He ran.
His lungs screamed for air, muscles burned, and vision blurred, but he didn't stop. The relentless weight of work, debt, and an indifferent world had gnawed at his sanity for years. The city lights blurred into streaks as his legs carried him faster than ever before.
A life wasted in obscurity, forgotten by family, used by colleagues, mocked by strangers. No one would mourn him. No one ever truly saw him.
And now… even his body betrayed him.
A sharp pain gripped his chest. His legs faltered. A single step missed, a stumble, and then darkness.
He didn't remember hitting the ground.
Only the cold.
And silence.
Then… nothing.
---
When he opened his eyes, there was no sky, no earth, no sound.
Only an endless void.
A blank, boundless expanse of pitch black that stretched forever in every direction.
He tried to move, but his limbs didn't respond. He tried to speak, but no voice came. He didn't float. He didn't fall. He simply… existed.
"Ah… damn it. Another one."
A voice. Calm, indifferent, almost bored.
A figure emerged, not from anywhere, but simply appearing where nothing had been before. A man — or something shaped like one — with white hair that flickered like flame and eyes that shimmered like the cosmos.
The stranger sighed, scratching his head. "You weren't supposed to die yet. Wrong thread cut… again."
His voice echoed, yet didn't. It was everywhere and nowhere at once.
The man — god, demon, something — gestured, and suddenly the broken memories of a forgotten life flooded back into focus. Every slight, every defeat, every humiliation.
"Name's irrelevant," the being muttered. "But for now, you can call me Void. And uh… sorry about that. Little clerical error on my end. Pulled your thread by mistake."
He tried to speak, to curse, to scream.
Void waved a hand. "Yeah, yeah, figured you'd be mad. Don't worry. Compensation time. Three wishes. Standard policy when we screw up. But here's the catch — I pick your world, your timeline, your circumstances. Keeps things interesting. No reroll, no haggling."
A pause.
"Go on, mortal. Choose."
The words formed in his mind without hesitation.
"A template system that lets me access abilities and forms from any anime or manga character."
Void grinned. "Solid pick. Villainous ambitions, huh? I can see it in your eyes. Fine, granted. You'll have access to a Template System, pull a character, gain their abilities and body mods. Not omnipotent, mind you. Limits apply. Growth mandatory."
A second thought, clearer now.
"A gacha system that lets me roll for anything from anime and manga — weapons, powers, items, even weird stuff. But with rarity tickets to spice it up."
Void clapped. "Ahh, a gambler's soul. I like it. You'll get a Gacha System with different ticket rarities: Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Mythic. Standard rates. Roll wisely. No refunds."
The third wish was immediate.
"Reincarnate me on a deserted island first. I want time to get used to my new powers without interruptions."
Void's grin widened, eyes gleaming like stars collapsing. "Didn't even ask for immortality, fame, or women. Ruthless. Focused. I respect it. Granted."
The god snapped his fingers.
"Alright. Your world will be… One Piece. Your timeline… when the Rocks Pirates ruled the seas, and legends like Garp, Sengoku, and Zephyr were still wet behind the ears. Let's see how a villain like you fares there."
He felt his soul twist, spiral, tear apart.
Void's last words echoed.
"One week on your island. Then, you sail. No harem, no redemption arcs, no hero's journey. Just you… and chaos."
And then — nothing.
---
He woke to the scent of salt and damp earth.
A jagged sky hung overhead, cloudless, with two suns blazing like twin predators. The cry of seagulls, distant waves crashing, and the rustle of leaves.
He sat up.
His reflection shimmered in a pool nearby.
The face staring back was not his old one.
Where once a frail, pallid man existed, now stood a figure of lean muscle, sharp cheekbones, and eyes like polished obsidian. Pale skin, silver-white hair cascading down to his shoulders, and a gaze cold enough to shatter glass.
A black mark — a simple, crude-looking brand resembling an inverted star — sat above his collarbone.
He liked it.
His body felt alive, charged with a power he'd never known.
A mechanical ding sounded in his head.
[SYSTEM INITIALIZED]
Welcome, User.
Template System Online.
Gacha System Online.
Current Available Templates: 1
Starter Template: Kenpachi Zaraki (Bleach)
His lips curled into a grin.
A ruthless, bloodthirsty captain from another world. A man who lived for battle, unburdened by morality or weakness.
[Would you like to equip Template? Y/N]
He didn't hesitate.
Y
His body convulsed. Energy rippled through every vein, bone reshaping, muscles coiling, senses sharpening. The hum of latent spiritual pressure lingered in the air before settling.
[Kenpachi Zaraki Template Equipped]
- Strength +300%
- Speed +250%
- Durability +400%
- Spiritual Pressure: Active
- Passive Skill: Battle Intuition
He rolled his shoulders, feeling raw power surge through him. The thirst for combat, the joy of bloodshed, a violent haze flickered at the edges of his mind.
Perfect.
Another ding.
[Gacha System: 5 Common Tickets Received]
[5 Rare Tickets Received]
[1 Legendary Ticket Received]
Void's parting gift, no doubt.
He opened the gacha interface.
A simple screen appeared before his eyes, floating text and slot reels.
He grinned.
"Let's see what this world has in store."
He burned the Legendary Ticket first.
The wheel spun, colors blurring, symbols flashing.
It landed on an ornate, crimson-gilded card.
[Obtained: Enma (One Piece) - Legendary Grade]
The sword materialized in his hand. A black-bladed katana radiating hunger, its edge thirsting for blood. Even without Haki, it felt alive.
A perfect companion.
He slid the blade into a makeshift sheath at his side.
The Rare Tickets were next.
[Obtained: Smoke Devil Fruit (Rare)]
[Obtained: Akaza's Combat Technique Memory (Demon Slayer)]
[Obtained: Nanami Kento's Ratio Technique (Jujutsu Kaisen)]
[Obtained: Yoruichi's Flash Step (Bleach)]
[Obtained: Onyx Armguard of Endurance (Artifact)]
Each item settled into his inventory. The skills and abilities merging into his mind, instinctively understood.
He could already feel the smoke's power bubbling under his skin.
The Common Tickets yielded minor trinkets — potions, minor buffs, a few mundane tools. Nothing special.
A week. That's all he had before the world came crashing in.
He glanced toward the horizon. The distant outline of ships. And somewhere, the monsters known as Rocks D. Xebec, Whitebeard, Kaido, Big Mom. Legends in their prime.
Good.
He wasn't here to follow them.
He was here to ruin them.
This was his world now.
And it would bleed.