Chapter 2: I thought this was an RPG? What role am I playing? The victim?
I regret everything. Fuck this trash game and this stupid Pirate King. I thought I was playing Grand Line, not goddamn Dark Souls.
For context, let's go back a few minutes.
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Signing all of the various legal contracts, I felt all my senses become a bit sharper. While before, the game still felt realistic, yet a bit dulled, now, all my senses were at full alert. Adjusting to the change, I finally started the trial.
As soon as I opened my eyes, I came face to face with an average height, yet absolutely ripped man. This man, judging by his signature straw hat (and the mission description), was of course, the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. Well, an extremely young version. Taking in his appearance, I noticed his hand move a little bit towards his sword.
And I felt all of my senses explored. An absolutely excruciating pain flashed across my torso, causing my head to swim. All my senses were overwhelmed by the extreme sensations, my thoughts completely emptied. Stunned, I collapsed on the ground, letting out a bloodcurdling scream.
The pain quickly subsided, but it didn't stop the mental shock of what I just went through. It was just like when I first died, except this time, the pain was ten times more sudden, and a hundred times more shocking.
Unlike last time, where I was somewhat prepared, this came out of the blue. I didn't even have the chance to see him draw his sword before I died.
Retching, I gathered my thoughts, before I came to a conclusion.
'There's no way in hell this is possible. In fact, there's no way in hell this is even legal, no matter whatever I signed. For this game to still get approved even with this type of shit... who the hell allowed this? The fact that the UN itself vouched for this game should've already tipped me off to the fact that it wasn't normal... but still.'
Shoving the thoughts to the back of my mind, I surveyed my surroundings. I was once again in a blank white room with only a single holographic screen. It contained too options.
[Retry]
[Give up]
[Adjust sensory synchronization]
Looking at the various options, I was sorely tempted to adjust the sensory synchronization down, if not give up entirely. However, I stopped myself.
'This game... it's not simple. The dubious legalities, the out of this world technology, the shady connections. Everything points to this game being something major. Maybe not now, but way into the future.'
'Not only would I be giving up the chance to live my ideal dream by giving up now, but I might also be giving up my only change to finally become something. To finally live a fulfilling life rather than die in some alleyway, completely forgotten by the world. This game... it can be my future. So, there's no way in hell I'm giving up!'
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Around fifty tries later, back to the present, I think my resolve is finally waning. I don't know how much longer I can take this shit. However, no matter how much I die, I think I'm finally cracking the code. Every death has taught me more about him. And I've concluded that this quest... is possible. It was made to be beaten, as long as you have the skill.
This 'Gol D. Roger' is not the original, obviously. Hell, he's not even a sentient copy. He's nothing but a mindless clone. Just like Elden Ring, Dark Souls, and every other hard game. I just need to memorize his patterns.
As soon as I spawn in, he'll start with a forward charge. I have to dodge to the left exactly one second after I spawn in. If I dodge early, his animation will change, and he'll track me down. If I dodge late, he'll skewer me. There's less than a half a second window where I'll survive. This exchange takes about one and a half seconds overall.
3.5 seconds are left to beat the quest. Following his charge attack, I have to immediately duck the moment I see him arrive. This one has an even smaller window of time, with my reactions needing to be almost instantaneous. Well, for a normal human being. By ducking, I dodge his horizontal slash.
.5 seconds are taken up by this exchange. 3 seconds remain. Next is some bullshit not even Dark Souls would DARE to think of doing. Roger launches a combo of a downward slash, diagonal right slash upward, and finally a diagonal left slash downward. First, I have to backstep almost instantly, once again.
Then, I have to be already in motion as the first diagonal slash begins to start, simultaneously backstepping again, and turning my body sideways to narrowly evade it. The final slash is quite frankly, undodgeable. In the best case scenario, I manage to backstep enough that the slash only grazes me barely on the chest. Which, if you forgot, still creates the a wound equivalent to if a normal person slashed me multiple times straight-on in the chest multiple times. This exchange takes one second.
So now, I have to survive for two more seconds while suffering a grievous chest wound. Please note that this 'variation' of Gol D. Roger is absolutely toying with me. Not only is he is not sentient, he hasn't learned haki, and is utilizing only physical strength. And, this is him from the start of his journey. Before he even met Rayleigh. Did I already mention how bullshit this fight was?
Anyways, two seconds left. He goes in for consecutive thrusts. Based on the previous patterns I learned from my various deaths, I dodge left, right, right, left, then backstep and somewhat tank the hit by crossing my arms over my chest. Now, my arms are grievously mutilated, my head is hazy due to blood loss, and my chest is cut open.
But it's okay, cause only one second is left. This is the furthest I've ever gotten. I stall for .2 seconds by continuing to backpedal. The small clock at the top right of my vision says .8 seconds are left. Roger goes into a low stance. He's seemingly preparing a move. Now, only .4 seconds remain.
And then... he disappears. When he reappears, there's a sword in my heart and .2 seconds left on the clock. As I feel my life fade away, I squeeze out a few words.
"Get... fucked."
And I finally win. The timer at the top right corner reaches zero, and my thoughts suddenly regain clarity. Roger has disappeared and all my injuries have been healed.
My knees give out as I collapse in the ground in relief, laughing hysterically.
"Holy shit... I actually did it! It was actually possible! Hahahaha! I finally fucking did it! Fuck you Roger! Fuck you devs! I'm the greatest player of all time! Haha!"
After the... somewhat manic episode passes, I finally get my ass off the ground and look at the holographic screen that once again popped up in front of me.
[Congratulations! You have completed the quest: Prove Your Will!]
[Claimed reward: Will of D]
[Claimed bonus reward: Conqueror's Haki]
[Bonus reward: ??? can be claimed once you reach the Grand Line]
[Congratulations to Player Tarnished for being the first player to obtain the Will of D!]
[Congratulations to Player Tarnished for being the first player to obtain Haki!]
[Congratulations to Player Tarnished for being the first player to obtain Conqueror's Haki!]
[Calculating Bonus Rewards]
[Claimed achievement reward: Unbreakable Willpower]
[Claimed achievement reward: Haki Prodigy]
[Claimed achievement reward: Natural Born Conqueror]
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
ImProcrastinating
ImProcrastinating Once again, credit to One Piece Online by R4IN for inspiration. And please leave questions, comments, suggestions down below. By the way, the reason the bonus reward is being kept as ??? is because I still haven't decided what devil fruit I want to give, if I want him to change race, and if I should give him any other additional rewards other than possible race change and/or devil fruit. As such, any feedback will be helpful.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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