The avalanche had passed, leaving the mountainside a pristine white, with the once stubbornly growing trees now gone.
The formerly pure white snow was now covered in rolling drifts, and the surrounding air was filled with coldness and a sense of oppression.
Kai and Sanji floated in the air using Moonwalk.
Sanji looked at Luffy, who had disappeared in the avalanche, feeling a bit anxious, and loudly called out, "Luffy! Luffy!!!"
However, Kai remained calm, the corners of his mouth slightly turned up, his eyes fixed on the thick snow below, and he said lightly:
"Luffy is fine. This small situation, how could it possibly hurt him?" As soon as he finished speaking, a figure suddenly shot out from the snowdrift.
Luffy rocketed out of the snow like a cannonball, his body twisting and turning as he floated in the air.
Like a dancer who wasn't quite good at dancing, his feet still flailed in the air, and he shouted:
"That was close! I almost got buried!" His exaggerated expression looked comical no matter how you saw it.
Although he was only affected by the avalanche, Luffy seemed to have experienced some great challenge.
Watching this scene, Kai couldn't help but frown and muttered:
"You won't be so lucky next time you encounter a situation like this.
What if it wasn't snow below, but the ocean? What would you do?"
Kai frowned, his words carrying an undeniable sternness, "I told you before, you need to make up for your shortcomings. But you didn't seem to listen."
Upon hearing this, Luffy immediately panicked, apologizing profusely:
"I'm sorry, Kai, I know I was wrong, I will practice Moonwalk diligently! I won't be so foolish again!"
His dumbfounded expression made Kai both angry and amused, but he didn't say much more.
"Alright, stop just talking and start moving," Kai finally stopped dwelling on it, his tone becoming resolute.
"Start practicing now. Use Moonwalk all the way to the top of Drum Mountain, without stopping midway." His words were like a command, carrying an irresistible force.
Sanji, listening nearby, couldn't help but feel a drumbeat in his heart.
Although his mastery of Moonwalk was also good, this was an extremely stamina-consuming skill, especially over such a long distance.
Looking at the towering Drum Mountain, he couldn't help but feel a chill.
However, since they had already decided to go, he could only grit his teeth and push on.
When Luffy heard Kai's words, he immediately perked up, his obvious gloomy mood instantly dispelled.
He clenched his fists and said, "Okay! Let's rush together! Let's quickly take Nami up this mountain!"
The three exchanged glances, then stopped wasting words, activating Moonwalk in unison, shooting towards the distant Drum Mountain like arrows.
The cold wind was like a knife, cutting across their faces. All sounds were swallowed by the biting air, leaving only the rustle of falling snow and the mournful whine of the wind.
The three floated in the air, propelling themselves step by step towards the summit of Drum Mountain using the power of Moonwalk.
With each step, a biting cold permeated the air, as if even their blood was freezing.
Snowflakes drifted down, scattering from the sky, swirling around their bodies.
They whitened the edges of their clothes, landing on Sanji and Luffy's shoulders.
Sanji remained steady, while Luffy seemed a bit clumsy; his body twisted slightly in the air, his steps unstable, clearly not as proficient as Kai.
The technique of Moonwalk, if not practiced to the extreme, is very energy-consuming, especially for beginners, it tests their stamina and perseverance.
"Luffy, steady yourself!" Sanji called out in a low voice, his gaze fixed on the unbalanced figure beside him.
Although his words carried a hint of urgency, he knew that he couldn't interfere too much—only Luffy himself could Breakthrough that insurmountable obstacle.
That was to master the technique of Moonwalk, making aerial movement more and more stable.
Kai watched the scene before him, silent, only slightly furrowing his brow, his gaze locked on Luffy.
He believed that Luffy would overcome all this; even the most talented person needed to experience training.
A sharp cry escaped Luffy's mouth; suddenly, his body lost balance, and he was about to fall.
Kai narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression unwavering.
"Finger Pistol!"
Luffy shouted abruptly, his five fingers suddenly elongated, whipping out like five arrows.
With extreme speed and immense power, they slammed into the side of Drum Mountain.
The air seemed to solidify for a moment, time seemed to stand still, and Luffy's body was instantly pulled upwards by the elasticity of the rubber.
"Whoosh!" With a loud whooshing sound, Luffy's body suddenly broke free from the 束縛 of gravity, rapidly shooting upwards.
Using that recoil, he instantly flew over Kai and Sanji's heads, soaring above them.
"Haha! That was close!" Luffy laughed loudly, his tone filled with satisfaction and joy.
It was as if all the perilous blunders he had just experienced had vanished into thin air.
He quickly adjusted his posture using Moonwalk, rapidly rushing towards the peak of Drum Mountain.
Compared to his previous shaky steps.
This time, he could effortlessly control Moonwalk, his rhythm and force perfectly coordinated.
"Indeed, even a Genius needs tempering..." Kai sighed softly, a faint smile unconsciously gracing his lips.
Meanwhile, Sanji was nearing his limit, breathing heavily, his body swaying slightly.
Moonwalk was too draining, even though he was used to high-intensity combat.
But being constantly in this invisible support still pushed his stamina to the limit.
Finally, after a period of perseverance, the three reached the summit of Drum Mountain.
Sanji and Luffy almost collapsed powerlessly onto the snow, like two cannonballs, slamming hard onto the snow-covered mountaintop.
The two fell heavily to the ground, their rapid breaths scattering with the cold wind.
The warmth from their nostrils turned into white mist, quickly dissipating in the cold air.
Watching the two figures on the snow, tormented by Moonwalk, a hint of relief flashed in Kai's eyes.
However, the sight before them did not make the three stop.
At the peak of the snow mountain, a magnificent castle covered in ice and snow stood before them.
The castle's roof, like sharp ice blades, pierced the sky, its Aura imposing.
Covered in ice and snow, it resembled a carved crystal palace, shimmering with cold light, like an exotic building from another world.
On the castle walls, frost spread, covering the ornate carvings with a layer of ice, gleaming coldly.
Even in this frigid air, the castle still exuded a solemn and majestic Aura.
Kai, Luffy, and Sanji stood on the mountaintop, their gazes all directed towards this mysterious castle.
"It seems there's no one here!" Kai frowned slightly; he didn't detect any signs of living people in the palace.