Chapter 16: Peculiar Fruits #16
In the heart of Tutorial Island, amidst the dense foliage, echoed the raucous laughter of a young man and the sporadic, often ambiguous howls of a wolf. "Bwahaha! How about here?!" Blake exclaimed with mischief in his voice, his words interspersed with bursts of laughter.
"And what if I touch you here?!" His hands danced across the wolf's fur, exploring every nook and cranny with unrestrained enthusiasm. "You can't escape! Surrender to my love and affection!"
Despite Blake's seemingly sinister remarks, his actions were met with a peculiar response from the wolf. Though it fiercely resisted, attempting to fend off Blake's advances with fervent squirms and occasional bites, its eyes betrayed a sense of contentment, while its tail wagged vigorously against the ground.
The bizarre dance between man and beast continued for several minutes, until finally, the wolf's struggles began to subside. A sudden notification appeared before Blake's eyes, signaling a significant achievement.
[You have successfully conquered the heart of Tutorial Island. The fog surrounding the island has been lifted]
[You may now challenge the sea king guarding the shores]
[The sea king will appear before you whenever you venture into the sea]
[Time before the first ship arrives: 95 days]
Reading the notifications with a satisfied grin, Blake ceased his playful harassment of the wolf. "Well, that was a good fight, but I have some prep work to do," he declared, rising to his feet and brushing the dirt from his hands. "I won't be able to come back here for a while, so come and visit me on the east shore if you can."
Though the wolf ceased its struggles and refrained from attacking Blake, it still regarded him with a resentful glare, akin to someone who had just been thoroughly molested. Rising to its feet, the wolf emitted a low howl, it's head gesturing in a peculiar manner.
Puzzled by the wolf's behavior, Blake tilted his head in confusion. "What is it? You want me to follow you somewhere?" he inquired. In response, the wolf emitted another howl before swiftly turning and darting toward the center tombstone in the clearing.
Curiosity piqued, Blake followed the wolf's lead, trailing behind until they reached their destination. Without hesitation, the wolf began to dig furiously into the ground, sending dirt flying in all directions.
After a minute of relentless digging, it struck something solid and stepped aside.
"What do we have here...?" Blake mused aloud as he squatted near the freshly excavated hole, retrieving the object nestled within. To his surprise, it was a small wooden chest adorned with intricate golden engravings.
"Could this be a hidden reward for subduing the wolf instead of killing it?" Blake mused, scratching his head as he examined the wooden chest.
Though not a gaming expert himself, he remembered similar plot twists from novels he'd read in his past life.
"Eh, who cares? Guess it doesn't really matter," he shrugged off the thought, swiftly popping open the chest. Inside, he discovered three peculiar white apples, identical in appearance and as white as freshly fallen snow.
"Are these devil fruits...?" Blake pondered aloud, but quickly brushed the notion aside. Devil fruits were typically unique in both effect and appearance, unlike these white apples that were very much identical to one another.
Then again, artificial SMILE fruits tended to have the same appearance, but these white apples looked nothing like them.
The temptation to take a bite out of one of the apples surged within him, but Blake resisted. Despite their intriguing appearance, he couldn't risk consuming them without knowing their exact effects. They might prove invaluable later—or they could even be harmful.
"Well, regardless, thanks a bunch," Blake grinned at the wolf as he closed the chest and tucked it under his arm. "Catch you later," he bid farewell, launching himself into the air with Geppo and disappearing into the distance.
The wolf grumbled softly as it watched Blake depart before finding a cozy spot in the grass, ready to rest after the taxing encounter that exhausted its body, mind, and soul.
...
As I tightened the knot around the log with a rope made of plant fiber, I found myself humming a tune under my breath. "Days never finish... master's got me working," I sang softly, the rhythm matching the motions of my hands.
"Someday master set me free..." Giving the knot a firm tug to test its strength, I wiped the sweat from my forehead, marking the completion of the fifth and final raft I needed to face the sea king.
It had been a week since I conquered the heart of the island, and in that time, I had diligently prepared for my showdown with the sea king. Building rafts, fashioning bone javelins from the remains of defeated beasts—it had been a busy week indeed.
The idea of confronting something called a sea king in the water seemed outright suicidal to me, so I needed to ensure I had some footholds, places to catch my breath in between skirmishes.
While I could use Geppo to stay airborne, I couldn't stay in the air indefinitely, otherwise, I would have just flown out of the island. Hence, the rafts would serve as makeshift resting spots when I needed to catch my breath before taking to the air again.
"Now, I'm finally ready to take down that damned sea king and relax while waiting for a ship to get me out of here," I muttered, surveying the five finished rafts before me. They weren't anything fancy, and I certainly wasn't a skilled shipwright, but they would serve their purpose just fine.
I pondered the idea of taking on the sea king, rubbing my chin in contemplation. But before I could dwell on it further, a rustle in the bushes diverted my attention. Turning, I caught sight of a pair of piercing blue eyes, shimmering in the sunlight.
A smile tugged at my lips as I recognized Sif, the formidable grey wolf who ruled over the heart of Toturial Island. "Well, well, look who's here," I greeted, reaching for a piece of mutton roasting over the bonefire. "I didn't expect to see you again today, Sif."
With the snack in hand, I approached her, extending the offering. She wasted no time in devouring it. And yes, she was indeed a 'she.' As for How I knew that, well, let's just say some things are better left unquestioned.
As she feasted, I gently scratched behind her ears, savoring the softness of her fur. Despite her imposing stature, Sif had a softer side, visiting me daily since our encounter. However, she maintained her regal air, accepting my attention only in exchange for food.
It was a small price to pay for the pleasure of her company, and I happily obliged since her visits were always the highlight of my days, and I knew it was just her way of maintaining her accepting pets and scratches while maintaining her dignity.
People always say that women are mysterious creatures, but I suppose that applies to wolves as well.
"Well anyway... You've arrived just in time for a bit of excitement," I greeted the wolf, halting my gentle strokes along her fur. She glanced up at me with those piercing blue eyes, a hint of curiosity flickering within them.
"As luck would have it, I'm heading off to confront the big bad sea king guarding the shores," I continued, a grin playing at my lips. "Who knows? If it's the right type, we might even feast on sushi tonight," I added with a chuckle, rising to my feet.
"Stay put and enjoy the show, will you?" I instructed Sif, giving her one last pat before making my way toward the rafts I had painstakingly prepared.
With each bundle of bone javelins loaded onto the rafts, anticipation swirled within me like a tempest on the horizon. Pushing each vessel into the water, I couldn't help but feel a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins.
Finally, as the last raft bobbed gently on the waves, I propelled myself into the air with a powerful leap using Geppo. Gripping my bone sword tightly, I braced myself for the imminent clash with the sea king, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
...
Want more chapters? Then consider subscribing to my pat rēon. You can read ahead for as little as $1 and it helps me a lot!
-> (pat rēon..com / wicked132)
You can also always come and say hi on my discord server
-> (disc ord..gg / sEtqmRs5y7)- or hit me up at - Wicked132#5511 - and I'll add you myself)
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone