The forest was quiet.
No villages. No shoreline. No human voices. Only the wind slipping through the leaves and the sound of my own footsteps stopping beneath a large tree.
I sat down and leaned my back against the trunk.
My breathing was still heavy. The shallow cut on my arm had stopped bleeding, but the sting remained. This body endured, but it was far from comfortable under repeated pressure.
"Open status."
The system appeared without a sound.
—
[Status]
Name: Remang Wisesa
Physical Age: 20
Active Specialization: Early Shadow Support
—
STR: 5
SPD: 6
END: 6
PER: 7
WIL: 6
INT: 7
—
Threat Level: Low
Existence Stability: Fluctuating
Mental Load: Moderate
—
I stared at the numbers for a long time.
"So this is it."
I let out a slow breath.
"After Shell Town. Orange Town. Syrup Village."
My fingers traced lines in the dirt.
"I'm still weak."
Nothing stood out. Nothing could be called reliable. My speed was enough to survive. My perception was enough to avoid danger. My endurance had improved slightly. But compared to what I had seen, I was still far behind.
Luffy crushed Kuro with raw power.
Zoro stood against two enemies without hesitation.
I survived by staying unseen.
"Show mission summary."
The system responded immediately.
—
[Mission Log]
Main Quests completed: 2
Side Quests completed: 2
Hidden Quests completed: 2
Survival Quests: 1
—
Active Rewards:
Passive Skills
Shadow Sense Lv 2
Silent Takedown Lv 1
—
Equipment:
Dual Karambit Unbound
System Mask Prototype
—
A faint smile crossed my face. There was no pride in it.
"The numbers are there."
"But the substance isn't."
I stood up and swung one karambit at a thin tree. The blade cut cleanly through the bark, but not deep. I swung again. The angle was off. My movement was still stiff.
I stopped.
"If that had been a stronger enemy, I'd be dead."
The system surfaced again.
—
[Brief Analysis]
User condition:
Capable of survival
Not suitable for direct confrontation
—
Recommendation:
Avoid frontal combat
Focus on shadow specialization
Increase END and WIL
—
I looked at the text without emotion.
"So that's the verdict."
I sheathed the karambit.
"I'm still weak."
There was no anger. No dramatic frustration. Just a cold, honest realization.
I sat back down.
"I survived because I was careful."
"I endured because I stayed invisible."
"But if one day I'm forced to stand in the open…"
I shook my head slightly.
"I won't be enough."
The wind picked up. Leaves fell quietly around me.
I looked at the mask resting in my hand.
Its surface was cold. Lifeless. Expressionless.
"I'm not ready to wear this full-time yet."
I put it away.
"Not there yet."
The system didn't argue.
It only displayed one final line.
—
[System Note]
User growth is stable but slow
Conservative decisions preserve existence
However, they significantly limit power progression
—
A thin smile formed on my lips.
"So this is the price of survival."
I stood and faced the direction of the sea, though I couldn't see it from here.
"The Straw Hat crew will keep moving forward."
"They'll step into a far crueler world."
"And me…"
I took a step forward.
"I'll chase them from the shadows."
The interlude ended without fiery resolve. Without dramatic vows.
Just one simple conclusion.
I'm still alive.
I'm still weak.
And that means I still have time.