Pirates: I Rely Only on Myself

After figuring out the basics of his Card Fruit ability, Noah got to work making his cards.

He started by weaving a few bamboo cages, each about a cubic meter in size. After stuffing them with dead branches and leaves, he lit them on fire. As soon as the flames reached their peak, he quickly sealed the bamboo cages.

And just like that, the [Stone Card—Ghost Lantern] was complete.

Using more or less the same method, Noah went on to craft a bunch of different cards, including:

• [Stone Card—Smoke Lantern Rain]: The moment this card is activated, it releases about a dozen bamboo lanterns, each the size of a soccer ball. They're packed with half-dry, half-wet kindling, perfect for billowing out thick clouds of smoke.

• [Stone Card—Blinding Smoke Lantern Rain]: It works almost like the Smoke Lantern Rain but with a twist—it releases blinding fumes. Noah didn't have much experience with poisons, though, so he just used a local toxic plant, the "Drunken Fish Vine." Not exactly a chemist's dream, but hey, it gets the job done.

• [Stone Card—Falling Rock]: Seals a big rock. When the card is activated mid-air, the rock drops down like—well, a rock.

• [Stone Card—Rock Shower]: This one seals dozens of smaller stones that rain down all at once. Think of it as a stone storm.

• [Stone Card—Thorny Ball Rain]: Packs dozens of little bamboo cages, each with a rock inside. Wrapped around the cages is a vine called "Hornet Thorn." Getting pricked by it feels like a hornet sting, and trust me, it's not fun.

• [Stone Card—Sea Wave]: Seals a cubic meter of seawater. Specifically made to deal with Devil Fruit users who can't swim. Score one for strategy!

• [Stone Card—Quicksand Pit]: Seals a cubic meter of mud—handy when you need to smother flames or trap something slippery.

• [Stone Card—Sandstorm]: Seals a cubic meter of fine sand. With a flick of the card, you can whip up an instant sandstorm to block sight and cause chaos.

• [Stone Card—Poison Ant Nest]: Contains a nest of Redfang Poison Ants. One bite from these guys and it feels like your skin's on fire. The pain lasts for days, too—talk about overachievers.

• [Stone Card—Storage Chest]: Seals a bamboo basket the size of a cubic meter. Not exactly glamorous, but it's perfect for storing food and supplies. Sometimes practicality wins.

All in all, Noah managed to make eleven types of cards. If it weren't for limited materials and tools, he could've gone wild and crafted even more powerful ones.

He ended up producing over a hundred cards, but before he could perfect all of them, his energy started to run out. His body was screaming for rest, so he called it a day and collapsed into sleep.

The wilderness of the deserted island was dead quiet.

The sound of chirping insects and gentle waves was almost like a lullaby. The night passed in peaceful silence.

At dawn, the first rays of sunlight hit Noah's face. He stretched, yawned, and rubbed his eyes. Last night wasn't exactly the best sleep—he'd woken up several times to throw more wood on the fire.

With a tired groan, he gave his sore muscles a stretch, grabbed a bamboo stick, and tapped it against the ground as he made his way through the bamboo forest and the mangroves, eventually reaching the beach. He stared out at the open sea, but once again, no ships in sight.

"Well, I can't just keep sitting around waiting for a miracle," he muttered to himself.

Noah started combing the beach for useful supplies, picking up some oysters and clams to bring back for breakfast. Among the debris, he found some driftwood, bamboo poles, torn fishing nets, and—score!—a rusty old broken knife.

After making himself some breakfast, Noah decided to make use of the morning. He headed out along the coastline to explore the rest of the island.

Four hours later, he finally completed a full circuit. The island wasn't exactly tiny; its coastline stretched about 50 to 60 kilometers, with a tall mountain standing at the center.

No other islands were visible in any direction. There were no ships on the horizon either. On the western side of the island, though, he spotted a herd of walruses. Naturally, Noah took the opportunity to sneak up and take one down.

Back at his shelter, he sharpened the rusty knife and cut off about ten pounds of walrus meat. The rest, he sealed in a Storage Card. Wrapping the meat in banana leaves and clay, he made a sort of roasted "beggar's chicken," though without any seasonings. Even so, Noah dug in like a starving beast and devoured it.

Despite downing several pounds of meat, Noah patted his stomach and realized he was only about 70% full.

"Huh, guess my appetite's really grown," he mused. "I used to max out at five or six pounds of food in one sitting. Now it's tripled! Looks like even Paramecia-type Devil Fruits boost your body's potential. Not as obvious as a Zoan-type, but hey, I'll take it."

With his food supply sorted, Noah spent the afternoon training in the bamboo forest. When the sun started to ease up in the late afternoon, he returned to the beach to collect some seashells. Not far from his shelter, he built a simple charcoal kiln and a lime pit, prepping to make charcoal and lime.

Nights were reserved for further developing his Card Fruit abilities.

Time passed quickly, and after a week, while Noah was grilling some meat by the sea, he finally spotted something— a small fishing boat appeared on the distant horizon.

Noah sprang into action, pulling out a card and releasing a Smoke Lantern. Thick clouds of smoke rose into the air, blanketing the beach. The fishing boat spotted the smoke and adjusted its course, heading straight toward him.

An hour later, the boat came crashing onto the shore, and a figure leapt off in a hurry.

"Noah! You're alive!"

"Uncle! I'm sorry for making you worry!"

The man was Noah's uncle, Carnegie Joseph, a middle-aged guy with a ponytail and a face that looked like it hadn't slept in days. His eyes were bloodshot as he grabbed Noah by the shoulders.

"Noah, you're sticking with me next time we go fishing! If anything happened to you, I wouldn't know how to face your father."

Seeing his uncle's exhaustion, Noah nodded sheepishly. "Okay, Uncle. Let's rest for a bit, alright?"

The two sat on the beach for over an hour, munching on grilled meat and sipping coconut water. Once they'd recovered some energy, they teamed up to push the boat back into the water.

With the sails hoisted, they set off toward home.

"Noah! We're going home!" his uncle shouted.

"Got it, Uncle!" Noah called back, helping with the sails.

After seven hours at sea, they finally arrived at the small dock on Starfish Island, just as the sun was setting.

A few old fishermen spotted them and let out sighs of relief. They quickly gathered around.

"Noah! Thank goodness you're safe!"

"We've been looking for you for days. Where on earth did you drift off to?"

Joseph chuckled. "He ended up over at Walrus Island. Thanks for all your help searching. Tomorrow, drinks are on me at Old Captain's Tavern!"

"Haha, Joseph, don't forget your wallet this time…"

Laughter and jokes filled the air as they caught up.

Amid all the greetings and laughter, Noah and his uncle finally made their way home. As soon as they opened the wooden door, a young boy, busy mending fishing nets, looked up and saw them. His eyes lit up with joy.

"Brother! Father! You're both okay!"

The two brothers embraced, clapping each other on the back. Deep inside, Noah made a silent vow to protect his uncle's family, no matter what, as repayment for their kindness.

That night, after washing up, Noah sat down at the dinner table with his uncle Joseph and his cousin Joshua. They shared stories of the past few days while eating a simple meal.

Noah didn't hide the fact that he had eaten a Devil Fruit. After all, it'd be hard to keep such a thing from his family, and hiding it could lead to unnecessary misunderstandings.

"Brother, what's a Devil Fruit?" Joshua asked, eyes wide.

"It's a secret treasure of the sea that gives you superpowers when you eat it," Noah explained casually.

Joseph's face grew serious. "Noah, you mustn't tell anyone about this. Joshua, you too. Don't mention it to anyone, understand?"

Joshua nodded quickly, seeing his father's stern look. "I won't tell anyone, I promise."

"Uncle, don't worry, I'll keep it a secret too," Noah said. He knew his uncle was just worried about others getting jealous or Noah becoming a target.