"Jambarl, let's test your strength!" Ryuuto said with a light smile, his eyes fixed on the former slave.
Hearing this, Jambarl instantly understood. The insights into Observation Haki that had flooded his mind had come from Ryuuto. "Captain, thank you!" he said gratefully. "I'm ready!"
"Hmm?" Hancock and the other two women immediately looked over, guessing what had happened. They turned their curious gazes toward Jambarl.
Crackle...
Ryuuto casually raised his right hand, and a bolt of blue lightning shot forth.
This lightning is fast, but I feel like I can see its trajectory. It's aiming for my left arm! Jambarl's eyes narrowed as a wave of clarity washed over him.
Whoosh!
In a flash, Jambarl vanished, reappearing a hundred meters away.
Boom!
The bolt of lightning tore through the afterimage Jambarl had left behind and slammed into the ground, sending clouds of island vapor into the air and leaving a small crater.
"So this is Observation Haki? It's incredible!" Jambarl exclaimed, looking back at Ryuuto with undisguised joy.
Seeing that Jambarl had learned Observation Haki, Nami and Vivi were happy for him as well.
"Jambarl, calm your mind and focus all of your will!" But Ryuuto's standards were higher. He intended to seize this opportunity to have Jambarl master Armament Haki as well.
"Contract your spiritual energy, then concentrate it into your right fist!" Ryuuto instructed softly as he walked toward Jambarl.
"Contract? Concentrate?"
Jambarl listened and began to follow the instructions. He slowly closed his eyes and extended his right hand. An invisible energy rippled over it—his still-unstable spiritual power.
"Yes, just like that!" Ryuuto nodded in satisfaction, seeing how quickly Jambarl was getting the hang of it.
Crackle!
A burst of lightning erupted from Ryuuto's body, and he instantly appeared in front of Jambarl.
"Now, gather that power into a single point and unleash it!" Ryuuto roared, his own right hand clenching into a fist that turned the color of obsidian. He was personally demonstrating Armament Haki as he threw a punch at Jambarl.
Countless black lightning arcs crackled around Ryuuto's fist, which was coated in a powerful layer of Armament Haki. Feeling the pressure of Ryuuto's attack, Jambarl instinctively threw his own right fist forward.
Boom!
The two fists collided with brutal force. A shockwave swept outward, sending Jambarl staggering backward. A huge cloud of steam rose from the ground, obscuring both their figures.
"That's not enough! Again, Jambarl!" Ryuuto's voice rang out from within the mist. The two figures flickered in and out of existence, clashing furiously in mid-air.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
With each punch thrown, Ryuuto could feel the will and spiritual energy wrapped around Jambarl's fists growing stronger.
It's working! In that case, I'll have to turn up the heat! Ryuuto thought to himself.
His speed increased, and he launched a relentless barrage of attacks against Jambarl, hoping to force out his latent potential.
Crackle!
Arcs of black lightning flared constantly. Under Ryuuto's dense assault, Jambarl's expression grew more and more solemn. Though he was being pushed back step by step, he gritted his teeth and pressed forward.
"Condense!"
Suddenly, Jambarl roared. He stomped his right foot hard on the ground and threw his right fist forward with all his might.
In that instant...
One arc!
Two arcs!
More and more black lightning sparked to life around Jambarl's right fist, which instantly hardened into the color of obsidian.
Crack!
Jambarl felt a distinct snap in his mind.
Armament Haki, he's mastered it!
Boom!
Two obsidian-hued fists slammed together, unleashing a torrent of colliding black lightning and a powerful波動 that shook the air.
"Alright, that's enough! Congratulations, Jambarl. You've now learned Armament Haki!" Seeing this, Ryuuto slowly retracted his aura and spoke with a smile.
"Thank you, Captain! Thank you!" Jambarl was still immersed in his excitement and replied happily.
Hahahaha, looks like my teaching skills are pretty top-notch. I should be nominated for the Master Teacher list! Ryuuto thought, his mood soaring.
"Captain! You're amazing!"
"Ryuuto, you're incredible!"
Hancock and Nami, having witnessed Ryuuto teach Jambarl both Observation and Armament Haki in such a short time, happily ran over, showering him with admiration.
Just then, Vivi, who had secretly taken a few more sips of wine, also came running over, her cheeks flushed.
"Captain, you're so strong!" Vivi said as she slowly wrapped her arms around Ryuuto's right arm.
In an instant, his arm was enveloped in softness.
"Vivi!"
Hancock and Nami snapped, but they didn't understand. A Vivi who had been drinking was like a different person entirely. Her usual princess-like composure vanished, replaced by the carefree and adventurous spirit that lay within. In this state, Vivi only listened to her heart.
Seeing that Vivi paid them no mind, Hancock and Nami shot a fierce glare at Ryuuto instead.
Jambarl, seeing the situation, subtly averted his gaze.
For a moment, a... 'cheerful' atmosphere filled the air.
After sleeping for a full day, Crocus finally woke up.
"Old man, you're finally awake!" The first thing Crocus saw upon opening his eyes was Ryuuto sitting beside him, heartily devouring a large piece of meat.
Grrrrumble!
At that moment, Crocus's stomach rumbled betrayingly.
"Hahahaha, I knew you'd be hungry when you woke up! This is all for you!" Ryuuto laughed and pushed the pile of cooked meat in front of him toward Crocus.
"Then I won't be polite!" Crocus replied hastily before grabbing a chunk of meat and tearing into it. It was no exaggeration to say that after unleashing so much lightning energy, he felt like he could eat an entire Sea King.
Ryuuto slowly stood up and walked to the edge of the island cloud, gazing into the distance.
"Imu!" As Ryuuto spoke, a faint golden pattern pulsed over his heart.
"Captain, where are we heading next?" After eating a substantial amount, Crocus's eating speed visibly slowed down.
"I want to make a trip to Mary Geoise," Ryuuto said calmly, but his tone held an unshakeable certainty.
"What? The Holy Land Mary Geoise?" Crocus was so shocked that he forgot to swallow the roasted meat in his mouth. "Captain, don't tell me you're planning to get revenge on Imu?" Being a seasoned veteran, he had immediately guessed Ryuuto's intentions.
Ryuuto said nothing more, merely continuing to stare into the distance. His silence was confirmation.
"Captain, there are some things I haven't said, but I'm sure you're aware. Imu... they are far more powerful than you can imagine!" Seeing Ryuuto unmoved, Crocus immediately got up and stood beside him, trying to persuade him.
"I know, Crocus. But I want to try..." Ryuuto said softly. A gust of wind blew past, carrying his voice far away.
"Hancock, Nami, come quick and talk some sense into the captain! He's gone mad!" Seeing his words had no effect, Crocus rushed onto the Ark Maxim to get Hancock and Nami. He figured if he couldn't dissuade Ryuuto, maybe the two of them could.
"Crocus, what happened?" Nami was the first to rush out of the cabin upon hearing the commotion.
Click-clack...
Hancock followed, her high heels clicking on the deck.
"The captain... he wants to go to the Holy Land Mary Geoise alone!" Crocus yelled as if he'd found his saviors, rushing up to them.
"What's wrong with that? Didn't you guys already raid Marine Headquarters?" Nami asked, confused by Crocus's extreme reaction. In her view, if the Celestial Dragons needed the Marines for protection, how threatening could their Holy Land be?
"Ryuuto, are you really going?" Hancock walked gracefully to Ryuuto's side and asked softly. As a former Warlord, Hancock had attended her fair share of meetings with the World Government. She had a very bad feeling about Mary Geoise. Setting aside the several powerful presences she had sensed there, the place itself felt like a deep abyss, giving off a sinister and terrifying aura.
"I understand your concerns, and I'm prepared. But no matter what, I have to repay that strike on Fish-Man Island," Ryuuto said, looking at Hancock earnestly to show her he understood the risks and had made thorough preparations.
"If that's your decision, then I won't try to stop you," Hancock said, moving to stand by his side. "It is only Mary Geoise! There is nowhere we cannot go!" She had made up her mind. Wherever Ryuuto went, she would go with him.
Nami, seeing this, also moved to stand on Ryuuto's other side.
"This..."
"Hancock, Crocus, Nami, I think you've all misunderstood me," Ryuuto said, slapping his forehead. "I'm just going to get some payback, not on a suicide mission. I have a way to get back safely. In fact, if you all come with me, I won't be able to fight freely!" he explained with utmost sincerity.
"Really?" The three of them stared at him.
"Mhm!" Ryuuto nodded emphatically.
Considering all the mysteries surrounding Ryuuto, they finally relaxed.
Another day passed. During this time, Ryuuto casually crafted a Raigo. However, it was slightly different from Enel's. Although this Raigo was only one or two thousand meters in diameter, it was filled with golden lightning of annihilation. Its destructive power was far more terrifying.
"Alright, just wait here for my return!" Ryuuto shouted to the five of them from the sky. Then, with his right hand guiding the island cloud, he quickly disappeared over the horizon.
"Hancock, the captain will be okay, right?" Vivi asked her friend worriedly.
"Relax! There's nothing the captain can't do!" Nami replied dismissively, though in truth, she was also worried. Before Ryuuto left, she had stacked layer upon layer of luck buffs on him.
"He's already left, and now you're starting to worry?" Crocus felt utterly helpless. Here I am, a seventy-year-old pirate, worrying myself sick for all of you.
Clutching Rayleigh's Vivre Card, Ryuuto sped toward the Red Line.
Crackle!
Above his head, within the island cloud, the constantly flashing golden lightning served as an undeniable testament to its presence.
After flying for two or three hours, Ryuuto finally saw the ten-thousand-meter-tall Red Line in the distance. Several large cumulus clouds drifted before it, further emphasizing its towering height.
"Hehehe... I've finally arrived!" Ryuuto murmured, coming to a halt. He then ascended further, reaching an altitude of 15,000 meters. From there, he carefully began to move toward Mary Geoise, located at the center of the Red Line.
I wonder if Imu will sense my presence ahead of time. Their perception has always been strange. They could detect Fish-Man Island from tens of thousands of meters away, yet they let Sabo get the drop on them, Ryuuto pondered.
But there was no answer. He would have to find out for himself.
50 kilometers!
30 kilometers!
10 kilometers!
As the distance closed, Ryuuto not only carefully controlled the Raigo in the sky but also suppressed his own aura completely.
5 kilometers!
2 kilometers!
1 kilometer!
At this range, Ryuuto could clearly see Pangea Castle below.
Just as he was about to move closer...
Vwoom!
An exceptionally powerful presence locked onto him.
Imu!
Ryuuto's heart leaped. He instantly accelerated, no longer caring for stealth, and shot directly over Mary Geoise.
"Ryuuto!"
At that moment, in the Room of Flowers, Imu's eyes turned blood-red. Their gaze seemed to pierce through the castle walls, fixing directly on Ryuuto. They remembered this presence—the one who had blocked the strike from Uranus on Fish-Man Island.
"You've come at a good time. There will be no escape for you," a hoarse, demonic whisper rasped from Imu's throat. As they spoke, countless shadows emerged from their body, and one狰狞 after another filled the entire room.
"He has a disgusting smell about him!"
"Let me eat him!"
"Gegege, such powerful energy. It's making my mouth water!"
"Is it my turn to play now?"
The shadows writhed, and from within them came voices filled with malice, cruelty, and madness. It was clear these shadows were living things.