Having effectively brushed myself off of all the thick patches of grime, mud and moss, I set myself at a brisk pace towards… forwards, I guess. I had been going the same way for quite a while and seeing that I hadn't made much progress, I might need to make a hut or something of that nature. I have no experience doing any wildlife shit, other than maybe picking some champignon mushrooms outside.

Since I had essentially all the time in the world, I was free to explore the systems.

"Status." I said, which luckily brought up my stat sheet. While it hadn't changed much, [Observe] was now listed under my skills, which was neat.

Looking at the top of my menu, I saw two sections. [Inventory] and [Quests]. I focused on my [Inventory] and the screen switched, turning green and displaying 10 slots, all of which were empty.

Looks like I wouldn't have an infinite inventory, I can live with that since it's better than people who don't have 'em at all.

Switching to [Quests], the screen turned red and was completely empty. Clicking off of all of the menus, I now was back to reality, and had stepped on a cluster of mushrooms. Seeing as it was the perfect time to [Observe] I wasted no time.

[Enoki Mushrooms]

Edible

I guess that was all I was gonna get with a level one [Observe], it gives me all I need to know anyway. Considering they were a tad dirty, I still wanted to wash them in a stream even if they were apparently edible, I was a sanitary boy.

Looking around I saw a gentle downhill stream and dug it out wider, trying to make a space for the mushrooms. Once that was finished and I had washed it all out, it was time for the first meal of my time in One piece- Blue world.

Bitter. I could handle it, but it wasn't pleasant at all.

Chowing it down wasn't something I'd like to do but I was hungry, what can you say. Still, I needed to rid this taste out of my mouth, so I used [Observe] on the water.

[Water]

Potable.

Booyah, food and water, all I need now is shelter. Wait a moment, if there was a stream, hopefully I could follow it back, people would definitely use it, right?

Jogging down, the small stream became bigger and bigger, from thumb width to gutter sized, all the way into a lake.

Seeing a cow in a pen far out in the distance, I knew there were people nearby. Diving into the water, ecstatic, I swam over there in a rush.

BANG!

[-64 HP]

Hu….

-

I think I blacked out or fainted, but what caused it- oh fuck. I felt a searing pain bellowing out with great force mere inches away from my spine, I pulled up my status screen, trying to see how much health I had.

[HP: 58/100]

Shit, I was low on health, and looking at my surroundings, it looked like I was trapped in a dimly lit barn, with a few sun rays peeking in gaps between the wood-plank-walls. I was roped down onto a rickety chair, specifically the back legs of the seat, and tried to shake my hands, all I got was confirmation the bitch who shot me could tie a knot.

Though I felt the chair budge ever so slightly, I contorted my wrist around and saw that there was a slightly loose bolt snugly placed at the head of the nut.

Though before I could do anything with that info, a gun was placed firmly atop the side of my head, my adrenaline kicked in like a freight train and I rotated my eyes to the right, seeing an older man wearing a cowboy hat made of straw, suspenders and leather boots with jangly spurs.

He was chewing on a wheat stem and had a look of disdain plastered across his face, which only made my heart beat faster and my cheeks turn red in anxiousness.

Iwontdieiwontdieiwontdieiwontdie

Fuck this man, I'm going back.

"W- what do you want, m-man?" I stuttered. I then remembered the slightly loose bolt, there, I formulated my escape.

"We don't allow trespassers on our lake, y'hear that?" He growled.

I nodded in agreement, and started slowly twisting the bolt.

Righty tighty lefty loosey.

"Why d-did you tie me up? I'm unarmed, trust me." I exclaimed, trying to mask the faint sound of the bolt spinning down the nut.

"Too many kids, bastards want to dive in the lake, the fuckers scare the fish away, so I'm making an example out of you, so prepare to meet the end of your existence or whatever." He shrugged, before putting his finger on the trigger.

Halfway there, c'mon.

"Wait, wait, you don't have to do this, I've got my guys, they'll find you and burn you and this farm to the ground, you don't want to meet them." I fibbed, the bolt nearly finishing its descent.

"Heh, are you one of 'em Fire King hooligans or whatever. Stupid name for a bunch of sixteen year olds." He took a deep breath. "WHO DON'T COMMIT ARSON." He shouted, taking me by surprise, I nearly dropped the bolt, but I made sure to stuff it in my back pocket.

During the time I was unscrewing the first bolt, I realised that only dismantled one leg of the chair, so I got to work on the other, thinking of other ways to get myself out and stall.

"Hah, well, have you checked to see if your cow is still here while you've got me tied up over here.

"Y'fuckin- lemme see." He groaned before making his way towards the entrance of the barn, pushing open the doors he saw that the cow was still there, and he just hit the side of his hand against the entrance in frustration.

Good, halfway again, just gotta go fast, like that one racoon, hedgehog? Priorities, priorities, lets focus on escaping.

"Kid, just shut the fuck up." He said, with more anger in his voice than he had ever heard before. "I'm killing you now." He said, briskly walking up to me.

Just a few more turns goddammit.

He rested the gun on my head and started counting down.

"3…"

Just a quarter left.

"2.."

I can feel the end.

"1.."

It's off.

I tug my hands upward and two chair legs flung up into the farmer, his arm flailed as this happened and a bullet struck the ceiling. My ears rang in distress and I flailed around, getting a bitch slap or two in, I didn't know how to fight at all, didn't I. Regaining my bearings, I stared down the man and as he adjusted his aim, I pounced, gun slipping out of his grip as I did so. I took him to the floor and reared my dominant fist back, ready to rain down blows from on top.

This guy was old, I didn't want to beat him up. Wait a minute, he tried to kill me-

He used my hesitancy to his advantage, tugging me to his side as he jumped on top, gaining a better position.

He had no restraint, and blows came in from everywhere. Each hit reduced my HP by 3 points, I needed to remedy the situation quickly or I might- no, will die.

I reached my hand out for anything and grabbed one of the chair legs I removed, I tried to swing it at his head but I didn't have much leverage from the bottom.

[HP 22/100]

Fuck, I need to improvise, adapt and overcome this situation.

Bringing the chair leg closer to me, I used two hands to jab it out, striking the forehead, nose and jaw repeatedly, which at first slowed his assault, but then he eventually collapsed to the side.

I stopped there, I didn't want to fight at all, this time it was necessary.

Though that didn't stop me from looting his shit.

[Observe]

Rifle

7/8 Rounds

50-60% Integrity

I patted the man's unconscious body and took two magazines, slamming them in my inventory. That was when I found out multiple of the same item could stack on one slot, hurray!

I also stored the rifle for more dangerous situations, which I hoped wouldn't happen. As I exited the barn I took some food just to keep myself sustained and full for a while as I made my way back to civilization, stuffing another 3 slots. Luckily there was a dirt road that led the way to the town.

Double checking my possessions, I seemed fit and ready to go, so I simply started walking.

[Close Quarters Combat: Lvl 1/50]