Chapter 382: A New Avatar Is Born
Kai stood on the shores of Rusukaina Island, his gaze drifted over the tranquil sea as he accessed the Avatar Mall. A virtual interface flickered before him, its sleek display showcasing a range of abilities, each tagged with a cost in points. The options glowed faintly, brimming with potential.
____________________
Family Beast: 25,000
Observation Haki: 2,000
Blood True Ancestor: 20,000
Power of Mountains: 12,000
Shadow Servant: 10,000
Armament Haki: 3,000
______________________
Kai studied the list, his mind calculated the possibilities. With a decisive nod, he selected the abilities he desired, confirming his choices. Time seemed to slow as the system processed his request, weaving his vision into reality.
Before long, a figure materialized from the ether, a girl with vibrant green hair that cascaded like a forest canopy and emerald eyes that sparkled with life. She stood before Kai, her gaze locking onto his with a mischievous glint. A subtle smile played on her lips, hinting at a playful spirit beneath her striking presence.
"Welcome to the world, Giada," Kai said in a warm tone and a genuine smile spread across his face.
Giada's smile widened, her voice ringing out like a silver bell, clear and enchanting. "Yeah, being born is definitely worth celebrating… Master." Her eyes twinkled as she spoke, reflecting Kai's figure in their depths, though a teasing blur of charm softened her gaze. She shifted slightly, her movements fluid and graceful, exuding a natural allure that was both captivating and playful.
A Few Days Later.
Calm Belt, Rusukaina Island, in the Valley.
The valley on Rusukaina Island was a vision of serene beauty. Pink petals floated through the air, carried by a breeze heavy with their sweet, intoxicating scent. Not far away, a green lake shimmered, its surface rippling as fish darted beneath, their silvery forms glinting in the sunlight.
Beneath a sprawling flower tree, Kai sat casually on the soft grass, his back resting against the trunk. Beside him was Giada Kukulcan, the newly created Blood True Ancestor. She wore a flowing white dress that contrasted beautifully with her emerald hair, her elegance striking, though the game controller in her hands seemed delightfully out of place.
In front of them stood a television, its screen alive with vibrant colors and motion. Two game characters clashed in a fierce duel, their movements blurred because of speed and power. This was no ordinary fighting game, it was Kai's own creation, inspired by the high-stakes world of One Piece. The game's mechanics were razor-sharp, with response times so precise that the characters' actions mirrored the players' inputs almost instantly.
Giada's eyes were glued to the screen, her focus was absolute. Her slender fingers danced across the controller, pressing buttons so quickly that they left faint afterimages. Onscreen, the characters matched her pace, their attacks erupting in a flurry, punches, kicks, and dazzling special effects that lit up the display like a fireworks show. The attack frequency was relentless, far surpassing the fighting games Kai recalled from his past life.
The game's design was simple yet brutal. Speed was everything. If a player's hands were fast enough, their character could strike with blinding ferocity, hundreds of blows in a single second, each one chipping away at the opponent's health bar. Blocking required equal precision; fail to match the onslaught, and half your health could vanish in a heartbeat. Movement was just as wild, press fast enough, and your character's dashes looked like teleportation, though a skilled observer could still track them.
There was a catch. The game had an upper limit, capping speed and power at the equivalent of S+ level strength in the One Piece world, peak combat prowess, but not invincible. Kai had added a unique twist: a "blood-adding" mechanism. At the start of each match, players had a brief window to mash buttons as fast as possible, boosting their character's health based on their hand speed. The faster you pressed, the tougher your fighter became.
In essence, this was a game where raw reflexes could trump strategy, unless both players pushed past the S+ ceiling, where timing and tactics regained importance. Otherwise, a novice with lightning-fast fingers could pummel a veteran into submission. It is pure chaos, and Kai loves it.
The Duel.
Giada was in her element. With a deft combination of inputs, she triggered a massive attack for her character, Big Mom. "The Gun of Elbaf: Ikoku!" she declared, her voice tinged with triumph. Onscreen, the cartoonish pirate queen began charging the move, energy crackling around her exaggerated frame. The technique demanded precision, rapid button presses within a tight window. Too slow, and the move would fizzle; fast enough, and you could amplify its destructive force.
Kai watched with a sly grin, unfazed. He'd chosen Kaido of the Beasts, a hulking brute of a character, and now it was his turn. "Thunder Eight Trigrams!" he countered, his fingers blurred as he hammered the controller. The buttons clicked so furiously that a faint wisp of smoke seemed to curl from them, the sheer speed pushing the hardware to its limits. Onscreen, Kaido unleashed a devastating strike, power surging like a storm unleashed.
Boom!
Big Mom never had a chance. Before she could finish charging, Kaido's attack slammed into her. The screen erupted in a comical spray of exaggerated blood, cartoonish stars bursting outward, as her health bar dropped to zero in an instant.
The blow echoed with finality.
"KO."
"Game Over."
The words blazed across the screen in bold red, a victorious taunt. Giada's poised demeanor shattered. With a dramatic huff, she tossed the controller aside and launched herself at Kai, teeth bared in playful outrage. "You're cheating! How is Thunder Eight Trigrams so ridiculously strong?!" she cried, gnawing at his neck with mock ferocity, her soft form wriggling against him in protest.
Kai laughed, feeling her restless energy. He reached up with slender fingers, gently pinching her cheek. "The mechanics are fair, you're just too slow right now. Calm down, Giada. Where's that ladylike grace you're supposed to have?"
"I don't want to be a lady in front of you!" she shot back, undeterred, her teeth still teasing at his neck.
He chuckled again, unfazed by her antics. "Fine, skip the lady act. But can you stop gnawing? You're not breaking through my defenses."
His teasing words hit their mark. Giada froze, then pulled back just enough to let her eyes well up with exaggerated tears. "Waaah! Why are you guarding against me? You're my dearest Master!" she wailed, her voice trembling with mock despair. "Just let me have one sip, just one!" She squirmed in his arms, her tear-streaked face and hazy emerald eyes painting a picture of pitiful charm, as if daring him to give in.
"Giada," Kai said in a tone mix of amusement and exasperation, "you're the Blood True Ancestor, not a vampire. Control yourself, stop trying to suck my blood." He smirked at the absurdity, an employee trying to drink her boss's blood? If anything, it should be the other way around.
"Master, my love! I'm so obsessed with you, why won't you take pity on me?" Giada pleaded, her expression showed a masterful blend of sorrow and seduction. She was putting on a show, and Kai found it endlessly entertaining. Her personality was a whirlwind, elegant one moment, impish the next, with a mischievous streak that kept him on his toes.
"Don't even think about it," He replied, raising an eyebrow. "You couldn't handle my blood unless I toned down its power and essence. But would you still want it then?"
"Of course!" Giada insisted, her face lighting up with earnest conviction. "I don't want your blood for power, it's my way of showing how much I adore you!" There was truth in her words; as a Blood True Ancestor, her concept of love was tied to blood in a way Kai understood, given his own abilities.
Still, he was just playing with her. Watching Giada nibble at his neck, her frustration growing as she failed to break through, was too amusing to stop. "Oh, is that so?" he said, softening his tone as her wide and hopeful eyes met his. "Well, in that case…"
Her face brightened with anticipation, a spark of surprise flickering in her gaze as Kai smiled gently.
"…still no."
"Tch, figures," Giada muttered, her charming act dissolving into a pout. Realizing her cute routine had flopped, she switched gears. Many men were drawn to a touch of defiance, and she had a hunch her Master might be one of them. With a huff, she crossed her arms and adopted a tsundere air, aloof, sharp, and brimming with playful challenge.
(End of this Chapter)