)
SHIT!
I get in four more hits, each of them doing significantly less damage than their predecessors when Blackjack stops stumbling and his hand catches my outstretched fist.
My footwork freezes in place as I desperately try to pull my hand free from the trap its caught in. Blackjack stands up straight and with his free hand removes his sunglasses revealing two brown eyes boiling in anger.
Alert! Your opponents status has changed to [FURIOUS!]. He is receiving +25 to STR and -10 to INT.
'Oh that's bad...'
Blackjack winds back his arm slowly, allowing time for my eyes to widen in terror for what's about to happen. I can't dodge this one and we both know it. He pulls me towards him and I am absolutely powerless to stop the titanic fist from burying itself in my gut.
-219 HP!
Skill Lv up! Physical Endurance Lv. (4/30) → (5/30)
-Your body's durability to damage from physical sources. Resistance increased from (12%)→ (15%)
Blackjack releases me in the same instant his attack connects and I am sent flying. My vision becomes spotty and for a moment I don't know where I am.
My body crashes into an abandoned fishery stall and I'm buried under the rotting wood and dusty tarp as it collapses around me.
-14 HP!
I can't breathe. Everything hurts. Something's ruptured. Most of my ribs are definitely broken. I see another notification that [Adrenalin Rush] has activated again but t doesn't matter. I'm too focused at the feeling of my chest being on fire.
Without the Gamers Body skill that the original [Gamer] had then there's no way I can fight down to my last HP. The human body doesn't work like that. Even in the 'One Piece' world, if you take enough damage, you just can't get back up.
Something reaches into the pile of wood and clamps down on my ankle. I'm forcibly pulled from the wreckage and Blackjack swings my limp body overhead like a rag doll. The gangster roars as my face smashes into the dirt and I feel my nose shatter.
-88 HP!
My one good eye catches sight of his boot coming towards my temple and then..
Everything's gone.
'Where...what is...'
You have died.
Remaining lives (5/5) → (4/5)
Loading most recent Auto-Save….
I take a massive deep gulping breath as consciousness returns. 'What? Where am I?' My hand clutches at my perfectly undamaged chest and my eyes feel as wide as dinner plates. '..I'm alive?'
Skill Lv up x3! Detect Bloodlust Lv. (1/50) →(4/50)
-You can detect when someone wishes to do you harm. Works within 16 meters.
My confusion only worsens. 'What! I don't...This already happened! I got this notification when Blackjack first...showed...up...'
I turned my head and gazed fearfully at the man who killed me.
"I feel like I've seen a picture of you before boy. Aren't you the one who captured two of the Don's men down in Yeutton?" he spoke out slow, his voice a deep baritone. "Don't worry" he drawled, popped the knuckles in his massive hand. "I'll make your death quick."
'No. No! Not again! What's happening?' "[Status]!"
Jack Parker, The Gamer, Lv. 20
Health: 650/650
Exp: 200/2,000
Money: 982,510 Beri
STR: 100
VIT: 65
DEX: 50
INT: 33
WIS: 30
LUK: 15
Points to spend: 15
Click here to see list of [Skills]
-Current number of [Skills]: 36
Click here to see list of [Perks]
-Current number of [Perks]: 1
'My 15 points are back…but what about...' My fingers quickly fly through the air as I scroll through the [Skills] tab.
Skill : Unarmed Combat Lv (6/50)
-Your instinctive knowledge in fighting with your bare hands.
Skill : Physical Endurance Lv. (4/30)
-Your body's durability to damage from physical sources. Current Resistance level: (12%)
'Everything's been reset to before the fight started!' "Loading most recent Auto-Save..." I mumble under my breath. "Holy crap... I have five lives...err...four lives."
Ding!
New Quest Alert!
Quest: Defeat Blackjack!
Reward: 2,400 Exp and Lv.3 [Skill Disk].
[ACCEPT/DECLINE]
'Fuck! No way in hell am I dying again![Game]! Turn on 'Damage Notifications'!' I mentally scream as my fingers fly back to the main menu. I jam my finger next to my DEX skill and start tapping. 'I can't let him catch me again! Faster! I need to be faster!'
Points to spend (15) → (0)
DEX (50) → (65)
Quest Update: No selection detected!
Initiating auto [ACCEPT] in 3...2...1..
The same crushing opener comes again only this time I'm able to do more than just slightly dodge. As I spin out of the way, the back of my fist lashes out, smacking Blackjack across the face and sending his sunglasses skittering across the floor.
22 Damage! (1,988/2,010)
Blackjack calmly wipes his bloody lip with his thumb and inspects the red speck with mild surprise. "Alright. So you're faster than you look. This might be fun."
"Screw you asshole! If you want some more come and get it!" I try to sound confident but inside I'm still shaking like a leaf. I'm going to focus on the long game. Get in little hits where I can. If it doesn't seem like it's going to work then I am straight up running. No payday is worth my life...again.
Blackjack renews his charge and unleashes a series of haymakers meant to take my head off. I focus on my breathing and keep my eyes glued to the movement of his arms. With each strike I duck and dodge until an opportunity presents itself. I move below his arm and take a jab to his liver. Something my new speed only barely allows for.
40 Damage! (1,948/2,010)
Blackjack subtly winces and I immediately back off. 'Don't get greedy. Remember. Focus on the long game.'
The monster of a man chases after me and everything is just so much...simpler now. He swings wildly and I move below and deliver a punch to the underside of his arm. He tries to crush me from overhead and I simply sidestep, deck him in the jawline, and move again.
I get a little overzealous when he drops below 1600 health and accidentally get sideswiped again, though this time it's only about half as bad.
-29 HP!
HP Regen Skill Active!
-Current speed: 0.1% max health per minute.
I refocus and keep my head clear. 'Slow and steady Jack...just keep it slow and steady..'
It's four minutes and 200 hit points later when I notice something. Something I normally wouldn't pick up in my usual state of mind.
It's subtle.
But he's slowing down.
"You little shit..." Blackjack curses as he grinds his teeth together. "Just stay still!"
And now he's getting frustrated too.
The fight continues and the same pattern just repeats itself again and again. He'd attack, he'd miss, I'd attack, I wouldn't.
Skill Lv Up! Unarmed Combat Lv (6/50) → (7/50)
-Your instinctive knowledge in fighting with your bare hands.
I regain one of the [Skill] gains I lost from resetting and everything becomes even more fluid. My moves are slightly cleaner. My dodges a little more crisp. I'm certainly no martial artist -not even close- but against a wild berserker like this? A man who has always relied on nothing but brute force and above average speed? My skill is more than enough.
It took a while, I'm not quite sure how long, but when I finally whittled him down to 1200 health remaining another familiar message reappeared.
Alert! Your opponents status has changed to [FURIOUS!]. He is receiving +25 to STR and -10 to INT.
'Ok. Good! He's starting to feel the pressure and with only 2 INT left he's bound to get stupid.'
Like a self-fulfilling prophecy Blackjack's face curdles into a sneer and he lunges forward in a large grabbing motion with both arms. A move that, if It caught me, would surely result in me being slowly crushed to death.
Unfortunately for him, the action is just far too telegraphed.
I slip down to the ground and pull my legs in. Just as the mobster grasps at the empty air I occupied not a moment ago, I kick out and slam both feet into his unguarded groin.
Critical Hit! 350 Damage! (850/2,010)
Blackjack yelps like a kicked dog and sinks to his knees. The mans hands fall downwards and shield his family jewels from any more punishment. I roll out of the way as he falls and spring back to my feet.
"The hell is the matter with you!" he cries out as a pained whimper. "A real man doesn't aim there in a fight!"
In hindsight I'm not really sure why it was that sentence that did it. Maybe it was the fact that it was a wanted murderer asking what was wrong with me? Maybe it was the fact that even on his knees the bastard was still taller than I was. Maybe it was...I don't know...
But for some reason, hearing those words from the man who killed me completely destroyed my peaceful mindset.
And. I. Just. Snapped.
"Fuck you!" I cry as my shoe meets his nose, sending him crashing to the floor
56 Damage! (794/2,010)
"This is life and death!" I bellow as I grab his shirt collar and start beating his face in.
41 Damage! (753/2,010)
42 Damage! (711/2,010)
"There's no code of honor!"
41 Damage! (670/2,010)
40 Damage! (630/2,010)
"No rules about what isn't allowed!"
42 Damage! (588/2,010)
42 Damage! (546/2,010)
"..stop...stop..I yield..please.." Blackjack sputters through a bloody mouth while his hands rise weakly in protest.
And yet the beating continues.
41 Damage! (505/2,010)
Fuck this guy!
41 Damage! (464/2,010)
He doesn't get an opinion!
40 Damage! (424/2,010)
He killed me! And he's not killing anyone ever again!
My fist continues to smash against his face, determined to turn it into a bloody paste. Each time taking away another small chunk of his health.
43 Damage! (381/2,010)
Your opponent has been knocked out!
42 Damage! (339/2,010)
I finally pause in my assault and take deep calming lungfuls of air.
I needed that.
It was a unique flavor of catharsis.
To beat the man who killed you with your bare hands. No other person has ever known this feeling.
'Though Brook's Revive-Revive Fruit does exist and I doubt he was the first to ever eat it. It's possible that...you know what? Nevermind. It doesn't matter.'
My grip on the mans shirt collar eases up and Blackjack's body flops limply onto the ground.
This fight is over.
Ding!
Quest Completed!
Quest: Defeat Blackjack!
Reward: 2,400 Exp and Lv.3 [Skill Disk].
You have reached Lv. 21!
You have 10 points to spend.
'I'll deal with these later.' I close the blue windows and stare balefully at Blackjacks unconscious form for what feels like a personal eternity.
The well of rage that sprung forth inside me apparently hasn't drained completely yet as I watch my foot rise up ever so slowly and land gently atop the flesh of my foe's neck.
I stay there for a moment. Not sure if I'm capable of this act. To kill a man when he's passed out and defenseless like this.
My foot presses down and I watch his health start to tick lower as the pressure increases. 'It seems I am.'
I am learning so many things about myself today.
As his health falls from three digits to two, a thought strikes my brain and I ease up on the pressure. If I kill this man and chuck his body in the [Inventory], how am I going to explain a fresh corpse when I bring it to the Marines? Its a four day trip back to Caeba and I'm not even sure how I'm getting a ride. The ship that brought me was only using this place as a pit stop before moving on.
I'm not sure if a dead body breaks down differently in this universe or not, but after four days back on Earth the organs have turned to mush and the torso starts to bloat. The whole thing tends to be rather noticeable.
I remove my foot entirely from his throat and scowl. 'So If I want to collect on the 8.2 million -and like hell am I passing it up!- either Blackjack needs to still be alive when I turn him in or I need to be able to explain away how I moved a body without any time passing for it. Hmmm. What if I claim Devil Fruit powers? Some innocuous paramecia ability to store things? A Storage-Human? It's not the worst idea I've ever had, I could even start using my [Inventory] in front of others. I'm just not sure I want to lock myself into a lie like that. What if word gets around of my ability and then someone sees me swimming? That would raise some massive red flags.'
I visibly huff. Alright Blackjack. You get to live. Your ass is still staying in the [Inventory] for most of the trip though. I'll take you out when we get back to Yeutton. I'll even bandage your wounds for appearance sake.
It's not mercy. It's pragmatism.
There's over 8 million Beri on the line here after all.
Oh wait. There's actually more. I mosey over to the briefcase that Buchanan was so desperately clutching and pop its lid open.
20 stacks of 100,000 Beri smile up at me.
"Nice..." I mutter softly.
+2,000,000 Beri!
"Puru-puru-puru-puru. Puru-puru-puru-puru."
My thoughts shift gears as a soft ringing pierces the quiet of the derelict market. 'Ah. Now there's an iconic 'One Piece' sound I've yet to hear.'
"Puru-puru-puru-puru. Puru-puru-puru-puru."
"Yeah yeah I'm coming." I make my way back to Blackjack's side and begin searching the downed mans pockets. Frankly I'm astonished that any den-den mushi the gangster had on him managed to survive the fight. The two of us weren't exactly being gentle.
Then again, maybe the lovable little guys secretly have ridiculous amounts of durability and shells as hard as iron. Who knows? It wouldn't be the strangest thing in this world.
'Wait a minute. Duh. There's an easy way to find out.' I realize as I discover the source of the ringing and remove it from inside Blackjacks breast pocket. '[Observe]'
Den-Den-Mushi, Lv. 1
Den-Den-Mushi are a breed of snails that possess innate psychic abilities that allow them to communicate with other members of their species. Humans have developed special rigs that can be installed inside the snails shell to allow for long-distance communication across the world.
This Den-Den-Mushi is blue with a yellow shell and possesses no special traits.
Health: 32/50
STR: 0.01
VIT: 5
DEX: 0.01
INT: 250,000
WIS: 0.01
LUK: 6
"HO-LY SHIT!" I think my jaw just actually hit the floor. Sure its got 50 health which is more than I'd expected and its injured so I can tell it was jostled around a bit in the fight but fuck talking about any of that! 'Why in the actual FUCK does it have a quarter million INT?!'
Is this the [Game] attempting to quantify the snails psychic abilities? To somehow make sense of it? Wait! Will I get psychic abilities If I raise INT high enough?
"Puru-puru-puru-puru. Puru-puru-puru-puru."
I mean sure I'll probably never reach a quarter million in the stat but then again I'm not exactly aiming to have telepathic conversations across the entire world am I?
"Puru-puru-puru-puru. Puru-puru-puru-puru."
There are serious implications here! This could change everythi..oh shit is the snail still ringing? I should probably answer it.
"Puru-puru-pur-KA-CHK! Oi! Blackjack! Learn how to answer the damn phone!" A raised voice shouts through the snails mouth. "Did you find Wulfric? What was the trouble?"
'Oh crap. Time to see if my impersonation skills are still up to snuff.' "No trouble." I respond in the deepest baritone I can muster. "Just some kid playing bounty hunter. I dealt with him."
For a few moments there's silence on the line but then the den-den-mushi's eyelids narrow menacingly.
"...you are not Blackjack."
Welp. There goes that plan.
"Set sail boys!" The voice continues. "We've got the product, no sense waiting for company! KA-LICK!"
And there goes a potential ride out of here as well.
Shit.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone