When Wood used to watch "One Piece," he only saw the intense battles and the touching camaraderie between crewmates.
However, now that he's experiencing it firsthand, Wood truly understands just how terrifying "pirates" really are.
Pirates like Luffy and his crew are extremely rare on these seas.
In fact, calling the "Straw Hat Crew" pirates is a stretch; they resemble adventurers more than anything else.
Of course, there are pirates like Whitebeard and Shanks who protect others.
But the majority of pirates set sail for profit and fame, and they are far from being saints—otherwise, why would they be labeled as "pirates"?
Since the start of the "Great Pirate Era," the population of Red Leaf Island has dwindled by more than a quarter.
Some were brutally killed by pirates, while others, unable to endure the frequent pirate raids, chose to leave the island.
But Wood knows that the "Great Pirate Era" has begun, and there's no place on the sea that's truly safe.
Even if one leaves Red Leaf Island, who can guarantee they won't encounter other pirates on the open sea?
The vast ocean is full of hope, but it's also extremely dangerous. For the inexperienced, setting out to sea is almost certain death.
Besides the threat of pirates, there are tsunamis, Sea Kings, and countless other unpredictable dangers.
To survive in this world and achieve any semblance of safety, the only real solution is to grow stronger.
Wood is now fifteen years old, already standing at a height of 1.8 meters (about 5'11"). He figures he might still grow a bit taller over the next couple of years.
In the past, he took pride in his height and good looks, which gave him a strong sense of immersion in this new life. After all, who wouldn't enjoy being reborn as a tall, handsome guy?
But once Wood realized he was in the world of "One Piece," his confidence in his height quickly faded. In this world, his height was far from impressive.
The average height in the "One Piece" world is absurdly tall, with even normal humans like the three Admirals standing around three meters tall (about 10 feet). Even Boa Hancock, a fan-favorite character, is 191 cm (about 6'3").
So, Wood's height of 180 cm at fifteen years old only ensures he isn't considered a dwarf here, but he's certainly not tall by this world's standards.
But to get back on track, Wood's main focus right now is on getting stronger.
After completing his task, Wood earned a chance to use the Life Simulator. He didn't need the system to explain how it worked, as he was familiar with it from his previous life.
So, after setting down his ax, Wood sat down on the ground and initiated his first life simulation.
"Age 15: Due to multiple pirate raids on Red Leaf Island, you become filled with righteous anger and resolve to get stronger. You begin intensive physical training, day and night.
"Age 16: The Navy recognizes Red Leaf Island's strategic importance and dispatches a warship, but it narrowly misses you as you leave the island.
"Age 17: After two years of life at sea, you gain some navigational skills and successfully eliminate a small pirate crew.
"Age 18: Driven by youthful fervor, you pursue a notorious pirate crew but accidentally enter the Calm Belt.
"Age 19: Stranded in the Calm Belt, you struggle for a time, but after running out of food, you and your ship sink to the bottom of the ocean.
"Due to your death, this simulation has ended."
Unlike the simulators Wood had played before, which easily allowed him to simulate up to hundreds of years, this one left him speechless after just a few brief messages.
It was unexpected, yet somehow it made perfect sense.
The sea is full of dangers, and Wood is no Monkey D. Luffy, with relatives all over the ocean and the protagonist's aura protecting him.
The moment you decide to set sail, you're accepting the risk of death.
In fact, considering how green Wood is, surviving alone at sea for several years and even taking down some pirates was more than Wood himself had expected.
"This simulation has ended. You may choose one of the following rewards."
1. The results of your physical training before leaving Red Leaf Island.
2. The navigational knowledge gained from years at sea.
3. The valuables from your ship before it sank.
4. A random combat skill from your battles against pirates.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Wood chose the fourth option.
The first option seemed attractive, but over the next year, Wood could just as easily build up his physical strength through regular training.
As for the second and third options, they were too impractical for Wood at this stage.
While navigational knowledge and treasures are useful, after seeing the outcome of his simulated life, Wood had no intention of venturing out to sea again anytime soon—at least not until he was strong enough to survive.
The fourth option was a gamble. Choosing the first option would save Wood a year of training, but the fourth option was unpredictable—he might end up with a useless ability.
Even so, after weighing the pros and cons, Wood decided to take the risk and chose the fourth reward.
The reason was simple: physical training could be done anytime, but the experience and skills gained from fighting enemies were far more valuable.
As the saying goes, "Practice on paper will never compare to real combat."
By the time Wood turned eighteen in the simulation, he had already been able to defeat a small pirate crew, which meant he had some real combat ability.
Even if the combat skill he acquired wasn't top-tier, it would still be more valuable than just training alone on the island.
"Ding, congratulations! You have obtained a swordsmanship technique."
As soon as the reward appeared on the system interface, Wood's face lit up with joy, and a flood of memories suddenly rushed into his mind.
Previously, Wood knew nothing about swords, but now he felt like he could wield one with ease.
In the simulation, Wood had mastered "Cutting Steel" level swordsmanship before his demise, a technique that allowed him to cut through almost anything. Now, all of that knowledge belonged to the current Wood.
"Cutting Steel" and "Flying Slash" are both marks of a swordsman. While the simulated Wood at age eighteen hadn't yet mastered the "Flying Slash," he was clearly on the threshold of becoming a true sword master!