Thirteen Protectors Hard Qi Training

Ronan took a deep breath, channeling his Qi into his Dantian. His entire demeanor shifted, becoming profound and ancient, like a bronze bell weathered by the ages.

"The name of this technique is--Thirteen Protectors Hard Qi Training!"

In his previous life, during that era of declining magic, Ronan had never practiced this technique.

It was too difficult, not only severely testing one's physical talent and requiring immersion in medicinal baths from a young age.

Furthermore, a slight misstep in Qi circulation could injure the internal organs. In peacetime, it was utterly useless and incredibly expensive to practice.

But in this world of Pirates, everything was different.

The physical condition of humans here was practically a cheat code.

Luffy had astonishing recovery abilities; no injury couldn't be fixed with a large meal.

Zoro possessed a monstrous physique that allowed him to fully recover just by sleeping.

Coupled with the various magical beast meats and ingredients in this world, it was a paradise for Hard Qi Training techniques!

And Ronan himself possessed the [Perseverance] system panel.

As long as he trained, he would grow stronger, with no bottlenecks and no limits.

This Hard Qi Training, called "brute force kung fu" in his past life, was destined to unleash terrifying brilliance far surpassing the original in his hands.

"Are you ready?"

Ronan unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his robust and smoothly muscled physique.

Under the moonlight, his muscles contained explosive Strength.

"Bring it on!"

Zoro took off his shirt, exposing his lean upper body, and casually tossed his wine cup aside.

Luffy pulled down his straw hat, grinned, and struck a fighting stance.

"First, remember this breathing method."

Ronan began to demonstrate.

His chest heaved violently, and a low growl, akin to Tiger Leopard Thunder Sound, emanated from his throat.

With each inhale, his abdomen deeply caved in.

With each exhale, all his muscles instantly tensed, like a solid iron plate.

"Qi circulates through the Ren Du meridians, with intent focused on the Dantian. The moment an attack lands, hold your breath and push outwards with your muscles!"

"Now, close your eyes! Feel my attack!"

Ronan let out a low shout.

The next moment, the deck transformed into a training ground.

Ronan didn't use an iron spear, but his fists.

His figure blurred into an afterimage under the moonlight, his punches whistling, attacking their vital points without mercy.

"To your left!"

Zoro closed his eyes, his brow furrowed, trying to catch that wisp of wind.

He suddenly shifted to his right.

"Bang!"

A muffled thud.

Ronan's fist didn't appear to his left but landed squarely on Zoro's right shoulder.

"Ugh!" Zoro grunted, stumbling from the blow, but he immediately tensed his muscles as Ronan had taught, enduring the strike.

Although a sharp pain pierced him, he could feel the force vibrating through his skin, as if forging raw iron.

"So painful! But... so exhilarating!" A hint of madness flashed in Zoro's eyes.

"Luffy, your turn!"

Ronan turned and unleashed a whip kick.

Luffy closed his eyes, his ears twitching. Relying on his beast-like intuition, he quickly ducked.

"Swish--"

The kick grazed the top of Luffy's head.

"Dodged it! Hehe!" Luffy was about to gloat.

Ronan's transition was incredibly fast. The leg swept downwards, directly changing into a cleaving kick, slamming hard onto Luffy's back.

"Crack!"

"Ouch! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!"

Even though Luffy was a rubber man, under Ronan's deliberately applied "Penetrating Force," he was still grimacing in pain.

"Stop whining! Circulate the breathing method! If you don't want to get hurt, use your Observation Haki to dodge!" Ronan shouted sternly, acting like a strict devil instructor at this moment.

"Again!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Under the moonlight, a special "group brawl" was unfolding on the deck of the Merry.

Ronan played two roles, acting as both a sparring partner for Observation Haki and a hammer for practicing his Iron Bone skill.

His fists and feet rained down, hitting Luffy and Zoro mercilessly.

At first, the two were almost completely on the defensive.

The dull thud of flesh colliding echoed across the silent sea, making Nami and Usopp, watching from the side, jump with fright.

But slowly, the situation began to change subtly.

Zoro started to get bruised and battered, but his resistance to damage visibly improved.

His breathing grew steadier, and his muscles instinctively hardened the moment they were hit – a cumulative effect, a transformation from quantity to quality.

As for Luffy, his beast-like intuition began to awaken.

He closed his eyes, and his body started making incredibly bizarre, evasive twists unconsciously.

Out of ten attacks, he went from being hit every time to occasionally dodging one or two.

And Ronan himself, although not as exaggerated as the 5x multiplier from his Deathmatch mode, was enjoying himself with the 3x multiplier from his combat mode.

Sweat flew like rain.

All three men were radiating heat, like three war gods being forged in fire under the cool moonlight.

Nami wrapped her blanket tighter around herself, looking at the three tireless figures. The disdain in her eyes gradually turned into admiration.

"What a bunch of... monsters."

The sea breeze grew stronger, blowing the brand-new skull flag, making it flap and rustle, as if providing accompaniment to this special training session.

The Grand Line lay ahead.

And they were forging their bodies into the strongest weapons capable of conquering that sea.

East Blue, an unknown sea area.

The sky was just beginning to show the pale white of dawn, and the sea was shrouded in a thin layer of morning mist, as if veiled by a mysterious veil.

The Merry swayed gently with the current, occasionally letting out a "creak" from the rubbing of its wooden planks, breaking the silence before dawn.

However, the deck was already solemn.

"Hoo—breathe—"

Three figures stood side by side, knees slightly bent, rooted to the deck like ancient trees.

Ronan was in the center, with Luffy and Zoro flanking him.

As the first ray of golden sunlight pierced the clouds above the horizon and fell on their bare torsos, the three almost simultaneously expanded their chests, letting out a low roar from their throats before slowly exhaling a stream of condensed white breath.

The white breath gathered in the cool morning breeze, not dispersing, and extended several feet.

Ronan slowly finished his practice, his joints popping like cracking beans.

Beside him, Zoro ended his stance training. His bare torso was covered in a fine layer of sweat, shimmering with a glossy sheen in the morning light.

The lean muscle lines were distinct, trembling slightly with his breathing, filled with explosive power.

Zoro looked down at his arms and pinched them hard. His skin made a tough sound, like crumpling parchment.

"Hey, Ronan."

Zoro looked up, his eyes showing a hint of barely concealed excitement:

"That 'Thirteen Taibao Iron Bone' you had me practice yesterday, I feel like it's really useful."

"After just one night, I feel like my skin and muscles have become very resilient, like... like I'm wearing a layer of invisible armor."

Luffy, standing beside them, also giggled and pulled at his own cheek:

"Yeah, yeah! Even though I'm a rubber man, I feel like my skin has gotten thicker! I accidentally bumped into the mast just now, and it didn't hurt at all!"