Night came fast in Foosha Village—too fast.
The kind of fast that made shadows stretch longer than they should, like something unseen was moving under the surface of the world.
Ravian sat on a stump behind Grandma Nari's hut, staring at his hands.
(Perception Trace… show me what you can do.)
He inhaled.
Exhaled.
And activated it.
The world didn't slow exactly—more like everything gained outlines.
Movements felt predictable.
Faint sounds sharpened.
Leaves swayed in patterns instead of chaos.
It lasted barely two seconds.
But two seconds was huge.
Ravian grinned. "…Okay. That's actually sick."
The system chimed softly.
[Skill Progression Detected]
[Perception Trace — EXP: 8%]
Mira popped out of nowhere, as usual.
"You smiling at nothing again?" she asked, holding an entire basket of chopped vegetables like it weighed nothing.
Ravian flinched. "Don't sneak up on me like that—!"
"You're jumpy."
"I'm traumatized."
"Same thing."
Before he could argue, distant shouting echoed from the trees.
Ravian tensed.
Mira tilted her head. "That's Luffy. Sounds like he stepped on a crab again."
"No," Ravian said slowly. "That sounds like… someone's arguing."
And not Luffy's usual gremlin yelling.
This was sharper.
Angrier.
Mira frowned. "That's Ace."
Ravian stood instinctively.
Something felt off.
They reached the forest clearing where the mountain path split into two trails.
Ace stood there, arms crossed, glaring daggers at someone hidden behind a tree.
Sabo leaned against a trunk, trying to look calm but watching everything.
Ravian peeked from behind a bush.
(Okay… what am I walking into—)
A tall boy stepped out—older than Ace and Sabo, maybe thirteen or fourteen, with a scar across his cheek and a cocky grin.
Not canon.
Not one of the bandits either.
Ravian's stomach twisted.
(…Another variable character?)
The system flickered.
[New Variable Detected]
[Name Assigned: TARGO]
[Role: Unstable NPC | Threat Level: Low → Unknown]
Unknown?
Great.
Just great.
Ace shoved Targo back. "We said we're not part of your stupid gang!"
Targo laughed. "Come on, Ace. You, Sabo, even that weird rubber kid—join us. We're raiding a supply boat this week."
Ravian's eyes widened.
(They're trying to drag them into crime early? This wasn't in anything I remember.)
Ace growled. "We don't steal for losers."
Targo's grin soured. "Big words for brats with no parents."
Sabo immediately stepped between them. "Don't."
Ace's fists shook.
Mira whispered, "This is about to blow up."
Ravian nodded. "And we're way too close."
Suddenly—snap.
A twig under Mira's foot.
Ace, Sabo, and Targo snapped their heads toward them.
Ravian: "Oh come on—"
Targo smirked. "New face."
Ace blinked. "…You again?"
Ravian gave an awkward mini-wave. "Just passing by. Again. Please pretend I'm invisible."
Sabo raised a brow. "You've been 'passing by' a lot lately."
Ace squinted. "Are you following us?"
"No! The universe is following me!"
Mira nodded like it made perfect sense. "He's a stray."
Sabo tried not to laugh.
Targo eyed Ravian up and down, unimpressed. "This guy? He looks like he'd lose a fight to a mushroom."
Ravian muttered, "One wolf. ONE wolf almost ate me. Give me a break."
Ace crossed his arms, mocking. "Prove it. Fight him."
Ravian whipped around. "Huh—ABSOLUTELY NOT. I'm not fighting a literal criminal child!"
Targo cracked his knuckles. "Aw, scared?"
Ravian's eye twitched.
(Okay… chapter 1: Sea King trauma.
Chapter 2: Wolves.
Chapter 3: Garp assault.
Now chapter 4: child gangster violence?)
Before anyone could move—
DING.
[Micro-Event Triggered]
[Skill Usage Recommended]
Ravian swallowed.
(…Perception Trace.)
Just as Targo stepped forward, Ravian activated the skill.
The world outlined again.
Targo's movement was sloppy—too confident.
His right foot dug in first.
Left hand pulling back for a sloppy punch.
Terrible form.
Ravian sidestepped.
Targo missed by a mile.
Even Ace blinked. "Huh?"
Ravian tapped Targo's elbow—just enough force to twist his momentum.
Targo stumbled and face-planted into a bush.
Mira clapped once. "He dies to mushrooms, huh?"
Sabo smothered a laugh. Ace snorted.
Ravian held up his hands. "I'm not fighting anyone! Please don't escalate—"
But Targo stood up, furious.
"You little—!"
Then—
A booming voice shook the trees.
"AAAAACE! SABOOOOO! WHERE'S LUFFY?!"
Everyone froze.
Ravian whispered, "…Oh no."
Garp crashed into the clearing like a natural disaster wearing a marine coat.
He blinked at the scene.
Three boys.
Ravian.
Mira.
One crashed bush.
Targo went pale.
Garp squinted. "Kids fighting? GREAT! Character building!!"
"No it's NOT—!!" Ravian protested.
But Targo was already running for his life.
Ace groaned. "Not again."
Sabo sighed. "Every day…"
Luffy suddenly swung in from a vine like a screaming monkey.
"GUYS!!! I FOUND A GIANT BEETLE!!!—oh hey who're you?"
Ravian stared at him, exhausted.
"…Still passing by."
Luffy nodded. "Cool!"
Garp laughed, grabbing Luffy by the collar. "COME ON, BRATS! TRAINING TIME!"
Ace shouted. "WE DIDN'T AGREE TO TRAINING!"
Sabo yelled, "PUT ME DOWN—!"
Luffy giggled.
Mira saluted. "Have fun dying."
In seconds, the chaos storm moved deeper into the forest.
Leaving Ravian standing alone with Mira… and an increasingly heavy sense that fate was dragging him closer to the main cast whether he liked it or not.
The system chimed.
[Synchronization: 2.8%]
[Fate Threads Strengthened]
[Warning: Proximity to Key Figures Increasing]
Ravian sighed.
"I'm not even trying to get involved… why is this progressing like a death flag speedrun?"
Mira shrugged. "Because your luck sucks."
He couldn't argue with that.