As the animals drew closer to the center of the lake, the circle they formed grew smaller and smaller, and fewer and fewer could fit along the same arc. Fighting broke out more and more often. Many animals had already sunk to the bottom, and many of the smaller ones had given up on pressing forward. Still, they hadn't retreated, waiting for a chance to get the fruit. The sight was shocking. Vic thought it was almost on par with the Paramount War. It was no less fierce, and no one wanted to fall behind.
Vic thought it was a terrible waste. So much meat, so much Primal Spirit, all wasted... The thought gave him a sudden shock, and a chill ran down his back. A bold idea came to him. Were these powerful animals lured here on purpose, just so they'd fight over the fruit, killing and wounding countless animals, and then turn into nutrients to feed this giant tree? Damn... Vic sucked in a cold breath. There was a conspiracy here, a huge conspiracy.
The thought made Vic feel that the island was terrifying. If I can avoid coming back, I will. This shit makes my scalp tingle. If I run into the island's owner coming to harvest the fruit, I'm screwed. I have to knock down the cabin when I leave. I can't leave any traces. If he finds out his secret's been exposed, he'll definitely lie in wait on the island. After all, it's a fruit even Sea Kings can't resist. Anyone who discovered this secret would come back often, right?
Maybe that being caught the giant beasts on the island too, because he was afraid people who washed up here would discover the island's secret. I don't even want to think about it. This is such a huge undertaking. Could it be Imu? Vic thought of the person who sat on the Empty Throne, but he had no proof.
Vic shook his head and stopped dwelling on it. Now he just wanted to see who the final winners would be and what changes would occur when they ate the fruit.
As long as one took action, there would be a result. The same held true for the animals fighting over the fruit, and their contest was nearly decided. Four were now the strongest contenders, with each pair fighting over one fruit. Most of the other animals were injured or dead, and the injured watched the duels from the sidelines.
A serpentine Sea King was fighting a giant crocodile. On the other side were a giant ape and the spiny eel Sea King Vic had followed here.
In the end, the serpentine Sea King coiled around the giant crocodile and squeezed until it broke every bone in its body, winning the fight. On the other side, the spiny eel Sea King had defeated many opponents in the earlier fighting with the sharp blades on its back, but it could do nothing against the giant ape and its pair of nimble hands. In the end, it tried to dart in and eat the fruit in the water, only for the giant ape to grab its tail and pull it back. Enduring the pain of its palms being cut open, the giant ape snapped the spiny eel Sea King's neck with both arms.
The giant ape and the sea serpent emerged as the final winners, and none of the other animals came forward. The giant ape scooped up the fruit, which was tiny to it, from the water. Holding it in one palm, it beat its chest with both arms and let out a long roar at the sky before tossing the fruit into its mouth. The fruit was too small for it, so it swallowed it whole. The sea serpent made no unnecessary movements, simply swimming over and swallowing its fruit.
Nothing happened immediately after they ate the fruit. The two giant beasts stayed where they were, while the animals around them remained and watched.
After a while, changes gradually appeared. The two winners had shrunk, but they didn't seem weaker. Instead, their presence had grown stronger. The surrounding animals backed away in alarm. The oppressive pressure from the pair had increased considerably, and the animals nearby could no longer withstand it.
Vic noticed that their presence wasn't the only thing that had grown stronger. Their eyes had also become clearer, and even the giant ape's scarlet pupils had faded somewhat.
This fruit probably improves physical condition and intelligence. It's good stuff. If I get the chance, I have to take some with me. Vic felt a little eager. A fruit like that would definitely improve the body more than the Primal Spirits inside these animals. He wanted to see whether the tree would appear next month, and if it did, whether he could snatch food from the tiger's mouth.
There was no chance this time. The two winners in the lake showed no other changes. The giant ape let out a roar that shook the air and sent waves rippling across the water, an aura of disdain for all things radiating from it. The other animals immediately turned and fled toward the shore at the sound. The two winners who had eaten the fruit exchanged a glance, then turned and raced toward the shore, as though something even more terrifying were chasing them.
Every animal made it ashore, but none left. They looked back at the giant tree in the lake, their eyes still gleaming with greed.
After an hour, the giant tree and the patch of grass slowly sank beneath the surface. From the tree's appearance to its disappearance, only three hours had passed. Vic looked up at the sky. The moon was already slanting westward.
"Damn, this tree really is picky. It won't eat leftovers, only full meals. I always finish my food." Vic curled his lip.
By the time the giant tree had sunk beneath the lake, the animals by the shore had scattered. Some were still preying on animals that looked weak, and the area was a scene of chaos and noise.
Vic also used Geppo to leave this troubled place quickly and return to his cabin.
Vic waited inside for a while, hearing some roars and the splashing of animals entering the water. A little later, everything fell quiet.
"This upheaval is finally over. It's time for me to settle down and awaken my Observation Haki!" Vic muttered to himself.
In the days that followed, Vic returned to his regular routine: hunting and testing his sword, meditating, and contemplating heaven, earth, and nature. He knew that to awaken Observation Haki, the first step was to sense the Breath of All Things. He certainly couldn't do that at first, so he could only sense the breaths around his body.
It sounded mystical-the Breath of All Things. Did rocks breathe? Did water breathe? Did swords breathe? They weren't particularly educated, yet they described it so vividly.
It seems this isn't breathing in the usual sense. It refers to something else. Maybe even they can't describe what that sensation is. Everything in the world can emit it: the breath Zoro spoke of, the presence Rayleigh mentioned, and the Mantra Enel talked about. Putting their accounts together, all I can think of is electromagnetic waves and radiation. Vic's eyes gleamed.
Everything in the world produces electromagnetic waves and radiation, but it's very difficult for living beings to perceive them. Radiation is harder to say. Different things emit different forms of radiation, and radiation is a broader concept. I still can't figure out how to sense it with my body. Sigh, this world can't be understood through common sense. Maybe it's controlled by some intangible power after all. This is exhausting! Unable to figure it out, Vic stopped trying. At least he knew the general direction, and could only wait for that key.
Isshin Dojo, Shimotsuki Village, East Blue
"Father, where did Brother Vic go? Why hasn't he come back yet? I miss him." Kuina tilted her little face up and asked Koshiro, who sat cross-legged.
"Vic? He went to a zoo. He'll be training there to reach a higher realm of swordsmanship. Once he reaches it, he'll come back. He's very talented, so it won't take him long," Koshiro told Kuina with a smile. He didn't tell her about the danger.
A forest near Yarlin Town, Laipe Island, East Blue
"Vic is a big jerk. It's been over three months, and he still hasn't come back to see me... and Grandma. He's so heartless..." Rebecca sat in a forest clearing, resentment on her young face. As she muttered, she pulled up grass and tossed it onto the grass in front of her, as if it weren't grass, but someone's hair.
Vic didn't know someone was talking about him. He was particularly frustrated right now. Half a month had passed, and he had made no progress at all with Observation Haki.
"King Luffy's talent really is better. He mastered the Advanced Observation Haki technique Future Sight after a few fights with Katakuri. He mastered Advanced Armament Haki, 'Ryuo,' when he fought Big Mom to save Hyogoro, and he learned Conqueror's Haki coating while fighting Kaido. Damn, that protagonist halo is way too powerful. What a cheater!" Vic was furious too.