"Found it..."
With his mental powers reaching their peak, Roy finally detected that subtle presence.
Armament Haki energy is like tiny specks of dust, hidden within every cell of the body.
Carefully guiding a wisp of energy, I led it to my heart, where it circulated throughout my body along with the blood.
"Hmm..."
A sharp pain shot through me, and I immediately dissipated the energy.
Roy felt the energy spiraling out of control as his blood accelerated, like a wild horse running rampant within him.
"It's not that simple after all."
Roy wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes gleamed with excitement.
He also fell into a misconception, thinking that as long as he concentrated this energy and let it enter his heart and bloodstream, he could complete the ' Internal Forging '.
But how could the result of Zephyr's countless refinements be so simple?
"It's not about centralization, but about decentralization..." Roy mused.
Roy tried again, this time more cautiously.
Instead of concentrating Armament Haki energy, it is left to remain in its original state.
Mental power acts like the most nimble fingers, allowing these tiny energy particles to be evenly integrated into the body's bloodstream.
As the blood surges, these energy particles are constantly colliding, being compressed, and being tempered in this process.
And in this process, he clearly perceived that...
During these collisions, some of the relatively "loose" and "fragile" parts of these energy particles will be naturally "ground up" and "removed."
Meanwhile, the remaining core components are continuously compressed and condensed in this process, becoming more resilient and purer.
This is like a piece of ore. Ordinary training makes it bigger and bigger by digging it out, while this " Internal Forging " repeatedly melts, purifies, and forges the mined ore to finally get a small piece of indestructible steel!
"No wonder Zephyr's Armament Haki is so ridiculously strong..."
Roy sighed,
"For decades, it has been undergoing this process of 'forging steel through repeated tempering,' so the 'density' and 'purity' of its Armament Haki naturally far surpasses that of ordinary people."
With his powerful mental strength and high level of control over his body, Roy quickly grasped the essentials of the process.
Time and again, the Armament Haki particles within the body are guided to flow throughout the body with the blood, returning to the heart, and then surging to the limbs and bones with each heartbeat, in a continuous and endless cycle.
"Gurgle..."
"Gurgle, gurgle..."
A sudden, intense hunger pang interrupted Roy's cultivation.
I opened my eyes and found my muscles trembling slightly, and a burning emptiness in my stomach.
"This kind of consumption..."
Roy immediately realized that this " Internal Forging " was not only refining Armament Haki energy, but also rapidly depleting his physical strength.
Immediately have the Pea fetch some food.
As the food was swallowed, a warm current flowed through my limbs and bones.
But at that moment, Roy keenly noticed something unusual—the speed and efficiency of energy absorption this time were significantly faster than usual!
What happened?
Calm your mind and carefully perceive the changes in your body.
Suddenly, Roy discovered a surprising fact.
During the process of Armament Haki energy being refined and tempered as it flows through the blood, it's not just Armament Haki that is being refined.
Even his flesh, blood vessels, and even bones were being washed away by the Armament Haki energy particles.
It silently honed and strengthened his physique.
Although the improvement brought by each cycle is negligible, its advantage lies in its continuous nature, and it proceeds in sync with the training of Armament Haki!
"I see!"
Roy's eyes flashed with a sharp light.
"This is the true secret behind the incredible strength of ' Black Arm ' Zephyr's physique! The Internal Forging of Armament Haki can actually enhance his physical body!"
This discovery thrilled Roy.
This means that as long as he persists in this training method, his Armament Haki strength and physical strength will increase in tandem, complementing each other and forming a virtuous cycle!
Of course, this also places higher demands on energy replenishment.
Roy looked at the food rapidly disappearing in his hand and smiled helplessly.
"It seems we'll have to plant more 'high-yield' crops with Pea in the future."
I stood up, tried to stretch my muscles and bones, and carefully sensed the changes in my body.
Both the strength of his physique and the quality of his Armament Haki have seen a slight improvement, albeit a very slight one.
The people on the ship were also keeping a close eye on Roy's cultivation. When they saw Roy get up, several of them quickly surrounded him.
"So, did it work?"
"Um!"
Roy nodded and explained the effects of this training method to everyone in great detail.
This instantly ignited the passion for cultivation among the people on the ship, who began practicing the Six Powers, hoping to Life Return as soon as possible and reach a higher realm.
One day later,
On the edge of a remote Calm Belt, the White Dove finally arrived at the agreed-upon location.
From afar, everyone could see a giant ship, entirely gold and red, hundreds of meters long, silently floating on the sea, its streamlined hull gleaming dazzlingly in the sunlight.
The original oar-like shapes on both sides have been replaced, and the wing-like design highlights its flight capability.
"That's... the Ark Maxim?" Savi's mouth dropped open.
Even the usually composed Hawk Eyes couldn't help but be slightly moved. "Truly a masterpiece by Master Tom."
Just then, a bolt of lightning flashed from the ship.
Tesoro appeared on the deck of the White Dove, arms outstretched, a proud smile on his face.
"Boss! Come and see our new ship!"
"This is Master Tom's masterpiece, a work to which he poured his heart and soul!"
When everyone boarded the new ship they had always dreamed of,
With my feet firmly planted on the solid deck constructed of the Treasure Tree Adam and gold, the fatigue of the past few days seemed to vanish instantly.
Stella gently stroked the brand-new hull, a hint of reluctance showing in her eyes.
Looking back at the White Dove that has accompanied them on their voyage to this day, the old ship, which carries countless memories, appears exceptionally small against the backdrop of the Ark Maxim.
"Reluctant to part with it?"
"Are we really going to do this?" Stella asked softly, her fingers unconsciously tracing the gunwale.
Roy walked to her side, his gaze also falling on the White Dove:
"It carries our starting point and has witnessed our growth. But it's just an ordinary pirate ship; the journey ahead requires new companions."
Roy raised his hand, and an invisible Telekinesis slowly lifted the White Dove. The ship swayed gently on the sea, as if bidding a final farewell.
"Rather than let it wander elsewhere, it's better to let it rest in peace here."
Roy's voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable determination.
Let the sea witness our past and protect our memories.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the White Dove slowly sank into the sea.
The bubbles bubbled and gurgled, like a final farewell. Sunlight filtered through the seawater, casting dappled shadows on the hull, until the last piece of canvas disappeared into the deep blue.
Just as everyone was immersed in a sad mood.
Tesoro then led everyone on a tour of the Ark Maxim, explaining its various functions, especially the flight system powered by gold and lightning.
Roy stood at the bow,
Looking down at the azure sea and the churning clouds in the distant sky, a sense of pride welled up within me.
Although their decisive break with Zephyr put them in grave danger, the rewards were equally significant.
Looking back at his companions:
Bullet and Hawk Eyes are familiarizing themselves with the new ship's environment.
Savi and Enel looked around curiously, while Stella carefully examined the ship's structure.
And the Pea that are using their abilities to grow plants and prepare food for everyone.
And then there's this Ark Maxim of wisdom, embodying dreams and technology.
"Everyone!"
Roy's voice reached everyone's ears clearly, pointing towards the New World.
"Rest for two days and familiarize yourselves with the new ship!"
Then—set sail and embark!
"Target: Fish-Man Island!"
"Oh!!!"
The cheers of the crowd resounded through the sky, filled with boundless anticipation for the future.