Before he knew it, Barn had spent five years aboard the island as it traveled its route.
It wasn't that he hadn't considered chopping down some trees and building a raft to leave, but he was blind. Heading blindly out to sea with that unreliable "Bird King," Fitz, was no different from courting death.
With no other choice, he could only endure and keep waiting until someone passed by this "island." Fortunately, he had eaten the Life Fruit, so he had all the time he needed!
Over those five years, Barn had lost count of how many Sea Kings and other animals he had hunted. Combined with the combat experience he had accumulated with the Rumbar Pirates, it had brought him straight to level 40, allowing him to learn another of Asura's signature skills, "Evil Light Wave Formation."
It was a powerful grab skill that forcibly trapped enemies within a barrier of evil light. Notably, while learning his skills, Barn had discovered a skill in the passive skill tab that didn't belong to Asura.
"Life Return"-this must be the Life Fruit's ability, Barn thought. Beneath the skill icon, however, was the number "23."
Looks like I really did die back then, and the fruit's power brought me back to life. But it seems this ability can only be used three times, and now I have just two uses left. Still, two uses of a life-saving skill this overpowered are plenty.
Barn believed that, with his current strength, he stood a chance of defeating even the future Shichibukai. Once he reached level 50 and underwent his Awakening, he wouldn't even give the Four Emperors a second thought. And if he reached level 85 and his second Awakening... heh, there wouldn't be anyone in this world who could stop him!
"It's been a long time since I last felt a breeze. There are more and more Sea Kings, though."
After finishing off a Sea King with Evil Light Slash, Barn spoke as he flicked the remaining blood off Nidai Kitetsu.
By then, the Island Turtle had been carrying Barn through the Calm Belt for a month.
"Fitz, you've gotten so heavy! You've been eating too much lately!"
For those five years, Fitz had spent every day living the good life as the "Bird King," with plenty to eat and drink. Fitz had grown to the size of an eagle and was no longer that "pigeon" whose weight was barely noticeable.
Barn was roasting meat by the shore, and the ingredients came from an unlucky Sea King that had crossed him that morning.
As he turned the meat, Barn complained about Fitz, who kept getting heavier yet still refused to leave his head.
Three young beasts were joining them for the meal, drooling freely at the meat in Barn's hands.
They were the sons of the island's original three overlords, whom Barn had defeated back then: Little Lion, Little Crocodile, and Little Gorilla. Though called little, each was several times larger than Barn.
The three young beasts were now Fitz's most devoted lackeys. Their eyes shone as they watched Fitz stand on Barn's head and chirp out a lecture.
Every so often, Fitz pointed a wing at Barn as he roasted the meat and chirped, "This human is one of my underlings too. He's the one who defeated your fathers. Of course, I'm even stronger than he is. All you need to do is grow strong enough to reach his level!"
The three young beasts' eyes shone even brighter, and they nodded as they gazed admiringly at Fitz. Fitz even flexed the muscles on those wings.
If the future Usopp could understand bird language, he and Fitz would surely get along famously.
Barn, who could understand what Fitz was saying, could only offer a wry smile. Clearly, this wasn't the first time Fitz had used him to show off.
An island lay not far away, and someone on it was watching Barn and the others through a telescope.
It was a secluded little island, surrounded by mountains except for a bay on its southern side. Nine enormous snake heads were carved into a mountain at its center.
If Barn could see the large characters carved into the castle beneath those snake heads, he would certainly have been shocked: "Nine! Snakes!"
The Island Turtle's final destination was actually Amazon Lily-the land of women that would one day become famous!
Of course, Barn couldn't see any of that. He was leisurely roasting meat while Fitz enthusiastically told the three young beasts about those heroic exploits, utterly unaware that someone was watching them.
The female warrior holding the telescope turned toward the castle and said, "Your Majesty, the great Island Turtle is coming back here to lay its eggs."
Just then, a woman emerged from the castle, dressed in finery, with pink hair falling to her waist and a small pink flower pinned to her head. Only a few pieces of animal hide lightly covered her intimate areas, doing nothing to conceal her alluring figure. With her voluptuous body, she radiated an intoxicating air of maturity. A large blue python accompanied her, writhing into the shape of a chair so the Empress could sit on it.
She took the telescope from the female warrior and looked toward the Island Turtle, murmuring, "Fifteen years already. I was still a little girl when the Island Turtle last left!"
As it turned out, the Island Turtle returned to Amazon Lily every fifteen years to lay its eggs. It would then spend fifteen years raising its young before leaving with them, only to return alone fifteen years later to lay its eggs again.
The Empress spoke, but when she caught sight of Barn through the telescope, her face filled with surprise and curiosity.
"Oh! There's actually someone on the Island Turtle? And he's roasting meat! But his chest is so flat. Is he malnourished?"