.....
The Execution Grounds
The scorching sun beat down mercilessly, baking the cracked earth of the Marine base's execution grounds.
Two figures were tied to wooden stakes—one a green-haired swordsman with a turban, the other a strikingly handsome young man whose delicate features blurred the line between masculine and feminine.
"Hey, you still alive over there?" the green-haired man barked, eyeing his companion, who seemed on the verge of passing out.
The other groaned, lifting his head weakly. "Don't worry, Zoro… I'll manage." Then his chin drooped again.
Zoro exhaled in relief. He hadn't expected this kid—Lucas—to last this long. For someone who looked like he'd faint from a stiff breeze, the guy had grit.
Meanwhile, Lucas's mind was racing.
"This isn't a dream. I actually reincarnated into the One Piece world!"
His body screamed in protest, but pride refused to let him collapse in front of his idol, Roronoa Zoro.
[Ding! Host emotional fluctuation detected. Emotional Value +1.]
A robotic voice chimed in his skull.
Lucas smirked. Of course. Not only had he transmigrated, but he'd also been blessed with the ultimate cheat—a system.
After days of testing, he'd figured it out: the "Super Emotion System" let him exchange emotional spikes (fear, joy, rage) for "Character Cards"—abilities from other universes.
For most people, this would've been useless. But Lucas? His emotions were volatile. Back on Earth, classmates had called him "The Human Mood Swing."
As for why he was tied up next to Zoro? Simple.
Upon arriving in Shells Town, he'd rushed to meet his favorite character—only to get arrested as an accomplice by Helmeppo, the spoiled brat of Marine Captain Morgan.
Without the system, he'd have been dead by now.
"At least I kept my original face…" he mused, then scowled. He hated how androgynous he looked.
"But according to the plot… Luffy should show up soon."
[Ding! Emotional Value +1!]
[Ding! Emotional Value +1!]
[...]
[Congratulations! Emotional Value has exceeded 1,000. Activate character draw?]
Lucas heart pounded. "YES!"
Finally—no more relying on the system's overpriced "Stamina Points" to survive.
[First-time bonus: 10x Golden Draw activated!]
A spectral roulette wheel spun before his eyes.
[Rewards:
Green Card: SpongeBob SquarePants (…What?)
Green Card: The Big Bad Wolf (Seriously?)
Golden Card: Orochimaru (Now we're talking!)
Green Card: Kidney Tonic ×3 (…Thanks?)
Golden Card: Pheasant Sword (Aokiji's ice blade?!)
White Card: Super BBQ ×3 (Priorities, system.)]
Lucas's eye twitched. "Two golds? Lucky!"
But then—
[Warning: Character binding is PERMANENT. Once chosen, future draws will only yield fragments.]
He checked the shop. Golden Fragments cost 100,000 Emotional Points each, and the gacha's gold rate was 0.01%.
"This is some mobile game bullshit."
Orochimaru's abilities were undeniably strong—but the guy gave him the creeps.
"I'll wait for a better option."
Zoro side-eyed him. "You good? You're making faces like a madman."
Lucas snapped back. "Just… thinking if Helmeppo'll actually free us."
Zoro grimaced. "He better."
Two heads popped over the courtyard wall.
Lucas's soul nearly left his body.
"IT'S HIM!"
Monkey D. Luffy, straw hat and all, peered down with koby beside him.
[Ding! Emotional Value +1!]
[Ding! Emotional Value +1!]
Zoro snarled. "Get lost, idiots!"
Lucas bit back a laugh. "Classic Zoro."
Then—a small girl (Rika) climbed down, clutching rice balls. "Mister, you must be hungry!"
She fed Lucas first.
"Sweet? Not bad." He swallowed. "Delicious."
Zoro growled. "Scram, kid! You'll get hurt!"
Koby gasped. "He's trying to save her!"
Too late.
"Oi. What's this?"
Helmeppo strutted in, flanked by Marines. He snatched Rika's rice ball, took a bite, and spat it out.
"Disgusting! Rice balls need SALT!"
Rika teared up. "But sweet is best…"
Helmeppo sneered. "Throw her out!"
A Marine hesitated. "She's just a child—"
"Should I tell my father, then?"
The Marine paled, whispering to Rika: "Cover your head."
She was tossed—but Luffy caught her midair, just like in the story.
Koby trembled. "This… is the Marines?"
Helmeppo turned his cruelty on the prisoners, punching Zoro first, but there was no reaction.
Annoyed, he targeted Lucas.
WHAM.
[Ding! Emotional Value +1!]
"Why me?!"
Another blow. Then another.
Lucas coughed blood. His vision swam. "This… is real. These people hit HARD."
Helmeppo cackled. "Pathetic! I'm too strong!"
He left, smugly reminding them their execution was tomorrow.
Zoro eyed Lucas's bloody state. "You hanging in there?"
Lucas rasped, "Peachy."
Zoro shrugged and ate the dirt-covered rice ball.
As Luffy and Koby slipped away, Lucas's consciousness flickered.
"I'm dying. I just got here—I CAN'T die!"
He summoned the system.
"Fuse the Orochimaru card."
[Warning: Binding is irreversible. Confirm?]
No hesitation. "DO IT."
[Fusing Golden Card: Orochimaru…]
Darkness swallowed his vision—then something inhuman uncoiled inside him.
....