After Buggy agreed to Nilek's modifications to the Big Top, he left the Prap Temple, presumably to prepare for the ship's modification work.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was the fifteenth day since they arrived at Bailie Island. Prap's body had fully recovered, and he began to personally teach Buggy and the others the power of the Mantra, explaining and demonstrating it in detail without reservation.
The ability of Mantra can only be cultivated step by step; there are no shortcuts. However, having someone lead the way makes progress easier and faster than wandering around aimlessly like a headless fly. As the number one Mantra user on this Three Gods Island, Prap naturally has the qualifications to lead the way.
These days, the intensity of the Mantra training has been gradually increasing. For example, at the beginning, each person only had one trainer, but later, one person stood in front, behind, left, and right, striking randomly with sticks and attacking in a cross-attack manner.
This kind of blow is more difficult to dodge than the initial one, and it is also constantly guiding and developing the potential within these people.
In other words, the Mantra is Observation Haki, an innate ability of people in this world. As long as this power is guided out of the body, it is possible to achieve a breakthrough similar to going from 0 to 1. Although it is difficult, once successful, the combat power will be greatly improved.
Buggy has been pondering the Mantra these past few days. He's the kind of person who, once he sets his mind to something, will relentlessly pursue it. Of course, the lingering personality traits from the original owner of the body also influence him. A man who has been searching for Captain John's Treasure since setting sail, even more than twenty years later, he hasn't given up the search—a testament to his unwavering willpower!
Cabaji and the others followed Buggy's example, burying themselves in their studies and never giving up, as if they had returned to their arduous training on Gravity Island.
Time flies like an arrow; it's already the thirtieth day since we arrived at Bailie Island.
In the central open courtyard of the Prap Temple, Baki, blindfolded and Buggy, moved nimbly, weaving through the blows of iron bars. Unless the angle was too tricky, the iron bars couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes.
Even though his hearing and sight were taken away, he could still "see" his surroundings; the trajectory of each swing of the iron bar was reflected in his mind.
Buggy lowered his head, clenched his fists to his sides, and then turned.
A metallic clang rang out as the two iron bars Buggy was holding collided with two other iron bars swung by the trainers.
Then, Buggy released his grip, and the four trainers also withdrew their iron bars and took a step back.
Buggy removed the blindfold and earplugs, just in time to hear Prap's laughter. "Looks like you've mastered the Mantra ability!"
"That's right, I can now sense the individual presence of each person in my mind, although it's very vague and weak, but this is a feeling I've never had before..." Buggy also felt very strange, and punched the air twice more, a surge of emotion emanating from his heart.
He wasn't the fastest to learn Mantra. Shuma learned it on the seventeenth day, and Mohji learned it on the twenty-ninth day, while Cabaji and Lilina were much slower.
Prap said, "Your current Mantra is only at the very beginning. There is no shortcut to further Mantra training; you can only proceed step by step, mastering it and using it freely."
"I understand." Buggy looked at Prap seriously. "Although this is an equal exchange, thank you for your guidance these past few days."
"Haha." Prap chuckled, habitually touching his hair. "Indeed, it was a deal, so there's no need to thank me."
To be fair, this God Plap wasn't as irritable as Nilek described, and he had been wholeheartedly imparting his knowledge these past few days without holding anything back. It's unclear why Nilek and he couldn't get along.
Mikuru and Kaya finally emerged from the temple's library. Over the past month, they had read through almost all the books in the library that were related to their majors, gaining a great deal of knowledge.
Mikuru, who had just come out of the library, approached Buggy and asked, " Red Nose Uncle... when are we leaving here?"
Buggy knew what Mikuru was referring to. Having been so focused on his Mantra training these past few days, he'd almost forgotten his sense of time. He blinked and thought, "What day is it today...?"
"We've been on this island for thirty days," Mikuru replied, referring to the day Buggy arrived; otherwise, it would have been even longer.
"Really? Has it been that long...?"
Even though he had budgeted for the time, Buggy was still surprised; he hadn't expected a month to pass so quickly!
"Plop plop plop..."
A voice came from the inner pocket of the captain's cloak on the stone shelf. Buggy, who had just come to his senses, went over and answered the Den Den Mushi. Nilek's voice came from the other end.
" Red Nose, your ship is all modified. I'm currently on the shore of Dawn Village. You can come and take over now."
"I understand... I'll be right there!" Buggy thought for a moment, hung up the Den Den Mushi, glanced at Lilina and Cabaji who were resting, pondered for a moment, and then walked over to ask, "How are you feeling?"
Cabaji shook his head. "This power is somewhat similar to ' Paper Art '... I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to learn it in a short time."
After all, due to preconceived notions, the ability to Paper Art actually limited Cabaji's ability to focus wholeheartedly on learning Mantra, which is probably what is meant by like repels like.
Buggy then looked at Lilina, who innocently stuck out her tongue, a hint of grievance in her voice. "I've already tried my best!!"
"Oh..." Buggy nodded. It seemed this guy would have a hard time learning it in a short time...
He then turned to Prap, "Thank you for your hospitality these past few days. We're now preparing to leave the island..."
As soon as he finished speaking, the attention of Mohji, Cabaji, Shuma, Kaya, Lilina, and Mikuru in the courtyard all focused on Buggy.
"Haha, really!" Prap laughed, looking at Lilina and Cabaji. "However, they don't seem to have learned Mantra yet."
"It's alright, they've already mastered the techniques for cultivating the Mantra. All they lack is time. I'll keep an eye on them from now on."
"I see..." Prap nodded and said, "You are the strongest Blue Sea People I have ever met in all these years. If I have the chance in the future, I would like to see you again."
"Yes, when I reach the ends of the earth, I might come back here for a proper tour."
"Tourism...?" Prap paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, "Haha, what an interesting Blue Sea People!"
Buggy chuckled silently, then glanced around at Cabaji and the others, shouting, "Guys, get ready, let's go!!"