Chapter 3: Wood’s Growth and the Island Girl

Over the course of a year, life on Maple Leaf Island still hadn't returned to its former tranquility. With the arrival of the Great Pirate Era, more and more people began heading toward the Grand Line.

Now, the island's original population had dwindled by more than half. The pirates' repeated landings forced most residents to relocate to nearby islands.

During this time, Wood's system had gone completely silent—as if it had crashed. Apart from issuing tasks, it didn't respond at all.

If it hadn't issued that second mission, Wood would've seriously suspected that his "cheat" had permanently shut down.

After the previous life simulation, Wood had gained swordsmanship and insights approaching the level of a "swordmaster."

However, despite possessing both technique and mindset—and even the foundation for "Iron-Cutting" level swordsmanship—Wood still couldn't actually cut iron in practice.

The root of the problem was his physical condition. Although he now had solid swordsmanship skills, his body was still far too weak.

After swinging an axe day and night for three months, his strength had improved considerably—but only to a level slightly above that of an ordinary person.

So during the past year, aside from digesting the swordsmanship insights in his mind, Wood spent most of his time hardening his body through ruthless physical training.

A year ago, he had still looked like a rather skinny young man. But now, his skin had taken on a healthy tan, and his bare torso made it clear—he was no longer the same person.

His bronze skin shimmered under the sunlight, and the streamlined muscles on his body looked ready to explode with power. His height had also shot up from 180 cm to about 190 cm.

Over this period, Wood had also tried to emulate the World Government's CP organizations—attempting to train his body to a superhuman level so he could learn the so-called "Six Powers" of the Marines.

But reality hit hard. Even though his long-term training had significantly improved his physique, and he understood the theoretical principles of Rokushiki, he just couldn't grasp the actual techniques.

Wood saw two possible reasons for this. First, his physical condition still wasn't at the required level to perform the Six Powers.

Second, the "Six Powers" likely required special training methods.

After all, Rokushiki was a unique set of combat techniques used by Marine officers. As a self-taught wanderer trying to learn it on his own, the odds of success were clearly slim.

If Rokushiki were that easy, wouldn't every pirate who had seen it be able to learn it?

"Wood-nii, it's lunchtime! Come back and eat!"

After swimming a few nautical miles as part of his morning training, the shirtless Wood smiled when he saw a little girl with a ponytail and a basket on the beach. Water splashed from his hands as he sped toward shore.

"Ain, didn't I already tell you? You don't have to bring lunch all the way out here.

It's dangerous. What if you run into pirates? The area around the island isn't safe these days."

Reaching the shore, Wood moved carefully to avoid splashing water on the little girl's pretty floral dress.

"Liar! You said the same thing last time, but once you start training, you totally lose track of time and skip meals for the whole day!

And I'm not afraid of pirates! As long as you're here, they're no threat at all.

Wood-nii will protect Ain again, just like a year ago, right?"

The girl calling out was named Ain—a cute seven- or eight-year-old with a blue ponytail.

She was also a resident of Maple Leaf Island. A year ago, Wood had saved her from a pirate goon, which had triggered the system's activation.

"Since I know you're always training like a madman, Mama made lots of meat dishes just for you.

And this fruit—I picked it myself in the forest today! It's really sweet!"

When the pirates had previously landed, Ain's father had died protecting her. Now, she lived alone with her mother.

As for Wood, he fit the classic transmigrator profile—an orphan with no family. In gratitude for saving her daughter, Ain's mother, Stia, had taken him in.

Living together, plus the bond from saving Ain, quickly made Wood feel like part of the family.

After her father was killed by pirates, Ain understandably hated pirates the most. But at the same time, she felt lucky—because after losing her father, she gained a strong and caring older brother.

After gaining "Iron-Cutting" level swordsmanship from the simulation, Wood didn't rush to show off. He trained in secret instead.

After all, this sea was full of monsters, and his current strength wasn't much.

In his first life simulation, he died young because he hadn't stayed low-key enough.

This time, Wood made up his mind—until he was strong enough to move freely in the first half of the Grand Line, he wouldn't stick his neck out.

But as always, reality had other plans.

Over six months ago, a group of pirates landed on the island again. They ransacked everything and even set their sights on the beautiful Stia and Ain, planning to sell them into slavery.

Watching his makeshift family about to be taken away, Wood couldn't just stand by. He stepped in and effortlessly cut down several pirates.

Unfortunately, one of them happened to be a high-ranking officer with decent strength. Before Wood could finish him off, the man escaped too far.

After killing one of their officers, how could the pirate captain sit still? If he didn't take action, he'd lose all authority.

So the pirate captain came after Wood—and after a fierce battle, he too died.

A pirate captain with an 8 million Berry bounty… taken down by a kid who didn't even look old enough to shave.

The remaining pirates, seeing Wood's cold and savage expression despite his youth, were terrified. They scattered in panic—none even dared collect their captain's body.

From that day on, the people of Maple Leaf Island realized that Wood was no longer the boy they once knew.

If they hadn't watched him grow up with their own eyes, they never would've believed that this young man who had slain a bounty pirate was the same Wood they once knew.