Strategy or Stupidity?

"Hey, make sure you're eating well to keep up your strength!"

"Duh, I'm practically shivering over here," one player joked.

"Wait, what on earth are you guys talking about? Somebody clue me in!"

"Heh… you'll get it once you've entered the adult world, kid…"

The comments quickly filled with knowing laughter and cryptic responses, leaving one young player feeling bewildered and a bit frustrated. What on earth were they all talking about?

It wasn't until he got deeper into the game and found himself a virtual spouse that he finally understood the importance of staying fit. Soon, the once "innocent" player realized he was no longer so innocent.

Over the next few days, John watched as the number of players in One Piece spiked dramatically. He could tell that the 100% realism patch had definitely had an impact. While the game's currency exchange system had already been a hit, this new enhancement was groundbreaking—a bold experiment that other companies had tried and failed miserably with in the past.

But judging by the players' ecstatic reactions, John's approach was a success. His competitors were furious, frustrated that they couldn't replicate this achievement, unless, of course, they could make their in-game characters as lifelike and engaging.

Each of the "Big Five" gaming giants burned with jealousy as they watched One Piece soar in popularity, yet none of them dared admit to feeling left behind. If they complained publicly, they would only be outing themselves. So, they kept quiet, pretending they hadn't noticed, while internally fuming.

Meanwhile, the floundering "One Piece World" from the Dragon Kingdom game platform was under heavy criticism. The platform itself redirected players' frustrations onto One Piece World in a move that only heightened John's game's popularity.

A/N: They are talking about that pirated version of the one piece that came out before.

Returning to his behind-the-scenes work, John quietly observed the reactions of his players. He secretly set up unique "accidents" for those who caught his eye and occasionally adjusted the game to reward loyal players. These small, interactive moments left him contemplating his own life.

Maybe he should start thinking about finding a real-life girlfriend? After all, he couldn't just live through his game characters forever, could he?

He mulled it over for a while but pushed the thought aside. There was still plenty to accomplish. Besides, One Piece's popularity was soaring, and Identity V, being developed by the Edge Horizon Team, was coming along well. John was content with only providing guidance and some core gameplay concepts. His team's creativity shone, and stepping in now might just disrupt their flow.

By fostering their imagination, John could eventually delegate even bigger projects to them. No need to rush things; the next big game could wait until One Piece had fully cemented its player base. Just like Minecraft and Happy Farm, which had established loyal communities, One Piece wasn't quite there yet—but it was getting close.

In the Virtual Realm

In Second World, the usual gathering of five top figures took place around a familiar table.

Bam!

A hand slammed down, reverberating through the room as Richard announced, "We finally have news on the ancient weapons!"

"Are you sure?" Matthew Hudson asked, his expression cautious as he looked at Richard Burns.

Richard, ever-confident, smirked and nodded. "I heard it straight from a contact within the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

"Which one?" Matthew asked, eyebrows raised.

Through months of exploration, players had begun mapping the major forces within the One Piece world, though only with limited details. The deeper mysteries remained out of reach.

"Crocodile," Richard replied, his smirk widening.

"Wait, Crocodile? If I remember right, he's a Logia-type Devil Fruit user and hardly the trusting type. Are we sure we can partner with someone like him?"

"That's true," another member agreed. "Without Haki, we have no way to counter his powers. If he tries to double-cross us, we're defenseless."

Richard waved his hand dismissively. "Yes, he's strong, but his sand powers have a critical weakness—water."

The others exchanged uncertain glances.

"We've analyzed John's Devil Fruit abilities closely," Richard explained, "and noticed a recurring pattern: nearly every power has a natural counter. For instance, in Louge Town, Smokers' abilities falter in heavy rain, and the same goes for Crocodile. His Sand-Sand Fruit is even more susceptible to water."

"He'd cheat us? Let him try," he scoffed, a spark of arrogance in his eyes.

"Do you really think it's that simple?" Matthew asked, his voice wavering. Despite his excitement, a nagging worry gnawed at him. He recalled a now-infamous video of players encountering a thunderstorm in Louge Town, complete with flashing lightning. Could a Devil Fruit user truly be so easy to defeat?

The others, too, began to feel a sliver of doubt.

"Hmph! It's just a game!" Richard cut in sharply. "So what if we fail? If any of you don't have the guts to risk it, don't expect to benefit if we succeed."

His words brought the room to a standstill. The remaining four stared at each other before nodding in agreement.

Richard resumed with a grin. "Now that we're on the same page, let's get down to it. From what we've pieced together, there are three legendary weapons in this world: the Uranus, Poseidon, and Pluton."

"And this time… we're going after Pluton."

A/N: Thanks for reading, donate some power stones for extra chapters.

Also check out my Patreon if you want extra chapters up to chapter 98: Patreon.com/AncestorX

Enjoy ✌️.