The Pluton Battleship floated in deserted waters like an exhausted metal behemoth. After the fierce battle with Kizaru, its hull had suffered damage in many places, and its energy level had once fallen below 1%, leaving it able to sail only at minimum speed.
In the infirmary, Allen slowly opened his eyes and sucked in a sharp breath at the intense pain throughout his body. The Power of Zhulong was accelerating the healing of his wounds, but the injuries inflicted by an Admiral were far from ordinary.
"Allen! You're awake!" Ace, who had been keeping watch beside the bed, cried out in delighted surprise, immediately drawing the others over.
Luffy stretched his rubber arms, nearly knocking over the medical equipment. "Allen! I'm so glad you're okay!"
Sabo was calmer, but his eyes were also full of concern. "How do you feel? You were badly hurt."
Allen struggled to sit up. He looked around at his brothers' concerned faces, then at the damaged hull outside the porthole, complicated emotions welling up inside him.
"We've... relied too much on external things." Allen's voice was a little hoarse. "Pluton is powerful, but its energy is limited. The conch can summon Sea Kings, but we can't count on them every time."
He recalled every detail of the battle with Kizaru. "An Admiral-level powerhouse far surpasses us in speed, strength, and Haki. If it hadn't been for Pluton and the Sea Kings, we would already have..."
Silence fell over the infirmary. Everyone recalled that harrowing battle. Kizaru's figure, swift as light and lightning, had left a deep impression on them.
"Allen is right." Sabo was the first to speak, tightening his grip on his steel pipe. "My Observation Haki couldn't keep up with his speed at all, and my Armament Haki couldn't fully defend against him."
Ace clenched his fists, flames flickering in his palms. "My flames couldn't even burn him... Logia users are too strong."
For once, Luffy was quiet, his rubber fingers stretching unconsciously. "I couldn't hit him... I couldn't hit him at all..."
Allen got out of bed with difficulty and walked to the porthole, gazing out at the boundless sea. "We need to get stronger. Not by relying on an Ancient Weapon, but by truly... improving our own strength."
He turned to face the three, his gaze firm. "We have to master more advanced Haki and develop our fruits' true potential. Otherwise, even if we reach Laugh Tale, we won't be able to change anything."
"But... how do we do that?" Ace asked. "Training Haki requires guidance, and we..."
A flash of understanding crossed Allen's eyes. "There's a place... that might help us."
He took out the Ark Core and projected a nautical chart. "Raijin Island. A legendary island wracked by lightning all year round. Its unique environment can greatly aid Haki training."
Sabo frowned. "Raijin Island? Isn't that..."
"Yes." Allen nodded. "An island notorious for its dangers, even called the 'graveyard of the New World.' But only an extreme environment like that can bring out our true potential."
Luffy's eyes lit up. "Adventure! I'm going!"
Ace hesitated. "But with Pluton in this condition..."
"Pluton needs repairs and recharging." Allen already had a plan. "We can hide it on the nearby seabed and set up the cloaking devices. We'll come back for it once our training is complete."
The plan was settled. They spent several days finding a secluded trench on the seabed and carefully concealing Pluton there. Allen used the Power of Zhulong and the Ark Core to set up multiple layers of cloaking, ensuring it would not be easily discovered.
Before leaving, Allen stroked Pluton's hull and said softly, "Wait for us to return. When we do, we'll command you with true strength."
Boarding the spare boat, the four set off for Raijin Island. The closer they came, the worse the weather grew. Thunderclouds filled the sky, and lightning struck the sea from time to time, throwing up enormous waves.
"Whoa! That lightning's so close!" Luffy shouted excitedly. He was nearly struck by a bolt, but Allen pulled him away just in time.
Sabo studied their surroundings. "The electromagnetic field here is unusually strong. It's severely disrupting Observation Haki."
Ace tried to gather flames, but the lightning-filled environment made them extremely unstable. "It's affecting our abilities too..."
Allen, however, felt the Power of Zhulong becoming unusually active. "The energy environment here... really suits my training."
At last, Raijin Island appeared before them. It was an island shrouded in an eternal thunderstorm. Enormous bolts of lightning struck its central peak from time to time, unleashing deafening booms.
After landing, the four immediately felt what made the island unusual-static electricity filled the air, and every breath carried a faint tingling sensation. The omnipresent lightning threatened their lives, but it also contained a special energy.
"First, adapt to the environment," Allen instructed. "Use Observation Haki to sense where the lightning will strike and dodge in advance. This is the most basic training."
The first few days were extremely difficult. Even with Observation Haki, the lightning often moved faster than they could react. Everyone was struck repeatedly and scorched black all over. Fortunately, Allen's Power of Zhulong could guide lightning to a certain extent, preventing serious casualties.
But as time passed, their Observation Haki improved at an astonishing rate. At first, they could barely sense the lightning; later, they could predict where it would strike and the area it would cover, and even sense changes in the electrical charges in the air.
"I... I think I can 'see' the electricity flowing!" On the seventh day, Luffy suddenly shouted in excitement. A bolt of lightning struck, and he leaned aside with seemingly casual ease, letting it graze past him!
Ace and Sabo also made breakthroughs in turn. Ace could sense the difference between the energy of flames and lightning, while Sabo could sense changes in electrical charges farther away through conduction along his steel pipe.
Allen's progress was the most pronounced. The Power of Zhulong resonated strangely with the lightning, expanding the range of his Observation Haki severalfold. He could even briefly foresee scenes ten seconds into the future!
"It's still not enough." On the fourteenth day, Allen announced the second stage of training. "Starting now, we'll actively draw lightning to us and withstand it with Armament Haki!"
This training was even more dangerous. They chose the lightning strike zone at the center of the island, deliberately releasing their auras to attract lightning, then defending with Armament Haki.
On their first attempt, an enormous bolt struck all four of them directly! Even with their Armament Haki defenses, the electricity left their bodies convulsing, and they nearly passed out.
"K-keep going!" Ace gritted his teeth and stood, his Armament Haki becoming more solid.
Day after day, under countless lightning strikes, their Armament Haki grew stronger at a visible rate. At first, they could barely defend themselves; later, they could withstand medium-sized bolts without injury.
Luffy developed a special technique called "Rubber Insulation," allowing him to disperse electrical currents more effectively. Ace discovered that flames could deflect lightning to a certain extent. Sabo guided lightning through his steel pipe to reduce direct damage.
Allen's progress was once again astonishing. The Power of Zhulong could absorb some of the lightning's energy and convert it for his own use. His Armament Haki gradually acquired lightning properties, adding a numbing effect to every attack.
On the twenty-first day, Allen gathered everyone. "It's time for the final training."
He pointed to the tallest peak at the center of the island. "The thunderstorm is strongest there. We have to endure a full day at the summit, not just defending against the lightning, but training amid it."
It was a mad plan. The lightning at the peak was several times more powerful than on the outskirts. A single enormous bolt would be enough to severely injure them.
But not one of them backed down.
The instant they reached the summit, they felt as though they had entered a lightning hell! Countless bolts rained down, and the deafening thunder nearly tore their eardrums apart!
"Begin!" Allen roared, unleashing the full Power of Zhulong! His golden slit pupils turned blue-gold, with faint flashes of electricity flowing through them!
The four stood back-to-back, each bringing their abilities into play! Allen used the Torch Dragon Domain to deflect most of the lightning, Ace created a cushioning layer of flames, Sabo guided the remaining lightning with his steel pipe, and Luffy used his rubber body to absorb and disperse the energy!
Even so, stray bolts still pierced their defenses! Everyone gritted their teeth and pushed their Armament Haki to the limit to withstand them!
One hour, two hours... time passed slowly. Everyone's stamina was draining rapidly, but their resolve grew ever tougher!
In the sixth hour, Ace suddenly gained an insight. "Flames... aren't just for burning... they can convert things too!"
His Armament Haki began to change, faintly taking on the properties of flames! A bolt of lightning struck, and his Armament Haki actually absorbed and converted part of it!
In the eighth hour, Sabo's steel pipe suddenly hummed. "So that's it... vibration and guidance..."
His Armament Haki became highly conductive, allowing him to better guide and disperse the lightning's energy!
In the twelfth hour, Luffy's rubber body suddenly expanded. "Gum-Gum... Thunder God Mode!"
He had inadvertently absorbed too much lightning, causing his electrically charged body to swell! Though his control was unstable, it revealed a new possibility!
Allen, meanwhile, reached a critical point in the eighteenth hour. The Power of Zhulong, lightning energy, and Haki fused perfectly! His eyes turned entirely blue-gold, and arcs of electricity flowed around him!
"Torch Dragon Secret Art: Thunder Radiance Form!"
He let out a long cry, actually drawing countless bolts of lightning toward himself! An enormous pillar of lightning engulfed him, yet not only was he unharmed, his aura kept surging higher!
When the lightning faded, Allen floated in midair, blue-gold dragon scales covering his entire body as arcs of electricity leaped between them! At that moment, he looked like the God of Thunder descended to earth!
Twenty-four hours finally passed. The thunderstorm gradually subsided, and the four collapsed to the ground, their bodies scorched black but their eyes bright.
They had succeeded.
Feeling the surging power within him, Allen knew that this month of arduous training had brought a qualitative leap. Though they still fell short of an Admiral, they now had the strength to put up a fight!
"It's time to leave." Allen gazed into the distance. "It's time to continue our journey."
As they sailed away from Raijin Island, the four looked back. That island of eternal thunderstorms seemed to be seeing them off.
On the boat, Allen spread out the nautical chart. Their next destination was clearly visible-
"The Sabaody Archipelago. There, we'll make our final preparations to head to the New World."
What they did not know was that, in Mary Geoise, a meeting at the highest level was being held about them.
The Five Elders' expressions were more solemn than ever before.
"Pluton has appeared..." "Large-scale abnormal activity among the Sea Kings..." "An energy upheaval on Raijin Island..." "These incidents are all connected to those children..." "Before that happens... they must be eliminated completely."
The final order was issued, and the entire Marine Headquarters sprang into action.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the New World, Red-Haired Shanks put down his Den Den Mushi, his expression grave.
"A storm is coming... children, are you ready?"
The tides of the era were surging toward them at a speed beyond anyone's expectations.