After spending more than half a month at sea enduring rough experiences, Eli Winters decided it was best to linger a little longer in Baluhoof Town. The extra days were not wasted. He planned to use the time to train his crew, pushing them to sharpen both body and spirit.
For the fish-men, training was always complicated. Their natural strength was ten times that of an ordinary human, but this gift came at a cost: awakening Haki was ten times harder for them. From Eli's memories of his previous life, he could only recall one fish-man who had managed to master it Jinbei, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Princess Otohime had a natural gift for hearing the voices of others' hearts, but aside from them, there were almost no records of fish-men awakening Haki. It was a cruel irony.
Because of that, Dote and Simon could only continue with the steady grind of Fish-man Karate. That martial art, powerful in its own right, would serve them well. Eli taught them some foundational knowledge of Haki, but he suspected it would only awaken in the crucible of life-and-death battles. Until then, they would have to rely on discipline and patience.
Eli, meanwhile, focused most of his attention on training Fiona and Felina. He purchased heavy weights and equipment in town, setting out a rigorous regimen to strengthen their bodies.
Mornings were for swordsmanship. Eli sparred with them personally, drilling them in speed, timing, and footwork. Fiona's movements grew sharper, her strikes more precise. Felina, though younger and less refined, showed flashes of intuition that impressed even Eli.
Afternoons were dedicated to physical conditioning running along the coastline, leaping over rocky terrain, hauling weights until their arms trembled. Eli demanded not only strength but stamina, the ability to endure when battles stretched into exhaustion. Between these sessions, he shared hard-won combat lessons, teaching them how to anticipate an enemy's feints, when to push forward, and when to retreat.
To his surprise, Felina revealed a natural gift for Observation Haki. Within weeks, she could faintly sense the intent behind an opponent's movement. Eli armed her with the revolver he had acquired earlier the weapon with infinite bullets. With Observation Haki guiding her aim, every shot struck true. Fiona, by contrast, had yet to grasp Haki fully, but her swordsmanship neared the level of a true swordswoman. Each swing carried both precision and force, hinting at her future potential.
Even Da Pan, the panda, though fond of food and play, never slacked in training. The habits built over five years at Eli's side had become unshakable. His staff skills grew more polished, the eight-direction staff technique flowing smoother with each passing day.
A month passed in the town. Finally, Eli declared it was time to set sail again.
The next morning, they loaded the Travelor with supplies. With a command from Eli, the sails unfurled, and the ship drifted away from Baluhoof Town, bound once more for the unknown.
"Big Brother, where are we heading this time?" Da Pan asked cheerfully, spinning his black staff as though itching for a fight.
"This time, we're going to Fiona and Felina's homeland the Kingdom of Augusta," Eli said. His expression hardened. "It's time to deal with the minister who framed their parents."
At his words, both sisters froze. Tears welled in their eyes, but within them burned a fierce light of hatred and resolve. Their parents' deaths had never left their hearts, and now the chance for justice or vengeance was finally before them.
Several days later, Simon's sharp cry split the calm sea. "Pirate ship ahead!"
Eli's eyes narrowed. "Prepare for battle. I won't step in this time. I want to see what your training has achieved."
The crew sprang into action. Felina's revolver gleamed under the sun as she steadied her breath, senses sharpened by Haki. Fiona unsheathed her blade, its edge glinting with cold light. Da Pan hefted his staff with excitement, bouncing on his feet like a warrior eager for glory.
The pirate ship drew near, cannons blazing. Dote and Simon vaulted aboard amid the fire, weaving through the chaos with their fish-man agility. Their fists and kicks struck with bone-crushing power, scattering enemies across the deck. Fiona cut through groups of pirates, each sword strike carving a path of precision. Felina's gunshots echoed rhythmically bang, bang, bang each bullet finding its mark before the enemy could even raise their weapons. Da Pan spun his staff in wide arcs, sweeping foes aside like fallen leaves.
The clash was fierce but short-lived. In less than an hour, the pirate crew lay broken, their ship battered and ablaze. As the survivors fled, Eli finally drew his own blade. With a single flying slash, he cleaved their vessel apart, sending it sinking beneath the waves. The sea swallowed them whole. Death was, after all, the best burial for sin.
The Travelor pressed on. Two weeks later, they reached the coast of the Kingdom of Augusta. Fiona and Felina stood at the rail, staring at the land of their birth. Their eyes glimmered with conflicting emotions: sorrow for the family they had lost, longing for the home they had been forced to abandon, and a burning hunger for vengeance.
Eli refused to risk exposure by docking in the capital's harbor. Instead, he guided the ship to a small, deserted island nearby. With the coordinates locked into his spatial ability, he could teleport freely between the island and the kingdom.
That night, he placed a hand on Fiona's shoulder. Space rippled around them, and in an instant they vanished from the deck, reappearing inside Augusta's royal palace.
The minister who had betrayed Fiona and Felina's parents now sat on the throne, having usurped the crown through lies and treachery. The palace was filled with music and laughter as he reveled in his ill-gotten power.
Eli spread his Observation Haki. The false king's presence was unmistakable, seated in the grand hall enjoying his feast. Yet Eli did not rush. Instead, he and Fiona climbed to the rooftop of the great hall, watching from above like silent hunters.
"System," Eli whispered in his mind. "Check in."
A familiar voice answered: "Congratulations, host. Check-in at the Kingdom of Augusta successful. Reward: Prosperity Points +765. Item: Great Blade Snowdrinker."
Another chime followed. "Prosperity Points have exceeded one thousand. System Shop is now unlocked. Wishing the host a pleasant journey."
Eli nearly chuckled. The system could be polite when it wanted to be. Curious, he browsed the new shop, only for his expression to sour. With his current 1229 points, he could only afford the cheapest items an ordinary Devil Fruit or a decent-grade sword, each costing 1000 points. The great treasures, such as world fragments or perfected fruits, required numbers so vast they seemed like a cruel joke. Still, it was better than nothing.
By the time he finished exploring the shop, the night had grown late. At last, the false king stumbled drunkenly from the banquet, retiring to his chambers. Eli nudged Fiona. It was time.
A vortex opened in space. In a blink, they slipped into the king's chambers. The man was already snoring loudly, reeking of wine. Eli grabbed him effortlessly and pulled him into his personal space dimension.
"Let's go," Eli said softly, teleporting them back to the Travelor.
The moment they appeared, Felina rushed forward. "Sister, did it work?"
Fiona nodded, her voice trembling. "Yes. Eli already captured him."
On the deck, Eli released the captive. A bloated, pig-like man collapsed onto the planks, still half-asleep. He had no idea that the walls of his palace had been replaced by the endless sea, or that judgment now awaited him.
Fiona drew her blade, stabbing it deep into his thigh. The man woke with a scream, clutching his wound as his eyes darted wildly.
"Who are you?! Do you know who I am? I am the King of Augusta! If you dare harm me, the World Government itself will "
"Look at me, Gilbert," Fiona spat, her voice trembling with fury.
The man's eyes widened. Recognition dawned. "You… Fiona… and Felina! You wretched brats! I should have finished you when your cursed father let you escape. You dare to stand before me now? I'll see you both executed!"
His arrogance only fanned the flames of hatred. Felina raised her revolver. Eli's voice cut through the tension: "No need to waste words. Kill him. Only death can wash away his crimes."
Gilbert turned toward Eli, rage boiling over. "And who are you to "
Bang.
A single shot ended him. Felina lowered her weapon, her hands trembling. For a heartbeat, silence reigned. Then both sisters broke down, clutching each other, tears streaming down their faces. Years of grief and rage poured out at once.
Eli said nothing. Some wounds could not be mended with words. Instead, he pulled Gilbert's corpse back into his spatial dimension. Tomorrow, when the Travelor set sail again, he would cast the body into the sea. The fish would feast, and the man would become nothing more than waste in the endless ocean.
The deck fell quiet. One by one, the crew drifted back to their quarters, leaving the night to its silence.
No matter how dark the night, Eli thought as he looked toward the horizon, the sun would always rise to drive it away. And so long as the sun rose, there was always hope.
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