Desperate Training on a Deserted Island

The next morning, Julian began his training regimen on the deserted island. The first step was increasing his strength, so Julian chose to run while carrying a dirt-filled sandbag. The second step was increasing his speed. As the saying went, of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, fleeing was the best. If you couldn't win, just run. Take that guy Ai Mazi, for example. He clearly couldn't beat Akainu, yet he insisted on charging in headfirst. So what if Akainu insulted Whitebeard? He could always get revenge on Akainu later. Julian's verdict was simple: what an idiot.

Julian said solemnly, "When in doubt, run. Blackbeard is a fine example. When he saw that things were going wrong and the battle situation was unclear, he ran immediately. Pride isn't important; staying alive is what matters." Julian decisively hoisted the dirt-filled sandbag and started running, shouting as he ran, "I'm the Escape King of the Pirate World! I'm going to survive until the very end! When I decide to run, not even Jesus can stop me!"

By noon, Julian finally stopped, panting heavily. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and sat on the ground to rest. Julian said helplessly, "I'm starving to death." He took out the giant crab left over from last time and began eating. After a few bites, Julian found it tasteless. "It was pretty good yesterday, but it doesn't taste good today. Seafood really can't be left overnight!" Julian slept for a while, then resumed developing his Devil Fruit ability that afternoon.

That evening, Julian began practicing boxing again. He recalled how Garp trained his Fist Bone: without coating his hands in Armament Haki and without using any Devil Fruit ability, he would pound sandbags with his fists. Later, he would pound steel warships. Once his fists could produce booming thuds, Fist Bone would be complete.

Julian also refrained from using his Devil Fruit ability and punched tree trunks and sandbags with his bare fists. At first, Julian's fists couldn't withstand the recoil from the trees, and pain made the corners of his mouth twitch. But when Julian thought that if he couldn't even get past the first step, he could only become a Chopper in the future, he gritted his teeth and said resolutely, "I can't become a Chopper. I still have to fulfill my dream!" Julian clenched his teeth and began training, repeatedly throwing punches at the tree. He didn't care what happened to his fists. So what if there was recoil? Julian would do it anyway.

A month later, Julian went to the beach to hunt for food again. The tide was out today. After a week of training, Julian could feel that his strength had improved. He could run much faster, and he had become stronger as well. Julian was very satisfied with his progress, but he still decided to train hard for a while longer. For now, he had to endure the loneliness.

Julian saw several giant crabs foraging on the beach. Without a word, Julian activated his Swamp-Swamp Fruit ability. Mud Bullet! His entire body turned into a huge lump of muddy earth, and he launched himself at a giant crab. One crab was instantly taken down. The remaining crabs tried to attack Julian, but he shouted, "Mud Machine Gun!" Julian shaped both hands like pistols, and mud bullets shot from his index fingers. They fired like machine guns, instantly killing several crabs. Julian smiled. "These will keep me training for quite a while."

Julian brought the crabs back to his little mud house. "Heat the pot and add oil. Smells amazing," he said. "Seafood like this tastes especially good even without salt." After eating his fill, Julian prepared to develop his Devil Fruit ability again. He ran to the swamp at the center of the island and began controlling the Swamp Mud, shaping it into whatever form he wanted. Julian smiled. "My Swamp-Swamp Fruit is also an Earth-Earth Fruit, and also an Earth-Earth Fruit. I can control all earth. I'm the strongest King of Earth!"

Julian transformed his right hand into a giant mud dragon, twenty meters long and five meters wide, which continuously flew through the air. "Mud Dragon Giant Soldier!" Julian said. The mud dragon formed from his right hand continuously attacked the area ahead of him. It struck a tree and instantly knocked down a massive tree five meters thick.

Julian said delightedly, "Not bad power. I copied this from Magellan, the warden of Impel Down—his Poison Dragon Giant Soldier. His Poison Dragon Giant Soldier really is a great technique. He can control several poison dragons for long-range attacks while freeing up both hands. Two fists can't beat four hands. As long as I have enough mud dragons, I can wear down enemies around my level until they die."

Two months later, Julian said, "I've been here for three months already, yet no pirates or Marines have passed by. This is really terrible." Julian then said helplessly, "I'm an Earth-Earth Fruit ability user, yet I'm going to die alone on a deserted island. A genius like me is destined to be unable to fit in on the Sea." Julian shouted, "Why hasn't anyone come yet? I don't care whether you're pirates, Marines, pirate hunters, or adventurers who like courting death—just come already!"

Julian said hesitantly, "I don't even have a compass. Even if I build a wooden raft, I won't know where to sail. If I drift somewhere terrible, I'll die right away. I haven't even married yet. My father hopes I can carry on the family line and preserve our surname. I should endure a little longer." After thinking it over, Julian realized that pirates were most interested in treasure, while Marines were most interested in pirates. He ran to the island's highest mountain and wrote, in black mud, that there was treasure on the island. Julian looked at his writing and said, "Now I'll just wait for someone to come."

Julian activated Mud Dragon Giant Soldier. Two enormous mud dragons emerged directly from behind him, looking very similar to Tian from Wugeng Ji. Julian leaped straight from the mountaintop toward the ground. When he reached the ground, the mud dragons behind him immediately braced themselves. A huge crater was smashed into the ground, and dust flew everywhere.

Julian said excitedly, "I really figured out how to use Mud Dragon Giant Soldier. Magellan's Poison Dragon Giant Soldier may have high attack power, but after eating the Venom-Venom Fruit, Magellan has diarrhea for twenty-three hours a day. He's destined to sit on the toilet while dealing damage. I don't have any side effects at all. My Mud Dragon Giant Soldier is miles ahead."

That evening, Julian casually ate until he was full before beginning his Fist Bone training. With determination on his face, Julian said, "As long as I train desperately, I won't be lonely." He then resumed his frantic training. After three months of training, Julian's Fist Bone had become extremely tough. Even when he punched a large tree, there was no recoil at all, and his fists could produce booming thuds.

The next morning, Julian went to the beach again and looked out at the sea, watching the raging waves on the surface.

Julian said expectantly, "I'm willing to trade five hundred years of that little bastard Momonosuke's lifespan for a Pirate Ship to come here, or a Marine ship. If five hundred years isn't enough, I'll add another five hundred years of a heroic man's lifespan." Julian watched as the outline of a ship slowly appeared on the sea. Julian was overjoyed. "That actually worked? I must have found the password to this world. Amazing!" Julian then said seriously, "I need to test their strength first. If I accidentally kick an iron plate, I'll be finished. If I can't beat them, I'll join them. If I can beat them, I'll recruit them."

As the ship drew closer, Julian saw that it was a pirate ship. There were more than a dozen pirates on its deck. At the front stood a lecherous-looking pirate captain with a face full of beard and a hat on his head. He looked to be in his thirties and stared at Julian viciously. "Kid, this island has treasure?" Julian put on a fawning expression and asked, "Sir, what's your bounty?" The vicious pirate leader burst into laughter. "Listen carefully... Your grandpa here is the great pirate with a five-million-Berry bounty, Quick-Blade Nedup! I'm the strongest pirate in the South Blue! Hahaha!"

Julian laughed as well and asked in confusion, "You Chopper, you dare call yourself a great pirate with a bounty of only five million? I thought you were one of the Four Emperors. Have you no shame at all? Do you dare come ashore? Your grandpa will kill you." Upon hearing Julian's mockery, Nedup's face instantly reddened. He roared, "You brat! I'll chop you to death!"

Nedup leaped down from the bow, his face full of rage and the scruffy beard around his mouth fluttering wildly. Nedup drew his katana and shouted, "Gale Style Swordsmanship, Quick Blade Slash!" He slashed directly at Julian's head. Julian gave a sinister chuckle and immediately activated his elemental transformation. His head split into four pieces.

Nedup said in terror, "A Devil Fruit ability user?" Julian's mud head immediately returned to normal. His right hand transformed into Mud Dragon Giant Soldier, and the twenty-meter mud dragon opened its enormous mouth and bit Nedup's head off in a single bite. The members of the Quick-Blade Pirates had just been cheering Nedup on, but in less than a minute, Nedup had lost his head. Every one of them wore a terrified expression.

Julian jumped onto the deck and activated Mud Dragon Giant Soldier Mode. Three enormous mud dragons coiled behind him, making him look incredibly powerful and imposing.

All the lackeys looked at Julian with even greater fear. Julian wore a vicious expression as he said, "Does anyone want to be buried with him? Anyone who wants revenge can come forward." Julian swept his gaze around, but not a single person dared step forward for revenge. An older middle-aged man pleaded, "Sir, please spare our lives. We were all forced into this. That bastard Nedup said he'd kill us if we refused to become pirates."

Julian said solemnly, "Of course I won't slaughter innocents. Killing only the ringleader is enough." Several lackeys hurriedly begged, "Spare us, sir! We'll never dare become pirates again!" Seeing that his show of force had achieved its effect, Julian withdrew Mud Dragon Giant Soldier and smiled. "If you don't want to be pirates, what do you want to be?" A lecherous-looking man said, "Anything is fine. We can even be dogs, as long as we get to live."

They're even more afraid of death than Momonosuke. They're utterly useless. Julian said sternly, "I am going to establish my own pirate crew. Anyone who betrays me will receive five million Berries from me. Those loyal to me will have at least one billion in the future."

All the members of the Quick-Blade Pirates said worshipfully, "Really, sir? As long as we're loyal, we'll have one billion in the future?" Julian smiled. "Money is just paper to me. What I want are utterly loyal companions." Julian's words stirred everyone up, and they all cried out, "Sir, we want to join your pirate crew! Sir, give us a chance!"

Julian asked curiously, "Where are the officers from your pirate crew?" The lecherous-looking man's face darkened. "Only us are left. We were chased by the Marines. We had three ships, but this is the only one remaining."