One Piece: Pirate Code

The physical capabilities of William's current body are far beyond what he could have imagined in his past life. Human reflexes are a combination of processes, including but not limited to the spine, brain, and muscle nerves. The mysterious space granted him a special skill, "Lightning Reflexes," which not only enhances his reaction time but also improves his coordination, making swordsmanship training highly effective.

Many swordsmanship techniques and fundamentals are now easy for William to mimic almost perfectly after seeing them just once. While he could memorize things in his past life, translating what he saw into near-perfect actions, which synchronize eye, mind, and hand movements, is a rare talent, perhaps even surpassing that of professional athletes.

However, as in his past life, top athletes rely not only on talent but on relentless training. Swordsmanship, while requiring talent, still has no shortcuts. Progress largely depends on repetitive, high-intensity training. The monotony and tedium are a test of both physical and mental endurance, especially for young people with restless spirits.

William's main advantage is the mature soul of an adult within him.

...

At night, as William drifted into sleep, he once again found himself in the dreamscape he called "Fate Square."

After days of journeys, the square had changed, now featuring a single path. Unlike the original muddy track, this path was now paved with stones, the wooden sign replaced by a stone tablet, and wooden fences appeared along the sides—although they seemed to offer little security, being knee-high. The dense, impenetrable darkness around the path remained a barrier.

At the path's entrance, a misty fog appeared, seemingly thin but impossible to disperse, blocking William's way.

William approached the stone tablet to read the new quest details.

[Swordsmanship Prodigy]: Reaching the pinnacle requires not just effort but talent. You have chosen swordsmanship in your pursuit of power. Advance your skill specialization, "Beginner Swordsmanship," within the dojo training.

Requirements: Skill specialization in "Beginner Swordsmanship" and a background specialty as "Ichishin Dojo Apprentice."

Reward: Special skill "Zen Swordsmanship."

Seeing the quest requirements differ from previous ones surprised William. The quest didn't require a "Fate Line," leading him to wonder if each quest would vary. He already possessed the "Beginner Swordsmanship" skill specialization, but he wasn't sure how to acquire the "background specialty." This quest aligned with his plan to train in the dojo anyway, so he decided to pursue it.

...

Two months passed quickly as William and his friends trained at the Ichishin Dojo. Besides swordsmanship, William purchased various books on navigation, immersing himself in this subject.

In this world, education isn't widespread. In William's group of four, only he and Aramis could read fluently. The newest addition, Edmond, was close to being illiterate, able to recognize some common words but often making mistakes. He had only received some education due to living at the dojo. In William's observations, only families that could afford more than basic necessities provided basic education to their children. Learning specialized skills like navigation or medicine was usually reserved for middle-class families or professionals who passed down knowledge.

People from such backgrounds rarely choose piracy, as navigators are in high demand on trade ships. Therefore, excellent navigators who become pirates are quite rare.

Knowing this, William spent his days tirelessly training in swordsmanship and studying navigation. He understood the significant role navigators held on ships. Even in his past life, navigators held high status, often second only to the captain, due to their irreplaceable skills.

Although this world allows for physical power to suppress opposition, a navigator's expertise remains crucial on the high seas. Having navigational skills will benefit William whether he eventually leads his own pirate crew or joins another crew and works his way up.

With swordsmanship training his body and navigation skills sharpening his mind, he's preparing himself to survive on the open seas.

In the pirate industry—truly a "Red Sea" of competition—William cannot afford to rely on luck.

Pirates in this vast ocean not only face the Navy's pursuit and bounty hunters' schemes but also rivalries from fellow pirates.

From his experiences with the Denton Pirate Crew, William understands that defeat in this industry doesn't just mean losing a livelihood; it could mean losing one's life.

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