Soaking in the tub, I sorted out my situation. Our island sits in the Calm Belt—no winds, steady weather, rich in mineral veins. Most folks here live off the land. Every household tends fruit trees—mostly apples. The town buys the harvest in bulk, the fleet ferries it out to sell, then brings back cloth, salt, and other necessities to wholesale to the shops.
For the One Piece world, a life this peaceful is a miracle.
And then there's the Devil Fruit I ate. I couldn't help grinning.
As expected, every transmigrator gets a stroke of luck. A Mythical Zoan—rarer than a Logia—and I actually ate it!
If I train properly, I'll carve out a future here. One problem: I don't know real training methods. Guess I'll have to start with the basics—running, push-ups, the usual—
No. Uncle Darren! He'll know. When I used to hang around his place, he'd brag that in his younger days he'd sailed as a pirate.
Back then he'd boast, hand on his sword: with one slash he could cut the sea.
I thought he was blowing smoke and only pestered him for stories. Thinking about it now… a slash that splits the sea? That's a Great Swordsman.
In this world, swordsmen can launch cutting waves like sword qi, and the strongest can cleave deep ravines across the ocean for hundreds of meters.
"Right. I'll ask Uncle Darren to teach me!"
I threw on clothes and sprinted to his house. "Uncle Darren! Are you home?"
"Karl, you're finally awake! I just made lunch. Want some?"
"Uh… not hungry. Mom just made apple pie. I'm stuffed!"
The memory of his "cooking" made my soul quiver. I had no idea how he choked it down himself.
"So, what brings you here? I've got to head to the orchard after I eat. No time for stories."
"Uncle Darren, I want you to train me! I want to learn swordsmanship!"
"Gah-hahaha! Didn't you say you didn't believe me? Why the sudden change of heart? Sword training is brutal. You won't last."
"Don't look down on me! Hmph! If you teach me, I'll stick with it."
"All right, all right. Finish letting me eat, then come with me to the orchard. We'll see how your willpower holds up. And I'm warning you—my training is rough."
"I can handle it! Thank you, Uncle Darren!"
"Gah-hahaha! Good. I hope you can."
After he'd eaten, we set out together. At the orchard, he jabbed a thumb toward the river.
"If you want to learn the sword, you need a strong body first. Only then can you train properly. Here's your first task: use that bucket, haul water from the river, and irrigate all five hundred trees. Every single one."
"What? Uncle Darren, you're not just making me do your chores, are you?"
"Less talk. Do you want to learn or not? Move! If you can't even finish this, forget about sticking with the sword." He gave me a light kick on the backside.
"Hmph! Just watch—I'll get it done!"
I ran to the river with the bucket. Back and forth, back and forth, I watered tree after tree while Darren smoked nearby, watching in silence.
By late afternoon, I finally splashed the last trunk. My limbs were jelly; my chest felt stuck together; my tongue was sandpaper.
"Uncle Darren… finished." I slumped to the side, fighting for breath.
"Not bad, Karl. You actually stuck it out. Here—water."
"Glug, glug—" A few mouthfuls and life returned. "What next, Uncle Darren?"
"Home for today. Real sword lessons start tomorrow."
"Yes! I'll work hard!" I trailed after him, light-headed.
Mom and Dad weren't home yet. I collapsed on the bed and was out cold until the dinner smells woke me.
"So hungry. Mom, what's for dinner?"
"Wash your hands first! It's all your favorites tonight—and a big slab of goat."
"Okay! Mom's cooking is the best!"
She smiled and brought out the rest from the kitchen. I came back, saw the feast, and immediately started drooling.
"Thanks for the food!" I sat and dug in with zero dignity.
"Slow down. There's plenty."
"Mom's cooking never gets old. Oh—Dad, starting tomorrow I want to learn swordsmanship from Uncle Darren."
Dad nodded. "Your Uncle Darren's been to sea. Learning a craft is good—useful for hunting or, later, if you join the fleet."
"You can't join the fleet!" Mom blurted, suddenly tense. "Anything else is fine—but not the fleet!"
"…Okay, Mom. I won't join the fleet."
She hugged me tight and started to cry.
Mom's reaction had a reason: my older sister. Four years ago, she stowed away because she longed to see the world. The crew only discovered her after they'd exited the Calm Belt. Later, when the fleet stopped at an island to buy supplies, she vanished. They searched for a long time and found nothing.
I didn't dare say that I'd go find my sister when I'm older. I didn't want to hurt Mom.
It's Sea Circle Calendar 1488. Ace is born in 1500. That means I have to reach Baterilla by 1498 to find Sister Rouge. I'm eight now. If I set out at seventeen, that's 1497. One year should be enough to find her. I etched the plan into my heart.
After dinner and baths, we turned in for the night. At midnight, I slipped out and headed for the forest.
Time to test what Mythical Zoan I'd eaten—and what it could do.
In the trees' shadow, I focused, and my body slid into full beast form. I stilled—then my heart leapt.
Bì'àn.
Cat-Cat Fruit, Mythical Zoan—Bì'àn Form.
Bì'àn: tiger-like, horned, famed for loving litigation and upholding justice. In ancient times, its image was painted on prison gates; it symbolized both the prison and the common folk's guardian. Legends say it is righteous and outspoken, able to discern right from wrong and judge fairly. Because of its awe-inspiring presence, its likeness also crouched beside the magistrate's dais. When court convened, the command plaques bore its image—its gaze sweeping the hall, maintaining order and awe.
I looked down at my full-beast body—majestic, wreathed in ember-clouds, twin horns crowning my skull, a tiger's build redefined.
The pressure I gave off made the nearby animals keep their distance.
Riding the blazing cloud, I rose toward the Holy Mountain. There stood the statue—truly immense. My current body was maybe a dozen-plus meters long, a little over eight meters tall. Young, still—like a miniature Bì'àn before the colossus.
I glanced at the side cave and dropped in. Oil lamps lined the great hall. I exhaled a thread of flame and set a wick alight.
At last, I saw it properly: the hall brimmed with treasure. The shine was blinding.
I stood there, hands trembling. In two lives, I'd never seen so much wealth. Thank goodness no one comes to the Holy Mountain—otherwise this hoard would be gone.
After a while, the excitement ebbed. Good—this will fund my voyage someday. Perfect.
I leapt out and eyed the cave mouth. It needed sealing—an animal blundering in could wreck the hall.
Switching to human-beast form, I dragged boulders over and blocked the entrance. There. No beasts getting in now.
I flew back to the edge of town and returned to human. A wave of weakness hit me.
"Haa… exhausted. My constitution is way too low. In the One Piece world, real fights last three days and three nights. I need to build this body up."
I dragged myself home, fell into bed, and was snoring in seconds.
What I didn't know was that Darren had seen me slip into the forest. Only after he watched me return did he finally relax.
"Seems the kid's got plenty of secrets. Well, who doesn't? Sleep now. Tomorrow I'm going to train this brat till he cries. Heh-heh—"
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