In the night sky tonight, it was rare to see any stars. The familiar clouds that usually drifted by were nowhere to be found. Instead, a single bright moon hung low on the horizon, casting its pale light across the land. Moonlight bathed Seihoku Village in a splendid silver-white glow, making the rooftops and fields shimmer as if they were covered in fresh snow.
The village was peaceful, wrapped in a deep, gentle silence. All the villagers had gone to bed early, and not a single lamp glowed in any window. In this quiet, the chirping of insects in the grass was clear and melodious, their song blending with the moonlit world to create a scene so beautiful and dreamlike that it seemed almost unreal.
Suddenly, the music of the insects stopped. The stillness was broken by the presence of an uninvited guest walking along the narrow path between the fields.
Reo moved slowly along the path, not in a hurry to reach his destination. He was deep in thought, considering the plan he had formed earlier. The walk from the village to the back mountain gave him time to think things through.
Ever since I discovered my body's ability to recover, Reo mused, apart from the serious wound I had when I first woke up, I haven't suffered any real injuries. I don't even know how long it takes me to heal. If my recovery is too slow, I could die before I even finish my training.
"When I woke up for the first time, I didn't know I had the power of restoring fruit," he said to himself. "I didn't even try to use it, but the injury healed in just a few hours."
So now, recovering my stamina has become instinctive, but I still can't control it completely. Since the Devil Fruit's power is part of me, maybe if I try to recover my stamina while I'm injured, I'll end up healing my wounds, too-maybe even without realizing it.
But there's only one way to find out: actual combat. I need to pick a target that's slower than me. Luckily, there are plenty of strange beasts in the back mountain…
With that thought, Reo picked up his pace, eager to test his theory. If he succeeded, it would be a huge advantage in battle.
Before long, he arrived at the base of the back mountain. During the day, the light here was dim, but at night it was almost pitch black. Fortunately, the moon was full and low tonight, so even with the thick trees overhead, Reo could just make out his surroundings.
He paused, scanning the quiet forest. Uncle Kunkei's words echoed in his mind: the beasts in the back mountain all have their own territories. They rarely fight each other, and as long as I avoid the black panther's domain, I just need to find a slow beast to practice on.
Reo's footsteps sounded loud in the otherwise silent woods, but he wasn't afraid. As long as he stayed away from the mountain's center, he had little to worry about.
He searched for a while, but the forest was so still it felt as though every creature was asleep. If he wanted to attract a beast, he'd have to make some noise-a risky move, but necessary. He groaned. "No way…"
Still, the beasts here were territorial. Even if he made a loud sound, it would only attract one at a time. With that in mind, Reo drew his right hand back and struck the trunk of a nearby tree with his palm.
A deep, resonant "boom" echoed through the woods. He had controlled his strength so the sound wouldn't travel too far, but it was enough to get the attention of any beast nearby. Now, all he had to do was wait and see what kind of creature answered the call.
He didn't have to wait long. Soon, the silence was shattered by an angry roar.
The Iron-backed bear was a legendary beast in these parts, as big as a hill and just as immovable. Its broad paws were as hard as iron, and it was known to snap trees for fun. It could crush boulders with a single swipe. Tonight, the bear had been dreaming of a peaceful time with a female bear, and the sudden noise had jolted it awake. Furious, it let out a thunderous roar and lumbered out of its nest, determined to find the culprit and smash it flat into meat patties.
The ground trembled as the bear approached. Reo felt the vibrations and grinned. The target was coming.
"Then, let's see how lucky I am!" Reo's eyes shone with excitement as he stared into the darkness, waiting for the beast to appear.
The tremors grew stronger, and soon a massive shape emerged from the shadows. The iron-backed bear stepped out of the trees, its eyes locking onto Reo. It roared again, louder and more menacing than before.
Reo smiled, sizing up the bear. Its huge size meant it wouldn't be very fast-just what he needed for his experiment.
He crouched, leaning forward and gathering his strength in his legs. With a sudden burst, he launched himself at the bear, his right hand forming a fist. He aimed straight for the beast's chest, pouring all his power into the attack.
The bear, unimpressed, raised its stone-hard paw and swung at Reo's fist. Their blows collided with a deafening "bang" and a sharp "crack." The force sent Reo flying backward, tumbling through the undergrowth until he crashed into a tree and slid to the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust and broken branches.
What incredible strength! Reo looked at his right hand and saw that it was badly injured-possibly broken. He was shocked by the bear's power, but also excited. He focused, willing the fruit's power to heal him. Slowly, he felt his hand begin to mend.
The recovery was slow, but it was working. Now, let's see if I can speed up my stamina recovery, too.
Reo's eyes glinted with determination as he watched the bear approach. The beast, sensing something strange in Reo's gaze, hesitated for just a moment.
Normally, the back mountain was quiet at night. But tonight, the forest was alive with the sounds of battle-thanks to Reo, the uninvited guest.
Maybe tonight wasn't special-maybe every night would be different from now on.
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A/N: Hey Everyone, If you like the chapter please share your reviews and feedbacks. Thanks for reading.