After the government left, Gray Terminal went back to what it had always been—nobles dumping their trash, everyone else clawing for scraps.
Luffy sprinted in and fired a Gum-Gum Pistol at Ace. It was fast—almost hit—but the rebound clocked Luffy in the face and he knocked himself out.
"Haha—what was that?" Ace laughed at him.
"Do you have time to laugh?" I slipped behind Ace and swung the wooden katana I'd carved from a tree. Ace jumped, dodged, and kicked at my face. I Dashed backward, vanishing for a heartbeat.
"What?" Ace said, surprised.
I dashed forward, expecting to catch him off guard—but he was already throwing a punch. I dashed up, then dashed down to re‑engage.
"Is that all you can do, Sora—run? Come on, fight me without being a coward. You'll never beat the tiger fighting like this. Guess you'll be stuck here till seventeen," Ace smirked.
"Fine. Don't regret what you wished for." I dashed back. Everything slowed.
"System—put 2 points into Strength and 8 into Agility."
"Roger."
We dashed forward at each and, connecting blow after blow, But Ace was winning and my stamina was falling faster than his. Every time he swung his pipe and I blocked, I felt I had to use all my power just to block the attack. I have to end this one big attack. That's the only way I could probably beat him. I jumped back, gripped my wooden blade, dashed forward, and used Dash Again, with the last amount of stamina left.
I sprang and launched—DASH/SLASH COMBO!—swinging my wooden blade as Ace's grip tightened on his iron pipe. He swung up; we clashed.
[STATUS] Stamina: 28%
Ace stood behind me, iron pipe bent in half. I turned, nodded. "Good duel—you won this time." My knees gave out; my wooden sword shattered into pieces, and I passed out in the grass.
[DING]
"Damn… he would've won if he'd used his real sword," Ace thought.
"Wow—Sora's gotten so strong. I need to catch up!" Luffy mumbled, coming to.
—
A month later, I entered the forest. Ace and Luffy tailed me at a distance—ready to help if I needed it.
It came out slowly, growling—like it remembered losing to us and wanted payback. My scarlet pupils stared back, calm.
It didn't wait. It charged, leaves bursting red around it, cold autumn air pushing summer away. It pounced, jaws open.
"Sora—watch out!" Luffy yelled.
"Ghost Step."
Its teeth bit me in half—where I'd been.
"Soraaaaa!" Luffy cried.
"Stop crying—he's fine. Look," Ace said.
I was in the air; the tiger had bitten an afterimage.
[DING][SKILL UPGRADED] Dash → Ghost Step (Rank D — 1% proficiency)
"Slash."
The tiger roared, went berserk, and lunged again. But that was its downfall; it kept hitting my ghost images. Soon it was panting.
"Time to end this." I stepped, burst skyward, and came down on its skull with Shiro.
[DING] Tiger slain.
I stared at the body.
[SYSTEM TIP] Place your hand on the target and say "Summon" to activate Warden of Spirits.
I walked up, palm on bloody fur. A pang of guilt hit.
"Summon."
A light‑orange spirit rose from the tiger's body—now the size of a big horse.
Ace and Luffy ran up, amazed.
"You really brought it back! It's smaller… and weaker," Ace said. "Maybe Devil Fruits are worth losing swimming for."
The spirit sat in front of me, tail swishing like a dog.
"Are you going to name him, Sora?" Luffy asked.
"Yeah. His name is Bayyako, the White Tiger."
"But he's orange," Luffy said, head tilted.
"He is—but maybe he'll turn white now that I've named him," I said.
"Ohhh—you're a color‑changing tiger," Luffy told Bayyako.
[DING][COMPANION] First Spirit Companion: Bayyako, the White Tiger (Lv 9)
After I named him, he grew—almost to the size of a medium elephant. At the tips, his orange fur had begun to pale, faint white streaks tracing along his shoulders and tail.
Bayyako — Lv 9
Stats: Not available.
"Purr," Bayyako said, looking confused.
"Saying 'Bayyako' every time is too long. From now on, your nickname is Yako."
"Purr. Purr."
"Next time, roar and be cool."
Yako bobbed his head.
"System—how do I summon him back into my soul?"
[SYSTEM] Just picture him residing inside you.
Yako turned into orange light and slipped into my chest. Warmth flooded through me.
[SYSTEM] To release a spirit, say you're letting them go, and they must speak their name to confirm.
Simple enough, I thought.
"Are you really going to leave?" Ace asked quietly.
"Yeah, Sora—don't leave. It'll be sad," Luffy said, eyes watering.
"Hmm… how about this: I'll be back before you and Ace set out to become pirates."
Fall arrived—and it was time to set off.
"Be careful of the cold water," Dadan called.
"Will do!" I called back. The bandits lined the shore to see me off.
Like Sabo, I was beginning my journey at ten.
I had a small fishing boat—no flag—and a compass in my hand.
"Make sure to write us letters!" Luffy yelled.
Ace leaned against a tree, arms crossed.
I waved. "I won't die. We'll sail together when you're ready. I'm going to get a lot stronger. Don't fall behind—and take care of Luffy. Don't be too mean to him."
My boat drifted farther and farther from shore.
A new adventure began.