"Not bad at all! Hahaha…"
Badak clapped his hands and laughed heartily, as carefree as a child—though, in truth, he was still a child. He was thoroughly satisfied with this fruit, and this was just the Beast Form. Zoan-type Devil Fruits generally had three forms: Human Form, Beast Form, and Beast-Man Form.
Chopper, the pirate world's most adorable creature, whose initial bounty was a mere 50 Belly, could unlock additional forms with his Human-Human Fruit through Rumble Balls. Badak had already made up his mind—when the time came, he would seek out that knowledge. With his enhanced eyes, he might even develop something extraordinary.
"Now, let's try the hybrid form. I wonder what the Beast-Man Form is like?"
Activating the ability, Badak felt his body grow taller—a full head above his human form—and his frame became more robust. Golden fur covered his entire body except for his face, neck, chest, hands, and feet.
"Isn't this just Super Saiyan 4? Only golden in color and not as muscular. Hmph, I'll train until I have a powerful physique—otherwise, I won't do this form justice."The Beast-Man Form is a fusion of the beast and human forms. Once mastered, one can control the degree of beastification, allowing the use of abilities from the beast form, though the effects don't seem as potent as in the full beast form. At least, that was Badak's impression—though it might simply be because he hadn't fully developed the form yet, having only recently consumed the fruit.
"Alright, jungle exploration begins now. Let's go!"
Badak switched to his Great Ape Form, which offered the strongest defense, and crept into the forest with a small knife in hand. The knife was meant for butchering prey, as it dealt less damage than a single punch from him. Despite feeling powerful, he reminded himself: intel is unclear, stay steady and don't get reckless.
...
"…34, 35, 36.Badak carved the final stroke of the Chinese character "zhèng" on the wooden board and counted—36 full characters in total. He sighed in exasperation. Every morning after breakfast, he would add a stroke to the tally. Five strokes completed one "zhèng," and before he knew it, nearly half a year had passed. He was still stranded on this deserted island.
Now, he no longer lived in the makeshift shelter he'd built by the shore. His current residence was a large cave at the center of the island—the former den of the beast that had frequently roared in the past. It had been a massive tiger, one of the dominant predators in these woods, standing three meters tall at the shoulder. A truly enormous creature, and one that had left Badak feeling quite full. The tiger's pelt had been turned into clothing, as his original attire had long since been torn to shreds from daily treks through the forest.
Over the past six months, Badak had thoroughly explored the entire island and even surveyed it from above using his Somersault Cloud. The island was small, completely devoid of human presence—no natives, no other shipwrecked survivors. He was the only human here. The beach where he'd first landed was the only sandy shore on the island; the other sides were all jagged cliffs and reefs. He had to admit, he'd been lucky.
"No idea where this damn island is even located. Not a single ship in sight for half a year. And here I am with my Fiery Eyes and Golden Gaze, able to see much farther than any normal person. If I spotted even one ship, I'd just ride my Somersault Cloud straight to it."
It wasn't that Badak hadn't considered using his Somersault Cloud to search for ships at sea. But he knew nothing about navigation, especially in the treacherous and unpredictable weather of the Grand Line. If he got lost out there—no ships ahead, no islands behind—and exhausted his stamina, it'd be game over.
"Guess I'm still not strong enough. Can't see far enough, don't have enough stamina. If only I could spot another island directly from here. More training, then! Time for 2,000 push-ups."
If the Badak from half a year ago had been a frail youth, the current Badak was a robust young man—taller, with firm, well-defined muscles. Not the bulging kind seen on bodybuilders, but sleek lines brimming with power. It was the physique he liked best.
Before his transmigration, Badak had never learned combat skills like martial arts or boxing. The only "martial" movements he knew were the Five-Step Fist from his university's physical education class. To call it a fighting technique would be generous—it was more of a coordination exercise. Still, practicing it had made his body more agile, his movements more fluid, and his punches and kicks easier to execute with proper force.In the world of One Piece, martial arts, swordsmanship, and Devil Fruit abilities all have a chance to make their mark on the high seas, but physical stamina is the most crucial factor. Monsters can fight for days and nights without rest, which is why Badak's training focuses primarily on physical endurance.
The Marine Headquarters' new recruit training consists of four main components: First, 2,000 push-ups—a mandatory requirement from the very first day to assess whether recruits have the physical stamina to endure the increasingly intense training ahead. Second, 100 rope climbs back and forth. Marines are, after all, a naval force, and climbing ropes to board ships is a fundamental skill. This exercise hones technique, builds endurance, and tempers willpower. Third, 200 laps of long-distance running. The exact size of Marineford's training grounds is unclear, but it's undoubtedly massive—200 laps would outright kill an average person. Fourth, combat training—not mere sparring, but near-lethal battles that only end when one side collapses. Yet even after such brutal training, these Marines are little more than slightly stronger cannon fodder. Truly, this is a world where extraordinary power reigns.
Badak's training regimen combined knowledge from his past life, the Marines' new recruit program, and inspiration from Guy's training methods in Naruto, all guided by the Turtle School philosophy from Dragon Ball: train hard, study hard, rest well, eat well, and play well. His routine included push-ups, sit-ups, squats, pull-ups, running, jump rope, and rope climbing.
"...1998, 1999, 2000."
Badak stood up, wiping away sweat with satisfaction. For an eight-year-old child who had only been self-training for half a year, his physical prowess was remarkable—especially since he had maintained his human form throughout.
"Alright, recovered! Next up: island circuit running. Let's go."
Where no path existed, one emerged from countless footsteps. Badak's running trail was carved by his own feet, and no wild beasts dared approach—those that did ended up in his stomach.
Time flew as Badak ran relentlessly until the sun hung high overhead. His stomach growled with hunger, reminding him why he longed to leave this deserted island. In a town, he could feast at a restaurant, but here, he had to endure hunger and roast his own meat.
Over the past six months, he had mastered fire-making by friction, charcoal production, salt extraction, and grilling. Seasonings were foraged from the forest, and he'd even found honey. With the microscopic precision of his Fiery Eyes and Golden Gaze, he had perfected the art of roasting meat. Though starving, he wasn't rushed—this was one of his few pleasures.
After a hearty meal and a short rest, Badak's morning fatigue vanished entirely. The Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit truly was a godsend.
Transforming into his Great Ape Form, he spat out the Somersault Cloud and leaped onto it, soaring upward. Height granted perspective, and combined with his Fiery Eyes and Golden Gaze, his vision spanned vast distances.
"Ah! There it is—a ship! Hahaha..."
Badak laughed joyously. After confirming the direction and distance, he hurriedly rode the cloud back to his shelter, grabbed his pre-packed bundle (containing valuables like animal pelts and tiger fangs collected over the months), and flew toward the distant vessel. He no longer cared whether it belonged to the Marines, pirates, or merchants—he just wanted to return to human society.
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