Training Forbidden

Several days later.

The warship cut through the waves.

Its mast snapped in the wind, and its hull carved through the deep-blue sea, leaving a long trail of white foam.

The brutal battle on the deserted island seemed far behind them.

But the wounds it had left—

Were nowhere near healed.

Sakazuki had never intended to kill Crocodile when he struck.

His goal had been clear from the start.

Cripple him.

Then bring him back.

Those crushing magma punches had looked lethal, but they had deliberately avoided his vital points.

And after fighting Bullet to the death for an entire day, Crocodile had already exhausted his strength.

He had pushed the Sand-Sand Fruit to its limit, too.

When the red-hot magma came crashing down—

He had almost no strength left to resist.

Sakazuki had noticed and had not added Armament Haki to finish him off.

What had truly devastated Crocodile was magma's natural advantage over the Sand-Sand Fruit.

Heat.

Melting.

Charring.

One element overpowering another.

So after the ship's doctor worked through the night to cool him down, clean his burns, and force fluids into him through an IV—

Crocodile had barely survived.

Now.

On the warship's deck.

The sun blazed overhead.

A salt-laden sea breeze blew across the deck.

At its center, a tall figure was doing weighted push-ups.

A heavy iron weight pressed against his back, and veins bulged along both arms.

Bandages covered his body, wrapped thickly around his shoulders, chest, and abdomen.

Pale red blood seeped through the white cloth.

"Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-seven."

"Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight."

"Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine."

"Ten thousand."

Bullet pushed himself up with a low growl. Sweat ran down his temple and struck the deck.

Plop.

He did not stop.

His fists hit the