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The Going Merry rode the powerful wind and waves created by the devastating force of Hakoku, sailing several nautical miles through the air before finally coming to a stop.
As the ship settled, the Straw Hat crew collectively sighed in relief.
"Giants are amazing! So strong! I want to be a giant too!" Luffy exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
But as the words left his mouth, an idea seemed to spark in his mind. Turning to Ikki, he declared, "Ikki, give me that training manual for Nen abilities! I want to learn the rest of it!"
After encountering such incredible strength, Luffy felt a growing sense of urgency. If he didn't continue to get stronger, how could he protect his friends?
During the recent banquet, Luffy had listened carefully to Dorry and Brogy's tales of the New World. They spoke of beings far more powerful than themselves. The second half of the Grand Line wasn't just dangerous—it was a crucible of strength.
Without immense power, surviving those waters was impossible. Forget about finding the One Piece and becoming Pirate King—staying alive would be the real challenge.
This realization only fueled Luffy's determination. He had to grow stronger, not just for his dream but for his crew.
For a brief moment, Luffy thought about learning Haki, particularly the mighty Armament Haki—"The Fist of Love." But as he glanced toward Vivi, he hesitated.
Her homeland, Alabasta, was in peril. As her captain, he couldn't afford to delay their journey for personal training. His priority was clear: save Alabasta first.
Instead, Luffy set his sights on Nen, convinced it would help him grow and protect his crew.
Ikki, recognizing Luffy's resolve, handed over the Nen Ability Training Manual without hesitation.
"This manual only covers the basics," Ikki explained. "Developing your abilities will rely on your own imagination and courage."
Ikki was confident in Luffy's talent. After all, this was the same man who created Gear Second, Gear Third, and even Gear Fourth using the traits of his Rubber-Rubber Fruit. Developing a new ability was well within his grasp.
It wasn't just Luffy who felt the weight of the giants' power. The rest of the crew was equally motivated.
Inspired by Dorry and Brogy, Usopp threw himself into intense training, taking to the Leaky Cauldron Treadmill with uncharacteristic determination.
Zoro, meanwhile, sat cross-legged with Kuina. He was attempting to achieve Jinzen, a meditative state that allowed a swordsman to communicate with their Zanpakuto and unlock greater power.
For Zoro, this wasn't just about growing stronger—he longed to connect with Kuina's soul once more.
Sanji, rarely one to focus on training, donned the advanced combat suit Ikki had given him. Adapting to its augmented capabilities would be crucial if he wanted to keep up with the others.
As for Ikki, his path was different. He lacked the natural talent of Luffy or Zoro and relied heavily on tools like the Marrow Cleansing Pill. Even with its benefits, he struggled to reach the insane levels of physical prowess common in the One Piece world.
For him, the lottery system was his lifeline to improving his strength.
Meanwhile, in Alabasta's Rainbase, within Crocodile's lair, the shichibukai placed a receiver back on its hook with a chilling indifference.
"Mr. 3 has also lost contact… along with Miss Goldenweek," he said, his voice dripping with contempt.
Crocodile remained calm, his expression unreadable. Noticing this, Nico Robin offered a teasing remark.
"Do you think they betrayed you?"
"Hmph! Just some trash!" Crocodile retorted, his voice dripping with disdain.
In truth, he couldn't care less about Mr. 5 or Mr. 3. Compared to someone like Mr. 4, their combat strength was laughable. Mr. 3's wax-based powers had potential, but his lack of creativity made him a disappointment. As for Mr. 5, with a Devil Fruit that let him create explosions from his own body, what did he choose to do? Flick boogers.
What truly upset Crocodile, however, was the loss of Mr. 13 and Miss Friday. Unlike the others, these two were animals with intelligence rivaling humans, and he had trusted them more than most of his subordinates.
But Crocodile quickly dismissed thoughts of his missing agents. Bigger concerns loomed on the horizon.
"Nico Robin," he said coldly, turning his attention to his partner. "What's the status of the investigation I assigned to you?"
Robin's teasing smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression. "It's confirmed. The Revolutionary Army, the real one, is coming to Alabasta."
Her report made Crocodile narrow his eyes in contemplation.
He had long been aware of the small revolutionary factions in Alabasta, little more than disorganized groups riled up by Baroque Works' manipulations. Their aim was to overthrow the royal family of Alabasta—a goal that aligned with his plans.
But the real Revolutionary Army was another matter entirely. This was an organization that sought to challenge the oppression of the World Government itself, not just local rulers.
Crocodile didn't know much about their strength, but one fact was clear: an organization that could threaten the World Government wasn't weak. If they were, the Marines would have crushed them long ago.
After weighing his options, Crocodile made a decision. He would meet with the Revolutionary Army personally. At the very least, he couldn't let them interfere with his plans.
Meanwhile, aboard the Going Merry, Ikki sat on the deck, his mood visibly cheerful.
His latest ten-draw attempt at the lottery had yielded a surprising bounty of valuable items:
Gravity Bracelet: A training tool that could increase the wearer's gravitational load for strength training.
Virtual Helmet Set: A device allowing users to engage in combat within a digital world, sharpening their skills in a controlled environment.
Calabash Brothers Seed: A rare item granting clairvoyance when consumed. The power's duration and range depended on the user's physical strength.
Eight Legendary Kitchen Utensils: Famous culinary tools from the world of Chinese Little Master. Each utensil had unique properties that enhanced cooking, though their effects were considered modest compared to higher-tier treasures.
Ikki had plans for each item.
The Gravity Bracelet was an obvious choice for training—it would help the crew grow stronger. The Virtual Helmet Set would provide invaluable combat experience for everyone, particularly when real-world sparring wasn't an option.
The Calabash Seed would go to Usopp. As the crew's sniper, clairvoyance would complement his sharpshooting skills perfectly.
Finally, the Legendary Kitchen Utensils were destined for Sanji. While their effects weren't groundbreaking, they were far superior to ordinary tools and would enhance the quality of Sanji's cooking.
But of all the items, what thrilled Ikki the most was a rare find: Foundation-Building Spiritual Liquid.
This miraculous elixir, famously used by Xiao Huohuo in Battle Through the Heavens, had the power to enhance the user's physique and unlock hidden potential. Unfortunately, it was a single-use item.
Ikki decided to keep it for himself.
Eager to test his new items, Ikki slipped the Gravity Bracelet onto his wrist. Adjusting it to double the normal gravity, he immediately felt the pressure throughout his body.
"Not bad," he muttered, increasing the gravity to four times the norm.
At four times gravity, he felt the strain but managed to move comfortably. It was challenging, but not overwhelming.
Curious to test his limits, Ikki cranked the setting up to ten times gravity.
Under the intense weight, every movement became a struggle. His muscles, bones, and even internal organs strained against the pressure. It was exhausting—but it was also exactly what he needed.