At The Peak of One Piece

As the creatures pressed towards the lake's center, the circle they formed shrank. Fewer beasts occupied the same arc of space. Fighting intensified. Many animals sank beneath the water. Smaller ones abandoned the advance, though they didn't retreat entirely, still seeking a chance at the fruit. The scene was staggering. Victor felt it rivaled the Summit War in intensity and ferocity. No one wanted to fall behind.

Victor felt a pang of regret. "So much meat... so much life force... wasted..." The thought triggered a sudden, chilling realization. A bold, terrifying idea struck him. 'Were these powerful creatures deliberately lured here? Just to fight over the fruit, inflict massive casualties, and then become nutrients for the giant tree? Hiss…' Victor sucked in a cold breath. This reeked of conspiracy. A grand conspiracy.

The island suddenly felt terrifying. "Avoid this place if possible. This is downright chilling. If the island's master comes to harvest the fruit while I'm here... that's game over. When I leave, I must demolish the cabin. Leave no trace. If the secret gets out, he'd surely lie in wait here. After all, it's fruit even Sea Kings can't resist. Anyone who discovered this secret would keep coming back.'

"Maybe the island's giant beasts were captured by that entity too, just to prevent the island's secret from being discovered by anyone who washed ashore? Unthinkable scale. Could it be... Imu?" Victor thought of the figure seated on the Empty Throne, though he had no proof.

Shaking his head, Victor dismissed the speculation. For now, he just wanted to see the final victor and witness what happened after eating the fruit.

Action begets results. For these fruit-crazed beasts, the outcome was imminent. Four emerged as the strongest contenders, locked in two separate battles over the two fruits. Most others were dead or wounded, the injured watching the decisive fights from the sidelines.

A serpentine Sea King wrestled a colossal crocodile. On the other side, a giant ape battled the Saberfin Sea King Victor had followed earlier.

The serpentine Sea King coiled around the crocodile, crushing its bones one by one until it won. The Saberfin Sea King, its dorsal blade defeating many foes earlier, found itself outmatched by the giant ape's immense, dexterous hands. It tried a desperate lunge for the floating fruit, only for the ape to seize its tail and yank it back. Ignoring the deep gashes its hands sustained, the ape used both arms to brutally snap the Sea King's neck.

The giant ape and the serpent Sea King were the final victors. No other challengers stepped forward. The ape snatched the small fruit from the water, roared triumphantly at the sky while beating its chest, then swallowed it whole. The sea serpent simply swam over and gulped its prize down.

Nothing changed immediately. Both victors remained still. The watching beasts didn't leave, their eyes fixed on the pair.

Slowly, transformations began. Both winners shrank slightly in size, yet didn't seem weaker. Their presence grew heavier, more imposing. The pressure radiating from them forced the surrounding beasts back. Victor saw not only increased power but also a newfound clarity in their eyes; the ape's crimson irises even seemed to lighten slightly.

"That fruit… it must enhance both physical prowess and intelligence. Incredible. I have to get some if I get the chance," Victor thought, a deep yearning stirring within him. This fruit's boost surely dwarfed the life force gained from hunting ordinary beasts. He resolved to see if the tree appeared next month, and if so, whether he could snatch a fruit from the jaws of these titans.

This time, the chance was gone. The two victors in the lake showed no further changes. Suddenly, the ape unleashed a deafening "ROOOOAR!" The sonic boom rippled the water, carrying an aura of supreme arrogance. Hearing it, every other beast instantly turned and fled towards the shore. The two fruit-eaters exchanged a single glance, then charged after them with frantic urgency, as if fleeing something far more terrifying pursuing them from behind.

All the creatures had climbed back ashore, but none of them left. Instead, they turned to stare greedily at the giant tree in the lake, their eyes still burning with desire. 

After an hour, the colossal tree and the grassy slope beneath it slowly sank beneath the water's surface. From its emergence to its disappearance, the entire spectacle had lasted no more than three hours. Victor glanced up—the moon had already begun its westward descent. 

"Damn, this tree is picky as hell. Won't touch leftovers, huh? Only goes for the main course. Meanwhile, I clean my plate every time," Victor muttered, curling his lip in annoyance. 

By the time the tree vanished completely, the beasts around the lake had scattered. Some turned to hunting weaker prey, filling the air with chaos and noise. 

Victor didn't linger. Activating Geppo (Moon Walk), he swiftly retreated from the danger zone, returning to his small wooden hut. 

He waited inside, listening as distant roars and splashes gradually faded into silence. 

"Finally, it's over. Now I can focus on awakening my Observation Haki!" he declared to himself. 

--- 

Days Later… 

Victor settled back into his disciplined routine—hunting, testing his blade, meditating, and attuning himself to nature. He knew the first step to awakening Observation Haki was sensing the "breath" of all things. 

At first, it seemed impossible. Breath of all things? What did that even mean? 

"Rocks don't breathe. Water doesn't breathe. Swords sure as hell don't breathe. Whoever came up with this term must've been high on poetry." 

But he quickly realized—this wasn't literal. 

"It's not about actual respiration. It's something else—something they couldn't quite put into words. Zoro called it 'breath.' Rayleigh called it 'presence.' Enel called it 'Mantra.' If I had to guess… it's probably electromagnetic waves or radiation." His eyes gleamed with insight. 

"Everything emits electromagnetic waves. But sensing them biologically? That's a stretch. And 'radiation' is too broad—different things emit it differently. How the hell am I supposed to perceive this with my body? Ugh. This world doesn't follow logic. Maybe it's some abstract, mystical force. Headache incoming." 

Frustrated, he gave up for now. The general direction was clear—he just needed that key moment of realization. 

--- 

Meanwhile… 

Shimotsuki Village, East Blue – Isshin Dojo 

"Father, where's Big Brother Victor? When is he coming back? I miss him." Kuina looked up at Koshiro with wide, expectant eyes. 

Koshiro, seated calmly, smiled. "Victor is training in a… special place. A place where he can reach new heights in swordsmanship. He'll return once he's achieved his goal. With his talent, it won't be long." 

He didn't mention the danger. 

--- 

Forest Near Arling Town, Lyep Island, East Blue 

"Victor is the worst! Three whole months, and he hasn't even come back to visit me… and Grandma. Heartless jerk…" 

Little Rebecca sat in a forest clearing, her childish face scrunched in a pout as she yanked up clumps of grass and hurled them forward—as if each blade were a strand of someone's hair. 

--- 

Back to Victor… 

Unaware of the distant complaints, Victor was stewing in frustration. 

Two weeks. Zero progress. 

"Luffy's talent is just unfair. Fights Katakuri a few times? Boom—Future Sight. Saves Hyougoro from Big Mom? Insta-mastered Ryuo. Battles Kaido? Unlocks Conqueror's Haki infusion. What kind of protagonist cheat code is this?! Absolute bullshit!" 

He exhaled sharply, glaring at the sky. 

"Fine. If it's a grind, then it's a grind. I'll get there—even if I have to brute-force it."