At The Peak of One Piece

Time flew like a white horse passing through a crack; in the blink of an eye, three years had passed. Victor was now 14 years old, standing at 1.9(6,2f) meters tall, handsome and charming. He inherited the best traits from both his parents. On the whole island, he was undoubtedly a heartthrob—not just because of his great strength, but mainly due to his good looks.

Rebecca had also grown into a striking young woman over these years. She was 1.7(5,57f) meters tall, with wine-red hair and sun-kissed skin. A sword hung at her waist, and as a fiery female swordsman like her, who could resist her beauty? Only her youthful face still showed a bit of innocence, revealing her young age.

Over these three years, countless pirates had come to the island—an average of at least one group every month, with varying numbers. The most arrogant was a lone pirate without a crew, who also happened to be the strongest among all pirates. It took Victor three moves to subdue him, while other pirates fell with a single strike.

The bounty money they earned in these years was quite substantial.

Victor and Rebecca had become the heroes of the entire island, known by all the people. Their strength was overwhelming; when they fought, only afterimages were seen. Their swordsmanship was exquisite, with dazzling sword shadows that delighted the eye. The sword would return to the sheath, and the enemy would already be defeated.

The highest-ranking officer of the naval base, the colonel of the branch, had long wanted to invite them to join the navy, promising to recommend them to headquarters. But Victor had refused each time, citing his young age and the fact that there were still matters to finish in the East Sea.

...

That day, at the seaside dock of Arling Town, Victor was saying farewell to Rebecca, the old lady, and Mayor Andre. Today, he was preparing to set sail and carry out his plan.

The old lady looked sorrowful. "Victor, be careful at sea. Keep warm and don't catch a cold."

"Grandma, I won't. I'll be careful," Victor replied with a smile. "Your health isn't as strong as before. Do less from now on and let Rebecca handle things. She's strong and full of energy."

The old lady had indeed been frequently ill over the past two years.

Victor then turned to Rebecca with solemnity. "Take good care of Grandma at home. I'll learn well and return soon."

Originally, Victor planned for both of them to set sail together, but since the old lady's health had declined, Rebecca had to stay behind to care for her. Besides, having Rebecca on the island made it safer.

Rebecca nodded seriously. "Okay, I will. I'll wait for you to come back and teach me."

A flicker of regret crossed Rebecca's eyes, but then a firm light appeared.

Victor next turned to Andre. "Mayor Andre, I'm leaving Grandma in your care. After I leave, I hope you find a kind and careful woman to look after her. Rebecca's training can't slack off either—I worry she won't manage both."

"Don't worry, Victor. Leave it to me," Andre said, patting his chest with confidence.

Victor was reluctant to leave as well. Over these years, with Victor and Rebecca's presence, the town had suffered almost no losses and had even made some gains. Life had been good.

But today, Victor had to leave. He felt regretful, yet looking at Rebecca beside him, he felt reassured. Her strength was not to be underestimated, and she had never shown any struggle in fighting pirates.

Captain Buck stood behind Victor and added, "Don't worry, I've been running ships for over ten years. I'll take good care of Victor. With me around, he'll eat well and sleep well."

Indeed, Victor was about to board Captain Buck's merchant ship to set sail.

When Buck heard that Victor would take his ship, he was very happy. Though Victor's time on board wouldn't be long, it would be absolutely safe—after all, the East Sea wasn't a place to just walk around recklessly.

Moreover, building a good relationship with Victor was a great choice. Victor was young but already had immense strength and a promising future. Establishing a connection now was surely a wise investment, Buck thought.

Victor turned around, holding a knife and a package, and boarded the ship with Buck. The cargo was already loaded and ready for transport.

Under the watchful eyes of Rebecca, the old lady, and Andre, the ship raised its anchor and slowly left the dock.

The three waved goodbye on the dock as Victor stood at the ship's edge waving back. The departure was calm and uneventful—no grand farewell, no crowds seeing him off. One of Lyep Island's guardians had left his hometown.

The three of them stood in silence until the small boat disappeared from sight. Victor leaned his sword against the ship's railing and sat cross-legged on the deck. No one disturbed him—only Captain Buck approached briefly to say, "If you need anything, just ask the crew. I've already instructed them." 

Victor nodded wordlessly. Buck, recognizing his somber mood, left him alone and went about his duties. 

Seated on the deck, Victor closed his eyes and reflected on the four years he'd spent in this world. 

Memories flashed: 

- Grandma Maria's gentle kindness. 

- Rebecca's stubborn resilience. 

- Andre's selfless dedication to the townsfolk. 

- The simple, hardworking people of Arling. 

'This is a real world. They were real people.' 

At noon, a crewman called him for lunch, pulling him from his thoughts.

The meal was lavish—at least for Victor. Knowing his appetite, Buck had ordered the kitchen to prepare extra: meat, vegetables, fruit—all balanced. Victor smirked. 'Not bad.' 

After eating, he returned to his meditation, reviewing his training progress. 

*Physical Prowess 

Years of deep-sea training under crushing pressure had: 

- Densified his muscles and bones. 

- Strengthened his blood vessels. 

- Fortified his organs. 

His recovery rate now rivaled Luffy, Zoro, or Sanji's—except 'they' were cartoon characters. Victor's cells thrummed with vitality, teetering on the edge of Life Return. 

*Combat Mastery 

His past life's knowledge—real-world martial arts, wuxia novels, action films—was a treasure trove. In a world with superhuman physiques, techniques once deemed "fiction" became possible. 

'With equal Haki and strength, I could've made Garp question his life choices.' 

…'At least in the early stages.' The old monster would adapt fast. 

*Swordsmanship Stagnation 

His blade skills had plateaued. Cutting steel remained just out of reach. 

'I'll break through eventually—but how long?' 

Rather than grind blindly, Victor decided to seek the "key" directly: Koushirou. With proper guidance, his talent would accelerate his growth. 

*Future Plans 

- Main Quest: Master swordsmanship under Koushirou. 

- Side Quests: 

 - Find a named blade. 

 - Acquire a Devil Fruit (if fate allows). 

As for Haki? No shortcuts yet. The Marines would handle that later. 

---

Life Aboard the Ship 

For days, Victor remained disciplined: 

- Day: Meditated cross-legged, sword across his lap—unshaken by wind or rain. 

- Night: 

 - First Half: Deep-sea diving for training. 

 - Second Half: Towed the anchored ship by swimming until dawn. 

Initially, the crew gawked. Soon, they grew accustomed—especially since Victor brought back fresh fish or sea kings daily. 

The ship occasionally resupplied at islands along the way. 

---

Victor's journey had truly begun.