章 10: Chapter 9: Uber Adventure
The relentless sun beat down on the Striker as it cut through the waves, its lone occupant sprawled on the deck. Noct, his body glistening with sweat, lay gasping for breath, the exertion of his journey taking its toll.
The aftermath of his titanic battle with Smoker had left Noct in a state of near-exhaustion, his body pushed to its absolute limits. Every muscle ached, every nerve screamed in protest, as the adrenaline that had fueled his desperate escape slowly drained away. But it was the mental and emotional toll that weighed heaviest upon him.
"Damn it," Noct muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I can't keep this up. I need to find another way to travel and start grinding my skills and talents," he resolved.
The battle with Smoker had been a harsh wake-up call, a stark reminder of just how far he still had to go. Despite his devil fruit powers and his newly unlocked abilities, Noct had been pushed to the very brink of defeat, his victory coming at a tremendous cost.
He realized now that he had been relying too heavily on his devil fruit, neglecting the fundamental strengths that every pirate needed to survive in this harsh and unforgiving world. His physical endurance, his hand-to-hand combat skills, his ability to think on his feet and adapt to new situations... all of these were lacking, underdeveloped compared to the raw power of the Mera Mera no Mi.
But even his mastery of the Mera Mera no Mi was lacking, he realized with a sinking feeling in his gut. He had won against Smoker not through skill or strength, but through sheer luck and the plot armor gifted to him by the system. It left a bitter taste in his mouth, a feeling of unease that he couldn't quite shake.
In typical Noct fashion, he quickly shook off the negative feelings and focused on the future. He knew dwelling on past mistakes would only hold him back. Instead, he resolved to learn from this experience and be better prepared for the challenges ahead.
"I need to get stronger," Noct thought out loud, determination filling his heart. "The sooner I get to Shimotsuki Village the better"
Just as the words left his lips, a flicker of movement caught his eye on the horizon. Noct squinted against the glare of the sun, his heart leaping as he recognized the telltale silhouette of a ship.
"Well, well, well, things are lookin up" he grinned, pushing himself to his feet. "Looks like I've found my next Uber."
As the ship drew closer, Noct could make out the distinctive skull and crossbones fluttering from its mast. Pirates. Perfect.
With a flick of his wrist, Noct summoned a ball of flame, feeling the heat pulse against his palm. He drew his arm back, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the space just in front of the approaching vessel.
"Hiken!" he roared, thrusting his fist forward. A massive column of fire erupted from his knuckles, streaking across the waves and slamming into the water mere inches from the pirate ship's bow.
[System Prompt]
Noctis D. Stryfe has used 'Hiken'!
Stamina: 284/360
The effect was instantaneous. Screams of terror and surprise echoed across the water as the pirates scrambled to avoid the searing flames. Noct grinned, watching as the ship ground to a halt, its crew clearly thrown into a panic.
"Attention, pirates!" Noct called out, his voice carrying across the waves. "This is your friendly neighborhood fireman speaking. Surrender your ship, and no one gets burnt to a crisp!"
To his surprise, the pirates offered no resistance. White flags immediately appeared along the ship's railings, fluttering in the breeze like surrender leaflets.
"Well, that was easy," Noct muttered, a hint of disappointment coloring his tone. "Almost too easy."
Shrugging off his suspicions, Noct maneuvered the Striker alongside the pirate vessel, leaping aboard with a casual grace.
The pirates cowered before him, their eyes wide with fear.
"P-please, don't hurt us!" one of them stammered, his knees knocking together. "We surrender, we surrender!"
Noct raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Relax, boys. I'm not here to hurt anyone. I just need a ride."
With a flick of his wrist, Noct summoned his inventory screen, tapping a few commands. The Striker shimmered and vanished, safely stored away.
"Now then," Noct grinned, turning to the pirates. "Set a course for Shimotsuki Village. I've got business there."
As the pirate ship cut through the waves, Noct lounged on a deck chair, a contented grin on his face. Three pirates stood nervously around him, one holding an umbrella to shield him from the sun, another pouring him a cold drink, and the third offering a tray of snacks."This is the way to travel," Noct remarked, taking a sip of his drink. "I could get used to this."
The pirates exchanged confused glances, clearly unsure of how to respond to their unexpected passenger's casual demeanor.
"Did you hear?" one of them muttered, his voice barely audible over the creak of the rigging. "They say he's the one who burned down half of Loguetown."
"I heard he fought off an entire squad of Marines with just his bare hands," another chimed in, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and awe.
Noct's ears perked up, a frown creasing his brow. It seemed rumors about him had already started spreading, and that was why the pirates had surrendered so easily.
"Hey, now," he called out, drawing the pirates' attention. "Those rumors are nothing but lies. I didn't burn anything in Loguetown... except maybe my wallet."
The pirates exchanged skeptical glances, clearly not convinced by Noct's words. They continued their whispered conversations, their eyes darting nervously in his direction.
Noct, sensing their discomfort, chuckled softly. "Relax, guys," he said, waving a hand dismissively. "I'm just here for the ride and the snacks. Speaking of which, you guys got any more of those little umbrella drinks?"
The pirates blinked, surprised by the sudden change in topic. One of them hastily grabbed a colorful drink from the tray, complete with a tiny umbrella, and handed it to Noct with a shaky hand.
Noct grinned, accepting the drink and taking a long sip. "Ah, that hits the spot," he said, smacking his lips. "You know, if this whole pirate thing doesn't work out, you guys should consider a career in catering."
The pirates stared at him, their expressions a mix of confusion and bewilderment. Noct just laughed, enjoying their reactions.
As the ship sailed on, Noct found himself lost in thought, his mind wandering to the events that had led him to this point. The void, the rebirth, the awakening of his Devil Fruit powers – it all seemed like a distant dream, a hazy memory that he could barely grasp.
Suddenly, a commotion broke out near the ship's stern as a News Coo landed gracefully on the railing. The medium-sized gull wore a distinctive hat, signifying its employment, and carried a bag over its shoulder, reminiscent of a paperboy. A small bag hung around its neck, ready to collect money from anyone who purchased a newspaper. The bird's appearance was a welcome sight, as News Coos were the main source of news and information for people across the globe.
Pirates gathered around the News Coo, their voices rising in excitement and trepidation as they reached for the latest edition of the newspaper and the updated wanted posters.
"New bounties!" one of them called out, waving a stack of posters in the air. "Fresh from Marine HQ!"
Noct sat up, his curiosity piqued. He watched as the pirates sorted through the posters, their faces paling as they read the names and descriptions.
"Holy shit," one of them breathed, holding up a poster with a trembling hand. "Noctis D. Stryfe. 30,000,000 Beli !"
Noct's eyes widened, a thrill of excitement coursing through his veins. A bounty. He had a bounty now.
"Well, well, well," he grinned, sauntering over to the group. "Looks like I'm moving up in the world."
The pirates parted before him, their eyes wide with a mix of awe and terror. Noct plucked the poster from the trembling pirate's hand, examining it with a critical eye.
The image was a candid shot, clearly taken during his encounter with the marine ship he commandeered. He had one fist extended, wreathed in flames, his face split into a manic grin. The text beneath read "Noctis D. Stryfe - 'Hellfire' Noct - 30,000,000 Beli."
"Hellfire Noct," he chuckled, rolling the name around on his tongue. "I like it."
[User Affiliation Changed]
Noctis D. Stryfe's affiliation has changed from Civilian to Pirate.
"Status," Noct commanded, bringing up the system panel. The translucent screen materialized before him, displaying his character information.
[Character Info]
Name: Noctis D. Stryfe
Nickname: Hellfire Noct (Jigoku no Hi Nokuto)
Level: 15
Experience: 1000/1400
Health: 360/360
Stamina: 360/360
Affiliation: Pirate
Crew: None
Bounty: 30,000,000 Beli
Noct grinned, his eyes gleaming with a mix of pride and excitement. The bounty was a tangible symbol of his growing notoriety, a testament to the impact he was already having on this world.
As the sun began to set on the horizon, the silhouette of an island appeared in the distance. Shimotsuki Village, home of some of the greatest swordsmiths in the East Blue.
Noct stood at the bow of the ship, his eyes fixed on the approaching landmass. But as they drew closer, he realized something was amiss.
The pirate flag still fluttered from the mast, the skull and crossbones a stark reminder of the ship's true nature. And on the shore, a crowd was gathering, their faces etched with fear and trepidation.
"Shit," Noct muttered, realization dawning. "They think we're here to raid the village."
Noct turned to the pirates, his voice stern. "Drop anchor in the bay. We're not docking at the village."
The pirates scrambled to comply, bringing the ship to a halt in the calm waters just off the coast of Shimotsuki Village. Noct sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Listen up, boys," he called out to the pirates, his voice low and dangerous. "I'm going ashore. If any of you so much as think about causing trouble, I'll make sure you get a very bad review for this Uber ride. Understand?"
The pirates exchanged confused glances, clearly baffled by Noct's threat. "A bad review?" one of them muttered, scratching his head. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Noct's eyes narrowed, his voice taking on a menacing edge. "A bad review means me burning your ship down with you still on it," he threatened, his hand bursting into flames for emphasis.
The pirates paled, their eyes wide with terror. They nodded vigorously, their voices trembling as they stammered their assurances that they would behave.
Noct grinned, tapping a command on his inventory screen. The Striker shimmered back into existence, bobbing gently in the water alongside the ship.
"Be seeing you," Noct called out, leaping aboard his raft. "Remember, bad reviews equal crispy pirates."
As he steered the Striker towards the shore, a twinge of frustration crept into Noct's thoughts. "Why do I even bother making jokes that people can't understand?" he muttered to himself, shaking his head. "It's like trying to explain the internet to a bunch of cavemen."
He sighed, his gaze drifting to the approaching shoreline. The village of Shimotsuki lay ahead, its streets lined with the dojos of renowned swordsmen.
As Noct stepped onto the sandy beach, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement.
With a grin on his face and a spring in his step, "Que training montage!" Noct shouted with gusto as he began humming and singing off-key to the tune of "Eye of the Tiger." His enthusiastic vocalizations filled the air, drawing curious glances from the villagers as he made his way through the streets.
週次パワーステータス
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ランキング 
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チケット