With his daily training, Tony couldn't help but feel excited about the future.
Time passed quickly. Five more months went by.
The weather on the island was bizarre—sometimes scorching hot, sometimes freezing cold, and other times filled with fierce storms.
But despite these harsh conditions, Tony had mastered his Haki by the sixth month after Rayleigh left. He could freely use both Armament Haki and Observation Haki whenever he wished.
No one would believe it—most people with talent took two or even three years to master Haki, but Tony had done it in just three months. The following six months were spent strengthening his body and stabilizing his Haki.
This was an incredible feat.
After nine months of training, Tony's youthful face had matured significantly. It was a clear transformation.
He looked at the tree in the center of the safe zone and reflected on his journey since he first arrived on the island.
"Nine months... It's been a tough training journey..."
But it was inevitable.
In a world where strength is revered, how could he hope to stand against the world's powerful warriors without enduring rigorous training?
He knew how fortunate he was. Reaching such a level in just nine months was an incredible achievement. Most people would take decades to reach this point, but he was already satisfied.
Tony closed his eyes and examined his status screen in his mind:
["Host: Tony."
"Devil Fruit Ability: Flame-Flame Fruit - Current Progress 25%"
"Swordsmanship: Ryujin Jakka - Current Progress 8%"
"Special Abilities: Mangekyō Sharingan - Current Progress 50%, Kido - Current Progress 10%"
"Haki: Armament Haki - Beginner 40%, Observation Haki - Beginner 50%."]
Tony had successfully completed Rayleigh's training and decided it was time to head back to Sabaody Archipelago.
As he left the island, the wild beasts watched him with a mix of affection and reluctance, calling out in their language.
After all, they had spent so much time together, and even animals formed attachments.
Tony walked over to the Red-Furred Lion and the Giant Ape for a farewell hug. His clear eyes smiled as he spoke:
"Alright, alright, don't miss me too much. I'll come back to visit when I have the chance."
He regarded them as friends. Without their daily training sessions, he wouldn't have progressed so quickly.
With a wave, Tony boarded the powered sailboat Rayleigh had left behind and set sail for Sabaody Archipelago.
He passed through the Calm Belt, and although Tony lacked the fearsome presence of Conqueror's Haki, his Observation Haki and Sharingan allowed him to skillfully avoid the Sea Kings lurking in the waters.
By the time he returned to Sabaody Archipelago, it was already evening.
...
Ding-Ding.
The doorbell rang.
Tony pushed open the familiar door, one that he hadn't seen in a while, and stepped inside.
Rayleigh was sitting alone at the bar, sipping on a drink.
He slightly raised the corner of his mouth, clearly aware of Tony's presence behind him.
"Ho? You're back three months earlier than I expected."
"Tony, you truly are impressive."
Rayleigh had originally thought that with Tony's talent, it would probably take him a year to return, but now that Tony appeared, it was no surprise. This meant Tony was far stronger than he'd anticipated.
Shakky had just returned from outside and, seeing Tony for the first time in more than half a year, showed an expression of excitement she rarely displayed.
She walked over to Tony, slowly wrapping her small arms around him in a gentle hug.
"Welcome back, little Tony."
"I'm back!"
Tony reciprocated the hug, gently patting her back.
There were no special words exchanged, but those simple words warmed Tony's heart.
For him, having crossed into this world, it was Shakky and Rayleigh who made him feel like he had a home.
He had long considered Shakky his older sister, a family member.
As for Rayleigh, he was not just his teacher but also his lifesaver, the one who taught him swordsmanship and Haki, giving him the survival skills to navigate this world.
"Hehehe, ever since the day I came back, Shakky learned that you were alone on that dangerous island. She was complaining a lot and kept nagging me to go bring you back."
"You little brat, your Shakky really cares about you."
"But looking at you now, I can tell my insistence was right."
Rayleigh took another sip of his drink and spoke slowly, clearly noticing the growth of Tony's Haki.
Tony, feeling a bit smug, replied,
"Of course. The training I went through there was incredibly tough."
"Maybe you can test me next time, Rayleigh-sensei."
"Ho? Now that's something to look forward to."
Just as Rayleigh was about to continue, Shakky interrupted their conversation.
"Alright, alright, today is Tony's first day back, no need to talk about any tests."
"First, take a good rest, and let Shakky make you a nice meal."
"You probably didn't get any good food over there, right?"
"Mm-mm!"
Tony nodded eagerly. He was indeed craving Shakky's delicious cooking. He hadn't had a proper meal since arriving on the island.
It had been all wild fruits and beast meat, and by the end, he had even befriended the wild animals, leaving him with no meat to eat, only fish from the sea to fill his stomach. Hearing Shakky mention cooking delicious food had Tony's mouth watering.
Half an hour later,
Shakky had been busy preparing the meal, and she placed a series of exquisite dishes on the table—twelve in total. It was clear she had put a lot of effort into making them.
"Tony, eat up, let's see if my cooking has improved!"
Without hesitation, Tony picked up a large piece of meat and started eating.
"Mmm! Delicious! So tasty!"
"It's so fragrant, Shakky! Your skills are top-notch! Forget the bar, you should open a restaurant instead!"
"Hehehe, little Tony, you sure know how to flatter me, but my cooking isn't something just anyone gets to enjoy."
Shakky untied her apron and sat down, her face full of smiles.
The three of them enjoyed the meal together, laughing and drinking wine, basking in the warmth of their company.
~----------------------------------------------------------
T/N:
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