Bal's words, " Steel Breaker," were like a war drum, heralding the start of the Rogrim Trials. The Straw Hat Pirates, of course, wouldn't back down, with Luffy even declaring he wanted to climb that " Unyielding Peak " immediately.
Bal chuckled and pointed to the narrow, winding path deep within the island, hidden between dark clouds and steep cliffs. "That's the ' Gravity Stairway,' the only path to Unyielding Peak. The higher you go, the greater the gravity becomes; it's said that the gravity at the summit is more than ten times that of the outside world! Even walking is difficult, let alone fighting. Many arrogant fools can't even finish the first step before collapsing."
Ten times the gravity! Everyone was shocked upon hearing this. This was no ordinary training; it was a test of the very essence of life.
"Interesting!" Zoro's eyes blazed with fighting spirit as he took the lead and stepped onto the rocky path.
The moment he stepped onto the first step, his body suddenly felt heavy, as if he had been instantly encased in an invisible layer of armor. But he merely frowned slightly, steadied himself, and continued walking upwards step by step with unwavering determination.
Luffy, Ace, and Jinbe followed without hesitation, each channeling their power to Resistance the sudden increase in gravity. Luffy's rubber body seemed to adapt better to this pure physical pressure; although his movements became slower, he was still lively and energetic. Ace's flames appeared somewhat sluggish under the gravity, but he withstood it with his powerful physique. Jinbe hand, used Fish-Man Karate techniques to channel some of the pressure into the ground beneath his feet.
Franky's mechanical body creaked as he excitedly adjusted the power output. "A super challenge! Let my steel body give it a try!"
Sanji a deep breath, and the power of Diable Jambe flowed through his legs, allowing him to maintain agility under the gravity.
Brook's bones were light, which allowed him to adapt well at first, but he needed to expend more soul power to maintain his movements.
Robin tried it out and found that using her abilities under this gravity consumed a lot of energy, so she decided to observe first.
Usopp and Chopper, their faces pale as they looked at the steep steps and their companions' heavy footsteps, remained near the starting point for the time being.
Allen stepped onto the stairs, feeling the gravitational field acting on every cell. It wasn't unbearable for him, but he could sense that this gravity wasn't inanimate; it contained a tempering and "selecting" force. He slowed his pace, not because of the pressure, but to better experience the tempering effect of this environment on his body and energy.
The Gravity Stairway is merely Rogrim's most basic trial. Various more extreme training grounds are scattered across the island:
• Elemental Falls: A waterfall containing chaotic wind or blazing fire elements, which washes over the body while also causing tearing or burning pain, used to temper elemental resistance and willpower.
· Immense Weight Cavern: The internal gravity is tens or even hundreds of times that of the outside world, and it is constantly changing, making it an excellent place to purely hone physical strength.
• Illusion Corridor: A mysterious area that reflects one's inner fears and weaknesses; one can only pass through by overcoming one's inner demons.
• Combat Arena: A place where the strongest on the island freely compete, with no rules; the winner earns respect and resources.
The Straw Hat Pirates members, based on their own needs and characteristics, began to disperse and embark on their respective trials.
Zoro headed straight for the Immense Weight Cavern, pursuing the ultimate physical strength and slashing power.
Luffy was very interested in the Elemental Falls and the Combat Arena, and he went wherever the excitement was.
Ace entered the Fire Elemental Waterfall, attempting to further control his flames in the extreme environment.
Jinbe chooses to switch between raging waves and Gravity Stairway to hone his Fish-Man Karate.
Sanji practices his leg techniques under gravity and explores the island in search of rare ingredients.
Franky tests the limits of his mechanical body in the Immense Weight Cavern and collects special rock samples.
Brook faces his eternal loneliness and longing for his companions in the Illusion Corridor.
Robin, on the other hand, preferred to observe and gather information. She discovered that the rocks on the island were engraved with ancient inscriptions about power and battle.
After mustering their courage, Usopp and Chopper also began to try the lowest level of tiered training. Using Usopp's cleverness and Chopper's medical skills, they set up a camp in a relatively safe area to provide logistical support for everyone.
Allen wandered among the various training grounds, not to hone himself (such environments would have limited effect on him), but to observe and guide. He would occasionally appear where his companions were training, offering a few words to pinpoint the key issues when they encountered bottlenecks or dangers, or quietly strengthening their life essence when they reached their limits to prevent irreversible damage.
Rogrim, the Island of Trials, begins to hone the Straw Hat Pirates's skills in the most primal and brutal way. And the journey to the summit of Unyielding Peak has officially begun.