Karl crouched low, his hand still on the ground. His heart pounded in his chest. He couldn't get caught. Not like this.
The pirates continued to shout at one another as they made their way through the forest, oblivious to Karl's presence. The breeze carried their words toward him, and he caught bits of their conversation.
"Gotta get back to the ship before nightfall, or we're dead," one man grumbled.
"Shut up, you! Just 'cause you've got a belly full of rum doesn't mean you have to complain," another snorted, clearly already halfway to drunken stupor.
Karl's mind raced. There were four pirates, all armed—one with a sword, another with a rifle slung over his shoulder, and the others with knives and pistols. None of them looked like experts, but they were still a threat. He had to think fast.
[Roll Common x2]
The screen materialized again, and Karl's eyes darted between the rolls. He needed something that could help him get out of this mess. Something that wasn't just... sticky hands.
[Roll 1 – Obtained: Wind Dash (Common) – A burst of speed that lasts for 10 seconds, usable once a day.]
[Roll 2 – Obtained: Snake Strike (Common) – Enhanced leg strength for rapid kicks or evasions.]
Karl's eyes widened. Speed? Enhanced kicks? These could work. With the Wind Dash and Snake Strike, he could move faster than any of them and get to the ship—or perhaps take out the pirates before they even realized what was happening.
He could fight back.
[Spirit Tracker]
Karl activated his Spirit Tracker again, sensing the pirates' life forces around him. They were scattered in a loose formation, but two of them were closer—one carrying a rifle, another with a sword. Karl carefully moved in their direction, creeping through the underbrush.
The pirates were just a few yards ahead, talking amongst themselves.
"You hear anything strange from the locals?" the rifleman asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.
"Nah. Ain't no one dumb enough to live around here. Let's grab what we need and—"
Before he could finish, Karl exploded forward, using Wind Dash.
⸻
The Attack
The Wind Dash propelled him like a gust of wind, faster than he'd ever moved in his life. The air seemed to part as his body surged forward with impossible speed. He reached the first pirate—the one with the rifle—in mere moments.
He slammed into the man, knocking him flat onto his back, the rifle flying from his grip. The second pirate with the sword reacted too slowly, too stunned by Karl's speed.
Snake Strike.
With a quick pivot, Karl kicked the sword-wielding pirate in the chest, sending him stumbling back. His foot felt like it had hit a steel wall, the force amplified by the Snake Strike ability. The man's breath whooshed out of him as he collided with a tree trunk.
"Wh—who the hell is that?!" the remaining pirates yelled in shock.
Karl didn't wait to answer. He darted around the rifleman and delivered another rapid series of kicks to the last two pirates. He didn't have much time. The others were starting to regain their bearings.
But before they could retaliate, Karl activated Wind Dash again, retreating back into the jungle with the swiftness of a shadow.
⸻
Retreat and Reflection
Panting, Karl hid behind a thick cluster of trees, listening as the pirates scrambled to regroup.
"What was that? Did he just... disappear?"
"Get back to the ship! We need to report this to Captain!"
Karl held his breath, pressing his back to the bark of a tree. They were too disoriented to follow his trail. His enhanced senses from Spirit Tracker told him they were headed in the opposite direction, back toward the coast.
After a long moment, Karl allowed himself to relax, sinking to the ground with a groan.
"That... was close," he muttered, wiping sweat from his forehead. He didn't know what was happening, but it felt like fate was pushing him toward something bigger.
And then, something inside him stirred. The Gacha System was still with him. He had the power to survive, to fight, to thrive.
⸻
A New Goal
He sat against the tree, breathing deeply. The night was beginning to settle in, the fire from earlier still crackling softly in the distance. But Karl knew he couldn't stay here. The pirates weren't the only danger on this island. The world of One Piece was filled with even worse threats.
With a sharp exhale, Karl looked up at the sky, the first stars beginning to twinkle above.
"I need to get stronger," he said aloud. "This... this Gacha thing is the key. If I keep rolling, maybe I can get the power I need to survive."
He reached for his last two Common Tickets.
[Roll Common x2]
The screen popped up in front of him, the familiar swirling effect before settling into place.
[Roll 1 – Obtained: Thunder Step (Common) – Can move in quick bursts, similar to teleportation, for short distances.]
[Roll 2 – Obtained: Iron Fist (Common) – A physical punch with a force strong enough to break small boulders.]
Karl smirked. Thunder Step could allow him to escape or close the gap instantly, and Iron Fist... well, that was self-explanatory. He could smash through rocks—or even walls—if he needed to.
"Alright. Time to put these to use."
⸻
A New Dawn
As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the trees the next morning, Karl knew it was time to start moving again. The pirates hadn't made their way back yet, but it was only a matter of time.
With the Spirit Tracker leading his way, he began his journey through the dense jungle toward the coast, intent on getting to that ship—whatever its purpose.
He wasn't sure what his future held. What he did know, however, was that the Gacha System was a tool, one that could give him the edge he needed. And in a world as dangerous as this one, that edge might be the only thing standing between him and certain death.
⸻
[New Mission Unlocked: Secure the Pirate Ship and Gather Information]
Reward: 1x Rare Ticket
[System Update]
Common: 0
Uncommon: 1
Rare: 0
Legendary: 0
Mystical: 0
God: 0
⸻
The Gacha System had offered him new abilities—skills that would help him survive in this unpredictable world. But Karl knew this was just the beginning.
There were greater powers waiting to be unlocked.
And with each mission, each roll, he would get one step closer to uncovering the secrets of this strange system and the world he'd been thrust into.
And maybe—just maybe—he'd find a place where he truly belonged.