The Ark Maxim cleaved through the seawater and, guided by the deep-sea shipping lanes, sailed towards the Sabaody Archipelago above.
Shortly after they left, in the royal palace of Fish-Man Island,
Jinbe held the Den Den Mushi that Roy had given him, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
"Brother Fisher Tiger... where are you?"
In the deep sea, enormous shadows slowly drifted.
The Ark Maxim sailed smoothly through the deep-sea channel, its massive coating slightly deformed under the pressure of the deep sea, emitting a soft humming sound.
The air inside the ship is specially treated to maintain suitable humidity and temperature, but you can still feel the unique chill and pressure of the deep sea.
Deep-sea navigation is truly amazing.
Yamato leaned against the observation window, watching the various deep-sea creatures swimming by outside.
Glowing lanternfish, giant octopuses, swarms of jellyfish, and the occasional shadow of Sea Kings.
I was also surprised when I first passed by here.
Charon stood beside her, pointing to a huge whale slowly swimming past the window.
"That's a deep-sea whale, capable of diving to depths of ten thousand meters. There are many such creatures near Fish-Man Island."
Kyros and Scarlet were also experiencing a deep-sea voyage for the first time, and both were captivated by the spectacular sight.
But Kyros quickly refocused and continued practicing his swordsmanship on the deck.
Hawk Eyes gave him a heavy task—he had to master the art of Steel Cutting before arriving in Alabasta.
Therefore, Kyros spent almost all his time practicing swordsmanship, except for necessary rest and meals.
"The 1300th time..."
Kyros swung his sword at the Seastone alloy steel plate in front of him.
The blade struck the steel plate, producing a harsh scraping sound and leaving a shallow white mark, but the steel plate remained intact.
He was breathing heavily, sweat dripping down his chin.
It has been three days, and he has swung his sword more than three thousand times, but he still cannot cut through the specially made steel plate.
"Take a rest," Scarlet said kindly, handing him a towel and some water.
Kyros shook his head, his eyes resolute.
"That's not enough," Mr. Hawk Eyes said. "The key to Steel Cutting is not strength, but 'intention.'"
I must find that feeling...
Close your eyes and recall the scene of Hawk Eyes cutting through the steel plate.
That wasn't a simple swing of the sword, but rather... a kind of will that seemed to "want" to sever the target.
"The sword is not a tool, but an extension of the arm, a vessel of will."
Hawk Eyes's words echoed in his ears.
Kyros took a deep breath and raised his sword again.
This time, he didn't rush to swing the sword. Instead, he focused on feeling the sword in his hand, feeling its weight and balance, and feeling the connection between himself and the sword.
Gradually, a strange feeling welled up in his heart. The sword in his hand seemed to "come alive," no longer just cold metal, but a part of his will.
"Cut!"
A flash of sword light.
There was no harsh collision sound, only a slight "hiss" sound.
The Seastone alloy steel plate was cut in half, the cut as smooth as a mirror, and the upper part slowly slid off, falling onto the deck with a "clatter".
Kyros stared blankly at the sword in his hand, then at the severed steel plate, unable to react for a moment.
"It... it's a success?" he murmured to himself.
"Good."
Hawk Eyes appeared behind him without him noticing, a rare hint of approval in his eyes.
"You mastered Steel Cutting in three days; your talent is even greater than I imagined."
However, this is just the beginning.
He pointed to another, thicker steel plate.
"Next, practice Steel Cutting while moving, and Steel Cutting in battle."
A true swordsman can always unleash his full power.
Kyros nodded emphatically. "Yes!"
Scarlet watched her husband's progress with pride in her eyes.
She knew how much effort Kyros had put in—sleeping only four hours a day, developing thick calluses on his hands, and his palms cracking and healing repeatedly.
But she did not try to dissuade him, because she understood that this was the path Kyros had chosen himself. As his wife, all she could do was support and accompany him.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the training field, Bullet was "instructing" Savi, Enel, and Pea.
It was supposed to be guidance, but it felt more like one-sided abuse.
"Too slow! Observation Haki isn't for escaping, it's for predicting attacks!"
Bullet threw a punch, which Savi narrowly avoided. The force of the punch grazed his cheek, leaving a burning pain.
" Enel, is your Cloud-Cloud Fruit only capable of Thundercloud thunderclouds?"
"All those books Roy arranged for you to read, did you just waste your time?"
What is the composition of a cloud?! Have you seriously explored its structure?!
Pirates are not a game for you to play!
Bullet threw a punch, forcing Enel back, then pointed to the sky.
"Clouds don't just produce thunder!"
Cumulonimbus clouds, stratus clouds, cirrus clouds, cirrocumulus clouds... each type of cloud has different characteristics!
You can create fog to obscure vision, and you can create hail for area-of-effect attacks.
It can create updrafts to alter the battlefield environment, and even generate acid rain to corrode enemy weapons and bodies!
"I... I just haven't had time to develop it yet!"
Enel gritted his teeth, struggling to block Bullet's punches.
The Pea use their plant abilities to create various obstacles on the deck.
Vines entwined, carnivorous plants devoured, and poisonous stingers sprayed—but all of this was easily destroyed in front of Bullet.
"The application of these techniques is too rigid! Plants are living things; we need to bring them to life!"
Bullet stomped on the spreading vines, crushing them with a single step.
Imagine they are your hands and feet, an extension of your will!
The three boys were scolded until they were covered in dust and dirt, but their eyes still burned with a defiant spirit.
Vera and Moria were also constantly operating their 'Internal Forging' techniques, trying their best to catch up with everyone else.
Yamato, watching this, was eager to try it himself. "I want to train too!"
Roy glanced at her.
" Yamato, you should be quiet. Your training schedule is different."
Come to my place this afternoon, I'll teach you how to use it in Haki way.
Yamato's eyes lit up. "Really? Roy, Boss Roy!"
Roy looked at the energetic girl and sighed inwardly.
Kaido's bloodline is indeed powerful. Although Yamato young, her physical strength and Haki talent far surpass those of ordinary people.
If properly trained, they will undoubtedly become top-tier combatants in the future.
Moreover, having her on board can further strengthen the alliance with Kaido.
Although Roy doesn't fully trust his ambitious "ally," the Beasts Pirates are an important asset, at least for now.
Half a day of deep-sea sailing,
As the Ark Maxim accelerated, bright sunlight shone through the seawater, causing deep-sea creatures to gradually decrease and the water temperature to rise.
"We're going out!" Yamato shouted excitedly.
"We're back in Paradise."
Stella confirms her location.
"We are currently in the first half of the Grand Line, three days' journey from Alabasta."
Back on the surface from the deep sea, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Deep-sea navigation, though spectacular...
But the sense of oppression and the ever-present danger kept people on edge.
"Finally, I can bask in the sun!" Savi lay on the deck, enjoying the warm sunshine.
Pea carefully collected some unusual plant samples from the deep sea; these were valuable research materials.
Kyros continued practicing his swordplay, while Scarlet helped him record his training data.
The newlyweds have already integrated well into life in the pirate crew.
Roy returned to the captain's cabin and picked up the latest intelligence about Crocodile.
Alabasta, a desert nation, is located in the first half of the Grand Line.
And this year's Supernova Crocodile appeared in Alabasta around this time.
" The Logia Sand-Sand Fruit... grants the user control over sand, allowing them to elementalize their body, making them virtually invincible in desert environments."
Roy pondered,
"To recruit such a person, one must demonstrate absolute dominance."