The campfire crackled as the fat drips fell, releasing a mouth-watering meat aroma. Foxy now resembled a wild man, wearing nothing but a bear pelt around his waist. His long, thick hair almost dragged on the ground, making it impossible to split even if he wanted to.
It was unclear why his hair had grown so fast; maybe it was due to his diet of fish and meat. His face had become more resolute, though still somewhat roguish. The nose and protruding chin remained untrimmed, while the formerly messy hair and triangular eyes had improved. Besides these changes, his body had become more muscular and taller, with his overall demeanor also transforming, perhaps because he had grown stronger.
“Today should be the last day. I wonder when the warship will arrive.”
Turning over a mantis leg on the grill, Foxy pondered, stroking his chin.
Meanwhile, a warship passed one island after another, finding some cadets still alive while others were not so fortunate.
Foxy heard footsteps approaching from the sky as he finished his mantis leg and prepared to hunt again.
A rear admiral using Geppo (Moonwalk) landed before him, visibly relieved upon seeing Foxy looking like a wild man.
“Rear Admiral Vettel.”
Recognizing the officer from the academy, Foxy greeted him.
“Foxy, you’re still alive.”
Foxy’s face darkened. “What do you mean by ‘still alive’? That’s a bit rude, don’t you think?”
“Is it such a surprise that I survived, Rear Admiral?”
“Ha ha ha… It’s good that you’re alive.”
Vettel didn’t mind and patted Foxy’s shoulder hard. In the past, Foxy wouldn’t have been able to endure it, but now he could, though it still hurt.
Despite his growth, Foxy still had a long way to go compared to a rear admiral. From Vettel’s use of Geppo alone, it was clear that Foxy, even with his Slow-Slow Fruit, would be easily defeated if Vettel were serious.
“Do you mean to say that some have…?”
Foxy’s concern grew, fearing some of his comrades hadn’t made it.
“Unfortunately, some cadets didn’t make it. Let’s go back.”
Vettel turned to leave but then asked, “Have you mastered Shave?”
“Yes.”
Foxy nodded.
“Then try using Shave in the air. Use strong leg force to step on the air, counteracting the upward force, thus generating powerful hovering ability. Your feet should move rhythmically, like climbing stairs.”
“Rear Admiral, is that…?”
Foxy’s eyes lit up, recognizing the training method for Geppo.
“I didn’t say anything. These things require military merit to learn.”
Vettel grabbed Foxy’s shoulder and flew into the sky.
“Surviving wasn’t easy. Pay attention.”
Vettel seemed to walk on air as he flew towards the coast, elating Foxy. Over the past two months, he had not had time to study other techniques. Mastering Shave alone would lead naturally to Geppo with a bit of research.
But Foxy had been too busy. Basic training, Shave practice, battling beasts without using his abilities, developing his Devil Fruit… These tasks consumed all his time. If he had split his focus, he wouldn’t have mastered Shave so quickly or made such significant progress.
Learning the Six Powers required military merit, though alternative paths existed. Now that Vettel was willing to guide him, Foxy was excited and focused on remembering everything.
“Thank you, Rear Admiral.”
Carried by Vettel, Foxy kept his eyes fixed on Vettel’s feet.
Vettel didn’t reply but slowed his pace. The island’s center was quite a distance from the coast, and with Vettel’s slower speed, it took a bit longer.
Perhaps due to his transmigration, Foxy’s mental stamina exceeded his peers. He watched Vettel’s use of Geppo thoughtfully. He grasped the basic principle and now needed to practice it.
“Foxy.”
Snapping out of his thoughts, Foxy realized they had reached the coast. Several people on the warship waved at him.
Landing on the deck, Foxy was suddenly hugged by a disheveled figure.
“Foxy, I thought you were dead.”
Choking up, Drake kept patting Foxy’s back.
“Let go, let go, you idiot, let go.”
Foxy pushed, but Drake budged when Foxy increased his effort.
“If you’re not dead, how could I be?”
Foxy was speechless at the sight of him.
Drake had grown taller and more robust over the past two months, clearly having strengthened significantly. Foxy had confidence in him; as a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user, Drake’s adaptability to harsh conditions far exceeded that of humans.
“Foxy.”
Shuuen and Berry Good also hugged Foxy. They looked exhausted, proving how tough survival had been.
Now wearing new clothes, Hina looked more spirited and developed compared to two months ago. She didn’t hug Foxy but greeted him.
Then there were Sicily and others, all greeting him and discussing their experiences over the past two months.
“Are Shuzo and Gasparde not here yet?”
Foxy looked around, not seeing Shuzo and Gasparde.
“The next island might be theirs. I hope they’re still alive.”
Drake prayed with clasped hands.
“Shuzo and Gasparde are strong; they must still be alive.”
Berry Good had faith in them.
“You can change into new clothes first.”
Hina noticed Foxy looking like a wild man, covered in scars, and batted her long eyelashes.
“I think it looks cool!”
Drake pointed to his and Foxy’s attire.
“It’s better to change.”
Berry Good and Shuuen waved dismissively.
Ignoring Drake, Foxy felt the stark contrast between now and twenty years later. Drake, once so profound and stoic, was now a chatterbox and a joker.
Was it the degradation of humanity or the loss of morality?
“Foxy, have you mastered Shave?”
Walking towards the cabin, Drake kept asking.
“Have you?”
Foxy didn’t turn his head.
“Of course. I mastered it in a month. How many days did it take you?”
Drake boasted, then stared intently at Foxy.
Foxy’s face twisted. A month? It had taken him about a month and a half. Was something off in the script?
How could this guy be so capable in his youth and end up as a mid-tier Supernova twenty years later?
Were other Supernovas just that much more substantial, or did Drake’s father’s influence affect him later on?
Was that a plausible reason?
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