"Hmph."
Zoro stared at the rolling green medicinal foam, a ferocious, almost fanatical grin spreading across his face.
"I'll go first."
No hesitation at all.
He took two running steps, slammed his feet against the deck, and his entire body traced a sharp arc through the air—like a diver—plunging straight into the boiling cauldron!
Splash—!!
Scalding liquid exploded outward, splattering across the deck and leaving behind pale burn marks.
Inside the cabin, Vivi screamed and covered her eyes.
"He—he jumped in! He really jumped into boiling water! He's done for! He's definitely cooked!"
Hiss—!!
The instant he entered the liquid, Zoro's muscles locked tight.
It felt as if countless red-hot steel needles pierced every pore at once, tearing through flesh and stabbing straight into the bone.
His skin flushed crimson, veins bulging across his forehead like writhing worms.
But he didn't scream.
"Breathe… keep breathing…"
Grinding his teeth, Zoro forced himself to suppress the instinct to leap out, following the breathing rhythm Ronan had taught him—the Thirteen Iron Shirt Breathing Method.
"Inhale—exhale—"
As his breathing stabilized, his blood and qi surged violently through his body, forming an invisible protective film beneath his skin, resisting the searing heat.
At the same time, the savage medicinal energy in the broth flooded through his opened pores, scouring his tendons and bones, hammering deep into his marrow.
Pain—pain that pierced the bones.
Pleasure—pleasure that shook the soul.
The extreme cycle of destruction and rebirth forced a low roar from his chest.
"So—damn—good!!!"
With that roar, Zoro drew in a deep breath and slowly sank lower, until even his green hair disappeared beneath the boiling liquid.
"More fire," Ronan ordered calmly. "The temperature's dropped. We need to force out every last bit of vitality from the sea beast marrow."
"Got it!"
Though worried, Sanji's control over heat was instinctive.
He kicked the bellows.
The flames shifted from orange to blazing blue—the temperature surged again!
Fifteen minutes.
A full fifteen minutes.
The liquid level dropped noticeably, and the once murky broth visibly cleared—its medicinal essence had been absorbed.
Crash—!!
Water exploded upward.
Zoro burst out of the cauldron and landed firmly on the snow-covered deck.
His skin now carried a healthy bronze sheen, old scars visibly faded.
Steam poured off his body, instantly evaporating falling snowflakes.
"Hah!"
Zoro casually threw a punch.
Snap—hum!
The punch struck nothing—but deep within his body, bones and sinews resonated with a heavy, thunderous rumble, like a beast growling in its den.
Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound.
A hallmark of bones refined to the extreme—marrow shaken clean through vibration.
"One sound worth a fortune," Ronan said with approval. "Congratulations, Zoro. Bronze Skin, Iron Bones—fully achieved."
"Yeah…" Zoro clenched his fist, feeling the endless power within. "This medicinal bath is brutal. Feels like even my bones hardened."
Inside the cabin, Vivi and Mr. 9 were frozen in shock.
"He… he came out alive…" Vivi whispered. "And he's not even cooked… What kind of monster is he?"
"Next."
Ronan didn't allow any pause.
Sanji immediately hauled the cauldron off the furnace and set it into the snow.
Ssss—
Steam erupted as metal met ice.
Ronan turned and smiled "kindly" at Usopp, who was trembling behind the mast.
"Usopp, you're up."
"This is Zoro's leftover bath. The medicine's weaker, and the temperature's down to about eighty degrees. Perfect for a beginner like you."
"Hurry up—once it cools, the effect's gone."
Usopp stared at the still-steaming, cloudy liquid and shook his head violently, tears streaming.
"No!! Eighty degrees will kill people! I'm human! I'm not a monster! Nami, save me!!"
"Hehehe…"
Luffy and Sanji exchanged a glance, identical evil grins appearing on their faces.
"Long Nose, don't be shy!"
"For your growth, we'll help you!"
They grabbed Usopp from both sides like a chicken.
"Stop! Yamete—!!"
Amid shrill screams, they shoved him straight into the pot.
"Aaahhh—hot hot HOT!!!"
Usopp flailed like a loach dropped into oil, desperately trying to crawl out.
"Hold him down!" Ronan barked, stepping forward and clamping Usopp's shoulder like iron. "The more you struggle, the worse it gets!"
"Use the breathing method! Sink your qi! Focus on the skin!"
"If you don't want to be boiled alive, concentrate!!"
Faced with pure survival instinct, Usopp finally forced himself to calm down, trembling as he adjusted his breathing.
The unbearable burn gradually turned into a hot, stinging sensation.
The medicine began to seep in.
Ten minutes later, Usopp stopped struggling.
Eyes closed, his expression shifted from agony to enjoyment—he even hummed.
When pulled out, he looked like a boiled shrimp, red all over.
But to his shock, his skin felt tight, resilient, and springy.
"Dump it."
Ronan glanced at the now-useless liquid.
Sanji poured it into the sea and refilled the pot.
Ronan added more herbs—and the most critical ingredient of all: Sea King spinal marrow essence.
The fire was reignited.
The medicinal aroma spread thick and heavy.
Ronan turned his gaze to Luffy, who was snickering nearby.
"Hey, Luffy."
He pointed at the freshly boiling cauldron.
"Your turn."
Luffy's grin froze solid.
He stared at the bubbling green liquid—every instinct in his body screaming danger.
"I—I don't wanna!!"
He shook his head like a rattle drum, hugging the main mast with stretched rubber arms.
"That pot looks way too hot! And the color's terrifying—it looks poisonous!"
"I'm rubber! Rubber melts! Rubber is afraid of heat!!"
Ronan frowned, completely unmoved.
"Enough nonsense."
He smirked.
"Zoro, Sanji, Usopp."
"Hold him down."
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