72 Life and death
Turning time back a little to that fateful day
Jackson POV
'Damn... at least it was fun while it lasted...'
I made my final move, putting everything into it that was left in me. Haki, will, life. And now there isn't anything anymore.
Yet it doesn't sadden me. Would I like to live a bit longer? Of course and if possible not just a bit. Then do I regret dying? Yes, anything else would be a lie.
Do I regret my decision or actions made during my second life? No, those I don't regret. In the end, it was me who decided how to live my life and also how to end it.
The only decision I have let others make for me, was my parents decision to give birth to me.
*BOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!*
My final move hit. Calling it a huge explosion would be an underestimation. Around me all that power, that took the form of my blade up until a second ago, was causing destruction and mayhem in every direction except the very center where I stood.
'Another technique I would have liked to master properly...'
It kind of reminded me of alter Saber's dark Excalibur, just larger. These kind of thoughts started to slowly drift as even my eyesight grew blurry.
My heart stopped beating leaving my body without blood or oxygen or anything else that was needed yet my brain is still active.
'Will the famous, 'reliving your life' thing happen now...'
My world became dark. Pitch black except for two shining objects, both being familiar light screens. The first stated the following:
[Secret quest: Make the Navy and World Government genuinely fear you. (complete: 2/2)]
[Synchronization with the following character's power reached 65%: Gol D. Roger. Installation begins upon the blessed person's order.]
'Sure. Go ahead and install it... if you can that is...'
Even my mind grew hazy, as thinking got harder and harder.
[Error! Blessed person's body can not receive this reward. Installation will be postponed.]
'I knew it.'
It would have been amazing if my current wreck of a body could gain that strength. As for the second light screen...
[Special achievement unlocked: By either boosting or training, surpass Gol D. Roger's 100% by a significantly huge margin with your own effort.]
[Reward: Choose a generated Ability as second cheat.]
[First choice: Sharingan]
'Definitely not.'
[Second choice: Pop Off]
'No chance am I gonna choose Mineta's quirk. Would have been great if it was One for All but equally useless in my current situation.'
The light screen started to dim as a sleepiness overcame me.
'So this is it?'
[Third choice: ...ed technique]
The third one I couldn't even read properly anymore.
'Fuck it, I choose the third!'
[Installation of second cheat complete]
My thoughts started to disappear. I have no intention of saying something like sorry to those I am leaving behind. It was a choice made willingly with a purpose in mind but more importantly it was my choice.
***
For an unknown amount of time there was only darkness around me. Nothing to see, nothing to hear, nothing to smell feel or taste.
At some point I regained my ability to form thoughts and even my memories are still there. For god knows how long I feared that bastard would appear and send me to another world.
Living is great, don't misunderstand me but so is the peaceful rest I got to experience for a while.
'So...why am I still here in this... nothingness?'
Instead of an answer something else appeared. Something that made my eyes almost pop out of their sockets... right, I no longer have eyes... Yohohohoho!
Jokes aside I could see something again! It was another light screen that appeared!
[Synchronization with the following character's power reached 70%: Gol D. Roger. Installation begins upon the blessed person's order.]
...
'Dafuq?!?!?!'
I am absolutely sure that, if I had a face, it would like one of Picasso's paintings, no offense. but I am confusion itself at this moment. Why did it suddenly increase?
I should be dead right? Right? Can dead people still see shit like this? But what if I am not dead?! According to my memories the last increase was to 65% because of a secret quest but now it went up.
It only goes up when missions are completed or...
'Or when I grow older... Install!'
***
My eyes opened up on their own. An unfamiliar ceiling entered my sight but that was not what draw my attention. As if someone plucked my power cable back into a socked everything returned.
Light. Warmth. Noise. My body. Even a new, unfamiliar sensation on my forehead but the most important thing is that I could move! I AM BACK! One sensation after another returned to me, proofing that this wasn't just a dream!
"Fuck dying on your own terms I choose life!!!"
When was the last time I felt so genuinely happy? Positive energy practically filled my whole body and it just wouldn't stop! Resisting the urge to jump up and dance, I take a look around me.
I was lying in a big bed in a very spacious room. Some needles connected to tubes, were injected in my arms and only now, did I notice the inhalation mask on my face.
This room doesn't look like a hospital's room. Even if someone had brought me to a hospital, there should be no way, they saved me.
'Then how did I survive?'
Thinking that maybe my cheat has something to do with it, made me decide to check upon it just in case.
[chosen character: Gol D. Roger]
[synchronization rate: 70%]
[synchronization speed: 5% every year]
[speed boost quest: win against a yonko without any casualties on your crew for additional 5%]
[second cheat: Ninja art creation rebirth! -Strength of a hundred technique!]
'So that was the third choice!'
Upon noticing the newest addition to my cheat, things started clearing up. The new sensation on my forehead was Tsunade's technique.
Focusing on that point, the unfamiliar sensation started expanding and covering my body. When looking at my arms, the black lines and marks could be seen. It returned back to normal once I stopped focusing on that sensation!
Apparently this Technique reconstructed my body but... How much of my life span did that cost? Why didn't I drown to death or starve? How much life span did it cost?
'...Guess beggars can't be choosers this is still incredible!'
Just being alive is a miracle at this point... but where exactly am I? And who brought me here? Questions upon questions.
*Crash*
A sudden breaking noise interrupted my thoughts. Turning to the direction from where it came made me see a short haired blonde boy around my age, standing in front of an opened door.
On the ground next to his feet was a glass, probably a drink. A wide smile found it's way to my face once I recognized him.
The scar above his left eye and slightly muscular build confused me a bit at first but how could I not recognize my sworn brother.
"Hey Sab-"
"JACKSON-NII!!!"
Before his name could be spoken, Sabo had jumped at me. Finding myself in a tight hug so soon after waking up was slightly unnerving but when I felt his relatively small shoulders shaking as tears streamed down his face...
It was just impossible not to hug him back. After all I too missed him. Missed them all. Most of the time before waking up, darkness was the only thing around me.
Not knowing how much time passed or not feeling anything physically my thoughts were the only thing proofing that I wasn't dead and he and the others came often to my mind.
"Wuarhhhh!!!! I knew you wouldn't die!!!"
"Of course not."
That was a complete lie. Death was way closer to me than life was and had it not been for me choosing an ability instead of a template as a second cheat, I would have died after my body broke down.
"Why would I die before you bastards."
But for whatever reason, it felt wrong telling him that now. That energetic, cheeky and sometimes annoying little brat was whining like a little kid, while holding desperately to me.
'Let's just enjoy life for some time first.'
But first I have to meet the others and ask about everything that happened while I was unconsciousness.
(AN: Hey everyone! This chapter was a bit strange for me simply because even as the creator of his personality, I have no idea what one would feel or think in the moment of death or like in this case half death? I didn't want to just start off like 6 years later he woke up and this and that happened. Instead I plan to write something akin to an introduction part for the 2. volume. If you have questions or if I missed explaining some points do remind me of them I'll add it into the next chapter. Hope you enjoy reading!)
