Wano Country.
Onigashima.
This will serve as the future headquarters of the Beasts.
Kaido and the three Kurozumi reached an agreement: Kaido would provide them protection, and they, in turn, would supply resources to the Beasts. The most crucial of these resources were the construction of weapon factories and Sea Stone mines, as Wano Country's Sea Stone reserves were undeniably vast.
In this era, Sea Stone was an extremely rare strategic reserve overseas, with most of the current Sea Stone reserves controlled by the World Government.
It was only after Kaido settled in Wano Country that he established Sea Stone factories, and then extensively sold these Sea Stones overseas. This is why in the future, Sea Stone could be seen everywhere.
One can only say that Kaido indeed had a brain; otherwise, the Beasts Pirates would not have become one of the Four Emperors. He just lacked business acumen.
Speaking of business, this made Karl think of someone, a person who in the future would possess the most wealth in the world but lacked happiness: the Golden Emperor, Tesoro!
Tesoro was probably only around 15 years old now, still a teenager. Karl just didn't know when he met Stella in the original story. Such a talented businessman, if there's an opportunity in the future, Karl must recruit him.
However, for now, it was crucial to quickly strengthen his own power. According to the plot Karl learned from his previous life, in 1496, which was this year, Kozuki Oden joined the Roger Pirates.
In 1497, the Roger Pirates successfully reached the final island, Laugh Tale, becoming the Pirate King.
When Karl first encountered One Piece in his previous life, he also had a strong curiosity about it. But as time progressed and the One Piece story was fleshed out, his enthusiasm for One Piece wasn't as strong.
Although Karl stopped watching One Piece after the Wano Country arc in his previous life, he still saw some videos. According to some fan theories from bloggers, the so-called Great Treasure was nothing more than the history of the Void Century and Joy Boy's contingency plan against Imu.
Imu and such were too far away for the current Karl. What he needed to do now was to quickly strengthen his own power.
Because before Roger became the Pirate King, Kozuki Oden had returned to Wano Country once, though he only took a copy of a poneglyph and left his wife and children behind.
But Karl didn't know if Kozuki Oden, after learning of Orochi's actions, would go crazy and bring the Roger Pirates to attack.
This was Kozuki Oden! No one could guess what was on his mind, and those connected to him seemed to be possessed, so precautions had to be taken.
Therefore, after the Beasts settled on Onigashima and Yamato was sent away, Karl once again sought out King.
"King, please teach me swordsmanship!"
Karl very sincerely asked King to teach him swordsmanship. Although the current Karl possessed the excellent blade 'fūshen (wind spin)', his understanding of swordsmanship was almost zero, only knowing how to wildly slash relying on his great strength.
In the past year, Karl was either training his physique or getting beaten up.
Putting everything else aside, Karl's current resilience to beatings was already considered among the best in the Beasts Pirates.
Hearing that Karl wanted to learn swordsmanship, King, uncharacteristically, did not refuse this time but readily agreed.
"Good! Follow me!"
Karl followed King to an open space. Onigashima was not yet built up, and everything was very rudimentary.
The two stood facing each other, and King spoke, "Draw your sword and attack me."
Upon hearing this, Karl drew the 'fūshen (wind spin)' from his waist without hesitation and swiftly charged towards King. As he got closer, Karl leaped high, his long blade directly cleaving down towards King.
Seeing Karl's attack about to strike King, King remained completely still. Karl also had no intention of stopping his attack. Karl bet he would eat three pounds of food upside down if this attack could injure King.
Clang!
The result was as expected. Just as the attack was about to land, King, with lightning speed, drew the long blade from his waist and blocked Karl's attack.
Then, King forcefully flicked his wrist, directly sending Karl flying.
"Strength is your advantage, but you don't know how to use it. Your strength is too dispersed. Concentrate your power into one point and strike."
King's calm voice rang out.
Karl, who had been sent flying dozens of meters, steadied himself, let out a roar, and charged towards King again with his blade.
"Again!!"
Then he was sent flying again, repeatedly, an unknown number of times. During this, King also occasionally offered guidance.
It continued until sunset. After taking two of King's attacks, Karl was once again sent flying.
This time, Karl didn't get up as quickly as usual. He had been sent flying countless times by King's attacks throughout the day. Although his body was mostly unharmed, his physical exhaustion was a fact.
Karl propped himself up with his sword, panting heavily, and shakily stood up, his eyes filled with an unyielding flame.
"Again!"
Even King couldn't help but marvel at Karl's strong will and truly rare talent.
"Karl, why do you want to become stronger?"
King asked such a question.
The breathless Karl was visibly stunned by the question.
Why become stronger?
Power?
Wealth?
Beautiful women? *Cough*... that's a possibility!
In that instant, Karl thought of the helplessness he felt when he first arrived in this world, trapped in a cage.
"As long as I don't want to die, no one can kill me! I want to... take my destiny into my own hands! Not be a tiny pawn!!"
Karl didn't know where the strength came from, but these last words were practically a roar!
If he hadn't transmigrated, the original Karl would have been an unnoticed speck of dust on the chessboard.
As he roared these words, a chilling aura emanated from Karl, and in just a moment, a layer of frost covered the area around him.
Karl closed his eyes, took a deep breath, raised fūshen (wind spin) with both hands, and the cold air exhaled from his mouth and the scattered cold air resonated with each other, as if attracted by something, slowly covering the blade.
The next moment, Karl's eyes snapped open, looking as if they had transformed into gems carved from ice, making anyone who merely glanced at them feel a chill to the bone, as if their entire being was about to freeze.
King couldn't help but be stunned. He just had a power surge? His single question made this kid comprehend a move??
Karl was unaware of King's mental state right now. His only thought at the moment was to unleash this strike!
Karl, holding fūshen (wind spin), rushed towards King, and wherever he passed, a layer of frost quietly appeared.
The moment he approached King, Karl exerted force with both hands, channeling all his remaining strength into this single strike.
The might of this strike was so great that even King had to take it a little seriously. It was still a simple, unadorned strike, but this time, King was clearly serious.
"Ha!!"
Karl's blade and King's blade met in the air, producing a piercing clang of metal.
Although Karl's attack was blocked by King, the condensed cold air on the blade rushed forward. In an instant, the escaping cold air had already frozen King's weapon and arm, and it was showing signs of spreading.
King's eyes widened, somewhat disbelieving. If this move had been met by someone who underestimated it even slightly, they would have been severely injured, if not killed, and then frozen solid and unable to move, at which point they would be at the mercy of others.
"Good kid!"
This was King's only compliment in a long time.
Complimenting with his mouth, but his hands were not slow at all. Immediately, King's arm was covered in dark red flames, melting the ice on his hand and blade, and then he followed through with a fiery slash.
Although King's slash looked immensely powerful, in reality, he used very little force, merely forcing Karl back.
"That's enough for today. From now on, in addition to physical training, you must also train your swordsmanship. Go back and get some good rest."
As he said this, King unconsciously rubbed his arm, which had just been frozen.