Chapter 17 — Recovery
The snow had fallen all through the night.
It came quietly, almost tenderly—so sudden that not a single soul on the Sibia River Islands noticed until morning.
By the time dawn arrived, the entire village of Sibia lay blanketed in soft white.
Even Marin, the village chief who'd confidently claimed that it was just a "cold wave," hadn't expected the snow to come so fast—nor to keep falling for days on end.
The villagers had no choice but to suspend all work on the brewery.
The bustling noise of construction faded, replaced once more by a peaceful stillness.
And during those few quiet days, the man with messy hair—the one who had appeared in the mountains and stirred the wind itself—never showed up again.
It was as if Kuzan had never been there at all.
Eiger had searched.
He'd even walked through every street, every corner of the village, but there was no sign of the admiral.
Of course, he wasn't surprised.
He knew perfectly well that "Aokiji" hadn't truly come for him.
Officially, Kuzan was "pursuing a major World Government fugitive."
In reality? He was a bored admiral, strolling around on government funds while checking on his lost little protégé.
Still, Eiger didn't let his guard down.
Every morning, no matter how cold it was, he trained as usual.
Because in this world—no matter how peaceful life seemed—only strength truly mattered.
Especially now.
Ever since he'd eaten the Devil Fruit, something inside him had changed.
His body had broken through the limits he'd been trapped behind for years.
His strength, his speed, his endurance—everything had reached a new level.
He could feel it, even in the way his breath steamed in the morning air.
That morning, under the pale glow of dawn, he trained in front of his house as usual.
But this time… he was different.
Every motion—every twist, every flex of muscle—seemed to shimmer faintly under the sunlight.
The golden hue of light clung to his skin, outlining every muscle in divine radiance, as if the sun itself had chosen to rest upon him.
With every swing of his arm and every breath he drew, warmth pulsed through him, banishing the cold.
He didn't feel exhaustion anymore.
He didn't feel hunger.
He just moved—steady, relentless—like a machine made of flesh and light.
Each strike, each breath was a rhythm, a mantra of progress.
Yes, things hadn't gone exactly as planned.
Maybe, he once thought, he could buy a sturdier ship.
Hire a decent navigator.
Sail to Skypiea and hunt down the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
If he could get that and the artificial Kaido Fruit from Punk Hazard…
then even without "awakening," he'd still have enough power to stand among the strongest.
That had been the plan.
Yet fate, as always, had other ideas.
Who would've guessed that after retiring, settling down, and getting married—
he'd just stumble upon a Devil Fruit?
And one that turned out to fit him perfectly.
After days of training, Eiger finally understood the depth of its power.
Under the sun's light, his body transformed.
Every muscle fiber pulsed with energy; his limits shattered like glass.
He could now push his training to two hundred times his previous capacity—
sometimes even beyond that.
The sunlight didn't just strengthen him—it fed him.
His stamina surged, his fatigue vanished, and his recovery became almost instantaneous.
As long as he stood under the sun, he didn't need food, rest, or sleep.
He could keep training endlessly, every heartbeat burning brighter.
It reminded him of something.
A forbidden naval technique he'd once heard whispers of—Life Return.
No… not quite the same, but close.
Life Return required mastering every cell of one's body, balancing nutrition, and consuming massive amounts of food to manipulate one's form or recover stamina.
He didn't need that.
He just needed sunlight.
A steady stream of radiant energy that restored him constantly.
And it came with another hidden blessing—
his strength changed with the movement of the sun.
At dawn and dusk, his power waned; his body was calm, almost normal.
But at high noon, when sunlight burned its brightest—
he stood at his peak.
His energy rose and fell with the sun itself,
but even this temporary surge gave him a clear direction forward.
A path to true mastery.
He could feel it—
that if he continued to refine his body, he'd reach a state beyond limits.
Perhaps the Five Elders were right after all.
Maybe Devil Fruits did carry their own will—
and sought out those who truly matched them.
If so, this Light-Light Fruit had found its rightful owner.
As the sun climbed toward its zenith, Eiger felt the power building again—
his body growing warmer, his muscles tightening with strength.
Even after several days, the sensation still amazed him.
Every cell in his body screamed with energy, begging for release.
A cocky grin tugged at his lips.
"Damn," he muttered, "I kinda wanna fight that messy-haired guy again."
He had to admit—Kuzan was the best sparring partner he could've asked for.
Strong, relentless, and genuinely eager to beat him into the dirt.
And it worked.
That short, brutal fight had propelled him forward in ways years of training never could.
As he flexed his glowing arms, Eiger couldn't help but laugh softly.
"If only I'd gotten this power a few years earlier," he said to himself, shaking his head.
"I'd probably be out there already, raising hell on the seas. What a waste."
"Dear, lunch is ready!"
The gentle voice from inside pulled him from his thoughts.
He pressed a finger into the ground and launched himself upright with a single motion, landing lightly on his feet before heading toward the house.
Nico was waiting at the door, wrapped in his oversized gray coat.
She smiled as she handed him a towel.
He returned the smile, wiping the sweat from his neck and arms.
No matter how powerful he'd become… he wasn't a lone drifter anymore.
He was a husband.
"Dear," Nico said with a small laugh, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.
"You're just like the sun itself."
Even after seeing it many times, she still couldn't help but marvel.
She reached out and touched the firm muscles on his chest, blinking in surprise.
"Wait… have you gotten taller again?"
"A little," Eiger admitted, looking down at himself.
He'd been just shy of one-ninety before.
Now he was brushing two meters.
In this world, he still wasn't a giant, but it was a noticeable change.
He snorted inwardly.
What is this, photosynthesis? Did I eat the Chlorophyll Fruit or something?
His eyes drifted over to Nico. The gray coat looked far too large on her—
but somehow, it suited her perfectly.
Still, it hid her figure a bit too well.
I should really get her some proper winter clothes… he thought, making a mental note.
"You're officially taller than me now," Nico said teasingly as she circled him, giving him an approving nod before smiling.
"Come on, lunch time. Even if the sun feeds you, you still have to eat. I made beef stew today."
The rich aroma filled the air, and Eiger couldn't resist.
They sat together, enjoying their meal in the cozy warmth of their home.
Since that strange night, Nico had returned completely to her usual self—
bright, calm, smiling as though the storm in her heart had never happened.
Eiger hadn't asked whether her memories had come back.
And she hadn't offered to tell.
"Dear, what are you staring at?" she asked playfully, tilting her head.
"Nothing," Eiger said solemnly, though his gaze lingered on her longer than necessary.
Then, clearing his throat, he added, "By the way, what did Marin want yesterday? I thought work was paused because of the snow."
"Technically, it is," Nico sighed with a wry smile. "But Marin hasn't rested at all.
He came by to ask if you'd be willing to let the other villages join in.
He thinks Sibia alone can't sustain the brewery project."
She paused, watching his expression.
"What do you think?"
"Joining forces, huh? Makes sense," Eiger said after a moment of thought.
"Do what you think is best—you and Marin can handle it."
There were eight villages across the Sibia River Islands, each one cultivating green grapes.
Most were tied by family, marriage, or old friendship.
They were all poor, really.
Sibia was simply the least poor among them.
So of course Marin wanted to pull a few relatives into the plan.
That was just his way.
Eiger chuckled to himself and set down his bowl, standing up.
"Well, I'm full. I'll get back to training."
"All right, love," Nico replied with a smile. "I've finished eating too."
He stepped outside, the sunlight catching on his golden skin as he resumed his training.
Inside, Nico watched him through the window for a moment—
her expression soft, unreadable.
Then she raised her right hand and snapped her fingers lightly.
In an instant, dozens of phantom hands emerged from the table.
They cleared the dishes, washed them, and dried them in perfect synchrony.
When the kitchen was spotless once more, she sighed softly, stretching her slender arms.
Wrapped in his coat, she walked to a small room, knelt beside the bed, and reached underneath.
Her fingers brushed against something—
a few worn, hidden books.
She pulled them out carefully, her eyes dimming with emotion.
Her fingertips traced the faint letters on the covers,
and her lips moved almost without sound.
"Nico… Robin."
The name felt both alien and achingly familiar.
And as she whispered it again,
a flicker of the past stirred within her heart.