Training Begins!

The night passed quickly.

The next morning, Buggy, Mohji, Shuma, Lilina gathered together.

Buggy looked at the group and said, "I asked Mr. Rayleigh yesterday, and he promised to guide my training. You... why don't you train with me too?"

"So, it's time for more training...?" Shuma rubbed his nose with his finger. "What kind of reward will I get if I come in first place?"

"I have no objection, but Mr. Rayleigh is such a big shot... Is he willing to guide us?" Faced with a legendary figure, Mohji became somewhat insecure.

"If it's just a few people, I don't think Mr. Rayleigh will mind," Buggy replied, then looked at Lilina, "What about you? What are your thoughts?"

After thinking about it carefully, Lilina said, "For the next while, I want to stay in this bar and learn intelligence gathering and analysis from Shakky."

"Oh... that's not bad either!" Buggy nodded. Lilina already possessed extraordinary disguise skills, and if she could learn intelligence gathering techniques, it should be of great help to him in the future!

Next, Buggy dialed the Den Den Mushi (a type of Den Den Mushi) that was placed on the Big Top.

"Is everyone here?" he asked, holding the Den Den Mushi. After receiving a response from the other end, he continued, "I've found Mr. Rayleigh to guide my training. If all goes as expected, I'll be going to some deserted island for training. What are your plans...? If you haven't decided yet, you can come with me."

Nilek's voice came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi: "I won't be going with you to train. I want to stay here and use this island where I can trade all sorts of resources to collect rare materials and improve the Big Top."

Buggy laughed, "Is that so...? That's something to look forward to!"

Mikuru then said, "I am also very interested in the island's unique climate, and since it is located at the midpoint of the Grand Line's currents, I will stay on this island for a while to continue acquiring nautical knowledge."

Then came Kaya's voice. "Uncle Buggy, the peculiar bubbles on this island seem somewhat similar to the Devil Fruit I possess... I'd also like to learn more about the properties of these bubbles here, so that I can help everyone more in the future!"

"Okay, I got it." Buggy asked the Den Den Mushi, "So, what about Cabaji?"

The Den Den Mushi switched to Cabaji's appearance, with half of his hair hanging down his face. His voice was very gloomy. "This is where seven shipping routes converge. There should be many skilled swordsmen passing through this island. As long as I stay on this island, I can improve my swordsmanship by sparring with them."

"Then you need to be careful..." Seeing that the four of them had made up their minds, Buggy didn't dwell on the matter any longer. He concluded by saying, "There should still be over 40 million Beli on the ship. That should be enough to cover your expenses for the next while. Also... remember, never mess with the Celestial Dragons. At least, now is not the time. Well then... see you later!"

Kaya said in a gentle voice, "Uncle Buggy, please take good care of yourself too!"

Cabaji said earnestly, "Captain Buggy, I will definitely train hard during this time and will not let you down!"

Nilek said proudly, "Don't worry, I'll take care of the Big Top. When Red Nose comes back, I'll give you a real surprise!"

Mikuru pouted, "So annoying, so annoying! Anyway, we'll be back soon. Do you guys have to make that face... Hey, Red Nose Uncle, is Shutaro coming back soon? I want some grilled fish!"

Hearing his name called, Shuma leaned closer and said to the Den Den Mushi, "I want to go train too, little cat. When I come back, I'll make you some really, really delicious grilled fish!"

"Ugh..." Mikuru said pitifully, "Then you must come back soon, or the cat will starve to death!"

"Alright... that's all, take care!"

Buggy hung up the Den Den Mushi and waited for Rayleigh in the bar with Shuma and Mohji.

A moment later, Rayleigh emerged from the back room, looking refreshed and still wearing his original clothes. He looked at Buggy and said, "Let's go!"

Buggy glanced at Mohji and Shuma behind him, then turned to Rayleigh and said, "Mr. Rayleigh, I'd like to take these two companions with me on our training."

"Oh...?" Rayleigh looked at Mohji and the other man, a glint of light flashing in his glasses. "You... are you prepared for this too?"

Mohji replied nervously, "Yes!"

Shuma laughed happily, "Ready!"

"Let's go together then." A look of interest flashed in Rayleigh's eyes. He tossed aside his cloak and walked out of the bar, with Buggy other two following behind.

The group arrived at a shoreline. Rayleigh took off his coat, revealing his strong, muscular physique. He first threw the coat onto a small boat that could only hold three or four people, and then began to stretch his muscles.

Mohji looked somewhat bewildered. "Mr. Rayleigh, what are you trying to do?"

Rayleigh looked up at the horizon. "I'll lead the way, and you all follow behind in the boat. Our destination is the Calm Belt of giant Sea Kings nests, so you'd better row fast, or you'll run into some trouble."

"Lead the way..." Mohji stared in disbelief. "And, are we going to row... through the Calm Belt?"

Any pirate who has spent a few years navigating the seas has surely heard of the Calm Belt. Once trapped Calm Belt, it's like falling into hell, with no chance of recovery. Even birds struggle to cross Calm Belt Rayleigh now having his crew paddle across the Calm Belt... This... this can't be a joke, right?

"Come on up, Mohji!"

Buggy was prepared and pushed the small boat from the shore into the sea. Shuma, without any sense of danger, jumped onto the boat with a grin. Mohji swallowed hard, knowing there was no turning back, and gritted his teeth to get on the boat as well.

The three of them each picked up a paddle, and Rayleigh, with the graceful movements of a dolphin, plunged into the sea, suddenly unleashing a terrifying speed. Buggy and the others quickly rowed after him, not daring to slacken their pace for a moment.

Even in the water, Rayleigh's skills were still terrifying. He was like Fish-Man, cutting through the waves and swimming at lightning speed. Even with Buggy two companions paddling with all their might, they could only barely keep up with Rayleigh's figure.

"He's actually going to swim across the Calm Belt, what a terrifying man..." Mohji's shock didn't subside; instead, it grew increasingly unbelievable. "This is the legendary Pirate King's right-hand man..."

Buggy said seriously, "Mohji, don't underestimate yourself. As long as you train diligently, you might be able to reach this level in the future!"

"Can I... reach that level too...?"

Buggy's high praise ignited a surge of fighting spirit in Mohji, who exclaimed, "Ahhh, I'm going to train hard!"

As he spoke, it was as if an electric motor had been installed in his arm, making the oar in his hand spin like a fan.

"Mickey's ingredients are amazing, I want some too!" Seeing Mohji's actions, Shuma's eyes ignited with a competitive spirit, and he quickly spun the oar.

With their frantic rowing, the two finally closed the distance between the small boat and Rayleigh, who was swimming freestyle.

The vast, azure ocean stretched as far as the eye could see, and the intense paddling had been going on for a full three hours.

For three hours, Buggy and his two companions didn't let up for a moment. Their arms, constantly paddling, were already aching and numb, but Rayleigh continued swimming forward tirelessly. Seeing that the small boat behind them was about to disappear, he swam back a little and shouted, "You guys hurry up and catch up! We haven't even reached the halfway point yet!"

Sensing the vast gap between himself and Rayleigh, Buggy took a deep breath, looked resolutely ahead, and rowed with all his might.

Mohji wanted to say something more, but he swallowed it back, gritting his teeth and maintaining the same paddling frequency as Buggy. Every second that followed felt like being in hell, tormented by raging fire.

Then, two hours later, the sea suddenly became very calm, and even the sound of the wind could not be heard... We had reached the Calm Belt!

"Move faster!"

Rayleigh waved ahead, and compared to Buggy and the other two, his complexion didn't look like he'd been swimming in the ocean for four or five hours; it remained completely unchanged. Then he continued swimming forward.

"There's only a little bit of travel left..." Buggy looked at Shuma and the other man on the boat and whispered a pep talk, "We're almost there!"

Both Shuma and Mohji looked troubled, but they gritted their teeth and persevered.

Because there was Calm Belt, the small boat actually moved much faster, and the three of them worked together to move towards Rayleigh's direction.

Four hours later...

Finally, a small island with lush vegetation appeared ahead. Buggy and Mohji used their last bit of strength to steer the small boat to the shore.

"Finally here, I'm exhausted..." Even the usually energetic Shuma lay weakly on the ground, panting heavily.

Mohji also lay sprawled on the ground, tears streaming down his face. "I thought I'd never touch the earth again, sob... even the sand smells so familiar!"

Rayleigh shook off the seawater, feeling refreshed, and put on his jacket from the boat. He laughed heartily, "It's been so long since I've exercised like this, it feels so good..."

Buggy finally managed to sit up, his right hand, which had cramped from overexertion, trembling as he placed it on his forehead. "It's not comfortable at all. I had a terrible gaming experience... I almost died just now..."

Just an hour before arriving on the island, the exhausted Buggy and his two companions finally encountered a giant Sea Kings. Fortunately, Rayleigh, who had returned, dealt with the Sea Kings, and the three of them were able to reach the shore safely.

Rayleigh laughed, "Haha, Buggy, don't say that! This is a rare opportunity for training!"

"I know..." Buggy could only manage a wry smile, rubbing his cramped arm as he answered, "The training began the moment we set off from Sabaody Archipelago ..."

"Yes," Rayleigh said. "Under extreme conditions, a person's potential is more easily unleashed. If you want to become stronger, you must accept trials that are unbearable for ordinary people. And the training that follows will not only not be easier than before, but will become increasingly difficult. As I said, once you begin training, you will never have the chance to quit halfway... Do you regret it now?"

"The storm of the times is approaching..." Buggy looked up at Rayleigh, "To ride this storm, moving forward is my only choice."

"Is that so..." Rayleigh's gaze met Buggy's with a hint of doubt. "You seem to have confirmed something?"

"It's been almost 22 years since Captain Roger ushered in the Great Pirate Era. In order to prevent the pirates from running rampant, the Navy must take action to suppress their arrogance. However, what the Navy is waiting for is just one opportunity, an opportunity that could appear at any time, and this opportunity will change the era."

"It sounds like you have a premonition of the future..." Rayleigh said, quite surprised. "However, perhaps, as you say, a new era is about to begin..."

Buggy thought to himself, "Soon... it will be here!"

After a while, Rayleigh said, "You must be very tired today. Let's rest here for a bit, and I'll tell you about the island later."

After saying that, Rayleigh dashed into the jungle, and returned moments later with a pile of dry firewood in his arms and a huge, unconscious mountain hare dragging him along.

Shuma perked up and volunteered to take on the task of cooking.

Afterwards, everyone gathered around the campfire to eat roasted meat, and Rayleigh slowly began to speak, "This island is called Rusukaina's an island with 48 seasons, where the weather changes every week. The natural environment is extremely harsh. It's said that a long, long time ago, there was a country here, but in the race for survival, humanity was defeated... This is a formidable place under the cruelty of nature!"

His gaze sharpened slightly. "And the number of ferocious beasts is countless, probably in the tens of thousands. Based on your current strength, a rough estimate... there should be over five hundred beasts on this island that you cannot defeat. Starting tomorrow, I will no longer intervene. If you don't improve your combat strength, I'm afraid you won't even be able to sleep well at night..."

"That's amazing..."

Even Mohji and Shuma, who had already mastered Observation Haki, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. Their Mantra range was only about three or four hundred meters around them, which was far inferior to Rayleigh's.

"You should all have mastered Observation Haki. Next, I will teach you the basics and advanced techniques of Observation Haki, as well as the fundamentals and applications of Armament Haki..."

Then, Rayleigh asked, "Speaking of which, Buggy, how long do you plan to stay here?"

"I'm not entirely sure either; it could take anywhere from six months to a year..."

"I see... This time is still very tight. I think you should focus on one type of domineering Haki based on your own strengths. This will be more efficient."

Buggy nodded and replied, "Understood, Mr. Rayleigh."

"Understood!" Mohji and Shuma said in unison.

Rayleigh said, "Now that you have made up your minds, the training will officially begin tomorrow!"