After years of solitude and survival, Kaizen found it strange to walk among people again.
He and Adam had spent a full day scouting the island before deciding to enter the port town of Windrest, a quiet settlement on the southern edge of the East Blue. Kaizen wore a rough cloak stitched from animal hide and leaves, covering his toned frame and wild hair. Adam, still able to shift between humanoid and monkey forms, stuck to his smaller monkey appearance and perched on Kaizen's shoulder.
The moment they stepped into the town square, Kaizen felt the difference—the warmth of civilization. The smell of cooked food, the sound of laughter, the clinking of tools and coins—it was overwhelming, almost surreal.
Adam let out a low whistle. "Smells better than roasted boar and jungle moss, huh?"
Kaizen chuckled softly. "I won't argue with that."
They found an inn near the edge of the square, a cozy-looking place with a swinging wooden sign that read The Tide's Rest. The innkeeper, an elderly woman with a sharp tongue and a soft heart, eyed Kaizen's appearance warily.
"You look like you wrestled a bear and lost."
"More like won," Kaizen replied with a smirk.
She raised a brow, then laughed. "Alright, jungle boy. Room's upstairs. Two nights, no trouble."
Kaizen dropped a small pouch of clean pearls he'd taken from the island's riverbed. Her eyes widened briefly, but she said nothing, sliding the pouch into her apron.
The room was small but warm. For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, Kaizen laid on a mattress, staring up at a ceiling. The softness, the quiet—it was enough to nearly bring him to tears.
Adam flopped beside him. "So this is what beds feel like."
Kaizen chuckled. "We earned it."
The next few days were calm. A much-needed respite.
Kaizen and Adam roamed Windrest during the day, gathering supplies, listening to rumors, and enjoying actual food. Kaizen even tried a bowl of seafood stew that nearly made him cry with joy.
He overheard talk of pirate sightings, marine patrols, and whispers about a new generation of bounty hunters rising across East Blue.
But more importantly, he asked about shipwrights.
He wasn't ready to set sail yet—not without a real ship, and not without knowing what lay ahead. But it was clear now: Windrest would serve as his launch point.
Each night, he returned to the inn and updated his journal. Pages filled with maps, notes on people, combat theories, and ideas for skill training. He was always thinking, always preparing.
[System Notice: Temporary Recovery Period — No Enhancements or Skill Use Required]
He welcomed the break. But Kaizen knew himself. He couldn't rest forever.
On the fourth night, he stood on the balcony of the inn, watching the stars.
"This world… it's beautiful," he said softly.
Adam sat beside him. "And dangerous."
Kaizen nodded. "Exactly how I like it."
The days of isolation were over.
Kaizen Arata had re-entered the world—and the seas were about to change.