Chapter 1: Transmigrated?
"Hmm…"
On warm, golden sand, a lone figure stirred.
Ragnar slowly pushed himself upright, dizziness washing over him as grains of sand slipped from his fingers. When his vision finally cleared, his pupils shrank.
The sky above was an immaculate blue—vast, cloudless, and pure, like polished jade. The sunlight was gentle, yet vivid, far brighter than anything he remembered from Earth.
Ahead stretched an endless ocean, its surface shimmering under the sun. Schools of small fish occasionally broke through the waves, leaping freely before vanishing beneath the water once more.
Behind him lay dense, untamed jungle. Towering trees intertwined with thick vines, radiating a primitive, untouched atmosphere.
This place looked like a paradise.
A perfect vacation island.
And yet—
There was not a single trace of human habitation.
"No roads… no ruins… no smoke…"
Ragnar frowned.
"Where am I?"
A moment later, another question followed.
"…Wasn't I dead?"
He stood up fully, brushing the sand from his clothes, his gaze sweeping the surroundings again. The unfamiliar environment triggered fragmented memories.
He clearly remembered walking along the roadside.
After years of living like a shut-in, he had finally gone outside—
—and the moment he stepped out—
Duang!
Screech! Bang!
Ragnar's body had flown upward with terrifying force, soaring absurdly high, as if he were about to collide with the sun itself.
As he was sent hurtling through the air, he distinctly remembered the truck driver's face—how it shifted from casual indifference… to sheer horror.
And amid the chaos, he vaguely heard voices that absolutely should not have existed.
"Oh no! I delivered the wrong one!"
"I'm finished! My salary for this month is gone!"
"I can't even deliver a transmigrator properly… I should just go back to manual labor!"
"..."
Ragnar had no idea whether he should laugh or cry.
So… he didn't die?
"Compensation, then?" he muttered.
He exhaled slowly.
"Alright. That explains it."
"This definitely isn't Earth. No way Earth has air this clean—or an ecosystem this intact."
His gaze turned toward the sea.
"But dumping me on an uninhabited island?"
"What is this, Survival Mode?"
"A Robinson Crusoe starter pack?"
"And more importantly—"
Ragnar narrowed his eyes.
"What kind of world is this?"
"Hey, system?"
"Hello? Moshi moshi?"
"You can't just isekai me without giving me something, right?"
The moment the words left his mouth, a faint mechanical chime echoed in his mind.
[Bite.]
A translucent interface unfolded before his eyes.
[Pay-to-Win Transformation System activated.]
[Host: Ragnar]
[Character Transformation Card: None]
[Subordinates: None]
"…That name," Ragnar said flatly.
"It's honest, I'll give you that. But it's also painfully awkward."
"Pay-to-win, huh? What is this, something from the Ma family?"
He pinched the bridge of his nose, deeply embarrassed on behalf of the system.
"Alright, System. Explain your functions."
[This system allows the host to transform into characters from countless worlds.]
[By spending currency, the host can increase the strength of the transformed character.]
[In short: spending money equals becoming stronger.]
"…As expected."
Ragnar was silent for two seconds.
Then he asked the most important question.
"How do I obtain character transformation cards?"
"And what about their strength levels?"
[Character Transformation Cards are obtained via purchases and gacha draws.]
[Based on the current world's exchange rate, one draw requires one billion Berries.]
[When a transformed character's strength reaches 60% of the original, the Subjugation feature unlocks.]
[For 100 million Berries, a character native to the original character's world may be drawn as a subordinate.]
[All subordinates possess absolute loyalty.]
"…I meant earning money," Ragnar muttered.
He froze.
"…Berries?"
His expression sharpened instantly.
"So this is that world."
"The world of pirates."
"One Piece."
Ragnar inhaled deeply.
"A world with absurd combat ceilings… Devil Fruits, Haki, monsters everywhere."
"…Interesting."
He paused, then narrowed his eyes.
"System. Don't tell me there's no newbie benefit."
[New Player Gift Pack detected.]
[Contents: One free Character Transformation Card draw.]
[Initial synchronization: 20% of the original character's strength.]
[Open now?]
Ragnar's breath hitched.
"Twenty percent right off the bat?"
"That's huge."
But his excitement quickly turned into anxiety.
"If I pull someone weak…"
"Twenty percent of trash is still trash."
"That would be disastrous."
He clenched his fist.
"No."
"I refuse."
"I am definitely lucky."
Despite his bravado, his heart was pounding violently.
This draw would determine whether he could survive in the Grand Line—or die namelessly on some forgotten island.
If he failed…
How was he, a complete beginner, supposed to earn one billion Berries?
"That would be impossible."
He clasped his hands together solemnly.
"Heaven above, earth below—Amadioha, Buddha, anyone listening—please bless me!"
"I draw!"
In his consciousness, a dim card shattered.
A brilliant blue sphere of light emerged, floating in the void. A complex magic circle formed around it, inscribed with unfamiliar runes. Ten smaller blue spheres appeared, evenly spaced, each connected by glowing lines.
The spheres began to rotate.
Faster.
Faster.
Light exploded outward, forming three massive halos that wrapped around the circle.
Then—
Boom!
The light collapsed inward.
When it faded, a golden card hovered silently before Ragnar, rotating slowly.
The figure depicted upon it made his breath stop.
A swordswoman.
Long pale-gold hair tied behind her head. Cold, golden eyes. Porcelain skin.
She wore dark, heavy armor, her presence solemn and oppressive. In her hand rested a black longsword streaked with crimson patterns—radiating ruthless authority.
Information flooded Ragnar's mind.
Artoria Pendragon (Alter).
"…Black Saber."
Ragnar's eyes lit up.
"Wuhu!"
"This is it!"
"Take off!"
[Congratulations, Host.]
[You have obtained the Character Transformation Card: "Artoria Pendragon (Alter)".]
"Hahaha!"
"Invincible!"
"I'm the chosen one!"
Artoria Pendragon (Alter)—the corrupted King of Knights.
Unlike the original Artoria, who upheld honor and ideals at all costs, the Alter version was cold, merciless, and pragmatic.
Where the original believed in justice—
This one believed in results.
Even tyranny, if necessary.
Ragnar nodded in satisfaction.
"…Yeah."
"This one suits me better."
"More efficient. Less moral baggage."
"Much easier to use."
He paused, then smiled faintly.
"Of course…"
"Both are top-tier."
"So."
"No problem at all."