Chapter 3
MC POV
A few minutes later — which, in this timeline, could mean anything from three minutes to three hours — I finally got my head straight enough to test things properly.
First good news: Conqueror's Haki can be toggled on and off. Sweet. That was one of the things RBG promised, and it actually works. Second good news: I have the basic muscle memory for the knocking technique, and a decent chunk of Jiro's knuckle arsenal stored in my head. Not perfect, but usable.
Bad news: the "arsenal" wasn't as big as I'd imagined. Why the hell does a simple knocking technique require so much knowledge? Every single style has its own nuance, pressure points, angles, breath timing — and I didn't even get the Jiro-level intuition. I basically have the instruction manual, not the practiced hands.
I glanced over at Aqua, who was still fussing with a leaf like it personally offended her.
"Okay, Ego," I said aloud. "If I tried to knock Aqua out right now — realistic chance?"
{Ego}: "Probability calculation: 62% chance of successful knockout using current strength, assuming surprise, correct striking point, and absence of external interference. Confidence interval: ±12%. Recommendation: Train strike precision and timing to increase probability."
"Sixty-two percent?" I snorted. "That's surprisingly optimistic for whatever your cold app brain is."
{Ego}: "Commentary: Emotional interference from subject 'Aqua' increases variance. Additionally, subject exhibits unusual resilience for current physical age. Suggest focus training and situational practice."
"Unusual resilience?" I muttered. "She's whining, not a tank."
Aqua's whining, meanwhile, had reached a new pitch.
Aqua POV
Why is he taking so long to answer? I'm starving. We're lost in the middle of nowhere. If he doesn't respond RIGHT NOW I will scream so loud the ocean will file a formal complaint.
He finally grunted something about finding food and shelter by nightfall. Pfft. Priorities are important: dignity, shrines, food, revenge, and then maybe shelter.
If he thinks I'm going to stay silent, he's sadly mistaken. I ramped up the volume until the surrounding birds decided to migrate to a safer tree. Pure intimidation technique.
MC POV
We followed the river because duh — water means fish, and I have a never-ending appetite when I'm eight. Also, apparently RBG's idea of "good starter resources" includes an infinity water source right here: water that tastes clean and seems slightly… charged? Whatever. It smelled like opportunity.
At the riverbank I tested Conqueror's Haki outward, letting a low-level pressure ripple through the nearby plants to see what reacted. The palm leaves shivered like a cat in a thunderstorm. Aqua, surprisingly, wasn't knocked out — she just pouted and stamped.
"Aqua," I said, "I wasn't trying to—"
She pointed an accusing finger. "You tried to use Haki on me! You're such a bully! I demand an apology in triplicate!"
{Ego}: "Observation: Subject 'Aqua' demonstrates high mental fortitude and significant resistance to short-range Conqueror's pulses, possibly due to residual divine core."
"What, she's immune?" I asked.
{Ego}: "Not immune. High tolerance and unpredictable response patterns. If upset, subject may exhibit combative behavior far beyond physical age. Caution advised."
I sighed. "Right. So not easy to KO, but not immortal, either."
We set up camp on a small cleared patch of sand. Aqua insisted on being fanned while I did the "manly survival stuff": hunting fish with improvised spears (read: pointy stick + extreme enthusiasm), starting a fire with primitive technique (read: luck + terribly inefficient rubbing), and improvising a grate from palm fronds.
While I wrestled with the fire, I tried out a basic Bang-style water strike — the clean, flowy movement that feels like slapping a waterfall into someone's face, except with fists. My form was awkward, like a blender trying to pour soup, but the water in front of me snapped with a small, satisfying crack. Progress! Ego's voice chimed in with the kind of clinical encouragement only an AI can give.
{Ego}: "Projection: At current training rate and physiological adaptation, mastery of Bang's intermediate techniques will require approximately 1–2 years of continual practice. Factors increasing rate: focused daily repetition, improved stamina, access to water source with high mana convergence (present)."
"One to two years?" I laughed in a hollow way. "Great. I'll be a grandmaster by the time I'm—what, ten?"
{Ego}: "Clarification: Estimate assumes continuous training and survival conditions. Acceleration possible via targeted feedback loops and skill learning protocols."
"Targeted feedback loops? Speak normally."
{Ego}: "Translation: Practice, corrections, repeat. Also, you have an advantage: RBG granted a water node here calibrated for Bang-style comprehension. Use it."
"You've been holding out on me? Thanks for the memo."
Aqua walked over with an indignant sniff and plopped down opposite me, arms folded. "Are you thinking evil thoughts about me? Because if you are, I will—" she banged the palm frond table for emphasis and sent a small shower of splinters into the air. "—yell louder."
She then proceeded to give an impromptu lecture on how disgraced goddesses deserve proper rites, which somehow ended with her demanding I prepare a five-course meal. I had fish and two kinds of wild leaves. Close enough, right?
Dinner was a comedy routine: Aqua theatrically tasted one bite, declared it acceptable if I "served it properly in a palace," then promptly grabbed most of my portion in a single dramatic move. I retaliated with what I called the "Iron Fist of Love": a gentle, affectionate-but-firm forehead bop that, psycho-logically, means "stop being dramatic." She smacked my hand away…and then immediately cuddled up like a cat after deciding I was "adequate."
{Ego}: "Emotional status: attachment forming. Probability of enduring partnership: high. Social friction: persistent due to temperament mismatch."
"Ego, you're a real mood killer sometimes," I said.
{Ego}: "Fact: Social harmony improves survival chances by 27.3%."
After stubbing out the fire and arranging a crude shelter, we tried to sleep. I fell asleep to the sound of Aqua muttering half-sacred curses at the local wildlife and the not-so-distant crash of waves.
At some ungodly hour I woke up because something sticky was clinging to my side. Aqua. Of course.
[A/N: RBG gave water node our MC not region for training]
She'd curled up against me like a burrito and was snoring lightly. Her small chest rose and fell, and despite her tantrums I felt a ridiculous protective warmth. {Ego} piped up, calm as ever.
{Ego}: "Notice: RBG provided localized water mana nodes designed to facilitate comprehension of Bang-style metaphysics. Practical effect: water instincts are amplified; muscle memory consolidation accelerated in aquatic environments. Suggest integrating daily water drills and meditation to expedite mastery."
"Oh," I whispered. "So that's why the river felt charged."
{Ego}: "Advisory: Retain access to water node. Monitor for external interference from RBG or similar entities."
I blinked at the sleeping Aqua, who was now tangled in palm fronds and drooling slightly. She looked ridiculous and majestic at the same time. I let out a tiny, embarrassed laugh and curled back into sleep.
The island was weird, chaotic, and full of things I didn't understand. But with a smug little AI in my head and a whining goddess glued to my side, it suddenly felt less like the end of the world and more like the start of one very strange partnership.