"System, what exactly can you do?"
Liam Ross's heart pounded with excitement as he asked the question aloud.
The calm, mechanical voice replied almost instantly.
"As long as the host checks in at different locations, rewards will be granted. Reminder: the more unique or higher-level the location, the greater the reward."
Liam nodded, taking in every word. "Alright, sounds simple enough. Anything else I should know?"
"The Check-In System has two modes: Permanent Zone Check-In and Special Mission Check-In."
Liam listened carefully, eager to understand.
According to the system's explanation, the Permanent Zone Check-In allowed him to bind to a single area like Marineford and check in there regularly. Once chosen, he could only change it once a month.
The Special Mission Check-In, on the other hand, would appear randomly. Each time he completed one of these missions, he'd earn a Mystery Chest containing rare treasures and powerful items.
Then the system added,
"Daily check-ins occur twice once in the morning and once at night.
A full week of successful check-ins grants a Weekly Gift Pack.
A full month earns a Monthly Reward Box.
And if the host maintains consistent check-ins for a year, a Grand Annual Gift Chest will be awarded."
Liam grinned. "Got it."
Now that he finally had a golden finger a power system of his own survival in this brutal world didn't seem so hopeless anymore.
Before he had real strength, he decided to stay low-key. No showing off, no taking risks. He'd grow quietly, under everyone's radar.
Meanwhile, the chaos at Marineford had begun to settle. After a fierce battle, Kaido had finally sobered up enough to realize his mistake. Then came a call from his subordinate, King, reporting that Big Mom had attacked their territory.
"Damn it! Sengoku! Garp! I'll kill you both one day!"
After roaring his threat, Kaido turned into a dragon and vanished into the clouds, flying back toward the New World.
Sengoku and Garp exchanged a look but didn't bother chasing him. This wasn't the first time Kaido had caused trouble and catching him had always been impossible. The man's skin was thick, his body nearly indestructible. No matter how many times they'd captured him before, he'd escape soon after, unfazed.
Sengoku sighed, then turned to the remaining soldiers. "Clean up the battlefield."
The order, of course, eventually trickled down to the lowest-ranking workers Liam included.
By the time night fell, Liam was completely exhausted. He trudged back to his tiny dorm room a bare space with a bunk, a small desk, and nothing else. Life in the Navy was harsh: rank determined everything, from housing to meals. Admirals like Sengoku lived in luxury villas, though he usually slept in his office anyway.
Liam threw himself onto his bed, took a deep breath, and whispered, "System, start my evening check-in."
"Host detected in Marineford Headquarters. Would you like to bind this location as your permanent zone? Doing so will grant a Double Reward Bonus."
"Double bonus?" Liam didn't hesitate for a second. "Bind and check in!"
"Ding! Binding successful. Permanent Zone: Marineford Headquarters – Marineford City."
"Reminder: Zone cannot be changed for one month. Monthly Reward Pack unlocked."
Liam grinned. "Only an idiot would switch. Staying here among the strongest in the world is the best form of safety."
"Congratulations, host! Check-in complete."
"Rewards obtained: Strengthening Pill, Rokushiki Technique Pack, and one Intermediate Experience Card."
Liam tilted his head, a little disappointed. "No Devil Fruit this time? Tch. Well, the Rokushiki pack isn't bad."
In the world of One Piece, Devil Fruits were the stuff of legend grants of supernatural powers in exchange for losing the ability to swim. Everyone dreamed of obtaining one.
But even without a Fruit, there were other ways to become powerful: the Three Colors of Haki Observation, Armament, and Conqueror's and the Rokushiki, or Six Powers, a combat style developed by the World Government.
Liam opened his system inventory and examined his new items. His eyes fell on a blue pill glowing faintly. "System, what does the Strengthening Pill do?"
"The Strengthening Pill enhances the host's body to peak physical condition, improving strength, energy, and vitality."
Liam's eyes lit up immediately. "That's… perfect!"
In this world, endurance was everything. Battles could last for days. Even someone with great power would collapse without stamina.
Just look at Akainu and Aokiji their ten-day duel had literally reshaped an island, turning half of it into fire and half into ice. Only monsters with monstrous bodies could fight that long.
Without hesitation, Liam swallowed the blue pill.
A surge of energy exploded inside him, racing through his veins. Every muscle, every bone, every nerve was being reforged. The exhaustion from the day vanished instantly. It felt like a raging beast had awakened inside him, overflowing with raw power.
He clenched his fists, amazed. "Incredible… I feel like I could run for days without stopping."
Next, his attention turned to the Rokushiki Pack.
The Six Powers were legendary techniques Shave, Iron Body, Paper Art, Moon Step, Tempest Kick, and Finger Gun taught only to elite government agents and Navy officers. Their mastery could turn a normal human into a human weapon.
Garp himself was the greatest example, a man who had refined pure body technique to its absolute limit. Then there was Rob Lucci of CP9, a master of all six, whose combat skills had inspired even Luffy's Gear Second.
Liam didn't waste another second. "System, open the Rokushiki Pack."
The moment he said it, golden particles of light burst from the item and streamed into his mind.
Knowledge poured in like a flood stance, motion, breathing, timing, the feel of every technique and within seconds, he understood it all.
Shave. Iron Body. Paper Art. Moon Step. Tempest Kick. Finger Gun.
He'd learned them all in an instant.
Still, he knew this was only the beginning. To truly master these arts, he'd need practice, refinement, and understanding.
Of course, there wasn't enough space to train here. His dorm was barely wide enough to stretch his legs, let alone unleash a Tempest Kick.
He turned his attention to the last item the Intermediate Experience Card.
"System, what's this one for? Does it boost my strength?"
"The Experience Card temporarily accelerates all skill growth and boosts the host's performance in combat."
"Ah, like an XP boost," Liam muttered. "So it works even for things like the Rokushiki?"
"Yes. The Experience Card can enhance physical arts, Haki, swordsmanship, marksmanship, and even Devil Fruit awakening."
Liam grinned widely. "Now that's what I call overpowered."
With such a system backing him, becoming one of the strongest in this world wasn't just a dream it was only a matter of time.
He rubbed his hands together eagerly. "Alright, system. How do I use it?"
"Open your skill interface, host."
"Open skill interface!" Liam commanded.
And just like that
A dazzling blue screen appeared before his eyes, shining faintly in the dim light of his dorm room.
The system had truly awakened.
And Liam Ross's quiet rise… had just begun.