The sea and sky were a single hue, the clear sky boundless, with a few white clouds drifting lazily overhead.
On the vast blue ocean, the water sparkled, and the sails billowed in the wind, as the going merry sailed briskly through the waves, speeding towards Small Garden.
At the bow of the ship, Kai, Luffy, and the others sat around a large round table.
The table was laden with iced drinks and fresh oranges, and the cool sea breeze made everyone feel exceptionally comfortable.
Having just completed a round of mental and willpower training and Body Tempering Technique cultivation, the four finally had time to enjoy a moment of relaxation.
"Phew—that feels great." Luffy gulped down a large glass of Sanji's special drink, a satisfied smile on his face.
He put down the cup, stretched lazily, revealing his strong muscles, and said with a laugh,
"The Body Tempering Technique is amazing! It made me grow over two meters tall, hahahaha!"
Sunlight spilled onto the deck, elongating their shadows.
The sense of power, refined by the Body Tempering Technique, seemed to emanate from their very bones.
Kai sat in a chair, shirtless, his muscles sculpted and firm like marble in the sunlight.
He stood a full 2.18 meters tall, his imposing physique like an unshakable iron tower, exuding an invisible pressure just by sitting there.
Luffy, at 2.12 meters, was slightly shorter than Kai but appeared even more lean and powerful.
Zoro stood nearby, leaning against the railing, his muscles as robust as rock.
His 2.26-meter height combined with his burly frame gave off a fierce sense of oppression.
Sanji, 2.15 meters tall, had a well-proportioned physique, his muscle lines somewhat similar to Kai's.
He always paid attention to his appearance, and cultivating the Body Tempering Technique made his strength and posture appear even more elegant.
He looked up slightly, his golden curly hair glistening in the sun, and he looked full of vigor.
"Luffy and Zoro's Body Tempering Technique, the first stage is almost complete." Kai's tone was calm, but there was a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.
His gaze swept over the three in front of him, as if evaluating their cultivation progress, "It won't be long before they can enter the second stage."
Zoro grinned, putting down his drink:
"Indeed. The six movements now don't have the same obvious effect as when we first started; it feels like my body has completely adapted."
Luffy nodded, his eyes filled with excitement: "Yeah, yeah! The Body Tempering Technique is really amazing!"
Sanji took a small sip of coffee and interjected, "I, on the other hand, feel that my physical fitness is still rapidly improving, and I haven't felt any Bottleneck at all."
Kai glanced at him and said indifferently, "Sanji, you started cultivating a few weeks after us, so this is normal progress."
Upon hearing this, Zoro immediately seized the opportunity, a slight smirk playing on his lips: "Which means you're still far behind. What's the rush?"
Sanji's expression instantly changed; he put down his coffee cup and glared at Zoro: "What did you say? Mosshead, looking for a fight?"
Zoro didn't back down, standing up with his fists clenched: "Anytime! Perverted Cook!"
"Who are you calling Perverted Cook?" Sanji exploded in rage, kicking towards Zoro's head, but Zoro easily blocked it with his hand.
"Of course, you, who else could it be?" Zoro sneered back, his grip incredibly strong, Sanji couldn't break free for a moment.
"Hmph, stinky Mosshead, what else can you do besides swing a sword?"
Sanji gritted his teeth, forcefully pulled his leg back, and kicked again, this time aiming for Zoro's side waist.
"With your leg strength, you think you can kick me?" Zoro's figure flickered slightly, deftly avoiding the attack.
At the same time, he quickly threw a punch towards Sanji's abdomen.
"Stop it, you two!" Nami snatched an orange juice cup nearby and threw it hard at them both.
The ice cubes in the cup splashed onto them, instantly cooling them down a bit.
"Honestly! Aren't you noisy enough already?" Nami put her hands on her hips, glaring furiously at the two.
Her orange hair shimmered slightly in the sun, and her bright and charming face was filled with anger.
Zoro and Sanji glared at each other, then simultaneously turned their heads away, no longer speaking.
Kai watched the chaotic scene before him, shaking his head involuntarily.
He took a sip of his drink, his tone indifferent: "You two, if you want to fight, wait until the practical training. Now, behave yourselves."
Zoro and Sanji both "hmph"ed at the same time, saying no more, but the tension between them remained strong.
"Alright, alright." Luffy broke the silence with a cheerful grin, grabbing the large plate on the table and stuffing the remaining oranges into his mouth,
"You need to eat to have the strength to fight! Haha!"
Vivi, watching the scene unfold, showed a bright smile.
Just then, a lush, verdant island emerged from the mist.
Sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting a glow over the island, and the emerald forest reflected a faint halo, like an emerald set in the sea.
"I see it! That's our next destination!" Luffy waved his arms, shouting excitedly, his voice so thrilled that even the seagulls were startled and flew away.
Nami was leaning against the ship's railing, the log pose on her wrist glowing softly, its needle pointing steadily towards the Small Garden ahead.
She lowered her eyelids, staring at the needle for a moment, and after confirming it was correct, she looked up, a confident smile on her lips:
"That's right, that's the place." Her slender finger pointed towards the island, her voice sweet and firm,
"Our next destination, the second island of the Grand Line—Small Garden!"
As the going merry slowly approached, the island's appearance gradually became clearer.
The edges of Small Garden were enveloped by a dense tropical rainforest, with towering giant trees several times taller than ordinary trees, like a natural barrier.
Various vines crisscrossed among the canopies, some hanging to the ground, others connecting different tree trunks like bridges.
Between the trees, giant flowers of various colors bloomed, and sunlight spilled onto the petals, reflecting a captivating sheen.
"Wow! How beautiful!" Vivi leaned on the railing with both hands, her sapphire eyes filled with wonder.
"This place is beautiful, but it also looks very dangerous," Nami said cautiously, cupping her chin.
"Dangerous is fun!" Luffy clenched his fists excitedly, a exaggerated grin on his face, "Adventure is the meaning of sailing! Hahaha!"
Nami clenched her fists, her veins subtly bulging: "What adventure! You just think your life is too long, don't you!"
She kicked Luffy in the head, directly pressing him onto the deck, and Luffy, lying on the ground, complained while clutching his head:
"Ouch, ouch, ouch..."
Zoro leaned against the ship's railing, glancing at the two bickering, and snorted: "Always noisy, honestly."
As the going merry slowly approached the coastline of Small Garden, a deafening roar came from afar.
Immediately, a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex emerged from the jungle, opening its blood-red maw and letting out a sky-shattering roar.
"Ah ah ah ah!" Usopp, seeing this scene, immediately jumped behind the ship's railing and hid, clutching his head and trembling,
"What kind of place is this! Is this a prehistoric world?!"
"Wow! How amazing!" Luffy completely ignored the danger, jumping up and down excitedly, "That big monster looks so delicious!"
"Stop talking and prepare to dock." Kai stood at the bow of the ship, his gaze steady and sharp.