Pokémon Breeder In One Piece!

August 18th, 13th Floor.

Rosalia and her two companions were hiding deep within a dense, snow-covered forest at the northernmost part of the map.

The reason they were "hiding" was simple—they feared Zack would return to town and rally players to exact revenge.

Killing red-named players did not turn one into a red-named player themselves. Moreover, upon death, red-named players would drop all the items in their inventory. To many, hunting red-named players was a lucrative endeavor.

Not only did it yield valuable loot, but it also allowed them to act under the guise of 'justice.'

At this moment, the three of them sat around a campfire inside a cave.

"How much longer until our red-names disappear?"

The tall man looked exhausted.

For the past three days, they had been stuck in the wild. The entire 13th floor was covered in ice and snow, and there wasn't a single place where they could rest comfortably.

He had lost count of how many times he had woken up shivering from the cold.

"Four more days. Just endure it a little longer."

The short man checked his status bar.

In four days, their red-names would turn yellow. At that point, they would at least be able to enter towns and use teleportation gates.

Though they still wouldn't be able to interact with NPCs and would be constantly monitored by guards, they could at least move to a more hospitable floor.

"I have a bad feeling about this…"

Rosalia hugged her knees, looking uneasily towards the cave entrance.

"Don't scare yourself. No one will find us here."

The tall man shivered and quickly reassured her.

Rosalia didn't reply, but her face remained filled with anxiety.

Snap.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed from outside the cave.

The three of them instantly drew their weapons, as tense as startled birds.

A yellow-named "Tundra Rabbit" appeared at the cave entrance.

"A Tundra Rabbit? I heard these things taste amazing. Looks like we're in for a treat."

"Forget eating it. This thing is valuable. We should catch it and sell it instead—someone will definitely pay a fortune for it."

The tall and short men immediately relaxed upon seeing the rabbit, even breaking into a discussion.

Then, they both stepped out of the cave, preparing to capture it.

"Hey, maybe we should just leave it alone."

Rosalia called out as she watched them leave.

"It's fine."

"You just stay here and wait."

The two men waved her off, completely unconcerned.

Tundra Rabbits were agile and cautious creatures, never allowing players within five meters of them.

So the moment the two men entered that range, the rabbit bolted.

Embarrassed at missing their chance, their pride took over, and they gave chase, disappearing into the snowy landscape.

"Idiots. Not only are they ugly, but they're brainless too."

Rosalia spat on the ground and continued watching the cave entrance.

"Why aren't they back yet?"

As the minutes ticked by, her unease only grew stronger.

"They're not coming back."

Step.

A deep voice and the sound of approaching footsteps sent chills down her spine.

"Who's there?!"

Rosalia immediately drew her weapon, jumping to her feet as she stared at the figure standing at the entrance.

A man wrapped in bandages, draped in a dark red hooded cloak, stood before her. But what caught her attention the most was the massive black scythe resting on his shoulder.

Rosalia studied him carefully. His voice and figure felt vaguely familiar, but his eerie outfit and weapon made it impossible for her to recall where she had seen him before.

With such a distinct look, she was certain she wouldn't have forgotten him.

"Oh my, only three days and you've already forgotten me? I've been thinking about you all this time—so much that I haven't even slept."

Zack's lips curled into a playful yet crazed smile, his eyes glinting with madness.

"You're… that Trainer?!"

As soon as he spoke, Rosalia remembered him.

But instead of fear, she smirked.

"So it's you. And you actually came here alone? Are you suicidal?"

"Ahaha…"

Zack chuckled softly. He didn't respond with words. Instead, he hoisted his scythe and began walking toward her.

"Take another step and—AAAHHHH!!!"

Rosalia raised her sword to threaten him, but before she could finish, a flash of cold steel severed her arm.

Though her arm regenerated almost instantly, the excruciating pain was unbearable. She collapsed to the ground, trembling violently.

"Feels good, doesn't it?"

Zack stomped on her face, pressing it against the freezing ground.

"AAAHH!!"

Rosalia screamed in agony.

She couldn't understand why it hurt so much.

Her pain setting should have been at 5%, yet it felt as though her arm had truly been cut off.

"Too noisy."

Zack shifted his foot, pressing it against her mouth, silencing her.

"Your two friends were much tougher. Not a single scream."

Rosalia's breath hitched.

"Well, they were too weak. One swing to the head, and they were dead before they could make a sound."

Zack shrugged, crouching down to stare directly into Rosalia's eyes.

"Feels good, doesn't it?"

Rosalia couldn't answer. She had only one thought—survival.

"Relax… we still have four days. Let's take our time."

Zack smirked, opening his inventory.

A moment later, nearly two hundred healing potions fell to the ground.

"I sold all my old gear just to buy more of these. Wouldn't want you dying too soon, after all."

He poured a potion over her face, healing her wounds.

That last attack had taken about a third of her health.

For three days straight, Zack had not slept for even a second.

First, he hired high-level players to power-level him. Within a single day, he reached Level 22, surpassing Rosalia's party by at least three to four levels.

Then, he sold all his previous equipment and commissioned a blacksmith to forge an exceptionally high-quality giant scythe and a cheap, disposable mini-scythe.

Finally, he spent his remaining funds on second-hand armor and a massive supply of healing potions.

And then… he began his hunt.

"Now then, let's start our game."

Zack pulled out the mini-scythe, barely the size of a dagger, and ran its edge along Rosalia's face.

"Don't worry. This weapon barely does any damage. Until I decide you should die, you won't."

"Wait! I—"

"You know, in this game, inns let you share a bed. You're still a virgin, right? How about—"

"Nah, not interested in old hags."

"AAAAAHHHH!!!"

The cave echoed with four days of unrelenting torment.

Ten Days Later

August 28th, 19th Floor.

A new guild was established with grand fanfare, making sure everyone knew of its existence.

[The Avengers].

A guild dedicated to hunting red-named players.

They accepted all bounties on red-named players for free, but any loot dropped by their targets belonged to them.

At its inception, the guild had only five members.

Its leader?

"The Demon of the Frontlines," Zack.

A man infamous even among the raiding groups.

Like "The Strongest" Heathcliff, "The Fighting Princess" Lisbeth, and "The Dual-Wielding Trainer" Kirito, Zack wielded a unique weapon skill—a scythe as tall as he was.

But few dared speak with him.

He looked insane. Fought like a madman.

The four other members—three men, one woman—were equally grim.

Two had once been Trainers. One had even been part of the Trainer Association.

The last two?

They just loved hunting red-named players.

Despite its small size, The Avengers quickly became infamous.

Their presence alone cleaned up the player base.

Potential criminals reconsidered their actions.

Even Kirito himself visited Zack, proposing an alliance between The Avengers and The Wanderers.

And so, a new era of justice and vengeance began.

(End of Chapter)

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