Idle Level-Up in One Piece Chapter 4 - 4 – Adventure Stage: The Alvida Pirates

The introductory tutorial kicked off.

A floating cursor appeared as the display abruptly went dark, heading straight for the "Stages" tab. He followed the on-screen guidance—

Klein selected "Stages."

A loading screen took over the interface. When it finished, the view shifted to a pirate vessel. Its swan-shaped prow flew a dark banner with a skull clutching a crimson heart.

The Alvida Pirates!

The tutorial's arrow symbol floated above the vessel.

"That fat hag??"

Years had passed since Klein last viewed the anime, yet the main plot lingered in his memory. Wasn't this the brazen lady who demanded of Koby, 'Who is the most beautiful woman in the world?' — the fat hag Alvida?

Afterward, she devoured the Slip-Slip Fruit, undergoing a total makeover from obese witch to stunning beauty.

Is this the saying "every fat person is a potential goldmine"?

Sure, exceptions exist in reverse... such as Charlotte Linlin, transforming from stunner to old crone.

It's messy.

This game's storyline...

Obviously a game—it skipped aligning with the original timeline Klein knew, which oddly boosted his assurance.

The tutorial highlighted Stage 1-1.

Accustomed to such formats, Klein tapped it immediately. The display switched once more. His avatar—"Imu's Dad" as a cute chibi—dashed in from screen left, unarmed.

A vivid green HP bar shone over his head.

A bandit in a headscarf gripped a lengthy blade on the right, face twisted in menace. His HP bar glowed red.

Undoubtedly a pirate.

The fight unfolded on the ship's deck.

SO...

"This is clearly turn-based. Damn these small devs and their constraints. They can't deliver the thrill of real brawls like Black Myth or slick 3D games. At least allow some proper combat fun and battle practice!" Klein muttered to himself.

Yet the stage was underway.

The chibi avatar charged the pirate with wild punches and kicks. Simultaneously, the pirate's sword sliced through him, striking like a severed artery—blood sprayed like a fountain, wiping out a massive HP segment.

"A lone pirate? Shouldn't Stage 1 be a breeze?" Klein gawked at the display. After several rounds, unease crept in.

Deeply wrong.

"Why is my HP plummeting like this? Impossible—what dev crafts a protagonist too feeble for Stage 1? You dare call yourself an artist?"

"Answer me!"

"Look in my eyes!"

"Not even new grads would design something this infuriating. Devs, show yourselves. I'll press a knife to your throat and discuss this right."

The avatar crumpled amid blood as HP hit zero.

The entire screen drained of hue, turning ashen. A bold "Challenge Failed" message blazed across it.

Centered: [Stage Failed]

Tip: "Please increase your power level."

Klein glared at the screen, desperate to reach through and confront the 'mastermind' behind this design.

Enraged.

I'm utterly shattered!!

Artist? Still pretending to be one?!

Now what?

What options remained?

Beneath the covers, Klein repeatedly balled and released his fists. Urge to strike surged, but memories of dormmates—Garp, Sengoku, Zephyr—tempered his fury.

Fine.

Their junior, Zephyr, could likely thrash him flat.

"Whining's useless. Better stick to the tutorial and uncover this game's tricks."

He obeyed the arrow cue, leaving the fight screen.

On the main interface, the pointer now aimed at the bottom icon: "Training Room."

Klein opened it as directed.

The training area looked ridiculously basic: a cramped space featuring just one punching bag dangling from above. The chibi stood beside it.

[Click the punching bag to train. Each hour consumes 10 Stamina.]

[Current Training Room Level: Lv.1. Gain 10 EXP per hour of training.]

[Note: Stamina resets at midnight daily.]

Clicking the bag triggered a "-1+" display. Top-right stamina showed 95/100—the prior stage had cost 5.

"It's an idle grinder for EXP. Fine, input 9 hours and review tomorrow." Klein set 9 and hit "Begin Training."

Right when he sensed an absence, golden radiance erupted:

[Buy the Monthly Card for a 5% EXP boost. Purchase now?]

[Price: 6,000 Berries.]

"There we go. Knew something was absent—the paywall hook. Iconic monthly card! 6,000 Berries? Bargain city. Pure value!"

"Snagging this is straight profit!"

Without hesitation, Klein bought it. "Mere 6,000 Berries. Family inheritance untouched much lately. Cash aplenty."

"I'm buying it!"

Payment method unsolved in his thoughts, yet the alert rang:

[Purchase Successful!]

[Your current balance: 1,253,668 Berries.]

"Bro… serious?" Klein's lip jerked. "Linked my card on its own?"

Correctly recalled, funds from parents—father, Marine Captain, slain by pirates. Mother, then expecting, bled out from trauma during birth...

Thus Klein claimed the estate, pension included. Fifteen years of spending left over a million Berries.

6,000 meant little.

He brushed it off, despite nagging discomfort lurking.

[Monthly Card Purchase Successful!]

[Current Training Room EXP Bonus: 5%!]

"Sweet. 5% stacks nicely long-term. Smart investment."

Five daily, 150 monthly, yearly...

Math unfinished, gold flashed anew.

[Would you like to purchase the Training Room Upgrade Bundle?]

[300 Berries, 680 Berries, 1,280 Berries, 6,480 Berries]

[Each upgrade boosts EXP by 5%. Unlock Skill Training Room at Level 10…]

Four options.

That layout… precise prices… struck Klein hard: "Damn, too familiar."

"Feels like Earth again."

"Inspect the bundles."

[300 Berries: 10 Training Room Upgrade Stones]

[680 Berries: …30 stones…]

[1,280 Berries: …60 stones…]

[6,480 Berries: …400 stones…]

"All in upgrades Training Room twice. Locks in 10% EXP forever."

"Alright boys—LET'S GOOOO!!"

"Recharge!"