In this peculiar state of mutual tension, the two of them made it through to the next morning. Robin, exhausted, handed over the shift and retreated to the cabin to rest. Before she disappeared, she specifically tasked Li Ke with keeping an eye on the compass, stressing that he must wake her immediately if anything felt off so she could recalibrate the ship's course.
Left alone to face the vast, undulating blue, Li Ke felt…
Bored.
Utterly and completely bored. The initial novelty of being on the Grand Line had evaporated within hours, replaced by a soul-crushing monotony. There was simply nothing to look at. Aside from the occasional flying fish breaking the surface, the ocean was an endless, repetitive void. Even the sound of the waves, which people back on Earth called "healing," was just a noisy, irritating racket to him.
Surrounded by nothing but the rhythm of the tide and the distant cry of gulls, he felt a sense of isolation even sharper than what he'd experienced in the 7 Days to Die world. At least there, he had zombies to kill and the freedom to roam. On a boat, he was a prisoner of the horizon.
"Living like this, it's a wonder anyone in this world stays sane," Li Ke muttered, rubbing his chin. "No wonder this place is crawling with psychopaths. It's practically a job requirement."
The loneliness was heavy, amplified by the constant rocking of the deck. As someone who wasn't exactly a scholar by nature, trying to focus on his language studies in this environment was infuriating. His mood soured by the minute. After forcing himself to study for a while, he gave up and fired up a game on his phone to vent his frustration, but even that lost its charm quickly.
Sailing was far more tedious than the stories made it out to be. He found himself wishing he were back in Minecraft or 7 Days to Die—at least there, he could train his body without worrying about falling overboard.
"Whatever. I might as well use this downtime to audit my abilities," he sighed, taking a deep breath to settle his mind.
He began to map out his developmental path. Originally, his goal had been simple: grab any power he could get his hands on. He hadn't been in a position to be picky. But the clashing laws of different worlds made traditional magic a bureaucratic nightmare—far too complex for a self-taught traveler like him to master quickly.
After reviewing his current toolkit, he reached a conclusion.
"Looks like I'm destined to be an Elemental Warrior type."
The plan was straightforward: imbue his physical strikes with fire or frost, hack away with weapons, and master the shaping of elements. He needed to develop high-end applications for water and flame—basically, a combat style that blended raw martial arts with elemental manipulation.
Wait, Li Ke realized, isn't that exactly how people fight in Toph's world and this one?
In the Avatar world, Bending was paramount, but masters like Zuko, Azula, and Toph always integrated it with hand-to-hand combat or weaponry. The secret manuals Azula had given him weren't just about Bending; they were filled with forms for fists and blades.
Comparing them to his internal database, he saw the patterns: Toph's style was essentially Southern Praying Mantis; Azula utilized techniques reminiscent of Southern Shaolin; and Waterbending was, for all intents and purposes, Tai Chi. As for Airbending, though he hadn't seen Aang's full repertoire, the manuals pointed toward Baguazhang. These weren't just dances; they were martial arts designed to release elemental energy with every strike.
The One Piece world was no different. The strongest fighters here almost always combined Devil Fruit powers with elite physical techniques. The most classic example was the Mera Mera no Mi (Flame-Flame Fruit). While fans back home joked it was "dog tier" later in the series, the fruit itself was top-class—Ace just happened to run into Akainu, whose power was a natural counter.
"If that's the case..."
Li Ke glanced at the system price to return to the Arad world (DNF). After some quick math, he realized he'd need at least two months to stockpile the necessary points. This downtime sparked a new train of thought.
"Should I find a teacher during this gap? I plan on 'collecting' Nami, but can I actually handle Arlong right now?"
He weighed the question with dead seriousness. Originally, his plan was to seek out Garp.
Specifically, he'd planned to snitch on Arlong directly to the Vice Admiral. While Garp had his fair share of moral gray areas, he was undeniably a "good man." Handing him a villain like Arlong would be effortless. After all, the East Blue was only known as the "weakest sea" because Garp spent years treating his hometown visits like a lawnmower, constantly pruning any rising threats. By the time Luffy set sail, the only pirates left were "trash fish" like Don Krieg, who was nothing more than a toy for Hawkeye to pass the time with.
Actually, calling Krieg a "toy" was generous; if Hawkeye had been serious, the man wouldn't have survived a single swing.
"Yeah," Li Ke nodded to himself. "I need someone who can offer real guidance—someone with enough power to run rampant in this world, a decent personality, and the willingness to train me."
He pulled up his laptop. Thanks to his time in the Shokugeki no Soma world, he had a massive digital library of anime and manga, including One Piece. He scrolled through the data for a while before a name finally clicked.
Actually, the name had been in the back of his mind from the start; he just hadn't been bold enough to commit to it until now.
"It shouldn't be a problem. A man like Roger..."
Li Ke studied the files on Gol D. Roger. The man wasn't a saint, but he wasn't a monster either. He was a pirate, sure, but he was also a man Garp considered a friend.
"He's worth a shot. The other option would be Oden."
Li Ke rubbed his chin, thinking of the so-called "legendary samurai" Kozuki Oden. He shook his head almost immediately. Unless Yamato was standing right here, there was no way he could have a rational conversation with a blockhead like Oden.
If Roger turned out to be a loose cannon, Li Ke could at least negotiate or find an opening to slip away. If Roger ever threatened him, Li Ke would just come back later after getting stronger, beat him half to death, execute Ace in front of him, and sleep with his wife.
But based on the records, Roger didn't seem like the type of man with such short-sighted malice.
"So... do I resurrect him?"
Li Ke hesitated. Roger's strength far eclipsed his own and Robin's; he was an uncontrollable variable. Li Ke didn't strictly need a teacher—he just needed time.
"But then again..."
It would be pretty interesting, wouldn't it?
To speak with the man who started the Great Pirate Era? Or better yet, to point that pioneer toward Mariejois or Sabaody Archipelago and watch the fireworks?
The "Conceptual Buff" meant these legends wouldn't truly "die" until their allotted lifespan ran out. For a powerhouse like Roger, that was an insane advantage. Even if they were "killed" in combat, Li Ke could just summon them again.
Li Ke's eyes widened as the realization hit him. His Conceptual Longevity wasn't just a life-saver; it was a god-tier version of the Edo Tensei (Impure World Resurrection).
If he played his cards right, he could flip the entire World Government on its head right now.
Just like the Edo Tensei, Li Ke's power faced a similar hurdle: there was no guarantee the resurrected would actually cooperate. In terms of sheer utility, the forbidden ninja art was arguably superior.
However, from the perspective of the one being brought back, Li Ke's ability was infinitely more miraculous. Those revived by his light weren't just puppets of ash and soul—they were truly, vibrantly alive.
"Might as well run an experiment! Let's bring Roger back for exactly two minutes."
Li Ke extended his hand, and a brilliant golden radiance erupted from his palm. A heartbeat later, a man with a distinct, curved mustache manifested within the light. His appearance was rugged and wild, dressed in disheveled captain's attire topped with a classic Bicorne hat.
The moment he set foot back in the world, surprise flickered across his face, but it was instantly replaced by a booming, infectious laugh.
"Gyahahaha!! The sea truly never ceases to amaze! I never expected to encounter an ability this entertaining. Out with it, brat—what did you bring me back for? If it's only for a few minutes, there isn't much I can get done, you know!"
Roger found the situation hilarious. He assumed this was some new, high-level Devil Fruit—perhaps an awakening pushed to its absolute limit. To him, Devil Fruits were mystical things that evolved alongside human desire and individual will. It stood to reason that if someone wished hard enough to become a god or to conquer death, a fruit would eventually reflect that.
On these vast oceans, anything was possible.
"As expected of the Pirate King," Li Ke said, unfazed by the man's presence. "I need you to clear some trash off my path—a local bully who's occupied a few islands. In exchange for your help, I'll grant you free reign for a time. I can even resurrect your wife for a while, so you can see her and your son again."
Li Ke laid his cards on the table with brutal honesty.
"But," Li Ke added with a slight smirk, "I'd like to know how I can trust you. After all, you're a Great Pirate."
Roger scratched his head, a peculiar expression crossing his face. "Hmm... a fair request. Even I can't think of a perfect guarantee. As for how to trust me? Good question. But since you've already pulled the trigger on the resurrection, haven't you trusted me already?"
As his borrowed time began to tick away, Roger studied Li Ke. In those short seconds, he had already sensed the difference. He wasn't just back; he was in his absolute prime. The terminal illness that had withered his body was gone. He felt stronger than he had ever been during his life—perhaps even thirty percent more powerful than the world remembered him.
"But seriously, kid... you're pretty weak to be summoning someone like me. You've got guts," Roger grinned, his eyes gleaming with interest. "Any interest in joining my crew?"
Li Ke caught the subtext immediately. The Pirate King wasn't interested in plundering his gold—he wanted to plunder him. Truly the greed of a King.
"Heh. Are you planning on living forever? Sorry, Roger, but even I can't grant you eternal life."
Li Ke gave a dry laugh, but Roger's expression suddenly turned stone-cold serious.
"That's not it, brat."
The air in the cabin didn't just turn cold; it became heavy, as if the atmospheric pressure had suddenly tripled. Li Ke felt his heart hammer against his ribs, a primal instinct screaming that he was standing in front of a natural disaster in human form.
Roger's boisterous laughter had vanished, replaced by a gaze so sharp it felt like a blade pressed against Li Ke's throat.
"Let me tell you something, brat," Roger said, his voice dropping to a low, gravelly resonance that vibrated in Li Ke's very bones. "If your first words had been about toppling the world or claiming my treasure, I would have cut you down without a second thought."
He leaned forward, his killing intent blooming like a dark cloud, leaving Li Ke paralyzed in the shadow of a legend.