Pop!
My eyes snapped open at the sound. Looking around, I quickly realized I was still alive—and alone. The other primates were either still asleep or just beginning to stir with the rising sun.
'Fuck me...'
Then, my eyes locked onto the System panel hovering in front of me, and I froze. My eyes widened.
————
+5XP (Survived the night)
[Level Up!]
First-time level-up reward received!
x1 Training Booster
————
#Stats#
Name: Masaru Fukuda
Tier: 1
Level: 1
XP: 3.5 / 111
STR: 1 (+8.4)
DEX: 1.2 (+8.4)
CON: 1.1 (+8.4)
————
#Skills#
Heavenly Restriction
!New Info Available!
————
I tilted my head at the greyed out (+8.4). 'Wasn't that from Heavenly Restriction?'
Shrugging, I sat up and leaned against a nearby rock, tapping the !New Info! tab.
————
Heavenly Restriction
"For what is lacked is made up in raw strength."
Effect 1: Doubles the average stat of a human.
Effect 2: Increases gains through training.
Effect 3: Undetectable by forms of Observation Haki.
————
I looked down at my small, weathered hands, clenching and unclenching them slowly.
'Is this how the System plans to bridge the gap between me and Haki users?'
If so, good—though if I remembered right, Kaido the Strongest Creature in the World, had said that Haki was the true pinnacle.
"Whatever... any of that is still a long way off."
Stretching my arms over my head, I stood up and glanced around—only to freeze as the same Chimp from yesterday approached.
"Oaoaoa." it chattered.
Not being fluent in monkey, I didn't answer. Thankfully, the Chimp didn't seem to care. It simply gestured for me to follow.
Not seeing much of a choice, I obeyed. As we walked along the stone platform, I saw even more varieties of primates and instantly felt less than happy about passing that giant orangutan's "test."
"Oaooa." the Chimp called again.
We stopped at the base of a moss and vine covered stone wall that stretched upward to another platform. The Chimp began climbing nimbly before stopping and looking down at me, as if waiting.
'Fuck.'
Cursing under my breath, I grabbed hold of a vine and started to pull myself up. The Chimp watched me with what looked like amusement, climbing a little higher each time I got closer.
Snap!
"Mother—Omph!"
Groaning as my backside slammed into the cold stone ground, I looked up to see the Chimp laughing at me. Begrudgingly, I felt a flicker of my competitive side kick in. Gritting my teeth, I got back up and tried again.
Snap!
"Fuc—Omph!"
Falling again, I hit the ground hard, but I refused to give up. I tried once more—only for another set of vines to snap under my weight, sending me crashing down again.
"Oooa." the Chimp spoke.
As I prepared to make yet another attempt, the Chimp slid down a separate vine and landed beside me. I watched as it brushed aside the moss-covered vines to reveal a wall embedded with small grooves—just large enough for fingers and toes to grip.
'That bastard knew all along.'
Grumbling, I ignored the smug little monkey and began to climb using the grooves. This time, I didn't fall. Though slippery with moss, the grooves offered enough hold. When I slipped, the Chimp now climbing alongside me reached out to catch me, matching my pace without a word.
Eventually, I reached the top, pulling myself over the edge and standing tall on the platform. I glanced over at the Chimp, who gestured for me to follow once more.
'If this monkey leads me to my death, I'm haunting it... or the System.'
Up ahead, I noticed several other primates—most of them young.
"Hrrrm."
I froze as a Silverback strolled into view, stepping in front of us. Looking up at the towering creature was... indescribable. It rolled its eyes at me, then gestured for us to follow.
•—•—•
I was going to wipe out this group of monkeys.
'I'll start slowly... with that Chimp.' I fumed as I dangled from a tree, wrapped tightly in vines.
It had been four hours of grueling, backbreaking training. That's right- training.
The Silverback started us off with a "simple" lap—either running or knuckle-walking—around a cluster of trees. Then it shifted to lifting logs and rocks. My personal torment involved cradling a massive stone in my arms for an hour—a stone the Silverback had broken apart with its bare hands.
We didn't get a break.
Instead, the young primates decided it was time to start swinging through the trees like... well, monkeys.
"Fuck..."
Gritting my teeth, I struggled in vain to free myself from the vines. Eventually, I gave up.
"Great. This is how it ends for me." I muttered, still dangling.
Out of sheer desperation, I decided to call out to the one thing that might I knew wouldn't respond but held out hope for.
"System. Help?"
A blue panel appeared in front of me.
[Answer: Yes, Host?]
I would've laughed—if the vines weren't squeezing my ribs.
"Why the hell didn't you answer my questions before?!" I barked.
[Answer: The System deemed the Host a lost cause... So it lost interest.]
I wasn't sure if I was developing a twitch, but something inside me stirred.
"What the fuck do you mean 'lost interest'?!"
[Answer: The Host appeared to have given up. No further action was deemed necessary.]
My eye twitched. Oh, how I wanted to scream at this damn thing. But I didn't—partially because I physically couldn't.
"Fine. Then, as I hang here, tell me... is there anything I should know? Like maybe where I am in One Piece?"
Honestly, I don't know why I was surprised when it answered. Maybe I had really started to think I was hallucinating.
[Answer: The System can provide the Host with basic information regarding the System. Would the Host like that?]
'Is it mocking me?' I wasn't sure. But I nodded and gave a quiet, frustrated "yes."
————
#Information#
Stats –
STR (Strength): Raw physical power.
DEX (Dexterity): Agility, reflexes, and aid in using ranged weaponry.
CON (Constitution): Endurance, stamina, and resistance.
Note: The average adult human in One Piece has at least one stat at 35.
Applies to all humans.
————
I stared at the glowing blue panel for a moment before closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.
"System, I appreciate that you've given me this information... but is that it?"
It was underwhelming, to say the least. I already had a rough idea of what each stat meant. Sure, knowing the average was helpful, but it still felt... lazy.
"System, is that all the information?" I asked as I opened my eyes again, torn between annoyance and the desire to punch whoever created this shitty interface.
[Answer: No.]
"Motherfu—mmm... Alright, System, please give me the information on Tiers and Leveling. And if you could be so kind as to tell me where exactly I am right now, I'd be ever so grateful."
The System had to be messing with me—I was sure of it.
————
#Information#
Tiers –
Tiers define the gap between average and exceptional individuals. Every Tier multiplies your Base Stats.
Tier 1 – x1
Tier 2 – x2
Tier 3 – x4
Tier 4 – x8
Tier 5 – x16
Tier 6 – x32
Tier 7 – x64
Requirements to advance a Tier:
Level 50
XP Maxed
300 in all Stats
Note: Upon increasing your Tier, all stats and levels reset.
————
[Answer: You are currently on an island created by the System, isolated from prying eyes.]
That last part made me pause. An island made by the System?
"Why would you need to make an island? Couldn't you have just dumped me on an existing one? Like, say... the one Luffy's from?"
If it had done that, maybe I could've just waited around for Luffy. Then, when Garp eventually visited, I could try to convince him that I an "eight year old" wanted to become a Marine.
[Answer: The Host's body was found drifting in the ocean.]
...Right. I had gotten so used to the body I was in that I'd almost forgotten it wasn't originally mine.
'I guess if the System hadn't made an island, I'd still be floating around out there.'
Sighing, I let myself relax a bit in the vines I was still tangled in and dismissed the System as I heard something approaching.
"Hrrmm..."
Looking up, I saw the Silverback approaching—with what I swore was a look of disappointment. It grabbed the vines all at once and with a single tug, hoisted me face to face with its gruff expression.
"Hmph."
It grunted, ripped the vines apart, and tossed me over its shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I didn't have the strength or the courage to protest.