Chapter 282: Monster

Late at night.

A desolate island beach.

A crowd of workaholics under Gao Wen's command gathered here, bare-chested, engaging in arduous cultivation; their shouts merged into a roar, drawing frequent glances from the surrounding crowd.

Even though a fierce battle had just ended not long ago, and many still bore wounds, nothing could stop their frenzy for becoming stronger.

If their cultivation before was to feel the pleasure brought by a strengthening body,

then after experiencing the brutal battle at Water 7 and witnessing the gap between themselves and the world's top experts, the tiny shred of pride in their hearts was completely crushed.

Especially after realizing that if Gao Wen and Aokiji had not blocked the strongest enemy, there would have been no possibility of survival for their side, it was even more so.

Whoosh—!

The biting wind pierced the incoming waves.

Xiang Keluo skated across the water, rushing forward with all his might, exploring the possibilities of the Sickle-Weasel Fruit.

All he saw before his eyes was the scene of himself and Jango joining forces, yet still being easily suppressed by Wang Zhi.

Only an unspeakable unwillingness filled his heart.

Having obtained a fruit that perfectly matched him, he believed he already possessed combat power not inferior to that of a Warlord of the Sea.

Yet when facing a pirate like Wang Zhi who approached the level of a Yonko, all he felt was still an unspeakable sense of powerlessness.

But the more this happened, the more Xiang Keluo could not swallow a single breath of resentment.

He could accept losing to Gao Wen, after all, that was a monster that could not be estimated by common logic.

But what he could not accept was losing to anyone other than Gao Wen, even to an extremely arrogant old fellow.

"The ability of the Sickle-Weasel, my ability, should not be limited to this extent!"

"I can feel that boundary; once broken through, it will be another world. Perhaps I can catch up to that monster's footsteps..."

"But where is the deficiency?!"

The wind over the sea became increasingly violent.

From time to time, astonishing force erupted from Xiang Keluo's body, sending up water splashes dozens of meters high.

It was just that the faint, almost imperceptible boundary he could feel at all times; he wanted to break through, yet ultimately fell just short.

Hiss—!

After a sound of gasping for air.

Xiang Keluo hovered above the sea surface; the restlessness in his heart gradually calmed, and his mind settled at this very moment.

All his vision could reach were the rising and falling waves and a bright moon reflected on the water's surface.

After panting slightly, Xiang Keluo resumed his cultivation, exploring the boundaries of the Sickle-Weasel Fruit and the limits of his own abilities.

Zoro and Sanji clashed, proving the will in their hearts to the utmost on the beach, and expanding their techniques.

Kick techniques accompanied by flames and flying slashes flashed across the beach.

Roubo Luqi and Jango discarded their abilities and engaged in close-quarters combat; every move was ruthless. If not for the fact that they never struck each other's vital points, onlookers would have thought this was a bloody slaughter rather than cultivation!

Van Augur, Chopper, Bepo, Miss Kalifa...

The cultivation of the surrounding crowd also gradually entered a state of flow.

They buried their heads, immersed in the state of cultivation, seizing every moment to improve their combat power.

Their goal was to avoid experiencing a tragedy like Water 7 in the future, or at least ensure they would not become the one dragging everyone down.

Nami stood aside, watching the cultivating crowd, instinctively pressing her lips together.

Unlike the crowd of monsters who still had room for growth, he had already seen his own limits not long after entering the Grand Line.

That was an impassable chasm, no matter how much one cultivated.

She had forgotten how long it had been since she last felt improvement; she only remembered that the last time she picked up a sword or blade was in Drum Kingdom.

Even though she was unwilling, she had to admit that she no longer possessed the strength to fight alongside these people.

Although neither Gao Wen, Xiang Keluo, nor any other crew member would care about this, Nami herself found it hard to accept that she would always be the one to be protected from start to finish.

She was far stronger than she appeared, and even more stubborn than Gao Wen had anticipated.

"..."

"Truly envious of these monster-like guys."

Nami couldn't help but let out some sighs, yet a kind of unspeakable loss was on her face.

"There is nothing to envy about monsters."

A sudden voice broke the silence; Nami turned her head and saw Reiju with a gentle smile on her face.

She was still Gao Wen's captive; when Akainu let her go, she left with Gao Wen's group.

As for the other members of the Germa family, whether they could survive depended entirely on whether their luck was hard enough.

Compared to the identity of Germa 66, Reiju preferred her current situation, after all, here everyone around was a living, emotional human being.

Not a group of brothers stripped of normal emotions, or mass-produced cyborgs without even a sense of self.

By comparison, even the captives under Gao Wen's command seemed more human.

Especially...

Reiju turned her head to look at the distant beach; when her gaze touched upon Sanji, it became even gentler.

She naturally saw the abnormality in Sanji.

The high-temperature flames coiling around Sanji's feet were enough to char the flesh and blood of an ordinary person, yet had no effect on Sanji.

Obviously, Germa's modification technology had taken effect on Sanji; this ability, completely unreasonable for an ordinary person, was the best proof.

Sanji might be the only successful work of Judge, powerful yet possessing the emotions of a normal human.

Not an incomplete personality...

Monster.

"Reiju..."

Nami was somewhat stunned, but seeing the gentle smile on Reiju's face, she gradually relaxed.

Reiju is Sanji's older sister, and even more so, the only relative Sanji acknowledges; neither Sanji nor Reiju had any intention of hiding this fact.

Nami naturally already knew.

Even upon seeing Reiju, her heart gradually settled.

Nami lowered her head, pressing her lips tightly:

"I am gradually unable to keep up with my comrades' pace."

"I cannot accept it."

Reiju paused, then reached out and rubbed Nami's head:

"You are unwilling to become a burden to your comrades?!"

"If you only seek the power for self-preservation, then the Devil Fruit is the most cost-effective existence."

"In exchange for the eternal loss of the ability to swim, one gains various miraculous abilities; and if lucky, one might even obtain an ability like that of Jin Shizi, powerful enough to make an entire island float."

"Make an entire island float..."

Nami murmured softly, yet her eyes gradually brightened.

As a navigator, and the one who charts the course for everyone,

Nami naturally understood what a pirate ship capable of flying in the sky truly meant.

Yet Nami was also clear that Devil Fruits often cost over a hundred million Beli, and top-tier abilities like the Float-Float Fruit could be speculated to reach sky-high prices of tens or even hundreds of billions of Beli.

How could she possibly afford it?

But Reiju's words undoubtedly opened another line of thought for her...

Since her own strength is insufficient and her talent limited, she could compensate through external means.

The Devil Fruit is one path, but there might not necessarily be no other way!

With this thought,

Nami could no longer sit still. After hastily thanking Reiju, she turned and returned to the camp, rummaging through her navigation books until she quickly found an ancient text that was already somewhat worn.

"Weather, air currents, electric currents... these can all become weapons! Combined with each other, they can also produce tremendous power!"

Rustle-rustle—!

The sound of turning pages echoed loudly in the camp.

Based on weather changes, the prototype of weapons capable of generating small-scale electric currents and clouds and mist soon took shape in Nami's mind.

Early the next morning, Nami approached Franky and explained her general idea to him.

"Truly a super genius idea!"

Franky nodded heavily, marveling at Nami's whimsical thoughts and bowing to the navigational knowledge in her mind; he patted his own chest:

"Leave this matter to me!"

"I also very much want to try what kind of power a weapon produced based on this theory will have; perhaps it can be used on that dream ship!"

"A warship capable of influencing the weather—just thinking about it makes one incredibly excited!"

"Influencing the weather... a warship?!"

In Nami's mind, the blueprint of the Pluton she had inadvertently seen flashed by, but is such a thing truly something humans can manufacture?!

Perhaps...

I misunderstood.

It is just that my design sparked certain inspiration in Franky, to be used in future ship designs.

"By the way!"

Franky, acting mysteriously, leaned close to Nami's ear and said:

"Does Gao Wen's ship still lack a shipwright?!"

One hour later.

The morning sun rose, dispelling the lingering chill of the night.

Everyone gradually gathered outside the camp; after Bally led his subordinates to count the people, he led the group to set off for the next stop.

They must reach the next island before their supplies are exhausted; they have no time to waste.

Law followed behind the crowd, watching Bepo, who seemed to have grown even stronger beside him, his heart pounding.

Damn it!

Just one day of training produced visible changes; if this continues, what will happen?

At this rate, how long will it take for Bepo to surpass me?

Two months? Three months?

No!

Perhaps not even that long!

Thinking of this, Law felt as if he would suffocate on the spot.

Seeing the exaggerated footprints behind Bepo made it even worse.

He then realized that the pirates under Gao Wen's command were strengthening at a rate far more outrageous than he had imagined.

And what was even more infuriating was that the rate at which Roubo Luqi, Kuroobi, and others were strengthening would only be faster than Bepo's!

Realizing this, Law even felt the urge to lower his pride and directly request to join their crew.

No!

I must hold on!

Endure a moment now, and the road ahead will be easier!

"By the way."

Bepo stretched his shoulders and neck, performing warm-up exercises before beginning cultivation, and said to Law, intentionally or not:

"I heard Franky has already brought the Franky Family to join Mr. Gao Wen's ranks and has now become a shipwright under Mr. Gao Wen."

"What did you say?"

Law jolted, panic instantly seizing him.

He turned his head to look at where Gao Wen's group was positioned.

Indeed.

At this moment, Franky had already gathered within the crowd, joking and playing with everyone, even leading the members of the Franky Family in cheering for his own recruitment!

Many among them had already eagerly followed Xiang Keluo and Xiang Jin to join the ranks of those cultivating.

As a result, the glacier itself seemed to grow a bit more lively.

The exhausted survivors, seeing this scene, could not help but show a faint smile, their moods improving considerably.

Only Law's mood could hardly be described as wonderful.

"Law."

Bepo could not help but remind him:

"If you have any thoughts, you must hurry."

"I heard it from Senior Chopper."

"Before Mr. Gao Wen entered the New World, he followed the path of an elite small group; the number of people on the pirate ship has always been maintained at a scale of only a few dozen."

"Even if not all members of the Franky Family can board the ship, many elites among them will choose to follow Mr. Gao Wen to the New World."

"There are barely any spare spots on the ship to begin with; every one used is one less. You..."

Bepo turned his head to look; where was the shadow of Law beside him?

The latter had already transformed into a blur, rushing toward Gao Wen's group in the distance!

"Mr. Gao Wen!"

"Please allow me to join your ranks!"

Boom!

In front of everyone, Law stood before Gao Wen, his face filled with sincerity; where was the previous attitude of waiting for a better price?

"Uh..."

Gao Wen did not react immediately; he was slightly stunned and was about to speak, but Law grew anxious first.

To be honest, he really wanted to vigorously rub Bepo's bear head right now.

That damn thing only spouts useless nonsense all day; why didn't it mention such critical information earlier?!

So it wasn't that Gao Wen was waiting for him, but that there were barely any spots on the ship to begin with, and now the Franky Family had snatched them first?!

Damn it!

These were supposed to be mine!

Seeing Gao Wen stunned, Law assumed he was preparing his words to refuse.

After all, he had once been under Jin Shizi's command; logically, he stood on the opposite side of Gao Wen's group, and a normal person would carry some degree of caution at such a time.

"My abilities are very special; you should be able to use them."

Law simply threw caution to the wind:

"The Surgical Fruit is not only extremely powerful in the field of surgery; it can even accomplish things beyond imagination."

"For example, directly removing a target's heart without harming the latter's life."

"Really?!"

Xiang Keluo, who had hurriedly gathered around, brightened; the perfect use for this ability instantly flashed through his mind.

As Gao Wen's pirate group grows larger and larger, certainly not everyone will be as loyal as the core members present; many more will be moderates.

But if one holds the other's life in hand, that is a completely different situation.

Xiang Keluo glanced at Gao Wen.

He knew Gao Wen possessed a heart of benevolence toward companions and toward the lower classes, but if it were an enemy, Gao Wen would strike without any mercy.

"You can do it?!"

Law nodded.

A faint smile lingered on Xiang Keluo's lips:

"As a test for your recruitment, then, offer up your heart!"

"Captain?"

"No problem, right?!"

Gao Wen did not speak; he simply looked at Law faintly, his meaning unmistakable, while the crowd gathering around also adopted a posture of watching the show.

Hiss—!

Law took a deep breath, then raised his hand to draw Onigiri, the blade pointing at his heart, preparing to thrust it in.

A large hand, however, stopped his action.

"That's enough."

The familiar voice made Law's action pause; he raised his head and saw Gao Wen with a face full of mocking amusement.

"Just teasing you..."

"Newcomer!"

The words had barely landed.

Laughter erupted all around; led by Franchi, the crowd without hesitation tossed Luo into the sky, then caught him safely.

Up and down they went.

Luo's expression shifted from initial panic to helplessness, and finally to booming laughter.

(End of Chapter)