....
Nami's fist collided with Lucas' stomach—or at least, it should have. Instead, the impact felt like punching a marshmallow. The force dissipated unnaturally, as if absorbed by something unseen.
"Ow! That hurts!" Lucas clutched his stomach out of reflex, though his exaggerated wince didn't match the lack of pain.
Nami frowned, flexing her fingers. "What kind of joke is this? I barely felt any resistance."
"Huh?" Lucas blinked, prodding his own abdomen. "Wait… it actually doesn't hurt?"
The system's enhancements were taking effect. Orochimaru's Soft Body ability wasn't just about flexibility—it dispersed physical impact like water absorbing a drop.
Nami, skeptical, punched him again.
"M-Miss Nami! Look over there!" Lucas yelped, pointing frantically at Luffy.
Luffy was crouched beside a scruffy terrier, chatting animatedly as if they were old friends.
Nami froze. "He's… fighting for a dog? Who is this guy?"
Ignoring Lucas, she marched toward Luffy, with Lucas scrambling after her.
The town's mayor stood defiantly before them, his voice trembling with resolve.
"As the mayor of Orange Town, I refuse to let the Buggy Pirates destroy our home! I challenge Buggy the Clown to a duel!"
Nami scoffed. "Are you insane? They're pirates! You'll get yourself killed!"
The mayor ignored her, turning to leave. Nami lunged to stop him—but Lucas caught her arm.
"Don't worry," Lucas said, his usual skittishness replaced by steel. "We won't let him die."
Luffy nodded. "Lucas is right."
Zoro smirked in agreement.
Nami stared at Lucas, baffled. The coward who flinched at shadows now spoke like a seasoned fighter? Was his timidity just an act?
Then Lucas ruined the moment.
"Let's follow him and crush Buggy!" he declared—before inching forward at a snail's pace.
Nami facepalmed. "You—ugh!" She kicked him hard.
[Ding! Emotional response detected. Mood Value +6.]
"Move faster!"
"Y-Yes, ma'am!"
Lucas scurried ahead, catching up to Luffy and Zoro.
"Hey, Lucas," Luffy said, tilting his head. "Where'd you go earlier? You vanished."
"Ah…? I, uh, got lost in the philosophical abyss of existence. Miss Nami saved me."
Nami groaned.
Luffy beamed. "Nami, you're amazing! Join my crew!"
"Tch. I'd never be a pirate," Nami snapped—then added, "This is a temporary partnership. For profit."
Lucas stifled a grin. 'Oh, Nami. You'll be "nakama" before you know it.'
The mayor stormed into the Buggy Pirates' camp, where the crew—now fully healed—sneered at the old man's audacity.
"Buggy the Clown! Face me!" the mayor bellowed.
Buggy blinked, then burst into laughter. "You? A washed-up old man?" His grin turned venomous. "I haven't fallen so low that randoms can challenge me."
With a flick of his fingers, Buggy's detached hand shot forward, seizing the mayor's collar and hoisting him into the air.
"Fight me properly, you coward!" the mayor choked out.
Buggy's eyes gleamed. "Pirates don't play fair."
His grip tightened—until a rubbery hand clamped onto his floating wrist.
"Straw Hat!" Buggy snarled.
Luffy ignored him, eyeing the mayor. "Old guy, you'll die if you fight."
"I must protect this town! Let me—OW!"
Luffy bonked the mayor on the head, knocking him out cold.
Nami shrieked. "What the hell, Luffy?!"
"Best solution," Zoro said.
Lucas nodded sagely. "Diplomacy."
Nami opened her mouth—then shut it. Knocking the mayor out was the safest option… though she winced at the violence.
Buggy's face purpled with rage. "You insects—!"
Luffy suddenly gasped. "Hey! Red Nose!"
The world froze.
Nami paled. "Luffy, you idiot—!"
Buggy's crew recoiled in horror. "H-He said it…!"
Lucas, already edging backward, whispered, "Abort. Abort."
"RED NOSE!!!" Luffy repeated cheerfully.
Buggy's eye twitched. "CANNON! NOW!"
A lackey lit the fuse. The cannonball screamed toward them—
—only for Luffy to inflate like a balloon.
"Gomu Gomu no… BALLOON!"
BOOM!
The deflected shell obliterated a nearby building. Buggy's crew dove for cover as their captain used two lackeys as human shields.
Nami's fists clenched. "You monster!"
Buggy wiped soot from his face. "Straw Hat… you're dead."
The rubble shifted. The lion Richie emerged, followed by a smirking Cabaji.
"Captain, this is our worst humiliation yet," Cabaji drawled.
Buggy's grin turned feral. "Yes, Cabaji, I'm already angry."
Cabaji hurled Richie aside.
"Richie!" Mohji's shrill cry turned to a snarl as he lunged at Cabaji only to be kicked straight toward Lucas.
Lucas brain short-circuited. 'Why me?!'
WHAM!
The two crashed into a wall. Lucas groaned, but thanks to Orochimaru's card, he wasn't KO'd.
[Ding! Emotional response detected. Mood Value +10.]
"Why… am I the collateral damage?!" He shoved Mohji off, wincing.
Nami gaped. "How are you alive?"
Luffy and Zoro shrugged, as if this were expected.
Lucas staggered up, mentally pulling up his stats:
//
[Host: Lucas]
[Character Card: Orochimaru (Gold)]
[Card Level: 1 (10/100)]
[Skills: Soft Body Modification]
[Weapon Card: Kusanagi Sword (Gold)]
[Weapon Skill: Snake Blade]
[Combat Rating: C (Congrats, you're no longer a canon fodder)]
[Mood Value: 6015]
//
'Good. With this much Mood Value, I'll unlock new abilities soon.'
He eyed the battlefield.
'Time to find a safe spot before this gets worse.'
.....