After instructing the shipwrights who had stayed behind to hide the ship and establish a temporary base, Gawain led his men to an open clearing on the island. Once there, he ordered everyone to spread out and stand in separate areas.
Before long, Gawain began teaching them the basics of swordsmanship.
From the proper stance to how to grip the sword, how to apply force, how to block incoming strikes, and even how to conserve energy in a real fight—he taught them everything step by step.
Some wielded real swords, others trained with wooden sticks, but all of them were utterly focused. For the first time, they showed genuine passion.
Each movement was practiced with surprising diligence.
At times, Gawain couldn't help but question whether their minds were just too simple—but that worked in his favor.
To them, everything he said sounded like divine wisdom, and Gawain himself didn't even realize just how impactful his words had become.
Not that he minded, of course.
As the sun dipped below the horizon and the moon rose into the night sky, not a single man showed signs of fatigue. They refused to put down their weapons, training well into the night.
"Hey, how come I'm not nearly as tired as I expected after training all day?"
"Is it just me, or do I feel stronger?"
"It's not just you. I feel it too. I used to be dead on my feet after this much work, but now my legs are only a little shaky."
"Amazing!"
"Maybe the gods were moved by our dedication?"
"Heh, the gods? They're sitting comfortably in Marijose. Be glad your taxes didn't double. That's the only 'blessing' you'll get from them."
The conversation drifted on as the men laughed it off, assuming their endurance came from their deep focus and dedication to training.
But Gawain knew better.
This was the effect of the Captain's Wrath Badge.
The item passively increased physical recovery speed by 20%, even during strenuous activity.
In essence, it provided two buffs: one that reduced stamina consumption by 20% during exertion, and another that boosted recovery by 20% during rest.
A perfect synergy—twice the output with half the cost.
Still, Gawain's attention wasn't on the badge itself but on his system interface:
Swordsmanship - LV4: 431 / 800 → 453 / 800
Physical - LV3: 357 / 400 → 384 / 400
Just one day of group practice, and his swordsmanship experience increased by 22 points, while his physical stat went up by 27 points.
In other words, each pirate's training only contributed a fraction of a point, but the collective result was significant.
For an ordinary person to reach his current swordsmanship level would take decades of persistent training.
By comparison, Zoro and Sanji had reached near-world-class levels in just two or three years. Yes, real combat accelerated growth—but their ridiculous talent was the main driver.
In this world, the gap created by talent was overwhelming.
Gawain's current body wasn't particularly gifted—just slightly better than the average man.
But with the system accelerating his progress like this, in a little over a month, he could easily accumulate 700 to 800 experience points, enough to push swordsmanship to LV5.
And with effort, even his physical stat might break through to the next level.
"I wonder how much stronger I'll be with both swordsmanship and physique at level five…" he muttered under his breath.
"The system said that every five levels is a milestone—it determines how my skills evolve moving forward."
Just then, some of his men returned with freshly caught fish and a bundle of wild fruits.
The island was teeming with resources. Wild fruits grew abundantly, and many of the root vegetables were edible. Combined with the steady supply of fish from the sea, even a group of over a hundred could train here for months without starving.
Gawain accepted the food, took a bite of the grilled fish, and chewed slowly. It was dry, a bit gamey, and reeked of the ocean—but in their current situation, he had no complaints.
For pirates who had once scraped by with nothing, this was already a feast. The steady intake of protein and carbs also greatly aided their training.
Time flew by.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
During this time, Gawain continued to guide his men through their daily training. The initial excitement gradually faded into disciplined routine, but the results spoke for themselves.
From clueless amateurs, they had become sword apprentices with solid foundations.
"The sword doesn't even feel like a weapon anymore—it's like an extension of my arm!"
"Tch. Don't get cocky."
"Still… it's true we've come a long way. I can feel myself getting stronger every day. And let's not forget—it's all thanks to the captain!"
"Yeah, after what happened with Lancer, the captain has completely changed. He's nothing like he used to be."
"It's not just his strength—it's his attitude toward us. This new captain is the one who can really lead us forward!"
Gawain watched the scene from a distance, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.
If they continue improving at this pace, even if none of them reaches the strength of a general or a colonel, they should still be able to protect themselves in the East Blue with the swords they wield.
He didn't lie to them.
In this world, only the strong have the right to stand tall. The weak can only grovel and beg for mercy.
"Captain, my arm's injured. I'd like to take a couple of days off."
A pirate in a white hat approached him, one hand cradling his swollen arm. His tone was apologetic, but his eyes betrayed frustration.
Gawain recognized him—Damila. He'd joined the crew about six months ago. One of the more honest ones. He didn't ask for much, which was rare.
Gawain gave his shoulder a reassuring pat.
"Take a few days to rest. No need to leave a permanent scar just to prove a point."
"Yes, sir," Damila replied with a nod of gratitude. A faint glimmer of coldness flickered in his eyes before he turned and walked toward the cabin.
Gawain's gaze lingered on him, his brow furrowing slightly.
Was it just my imagination?
He thought he saw a pendant shaped like a seagull hanging from Damila's neck.
Shaking his head, Gawain turned and found a quiet corner. He pulled up the system panel once more.
Over the past two weeks, his physique had successfully reached Level 4, and the changes were substantial.
Speed and strength had increased by at least 30%, endurance and stamina by nearly 50%. Even the density of his bones and muscles had noticeably improved.
Yet his physique hadn't changed much. He still stood over two meters tall with a lean, balanced build—slim when clothed, powerfully defined when bare.
His injuries had healed, and his durability had reached a new level. If he were struck by Morgan's axe again, he might not shrug it off completely, but he certainly wouldn't be left as battered as before.
And today, his swordsmanship was finally on the verge of upgrading to Level 5.
According to the system, this would mark a qualitative leap, bringing with it unexpected benefits.
Today's group training had ended early, and as Gawain had hoped, he earned 24 swordsmanship experience points and 30 physique experience points.
Swordsmanship – LV4: 793/800 → LV5: 17/1600
The next moment—
A brand-new sensation surged through his hand. It felt as though the sword he held was no longer just a weapon, but an extension of his own body.
A flood of sword techniques and intricate maneuvers flashed through his mind. He understood them all instantly—every nuance, every motion—and could execute them without hesitation.
"This…"
Gawain instinctively raised his arm and gave a casual slash toward the stone wall in front of him.
Swish!
With a crisp, ringing sound, the massive stone wall—over ten meters wide—split cleanly down the center.
The cut surface gleamed like polished glass.
Gawain's eyes widened in astonishment.
"Incredible!"
"And this is just one level of improvement?"
"My swordsmanship at Level 4 could cut stone, but not like this!"
"With this, my combat power has at least doubled. And with my enhanced physique, my overall strength is triple what it was when I arrived here!"
"If I fought Morgan again, I'm confident I could finish him within three moves!"
As he recalled every detail of that past battle, Gawain felt confident in his assessment.
Just then, the familiar system chime rang in his ears:
"Swordsmanship has reached Level 5. Choose one of the following branch abilities:"
– Iron Cutting
– Flying Blade
– Godly Speed