Deep in a forgotten corner of Marineford was a run-down port, littered with the remains of old ships, including two massive, abandoned warships.
Zephyr led Roya and the others to this desolate spot. "The usual training methods won't cut it for you anymore," he announced. "You'll be training here for the next two months, until the New Year."
"Here?" Smoker and Hina asked, surprised.
Roya was there for special training, and they'd tagged along, hoping to improve after their experiences in the New World. But this place was a dump!
"Teacher Zephyr, there aren't any training facilities here," Hina pointed out.
Zephyr grinned. "Everything here is a training facility. Break whatever you want! It's not about the fancy equipment, it's about your will to become stronger!"
He'd been both shocked and relieved to hear about the trouble these young Marines had gotten into in the New World.
They can handle themselves now! he thought.
"Roya, come with me."
"Yes, Teacher," Roya replied, as he tugged the curious Yamato along. They followed Zephyr toward the huge warships, a thought beginning to form in Roya's mind.
Warship Coating, huh?
Zephyr looked at Roya, his eyes full of admiration. The young man's growth was incredible, even to him. Normal lessons wouldn't work anymore. To keep improving, he needed to push his physical limits.
"Roya," Zephyr said, "I don't have much left to teach you. The secret to training has always been, and always will be: pushing yourself to the limit!"
Zephyr walked under the warship, facing its massive steel bottom. He pulled back his fist, then unleashed it with a mighty roar!
"Thud!!!"
His fist slammed into the steel, creating a clear, ringing sound, like a bell echoing in a temple. It was a beautiful sound.
"No Haki allowed," Zephyr instructed. "Use your raw power to hit the warship until you can make that same sound. Then your training will be complete!"
"I understand," Roya said, his eyes determined.
He stepped up to the warship, pulled back his fist, took a deep breath, and punched with all his strength.
"Thump!"
The sound was dull and weak. And his fist throbbed with pain.
The warship was as big as a mountain, made of incredibly strong steel. Moving it with a single punch would be incredibly difficult.
Especially without using Haki!
Even though Zephyr had only shown him once, Roya knew that to do what his teacher had done, he needed not only immense power but also the ability to transfer that power to every part of the ship.
With one punch, the entire warship had to vibrate evenly to create that clear, bell-like sound.
I have a long way to go! he thought.
Roya smiled, cleared his mind, and focused all his energy into his punches. He loved this challenge.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
In less than ten minutes, his fist was covered in blood, but Roya didn't slow down, keeping the same steady rhythm.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
----
At the other warship, Yamato copied Roya's stance, her punches hitting the steel with even more force than his.
This was a new kind of training for her.
It was fun!
----
Days turned into weeks.
Through wind, rain, and thunder,
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
The dull thudding continued like clockwork, from before dawn until late at night.
Elsewhere in the abandoned port, Smoker and Hina sparred, their clashes echoing through the area. The New World had matured them, making them realize how much stronger they needed to become.
----
As the year neared its end, the weather grew colder.
Snowflakes began to fall.
"Thump! Thump! Dong!"
Roya, bare-chested, with a layer of snow on his head, stood firm, his arms moving in a constant rhythm, punching the warship again and again.
The dull thud was slowly becoming clearer. It was still faint, but it was changing.
As dusk approached, Lu Yun arrived pushing a cart piled high with food. Tashigi and Fullbody were in charge of bringing food for Smoker's group.
"Dinner's ready!" Lu Yun called out.
"Dong!"
Roya's fist stopped against the warship.
When he pulled back his fist, the steel, which should have been covered in marks, was smooth as new.
Roya sighed and turned toward the food cart. He needed to eat. Without enough food, he couldn't recover from the brutal training.
In the spot where he had been standing, two clear, deep footprints marked the ground.
Yamato was already there, stuffing food into her mouth like a hungry wolf.
Maybe because of Roya, Yamato had also been working incredibly hard, never slacking off.
Roya grabbed a large piece of meat and swallowed it in a few bites.
"Lu Yun, what's been happening lately?"
"The Beasts Pirates' expedition has ended." Lu Yun's expression was serious.
For the past year, the Beasts Pirates had been on a rampage, destroying countries and taking over islands.
Now, as the year ended, they'd returned to Wano Country, perhaps because of the upcoming Fire Festival or because they'd gathered enough loot.
This meant that Kaido would be free to deal with Yamato's situation.
Yamato's ears perked up, and she slowed her eating, unable to control the fear she felt.
Roya smiled and reached out to pat the little girl's head. "Don't worry," he said. "No matter what happens, I'll protect you."
"Mm," Yamato mumbled.
She felt a bit better, but she couldn't help but worry. She didn't want to drag Roya down with her.
After eating, Roya walked back toward the warship.
The exhausting training, day and night, was so that he could have the strength to face whatever came his way.
Roya raised his hand, looking at the bloody bandages wrapped around his palm, and slowly clenched his fist.
Even Kaido can't take anything from me!
"Dong!!!"
The clear, ringing sound echoed through the port!
----
Onigashima, Wano Country!
The annual Fire Festival was underway, and the pirates who had been fighting all year were ready to celebrate!
"If I lose weight,
I'll be too popular!
I'm deliberately not losing weight!
FUNK!"
Under the flashing spotlights, Queen, the Beasts Pirates' party animal, sang and danced on stage, full of joy!
The pirates below cheered wildly.
Upstairs, in the executives' banquet hall, Kaido sat in the main seat, his eyes filled with rage.
The Beasts Pirates had returned from their expedition with countless resources and islands, which should have been a cause for celebration.
But when he got back to Onigashima, he couldn't find his son, Yamato, and his good mood vanished.
"You all know that Yamato has run away from Onigashima, right?" he growled.
"We do," the core executives replied, grinning. Queen was still singing and dancing outside.
"Running away from home on a day like this? What's wrong with him?" Kaido continued.
Suddenly, he burst into tears, which flowed freely. But as he cried, his sadness turned into anger.
"It's all because of that black-haired kid!"
Kaido grabbed Roya's photo, threw it on the ground, and looked at the Flying Six. "After the Fire Festival, go and bring Yamato back to me, or just find out where Yamato is."
"Understood," they replied.
Who's-Who grinned. "Lord Kaido, if we bring Young Master Yamato back, what's our reward?"
"Then I'll let you choose which All-Star to challenge, how's that?" Kaido responded.
"Okay! I'll go find Young Master Yamato!"
The Flying Six, who had been bored, suddenly perked up. They had been wanting to take the All-Stars' positions for a long time!
"Hey, isn't Black Hair a Marine? Shouldn't he be at Marine Headquarters?" one of them asked.
"According to the information, Black Hair is a Rear Admiral of the G-1 Branch," another replied.
"Then we'll wait for him to come out!"
Even though they were arrogant, the Flying Six wouldn't dare to cause trouble at the G-1 Branch. It was one of the most heavily guarded places in the world.
Even Kaido couldn't break into those fortresses by force.
They would have to wait for Black Hair to leave before dealing with him!
Kaido looked at King and Jack beside him and said in a deep voice, "If you find out where that Black Hair Kid is, you can also take action."
"Understood!" they replied.
*
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[T/N:
Latest Chapter translated on Patreon - Chapter 322 (+151 Chapters Ahead!)
Final Total Power Stone Collection : 504 PS
Goal : Reach +50 Total PS = +2 Bonus Chapters next day! 🚀
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Here are the novels I'm currently translating:
-> Naruto Paradise: An Evil Uchiha's Rise
-> One Piece: I'm Destined to Be the Son-in-Law King!
-> Young Master, Please Become Hokage!
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]