《Spark or Bust: A Jumpchain Interactive Story》
Pilot: A New Game to Play
A figure slowly crawls down from the ceiling, a mess of tendrils, flesh like wires that extend into a central body that hangs from the mass like puppet on strings, a golden ichor like substance drips from their stomach, which is torn in half. Despite the look, they don¡¯t appear to be in any pain, as a creaking smile of sharp teeth waves at the camera.
¡°I must welcome our lovely viewers; I thank you all for tuning into my newest creation. A story for the ages that¡¯ll be sure to delight. Of course, having just joined me, I am certain you wish to know who I am¡±
They motion to the camera, which trails after them as they move ahead, the sound of wires and metal clicking as the feed shows multitudes upon multitudes of frosted pods straight out a science fiction novel. The camera mostly however stays focused on them. They finally stop in front of a single pod, that¡¯s clearer than the others.
¡°Allow me to introduce myself, my viewers. I am what you may call ¡®The Gamemaster¡¯ and this will be the first time that I am doing this sort of thing. Involving others in one of my games¡±
Their hands reach out, clicking buttons on the pod before it slowly opens up, revealing a man, with pale skin, and blue lips. His fingers are frostbitten, deeply black and purple, and while he is dressed in bandages, it is more than clear that there is a gash underneath them on his chest.
¡°This individual will be your proxy, the one who you view these worlds through. I have specially selected him because he is a willful individual. He will do well in adapting to the process laid out before him. I suppose I should explain our game though first, shouldn¡¯t I?¡±
The Gamemaster lifts the damaged man from the pod, bringing him over to a table as the camera continues to follow him. Laying him down and taking out a few tools, beginning to carefully perform something upon him. The camera however stays focused on their face, sparing the viewers the gory details of whatever they¡¯re doing.
¡°In just a couple minutes, our individual will wake up in his new home, we will call this the nexus. The nexus is an entry point into many other worlds, and you, dear viewers, are going to help him along. Through voting and commenting, you will shape his journey, for better or worse. He will be entirely at your mercy. Of course, he needs some level of agency. To be motivated., but you will see how that works when we come to it¡±
The camera pans down, revealing that the man now looks much better, a prosthetic arm has replaced one side of his, the metal clicking and slowly taking on a more flesh-like tone. In addition, a large glowing scar covers his torso, looking a lot less gruesome than it might be now, and more healed.
¡°A bear attack, in case you¡¯re wondering my dear viewers. He was attacked by a bear during a snowstorm. That¡¯s not what killed him though, after all, why fix a classic? He was hit on the road by a truck as he was stumbling across the highway, entirely unaware of where he was¡±
The Gamemaster grabs some clothes, putting them over the man and lifting him up, beginning to walk away, the camera moving to follow.
¡°Please excuse us for a commercial break, while I prepare things, can¡¯t spoil everything now, can I?¡±
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
The camera feed then cuts out just as they reach out, plucking it from the air.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
ARE YOU FEELING OUT OF CONTROL?
DO YOU WISH FOR POWER?
IS YOUR JOB GETTING YOU DOWN?
WITH THE POWER OF ISEKAI INSURANCE, YOU CAN EXPERIENCE A WORLD UNLIKE ANY OTHER WHEN YOU FINALLY KICK THE BUCKET! HAVE ASSURANCE OF YOUR EXISTENCE AND KNOWLEDGE THAT ONE DAY YOU WILL BE AWARDED!
WE HAVE A MULTITUDE OF PACKAGES TO CHOOSE FROM! THE STANDARD HAREM PACKAGE IS ALWAYS POPULAR. HOWEVER, WE HERE AT ISEKAI INSURANCE ALSO HAVE THE GENDER BENDER PACKAGE, THE MONSTER PACKAGE, AND WE EVEN HAVE A GOD PACKAGE FOR IF YOU WANT TO JUMP STRAIGHT TO THE GOOD PART!
ALL WE REQUIRE FOR PAYMENT IS YOUR ETERNAL SOUL! LET¡¯S BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES, YOU WERE NEVER GETTING INTO HEAVEN ANYWAY~
ISEKAI INSURANCE, LOCATED BEHIND YOUR NEAREST CHURCH!
OR CALL-
THAT¡¯S THE NUMBER-
CALL NOW!
The commercial is flurry of images as an excessively upbeat woman speaks in the background with the same tone one would have when talking to a young child. Whenever the number would appear or be mentioned, the screen seems to glitch out before cutting ahead.
The commercial ends on a static filled number that can¡¯t be made out, before the screen flickers, and the camera feed begins to come back in.
COMMERCIAL BREAK OVER
The camera feed fully comes back in, revealing the individual from before, sitting up on a bed in what seems to be a studio apartment. He shudders, touching his scar, checking his clothes, and staring at his hand.
After a couple minutes, he stands up, looking around, before walking up to a refrigerator, taking out a bottle of cold water and chugging it. Before coughing and choking, seeming shocked by something as he stumbles back.
The camera feed glitches momentarily, before revealing that a screen has appeared in front of him.
Basic Information
NAME: Mark Law (No middle name found)
Abilities
Death¡¯s Struggling Claim: Your willpower is immense to the point of sheer absurdity, while this doesn¡¯t help your physical durability, it helps your mental durability immensely. As long as your body held out, you could crawl your way to help through a blizzard while bleeding out from a wild animal attack, so long as none of those wounds were fatal.
Sheer Focus: In moments of great distress, time seems to slow down for you. This doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll be able to react any faster than normal, but it does mean you can plan a lot within a short amount of time. A time of great distress is defined as any point when you reasonably believed you will be harmed, the effect of the slow down gets more pronounced the more dangerous the situation. To the point where you could mentally write a speech if you were about to be shot in the head.
Quests
World One: You will soon be sent to one of three worlds, your goals will be explained once you arrive. Failure to complete any goals you¡¯re given in the world will be treated harshly. Upon going through ten worlds, you¡¯ll be granted the ability to return back to life.
World List
Jujutsu Kaisen/My Hero Academia/One Piece
After staring at the screen for a moment, Mark closes it by moving his hand, sitting down and looking around what he at first thought was his apartment. Despite the confusion on his face, it only lasts for a few moments.
¡°I need to get ready¡± He says, standing up, going into the closet and taking out an old school backpack, getting clothes and food he still has inside. As well as starting to clean and sharpen one of his knives to take with him as a weapon.
Text appears on the camera feed as he begins preparing, speaking to the viewers.
¡°His fate is in your hands, my dear viewers. Be sure to also let me know, what sort of, quests he should go through when he arrives¡±
(Don''t forget to vote, and comment. Reader interactivity is incredibly important for this story. Thank you so much for reading the first chapter. The poll will be on my actual page once this story goes up here on Royal Road)
Season 1 Episode 1: Prepare for a World of Pirates!
The camera cuts to Mark, who is busily putting his backpack together, finishing putting everything he thinks he¡¯ll need inside it.
He then flinches slightly, seeming to hear something and moving his hand over the air in front of him, that screen reappearing again. The camera flies around, showing the screen to the viewers as well.
Quests
World One (One Piece): You will now be sent to the world of pirates, One Piece. You will receive a list of objectives while you are there that you must complete. Failure to complete any of these objectives will result in penalties.
World List
One Piece: No reputation created yet
Summoning process will begin in 20 minutes, in the meantime, please make your selections
Mark looked down, scrolling the screen and revealing a character sheet. One of the tabs was glowing, so he clicked it, opening up a new window.
Select your Origin
Mark chewed his lip ¡°Had to be One Piece, which I know the least about. Okay, let me think¡± he scrolls through the list of origins. ¡°Castaway, Civilian, Pirate, Marine, Noble, Revolutionary¡± he reads them each out.
¡°The first two are right out, I need more security in my job and safety. That really only leaves Noble and Marine if I remember correctly. The government is pretty bad, I think. I don¡¯t want to be part of whatever the Noble faction of the world is. That leaves us with Marine, so Marine it is¡±
The Origin fills in with Marine as he goes to select the next glowing box, only for a pop up to appear.
Race will be selected upon entry
¡°That¡¯s annoying. I was hoping to get more information, but, whatever. Maybe it won¡¯t matter that much then¡± he says, moving onto the next one instead.
Select your initial skills and abilities from the following list, you have a budget of 1000 points, some skills and abilities will be discounted or can be discounted due to your origin.
¡°Okay, how much could it possibly be¡± he says before scrolling down ¡°This is a lot, and I¡¯m not sure what half this stuff means¡± he says, noticing one thing is already selected as well.
Personal Justice (???/-100): Your brand of justice shall guide you, but at this point you have none, and therefore will need to grow into this power on your own.
¡°Ominous, well, I¡¯m not the type to believe in Justice, so that¡¯ll have to wait, probably forever¡± He shakes his head and sighs, going down the list.
¡°Also from the Marines, the Six Powers, that¡¯s uh. I think I know what that is, it¡¯s not Haki or Devil Fruits. It¡¯s something else. It¡¯s discounted for me though so, I¡¯ll take it¡±
Six Powers (Rokushiki): The six powers are a set of six abilities that are used and implemented by many people across the world. Only a true master or natural can get to a level of competence with all of them, and you are one of them.
¡°Good, then, Fighting Style. If I apply that twice I become a master with a Fighting Style, lets select that and apply it to, Rokushiki?¡± He mutters, doing just that before doubling over in pain as his mind is flooded with information. He felt a small headache before but dismissed it, but he was certain now that the information was being crammed into his skull. This was worse than a mere headache though, it felt like his head was splitting apart.
Fighting Style 2 (Rokushiki): Before you were already an adept with Rokushiki, with a single level you were at the top of the top that could be achieved with hard work alone. Now however, you have an instinctive sense of these techniques, there is no better master of the six powers than you.
¡°Hurts, hurts so damn bad, pain¡± He grunts, slowly getting up and gritting his teeth ¡°Select, strong resistance, mental attacks!¡± He flicks his hand down and presses a new option, inputting it, immediately feeling a weight off his mind.
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
Strong Resistance (Mental): You are remarkably resilient against mental attacks, be it information overload, or mind control. For whatever reason, it¡¯s like a steel wall.
¡°Okay, okay¡± he takes a deep breath, checking another option ¡°This too, Adaptive Mindset, it¡¯s going to be useful in a world I don¡¯t know that well¡±
Adaptive Mindset: You experience a higher level of planning and how to adapt to change, at the very least letting you survive whatever comes at you.
¡°Next, hmm, this one. I don¡¯t know a lot, but I know who he is. This perk mentions Gol D. Roger, and I¡¯m assuming that¡¯s a pretty good bench mark. Grand Potential¡± He says, clicking the option
Grand Potential (-100): You very well could be the rival of one Gol D. Roger, your potential is endless like the sea. This is especially certain during combat, where it will see your strength in all things skyrocket when you are pushed to your limits.
¡°Okay, next, yes, Haki, I know what that is, and I want it, all of it¡± He selects the option of Haki Training, as well as the option to take Conqueror''s Haki ¡°I don¡¯t know a lot, but I do know that stuff can¡¯t be earned or trained unless you¡¯ve got it¡±¡±
Haki Training+A Conqueror''s Disposition (-500): You possess basic training in the implementation of Armament and Observation Haki, and with time will advance further than most. As well, you have the power few possess of Conqueror''s Haki, though only the potential for it at the moment.
¡°Haki¡¯s done, I¡¯ve got a bit left in the budget. Life Return, don¡¯t know what it is but, it seems useful¡± He selects the option to learn that as well, taking a deep breath as the pain of immediately learning it is far less than the Six Powers.
Life Return (-200): You possess the ability to manipulate your body to an extraordinary degree. Manipulating your hair as if it were extra limbs or allowing you to digest food rapidly when you choose to. Perhaps more can be done with time and training. Your body is now an adaptable weapon on its own.
¡°Finally, there¡¯s just this extra skill¡± He sighs, looking at the last option
Naval Training: The basic thing that comes with being a Marine. You are an expert in navigation, Marine operations, equipment caretaking, and more.
¡°That¡¯s everything then¡± he says, closing the skills and abilities as he checks the time ¡°Ten minutes left¡± he mutters, opening up the next section
The Following Items have been selected for you in order to complete your assigned quests when you arrive.
Armored Clothing: A set of armored clothing that automatically regenerates over the course of a day.
Chest of Gold+Pure Gold: Two items combined, a chest of so much money you¡¯ll never run out of funds, that replenishes monthly. The prize jewel of the chest though is an orb of pure gold that grants the person holding it on their person immortality.
Personal Island: You have your own personal island that you are in possession of, only you have the location at the moment and it will remain that way for quite some time, but not forever.
SMILE Factory: Sealed beneath your island, is a facility that is more advanced than anything else currently in the world. While one day SMILE Devil Fruits will come from a mad genius and an ever madder genius. What you possess here is the perfected version. You need not call them SMILE for they do not possess the same drawbacks. Mass produced Devil Fruits, not of the strongest power, but they do not have the drawbacks of the SMILE fruits.
¡°I am concerned, why I¡¯ve been given these things. I guess I¡¯m going to find out why though¡± he sighs, closing the tab when he sees he can¡¯t actually buy anything himself there.
Your Sheet is now Complete, please wait for the transfer.
Mark sits down to wait, putting his backpack on as he waits. He really didn¡¯t know what to expect. His understanding of One Piece was limited. He really only knew the power system because that was sort of his niche, hobby really. History wise though, he was pretty clueless on what to expect beyond the basic opening premise of the story.
For a brief moment, static fills the camera, before a familiar voice speaks directly to those watching, the sound of their smile can practically be heard through the screen as they speak
¡°Now viewers, comes the fun part, there are many different races you may choose for him to be. I do not know much of this world myself, but I do know that yes, even if he isn¡¯t human, he will be a marine, or perhaps he was taught by a marine, his abilities? In any case, the next thing to ask is what he will be. What he shall do, I leave you with his main quest he will be completing in his time there, when he arrives¡±
The Land of Devils
For ten years, you must defend this island by any means necessary. If you are ever out of control of the island for more than three days and three nights, you will have failed this quest, and your journey ends here.
In one year, the Marines will become aware of this island, soon after that, will the other factions become aware of it.
In five years, it is all but guaranteed that information of the island will begin to spread among the general populace.
In six years, the adventures of Monkey D Luffy will begin, and from there, things will begin to escalate.
Keep the secret of what is buried beneath your island safe, but more than just that lies buried here.