Starting from One Piece: Multiverse Simulation

After Wood defeated the first pirate crew that landed on the island, his name spread across Red Leaf Island, earning him the title of the island's guardian.

Of course, while "guardian" sounds grand, it was really just a fancy title for the island's unpaid security... captain.

If he had the choice, Wood truly didn't want to be famous. After all, in this Great Pirate Era, some pirates will do anything to make a name for themselves.

Massacring an entire island? That's just standard procedure. A pirate's bounty isn't necessarily tied directly to their strength.

As long as their deeds are vile enough, they can still earn a high bounty. And among pirates, the bounty set by the Navy is synonymous with popularity.

There are many ways to gain fame. Besides committing heinous acts, defeating renowned local fighters is also a quick way to boost one's reputation.

So if possible, Wood genuinely wanted to stay out of the spotlight. Being famous would only bring more trouble. What if one day he attracted someone too powerful to handle?

With his abilities exposed, the islanders would undoubtedly rely on him whenever pirates landed.

Even if the islanders didn't ask for his help, any pirate crew arriving on the island would surely target him, the most dangerous individual.

Understanding the seriousness of the situation and the potential threats it could bring, Wood quickly packed his belongings and planned to take Stia and Ain to another island for safety.

If it had been when he first arrived in this world, leaving the island would have been a nearly suicidal move. But now, with his "iron-cutting" level swordsmanship and six months of intense training, Wood was confident he could safely take Stia and Ain to another island as long as he didn't court disaster.

["Ping! New task detected.]

[Task Name: Guardian of Red Leaf Island]

[Task Requirements: Within one year, repel or eliminate the vicious pirates landing on Red Leaf Island.]

[During this task, the host may not leave the island by any means; otherwise, you will lose permanent access to the system.]

[Task Reward: One life simulation opportunity]

(P.S.: This is a second-tier beginner's benefit. The reward is practically a freebie. If you can't even handle a bunch of nameless grunts, you might as well find a block of tofu and bash your head in.)"

It was the same familiar tone. The system rarely spoke, but whenever it did, it was maxed out on sarcasm! And it always seemed to choose the perfect moment—just as Wood was about to leave, a long-dormant task was triggered.

Wood found the sudden task quite frustrating. It wasn't technically mandatory, but it was effectively non-optional.

The system was his golden finger, his cheat as a transmigrator. Running away would mean losing this advantage, and without it, what's the difference between him and a salted fish?

Wood didn't consider himself extraordinarily talented. Readers want to see a power fantasy, and without a cheat to boost his strength, how could he ever hope to kick the Four Emperors or punch the Five Elders?

Other transmigrators, by the age of fifteen, are already single-handedly defeating admirals or using the Four Emperors' heads as chamber pots. Yet here he was, still chopping trees in the beginner village—clearly, he was already behind.

So, after some hesitation, Wood decided to stay on Red Leaf Island and take on the role of its guardian.

Now, with the year of protecting the island almost over, Wood wasn't without gains.

First, because of his close relationship with Ain and her mother, the people of Red Leaf Island had come to respect Ain and Stia greatly.

Most of the time, when Stia went shopping, she didn't even need to pay because everyone knew she had taken in Wood.

Before this, because Ain's father had been killed by pirates, leaving only the widow and her daughter, their life on the island had been extremely difficult.

In addition to this, Wood had gained a great deal of combat experience over the past year, constantly fighting off pirates who landed on the island.

It's true what they say: actual combat is the fastest way to grow.

The improvement Wood made during his first six months of intense training paled compared to what he gained in the subsequent six months of fighting pirates.

The clash of swords, with death always looming, was a completely different experience from the monotonous practice of swinging a blade.

Humans aren't wooden dummies—they fight back, and in desperate situations, they'll make a last-ditch effort to fight to the death.

At first, when facing ruthless pirates, Wood would often emerge victorious but not without sustaining numerous injuries.

However, as the battles continued, Wood began to master the rhythm of combat, and his battle experience accumulated steadily.

From initially getting injured while fighting weaker opponents to eventually defeating opponents of equal strength without a scratch, Wood's progress was undeniable.

In these relentless battles, Wood gradually brought forth the sword techniques that had been directly imprinted into his mind by the system, converting those memories into skills that were now truly his own.

"Stia's cooking has gotten even better. This is way tastier than anything from the island's restaurants."

As he devoured Stia's homemade food and looked at Ain, who was watching him eat with her hands resting on her cheeks, Wood's usually tense mind, worn out from constant training, began to relax.

But just as Wood was enjoying a leisurely lunch, a pirate ship flying a skull flag appeared on the horizon, slowly making its way toward the port.

"Damn pirates again! Why are there so many of these pests at sea?"

By now, the people of Red Leaf Island were no strangers to pirate ships. So when Ain and the others spotted the approaching vessel, the warning bell in the town rang out immediately.

"Ain, hurry home! Stia must be worried sick by now."

Wood quickly finished the food in the basket, grabbed his shirt hanging nearby, put it on, and drew his long sword from the ground. After urging Ain to leave, he made his way toward the port with several swift leaps.

At the port of Red Leaf Island, a medium-sized pirate ship had already docked, occupying the entire area. The crew had also dropped anchor.

"Captain, this is Red Leaf Island. It's said that the redwood trees here are among the best materials for shipbuilding.

Ever since we entered the Grand Line, the weather's been unpredictable. Getting a sturdy, durable ship is our top priority now."

Hearing the first mate's words, a burly man with a mohawk and armored arms emerged from the cabin, a fierce expression on his face. He looked out over the redwood forest on Red Leaf Island and immediately began giving orders to the pirates on board.

"Once we're on the island, take all the redwood trees you can find. If that's not enough, force the villagers to chop down more.

Then find the mayor of this town. Tell him that if he doesn't want any casualties, he'd better prepare food and drink for the crew.

And while he's at it, arrange for some of the young women from the town to entertain us. After a month at sea, even a sow would start looking good to me."