Time flowed like water. In the blink of an eye, five years had passed.
Eli Winters was now eleven years old. He stood tall, already close to two meters in height. His body was covered with lean, corded muscle that seemed carved from stone not bulky or grotesque, but dense with hidden strength. The crude clothes he had once worn had long since been ripped to shreds by his growth, so now he dressed in stitched furs taken from the beasts of the island. In his hands gleamed a massive broadsword, and every swing of his blade split the air, sending arcs of sword energy surging into the ocean, carving white trails upon the waves.
In those five years, Eli had explored every inch of the island. It wasn't a vast landmass, barely thirty square kilometers, but it had once teemed with dangerous predators. Now, most of the adult beasts had either fallen beneath Eli's blade or been devoured by his companion. Only the younger generation of creatures remained, far too weak to pose any threat.
That companion was a remarkable creature: a giant panda named Pandy. The name had come to Eli on a whim, drawn from half-forgotten memories of another world. Pandy had first emerged on the night Eli killed his first wild boar. The hatching was bizarrely simple two drops of blood had fallen, and suddenly, the egg had cracked open. Eli never bothered to question how a panda, normally born live, could emerge from an egg. After all, he had already traveled across worlds what miracle would be too strange to believe?
Pandy's talent was astonishing. In fact, his growth was nearly equal to Eli's own, and in some areas, even greater. Over five years of relentless training, Pandy had mastered two forms of Haki and even created his own style of staff combat, wielding a black cudgel with tigerish ferocity.
As for Eli, he had undergone a complete transformation. His swordsmanship had advanced to the fifth stage, mastering the profound intent of the blade. His Haki Observation, Armament, and even a budding form of Conqueror's had reached impressive heights. His Devil Fruit, a modified version of the Space-Space Fruit, was nearly eighty percent developed. He had not yet awakened it fully, but his progress was undeniable.
Eli's current abilities were nothing short of formidable:
Host: Eli Winters
Physical Power: Vice Admiral level
Speed: Vice Admiral level
Spirit: Admiral level
Devil Fruit: Modified Space-Space Fruit, 82% developed, not awakened
Haki: Advanced Observation, Intermediate Armament, Intermediate Conqueror's
Devil Fruit Skills: Spatial Slash, Spatial Blade Storm, Storage Space, Twin Kamui, Teleportation
Swordsmanship: On the verge of Great Swordsman, with techniques such as Draw Slash, Heavy Strike, Aerial Slash, Phantom Cut, and Point-Break Form
Combat Strength: Candidate for Admiral
And his companion:
Pet: Kung Fu Panda, Pandy
Haki: Intermediate Observation, Intermediate Armament, Conqueror's not yet awakened
Skills: Eight Desolations Staff Technique
Combat Strength: Rear Admiral
The two of them were monsters in their own right. So long as they did not provoke the true apex predators of the world, Eli was confident they could stride across the seas unchallenged.
Yet there was a problem. The island could no longer help him grow. His swordsmanship had stagnated. His Haki had plateaued. What he needed now was battle against real opponents, the kind found only in the wider world.
"Pandy, let's head back," Eli called out after finishing his training session for the day.
From the shadows of the forest, a massive panda lumbered out. Pandy was over three meters tall, his fur patterned with black and white but his body as muscular as a seasoned warrior's. Around his waist he wore a tiger pelt. One paw gripped a heavy black staff, the other dragged a medium-sized deer. He grinned as he approached, his deep voice rumbling.
"Big brother, roasted venison tonight!"
Yes, Pandy could speak. He had learned to talk within a week of his birth, and ever since, he had never stopped.
After roasting the deer and feasting until their bellies were full, Eli wiped his hands clean and spoke seriously. "Pandy, it's time we leave this place."
The panda froze, then his eyes widened with excitement. He had long grown weary of the island, though Eli had always insisted they were too weak to risk venturing out. Now, at last, the day had come.
"Really? You mean it, big brother? We're going to sea at last? Hahaha! When do we leave, tomorrow?"
Eli gave him a flat look. "Tomorrow? Do you plan to swim across the ocean? We need a ship, supplies, and water. We don't even know where we are, or where the nearest island lies. If we set out unprepared, we'll die of hunger or thirst before we ever see another shore."
Pandy deflated, his ears drooping. "Ah… so how long will that take?"
"Not long," Eli reassured him. "There's that giant tree at the heart of the forest. I'll hollow it out into a boat. You, meanwhile, will hunt every beast you can find and prepare their meat into dried rations. My storage space freezes time, so the food won't spoil. If all goes well, we can set sail next month."
Pandy's mood flipped instantly, and he leapt into the air, roaring with joy. "Oh yeah! I'll clean out the whole forest tomorrow!"
The very next day, their preparations began. Pandy hunted relentlessly, dragging back game, skinning, cutting, and drying the meat over fire. Eli, meanwhile, walked to the heart of the island, where a colossal tree towered. Four men with outstretched arms could barely encircle it. Its bark was deep black-green, its wood unimaginably hard. Years ago, when Pandy first learned to coat his weapon in Armament Haki, he had tried to cut a branch from this tree. Even with a blade, it had taken him two hours. That alone proved its worth.
Now, with his refined swordsmanship and sharpened Haki, Eli brought the entire tree down. He began carving it into a vessel: six meters long, three wide, modeled after the river boats he dimly remembered from another life. The leftover timber he stored away, knowing instinctively it was a rare resource.
For more than twenty days they worked tirelessly, balancing training with construction. At last, the boat was complete, and the dried meat filled sacks in his storage space. They had perhaps two weeks' worth of provisions. More was impossible; the island's larger beasts had already been hunted to extinction. As for fresh water, Eli hollowed two enormous stones into makeshift cisterns, filling them to the brim.
Finally, all was ready. Though the boat lacked sails and could only be propelled by oars, Eli felt exhilaration surge through his chest. At last, they would leave this tiny cage behind.
He dragged the vessel to the shore. The salt wind bit his face, and he laughed aloud. "The seas of this world await. The age of adventure begins!"
Just then, a strange electronic hum echoed in his mind, a sound he had not heard in years.
Congratulations to the host for taking the first step into the world of pirates. Achievement unlocked. Reward issued: small ship propulsion unit. Enjoy your voyage.
Eli froze, then shouted aloud in disbelief. "No way… System? You're still alive?"
A mechanical voice replied, calm as ever. Correction. This system cannot die. Even if the host perishes countless times, the system remains intact.
Eli scowled. "Then where have you been these five years? Do you know what I've gone through? Do you have any idea?"
The beasts of the island, if they could speak, would have answered: We know very well. You slaughtered us all.
This is a Location Sign-In System, the voice explained. You have remained on the starting island for five years. Without traveling to new locations, no sign-ins could be triggered.
Realization struck Eli. "So… every island I reach, I can sign in? And the rewards vary depending on how prosperous the place is?"
Affirmative. Prosperous locations yield richer rewards. Accumulate one thousand Prosperity Points, and you may unlock the System Store.
Eli's eyes gleamed. "System Store? What's in it?"
Discover for yourself upon unlocking it.
"Tch, still being mysterious. But fine. Tell me, this propulsion unit does it need fuel?"
Negative. It contains its own energy core, capable of running for half a month continuously.
Eli broke into a grin. "Perfect. You've saved us a lot of trouble."
"Big brother," a paw clapped his shoulder, startling him. He turned to find Pandy giving him a suspicious look. "Why were you standing there frozen, smiling like a creep?"
"Do you want a beating?" Eli snapped.
Pandy laughed and skipped out of reach. "Hehehe!"
Shaking his head, Eli summoned the device from his storage space. With a flash of light, a metallic propulsion unit appeared in his hands. Pandy's jaw dropped.
"What's that, big brother?"
"A gift. With this, we won't have to row until our arms fall off." Eli crouched at the stern, carving a groove into the wood. With practiced movements, he fitted the propulsion unit snugly into place. It clicked perfectly, as though made for the boat.
"Done!" Eli declared with satisfaction. "Pandy, get aboard. The seas are ours to conquer!"
Pandy's eyes sparkled. "Big brother, will conquering the world mean more food?"
Eli rolled his eyes. "One-track mind."
With that, their ship was ready, and their journey into the world of pirates was about to begin.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to leave a comment, drop a power stone, or add it to your collection your support keeps the journey going!