Clack. Zoro sheathed his swords.
Luffy made a sound of confusion. "Huh?"
"Why are you putting your swords away?"
"It's endless. I need a drink and a proper rest." Zoro pointed at Usopp and Johnny. "Let those two practice with you."
Having said that, he walked to the side, took out his flask, and hurriedly took a large gulp.
He glanced at his trembling hand. How embarrassing. When it came to willpower, it was hard to say who was stronger between him and Luffy.
Who couldn't do repeated side jumps and sit-ups?
Most people in this world had constitutions as good as superhumans. The only factors determining whether one could become truly strong were spirit and willpower!
If the captain was working so hard, it wouldn't do for a crewmate to slack off, would it?!
Zoro was a proud man. Since leaving the Shimotsuki Dojo, he had strived towards his dream of becoming the world's greatest swordsman, even becoming a bounty hunter to find that man.
When it came to endurance, he admitted there was a bit of a gap between him and Luffy.
That ability to fall asleep and wake up instantly, fully recharged, was just too overpowering.
And Luffy's stomach, capable of insane, rapid consumption and digestion, was the most terrifying part.
Luffy, who used to be all laughs and no work, was now grinding like crazy without a hint of his former playfulness.
[Warning. Punishment countdown.....]
Before the voice even finished, Luffy's gaze had already shifted to Usopp and Johnny.
Habit had become second nature.
His body no longer needed urging. When Luffy realized this, he felt a frustrated, helpless anger towards his own traitorous limbs.
A classic case of the mind wanting one thing, the body doing another.
Right now, Luffy was like a fish being chummed. [Rapid Recovery] and [Rapid Movement] were like bait being tossed into the water bit by bit.
Usopp had just been watching the commotion from the sidelines until he met Luffy's gaze.
Oh no! Oh no!
Their eyes met, and he knew he was not the right person for what was coming.
"Huh?"
The hair on the back of Usopp's neck stood up.
What did this guy want to do?
Not that! Please, not that!
"Fight, fight, fight!"
Usopp fondly remembered the happy times fishing with Luffy when he first joined the crew.
Weren't we supposed to slack off together? How did you suddenly start grinding like this?
In less than an hour, Usopp was exhausted. He wasn't a training maniac like Zoro, after all.
[Automatically adjusting based on physical condition and status. Daily training achieved. Please commence Devil Fruit development immediately... Countdown: thirty seconds.]
[Warning. Punishment countdown.....]
"Even if you say that, I can't think of any better ideas in my head right now..."
Luffy was a bit troubled. A flash of inspiration had struck him during [Rapid Movement], but when he tried to grasp it concretely, the idea slipped away.
Devil Fruit development was related to imagination. He had plenty of innate imagination, but what about sustained imagination?
Imagination was connected to experience, exposure, and reading.
As the saying goes, the more you see, the more your mind can conceive.
Just like how Usopp, from reading various stories and books since childhood, knew about the existence of giants and held them in high esteem.
Back in Windmill Village, the only knowledgeable person was Makino.
Teacher Makino taught Luffy and Ace, starting out full of enthusiasm, only to eventually gently declare them idiots, telling them to find some smart crewmates when they set sail.
Language, math, history, geography...
Luffy was the type who had to count on his fingers for calculations, often giving up halfway with a cheerful "Forget it, I quit!"
[Adjusting based on subject's current status. Necessary knowledge is essential for becoming the Pirate King. This will aid in better Devil Fruit ability development.]
[Randomizing study topic... Elementary Medical Knowledge selected. Please commence immediately.]
What the heck?
This time, Luffy truly couldn't hold it together.
Even learning swords from Zoro involved having a teacher!
What kind of ghost is 'Medicine'? We don't even have a doctor on the ship right now.
As the countdown ticked closer to zero, the muscles on Luffy's face contorted into an extremely abstract expression.
One half of his face still held the lingering excitement from the fight, the corner of his mouth twitching as if trying to smile, while the other half was clouded with anxiety, strained from holding back and not knowing what to do.
His eyes instantly reddened, as if he was about to burst into tears the next second.
This twisted, half-crying, half-smiling expression froze on his face as Luffy's eyeballs swiveled mechanically.
"Hey, hey, hey, Luffy, what's with that face? It's seriously creepy!"
Usopp, who had been lying exhausted on the deck with no desire to move, saw Luffy's complete loss of facial control. A chill shot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and he scrambled upright, terrified that Luffy was about to come up with another insane idea.
Luffy had no time to deal with Usopp.
There's no doctor on the ship!
Even if you want me to learn, I can't!
The punishment countdown numbers seemed to dance before his eyes. There was no sensation of electric shock, but memories of other, more socially catastrophic random punishments surged back.
Suddenly, Luffy's fear-dilated pupils snapped into focus, as if he had grabbed onto a lifeline.
That's right!
There's still Nami!
Nami could tell what was wrong with Yosaku just from his symptoms.
He was like a drowning man spotting a log, instantly revitalised.
Usopp and Johnny saw a blur before their eyes. With a thud, the deck was empty, and only the door to the cabin was swinging violently.
Immediately after, a high-pitched female scream erupted from the direction of Nami's room!
"Eek, Luffy?! You bastard!" Nami's voice was full of shock, shame, and anger.
"Ooh Ooh~"
Usopp and Johnny exchanged a glance, instantly sporting knowing grins.
Usopp elbowed Johnny hard in the shoulder, winking and grinning. "See? I told you so earlier."
"So it's true!"
...
In Nami's room, she had been immersed in a fitful nap.
The various incidents from the deck earlier swirled and churned in her mind, making her sleep extremely restless.
Half-asleep, half-awake, Luffy's carefree laughter seemed to linger in her ears.
"So annoying, you're even in my dreams?"
Nami muttered. Right at the blurred threshold of consciousness, a black shadow smashed through her cabin door like a battering ram.
Bam!
Nami's heart nearly leapt out of her throat.
The intense shock made her bolt upright in bed, her eyes wide with terror, all sleepiness instantly evaporated.
Anyone would think an Admiral had arrived.
"Na-Nami!"
"Ahhh! Luffy?!"
She recognised the intruder, her heart still pounding violently, her face pale.
"Are you trying to scare me to death?!"
"And I said no one is allowed in my room!"
She grabbed the pillow next to her and hurled it at him, her face flushed red from fright and anger.
Luffy seemed not to hear, rushing to Nami's bedside, brimming with desperation. "Nami, save me!"
He began explaining at lightning speed.
If he didn't hurry up, things were going to blow!