Chapter 3 - chapter 3

Title at the end.

I'd like to thank Scurra071900 for my first ever powerstone. 😘🫡💪

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Author note:

In the last conversation between the MC and Nico Robin, I used a character AI model based on Robin's character to give a more authentic feel to the conversation, and to my surprise it went well. I plan to do this with all of the other main characters and have fate and AI determine the outcome.

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[

EXPLORE THE LIMITS OF THE GAMER SYSTEM IN THE WORLD OF ONE PIECE.

TRAIN AND ACQUIRE 5 NEW SKILLS!

progress 3/5

REWARDS:

- 5 LEVELS

- 1 MYSTERY REWARD.

] 

It was one o'clock in the afternoon, and there was still a lot more time to kill before my anticipated date with Robin. I also wanted to check the spoils I had gathered from the Poneglyph Pavilion.

I head down to the nearest cafe and order an Americano, slightly puzzled by how they managed to have such a modern beverage in this setting. As I sip my coffee, I pull out the first book from my inventory and use my "Observation" skill on it.

["Vegapunk's Engineering Marvels: A Comprehensive Guide" - This groundbreaking tome offers an in-depth exploration of the revolutionary inventions and technological advancements created by the legendary scientist Vegapunk. From cyborg enhancements to innovative weaponry and machinery. This book unveils the secrets behind Vegapunk's greatest achievements. Reading this book may also provide the user with valuable insights into advanced engineering principles, allowing them to tinker with gadgets, construct ingenious devices, or even reverse-engineer Vegapunk's inventions for their own use.]

"Interesting" I muse

After an hour of reading the book and enjoying my coffee Americano I finished its contents and was rewarded with the ever so pleasant ding sound.

[DING!]

[AFTER READING THE BOOK: Vegapunk's Engineering Marvels, YOU HAVE GAINED THE CLASS MACHINIST. WOULD YOU LIKE GAIN THE CLASS MACHINIST? PLEASE NOTE THAT USER CAN NOT CHANGE CLASSES]

[YES/NO?]

This was another tough decision. I was hoping to gain a skill but an entire class was more than I expected. Well, life favors the brave. Here goes nothing.

[yes]

[CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE UNLOCKED THE CLASS MACHINIST!]

[The Mechanist: A class that specializes in crafting and manipulating advanced machinery, gadgets, and inventions, harnessing the power of technology to navigate the challenges of the Grand Line.]

[NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: Tool Proficiency (CLASS SPECIFIC)]

[Tool Proficiency LVL MAX: Mechanists are proficient with a variety of tools related to machinery, engineering, and tinkering.]

[DING!]

[NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: Research LVL 1] 

[Research: represents a character's ability to gather, analyze, and synthesize information from various sources to uncover hidden truths, solve mysteries, and acquire new knowledge. Characters proficient in Research possess a keen intellect and investigative prowess, enabling them to sift through volumes of data, decipher complex texts, and connect disparate pieces of information to reveal insights and solutions.]

[DING!]

[EXPLORE THE LIMITS OF THE GAMER SYSTEM IN THE WORLD OF ONE PIECE.

TRAIN AND ACQUIRE 5 NEW SKILLS!

progress 5/5]

[QUEST COMPLETED!]

[LEVEL UP!]

[LEVEL UP!]

[LEVEL UP!]

[LEVEL UP!]

[LEVEL UP!]

[YOU HAVE ACQUIRED ONE MYSTERY GIFT]

[MYSTERY GIFT WILL BE STORED IN YOUR INVENTORY]

status.

[Character Name: Zephyr Stormborn

Class: Machinist

Race: Human

Level: 7 (Island Boi)

Affiliations: NONE

Devil Fruit: NONE

Haki: NONE

Skills: 

Slight of hand LVL 2, 

Observation LVL 2, 

Charm LVL 1, 

Tool Proficiency LVL MAX(Machinist), 

Research LVL 1

Ability Scores:

Strength: 20  

Dexterity: 28  

Constitution: 23  

Intelligence: 27

Wisdom: 29  

Charisma: 24

Inventory: 6/20

Belli: 10,00]

At that moment, I felt a surge of power, you know, the typical high every MC gets when they level up. One could get addicted to this, and who knows, maybe I am! But time waits for no man. I have a date with the most beautiful woman in One Piece (sorry, Boa), and I can't help but feel that I need a desperate increase in income. The measly 10,00 belli I have won't get me anywhere. Also, I need a new get-up. Something dashing, maybe? I also need to steal myself a new watch, or else I will be late for today's date.

So without further ado, I went on a stealing spree and found something very interesting about my storage system. Unlike other storage systems with infinite space, mine was finite. It was still better than nothing. Another thing I noticed was that some items stack in the storage space and some don't. For example, I can store multiple cups of Americano in the inventory from the same café; however, if I were to get an Americano from another café, it would occupy another slot.

This observation led me to ask another question. Did the two Americanos occupy two different slots because they were made by two different baristas, or was it because, at some level, they were both different in terms of how they were made and their constitution? Another question was: for items, what is the maximum stacks I can carry for any given item? Not wanting to waste any more of my stolen money on coffee, I went to the docks to see if I can find something to stack infinitely.

This turned out to be a good decision, as the docks were full of merchant vessels filled to the brim with valuables and items just waiting for me to steal.

As I slowly approached the docks trying to be as inconspicuous and stealthy as possible I was greeted with another message.

[DING!]

[NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: Shadowcraft LVL 1] 

[Skill Name: Shadowcraft

Description: Shadowcraft represents a character's mastery of stealth, subterfuge, and the art of moving unseen and unheard in the shadows. Characters proficient in Shadowcraft possess exceptional agility, cunning, and situational awareness, enabling them to slip past guards, evade detection, and infiltrate enemy strongholds with ease. This skill encompasses not only physical stealth but also the ability to blend into the environment, create distractions, and deceive opponents through misdirection.]

I feel like more and more I am becoming an assassin but then again with the system, it doesn't matter.

As I move through the docks of Loguetown, employing the Shadowcraft skill to remain unseen, I come across a secluded warehouse nestled amidst the bustling activity of the port. With keen eyes and careful movements, I slip inside, navigating the dimly lit interior with ease.

Inside the warehouse, there are crates stacked high, filled with various goods awaiting shipment. However, something catches their eye—a smaller, unmarked crate tucked away in a corner, seemingly overlooked by the warehouse workers but I ignore that for now.

Looking at the staked-up crates I get an epiphany. I walk up to the crate and try to store it in my inventory and to my surprise... it worked. And this got me going. Not only was the crate now inside my inventory it also had its slots filled with the crate's contents.

I searched the warehouse for a larger crate to limit test how big of a crate I could shove into my inventory.

[...]

Listen system it is for science. Anyway, I came across a large crate and just as I was about to lay my hands on it I heard a sound coming from the entrance of the where house.

"Hey, keep it quiet, guys. We don't want to draw attention to ourselves." said a voice

I quickly rush to hide behind one of the larger crate stacks.

Shit, I need to get out of here.

I quickly look around to find any exit I can sneak out from but can't find any. Doing so I get a better look at my new guests. 3 grunts walk into the warehouse and by the looks of it, they seem to be pirates.

"Yeh capin tol us to get his chest and hurry back else el have our heads!" said the fattest of the 3 grunts

[DING!]

[NEW QUEST UNLOCKED]

[Captian Scally Wagg's Treasure]

[ Defeat the 3 grunts and steal Captain Scally Wagg's Treasure chest without alerting the other crew and before the Marines show up.

Rewards:

- 5 LEVELS

- 1 Million belli

Penalty: DEATH ]

Well shit, isn't that great! You just made this quest because you don't want me to shove shit up your inventory, don't you?

[...]

Well fuck it I guess I have no choice now, do I? On the bright side though I do get to test how strong I am compared to Foder. Here goes nothing.

Using Shadowcraft I stealth my way into a better position behind the pirates to observe them.

[Skinny grunt Level 2]

[Short grunt level 5]

[Fat grunt Level 10]

[DING!]

[Observation Skill > LVL 3]

[Shadowcraft > LVL 2]

ignoring the notifications I sneak up behind the skinny grunt and wrap my arms around his mouth and neck as I strangle him. He tries to escape my grasp but my 20 points in strength are too much for him as it takes but a minute for him to fall limp in my arms.

[DING!]

[YOU HAVE DEFEATED Skinny grunt Level 2]

[YOU HAVE GAINED EXP]

But before I could register what the system was displaying the other two grunts turned around looking at me with their limp comrade in their arms.  breaking them out of their daze by dropping said comrade like a sack of potatoes on the floor I smile at them.

"What are you two waiting for lads? come on you both have a beating to get over with!"

Looking at me with dumbfounded looks, the two grunts brandished their swords and charged at me.

"Now we are taking"

Picking the saber that was dropped by Skinny Grunt I slashed downwards at the incoming short grunt.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

WTF?

[DING!]

[YOU HAVE...]

I watched in slow motion, awed by the brutality, flailing in the air, the severed hand of short grunt.

"YOU MONSTER!" raged the fat grunt as he rushed towards me.

I don't know if it was me, the system, or my int stats, but everything thing seemed to move in slow motion at that moment. I can see him rush at me in slow motion. His veins Bulging on his neck and forehead in anger as he tries to strike me down in vengeance... But alas he is too slow. I sidestep the strike and like a butcher in a butcher shop, I swing my saber upwards with an arc. I can feel the feedback from the saber as it cuts through the flesh and bone with some resistance. I cleanly sever another arm, this time from above the elbow. He falls to his knees wailing and whimpering holding his stump just like his comrade before him.

Something deep and dark inside calls to me and I answer it gleefully as I swing my saber vertically severing the fat grunt head of his shoulders. This world...This world is going to be fun!!!

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Title: The Dark Urge...