At The Peak of One Piece

Fueled by frustration, Victor channeled his energy into hunting, venturing back into the inner region. Zebra Donkey meat was the most delicious he'd found on the island – superb grilled, fried, roasted, or stewed. He decided to bag a couple more.

Zebra Donkeys lived in herds. They resembled donkeys but sported black-and-white striped hides. Their succulent meat made them prime prey, forcing them into defensive herds. When attacked, they banded together for a ferocious stampede. A lone Zebra Donkey wasn't scary, but a charging herd was deadly; many predators met their end trampled or gored.

Victor wasn't overly concerned. His speed was exceptional, and his swordsmanship superb. He could strike before the herd fully reacted, downing a target. Then, he'd immediately use Moon Walk to put distance between himself and the herd, avoiding the inevitable retaliatory charge. He had to stay far away.

Once the herd, grumbling and confused, eventually moved on, Victor would return to collect his kill. Timing was crucial; delay meant only bones remained.

Spotting a herd, Victor executed a swift ambush, then vanished. After the herd departed, cursing unseen predators, Victor returned with a smug grin.

"Too easy. Ever heard of guerrilla tactics? Who else am I gonna eat? Haha... Gotta move!" He sprinted back to the cabin, two Zebra Donkeys slung over his shoulders. The cabin perimeter was now a wall of stacked bones, a stark white barrier visible from afar. Victor felt a pang of guilt – "Bound for hell for sure."

Today was dedicated to a Zebra Donkey feast. He planned multiple dishes. He prepped coals for slow-roasting one donkey while preparing the other for various culinary experiments. It was time for a true binge.

After setting up the roasting spit, Victor went inside to prepare the other dishes. He already had pan-fried donkey steaks and braised donkey meat ready. A pot of donkey stew simmered nearby. He was currently deep-frying some ribs.

Clang!

A loud collision outside the cabin shattered the sizzling sounds. Victor quickly fished the ribs out of the oil, dropped his chopsticks, and rushed outside. His blood ran cold. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

A massive creature was happily devouring his roasting Zebra Donkey. Victor's heart sank. It was a Western Dragon – a giant, winged lizard. Its body was obsidian black, scales gleaming like polished metal. An immense pressure radiated from it. Victor had seen it during the last full moon night; it ranked among the third-tier beasts. The creature's claws, fangs, powerful tail, and wings left a deep impression.

This dragon was one of the few that had emerged from the lake battle unscathed. It was fiercely aggressive. Its claws could rend deep gashes, its bite force could rip off huge chunks of flesh, and its black scales offered formidable defense. Its wings granted flight and high mobility. If not for its size being dwarfed by the Sea Kings, it would have been a serious contender for the mysterious fruit.

Victor didn't know if it had followed him or simply smelled the feast. All he knew was his legs felt shaky. While smaller than a Sea King, something like Victor would be little more than a crunchy mouthful.

Engrossed in its meal, the dragon hadn't noticed Victor. It swallowed the entire roasted Zebra Donkey – meat, bones, and spit – in a few gulps. It licked its massive jaws, lined with white, dagger-like teeth, with a long, satisfied tongue. Then its nostrils flared. It turned its massive head towards the cabin.

Victor knew the aroma of the cooking meat inside couldn't escape the dragon's senses. He wouldn't back down. He wasn't helpless. He'd never fought one before, but who was to say he couldn't win? Tales of dragon slayers existed for a reason. It was time to try.

In a flash, Victor darted back inside, grabbing Yubashiri from its place by the wall. When he emerged, sword in hand, the dragon was already looming beside the cabin.

Victor drew Yubashiri from his waist and instantly activated Soru (Shave), appearing directly in front of the dragon's head. Just as he swung his blade down— 

ROOOOAR!

The dragon unleashed a deafening roar, its massive maw snapping open. A black shadow flickered— 

WHAM! 

Before his strike could land, Victor was sent flying at the same speed he'd charged in with. His body smashed through the white stone wall he'd built, the impact sending rubble flying. The dragon had swatted him away with its wing. 

Dazed, Victor shook his head and charged again. This time, he was ready—dodging the retaliatory strikes. But the dragon was simply too massive. 

"I can't just slash at its ankles like some damn pedicurist!" 

Forced to engage midair with Geppo (Moon Walk), Victor clashed against the beast's claws and wings. Each blow sent him reeling, but he refused to back down. 

"No way I'm letting this overgrown lizard steal my food!" 

The dragon, now thoroughly annoyed, seemed to think: "It's just some meat. Why are you fighting like I dug up your ancestors' graves?!" 

Another thunderous roar stunned Victor mid-air. A split-second lapse— 

CRASH! 

He cratered into the ground, blood trickling from his lips. The dragon's enraged strike had exceeded his body's limits, leaving him with internal injuries. 

But Victor wasn't done. Pain was nothing new. 

Soru! 

He blurred forward, locking the beast in another relentless exchange. 

This time, he guarded his mind against the roars. Yet even with Steel-Cutting Slashes, piercing the dragon's defenses was near-impossible. He needed something sharper—a breakthrough mid-battle. 

Strike after strike, he refined his technique. Superfluous movements vanished. His swordsmanship grew leaner, deadlier—perfectly tailored to his instincts. 

"Fighting strong opponents really is the fastest way to improve. Even if that opponent's a glorified lizard." 

But pride came before the fall. 

Frustrated by Victor's persistence, the dragon stopped holding back. 

Jaws lined with dagger-like teeth lunged. Victor barely twisted away—only to meet a crushing paw strike mid-dodge. 

BOOM! 

The hit sent him plowing through the earth, carving a trench before he finally skidded to a stop. 

Blood gushed from his nose and mouth. Yubashiri lay meters away, knocked from his grip. Weaponless, he dragged himself from the crater. 

His vision blurred. Consciousness flickered. Yet somehow—he stood. 

The dragon reared back, wings spread, claws outstretched, its roar silent to Victor's ringing ears. 

"Is this damn worm… posing?!" 

Then—instinct screamed. 

A fireball erupted from the dragon's maw, hurtling toward him. 

"MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!" 

In that life-or-death instant— 

Click. 

Something unlocked inside him. 

Time seemed to slow. 

The fireball streaked past as Victor sidestepped with unnatural precision. 

Sound returned. 

The dragon's enraged bellows. The crackle of burning wood. Distant waves crashing against cliffs. Even the rustle of a single leaf falling from a tree at the forest's edge. A fish leaping from the ocean's surface. 

Victor's lips curled. 

"Observation Haki… finally." 

The dragon charged again, claws raised— 

But this time, Victor saw it coming.