Capítulo 34: The Path to Becoming Stronger: A New Adventure Ahead
The next day, Ryomen stood on the deck, absentmindedly staring into the horizon as the waves clashed with each other, creating a rhythm that usually calmed him. But today, his mind wandered.
'Who was he?' The thought wouldn't leave him alone, circling back to the encounter from yesterday.
'No matter how much I try to lie to myself, that wasn't just a dream.' His hand trembled involuntarily, remembering the overwhelming presence of the figure.
'Most importantly, why did he look like me?' Frustration bubbled inside him until he slapped his cheek lightly, forcing himself out of the stupor.
"Dwelling on this won't change anything," He muttered, his voice low but resolute. "I just need to get stronger. Then, I'll know everything." With renewed determination, Ryomen pulled a worn-out manual from his pocket, flipping through it with attention.
"Now, how do I get them all to actually focus on this?" He mused, thinking of his friends quirky personalities, a scenario already playing in his mind.
…
«"Listen carefully! To train in using Haki, you have to—"» Ryomen began explaining, trying to adopt a more serious tone.
Within moments, Luffy was fast asleep, snoring loudly. Usopp and Chopper, barely containing their laughter, started to draw on his face.
Nami yawned, casting a bored glance at the horizon, clearly uninterested. Robin relaxed in a beach chair, engrossed in a book, while Sanji had already disappeared into the kitchen to prepare drinks for the ladies.
Only Zoro remained, sitting cross-legged on the deck, his eyes shut in concentration. He was the only one even attempting to pay attention, trying not to miss any details Ryomen was providing.
…
Ryomen chuckled at the absurdity of it. "I guess I can't outright tell them about it." He muttered under his breath.
A plan then began forming in his mind, though it was far from perfect. "I'll start with Zoro." He concluded.
He then went toward the helm, where Zoro was training with weights.
"How's it going?" Ryomen asked casually.
"Better." Zoro plainly replied. "Trying to get that feel back for cutting steel."
"I see…" Ryomen mumbled, not fully understanding but trying to follow along. "You remember the talk we had about Haki?" He then asked with a smile.
"Hm. Of course. Still waiting for a way on how to train it." Zoro stated, then noticed Ryomen's teasing smile, and set his weights down.
"Really?" He simply asked.
"Yep." Ryomen responded.
"The hell are we waiting for then?" Zoro exclaimed with a smirk.
…
A few moments later, the two stood in silence on the deck, facing each other.
"This is your idea of a joke?" Zoro asked, arms crossed, clearly unimpressed.
"I showed you the manual. What else do you want?" Ryomen shrugged, trying to hold back a smirk.
Zoro sighed but quickly shifted focus. "Let's start with Observation Haki."
Ryomen blinked in surprise. "Really? Thought you'd go straight for Armament."
Zoro shrugged. "I'll train both, but when I fought Mr. 1 back in Alabasta, I felt this… sixth sense. Like I could hear voices from everything around me. It helped me cut through steel."
Ryomen raised an eyebrow. "So you're a road idiot and a schizophrenic. I'm starting to feel sorry for you."
"Enough jokes." Zoro growled, blindfolding himself. "Let's start."
Ryomen chuckled and picked up a stick. "Why does Luffy even collect these?" He mumbled as he began poking Zoro with it.
"Stop poking me!" Zoro snapped, dodging clumsily.
"Not my fault you're walking into the attacks instead of dodging." Ryomen teased.
Their commotion started drawing attention. Nami looked over, her brow furrowed.
"What are they doing?" She asked, her voice filled with confusion.
"I always knew that swordsman had some strange kinks." Sanji mumbled, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
"This looks fun!" Luffy chimed in, oblivious to the actual training.
"I don't like your definition of fun." Usopp muttered, inching away from the chaotic scene.
"Should I check if they've hit their heads?" Chopper asked in concern.
Robin glanced up from her book, watching with a faint smile before returning to her reading.
"What are you guys doing?" Luffy finally asked as he bounded over.
"Oh, we're playing a game! One of us is blindfolded and tries to dodge while the other attacks with a stick." Ryomen explained with a grin.
"I wanna play!" Luffy beamed.
Ryomen chuckled. "Sorry, Luffy. You'll need a partner for this one."
Immediately, Luffy's eyes locked on Usopp, who vigorously shook his head in refusal. But Luffy wasn't taking no for an answer.
"C'mon!" Luffy shouted, dragging a protesting Usopp away.
"And don't forget to switch!" Ryomen exclaimed with a smirk, as the two went further away.
As the chaos ensued, Sanji approached the two, curious. "Alright, what's really going on?"
Ryomen sighed, giving up on hiding it. "Alright, you caught us. We're training in Haki."
"Haki?" Sanji looked skeptical, but Ryomen leaned in closer.
"Zoro's already making great progress with Observation Haki." Ryomen whispered.
"What!?" Sanji yelled, the competitive fire instantly igniting. "I'm not letting that moss head beat me!"
Ryomen handed Sanji a stick with a smirk. "Then get to it."
As Sanji marched off, Ryomen wandered over to Nami, who was watching with a mix of amusement and suspicion.
"You played them right where you wanted, didn't you?" Nami smirked.
Ryomen chuckled. "Learned from the best." He gave her a knowing look. "Want to train, too? Observation Haki should come easy for you. You already navigate by instinct."
Nami pouted. "I'd love to, but with my Devil Fruit, this stick would be useless."
Ryomen raised an eyebrow, his grin turning mischievous. "With my Devil Fruit, your slippery body won't have any effect."
Nami's eyes widened as his friendly smile transformed into something more devilish in her mind.
"Alright, fine…" She muttered, giving in.
While the crew started to train, Chopper remained close by, ready to assist if necessary, and Robin looked at them with silent amusement.
…
Hours later, the crew lay exhausted across the deck, training well into the afternoon.
"Shishishi! This reminds me of when my grandpa used to throw me off cliffs!" Luffy said cheerfully, earning uneasy glances from everyone.
Ryomen sighed, choosing to ignore the comment for his own sanity.
"So, those flames are from your Devil Fruit?" Zoro asked, recalling the black flames Ryomen had summoned during training.
"Not exactly." Ryomen corrected. "It's called Cursed Energy. It's linked to my negative emotions."
"What about those red sparks I saw!? That was so cool!" Luffy chimed in, eyes wide with excitement.
Ryomen paused. "I'm not entirely sure. When I fought Crocodile, I felt like my power was completely unrefined. After the red sparks appeared, I felt a huge surge of energy, and my control improved drastically."
"Then why did you shout 'Black Flash!' if you didn't know what it was?" Luffy asked suspiciously.
Ryomen scratched his head, chuckling awkwardly. "It just sounded cool. I'll keep it for that move now."
"I actually checked the Devil Fruit encyclopedia recently." Ryomen added. "Turns out I'm the first user of this fruit."
"What? Doesn't that mean you get to name it?" Usopp asked.
"He does, but the World Government probably won't accept whatever he chooses." Robin interjected, her voice calm as always.
"Like I care what they think." Ryomen scoffed. "But I do need a good name…"
"How about Hade Hade no Mi!" Usopp suggested eagerly.
"No thanks." Ryomen tried to reject it gently.
"Then Supākī Supākī no Mi!" Luffy shouted.
"That's even worse!" Ryomen groaned in frustration.
He fell silent, his mind drifting back to the being from yesterday. The memory lingered, unsettling him slightly, but it also gave him clarity.
"I'll call it…Jujutsu Jujutsu no Mi."
…
The next few days passed by in a blur, as the crew continued their blindfolded combat training to unlock Haki.
Ryomen stood holding a wooden stick, while Luffy stood blindfolded in front of him.
"Alright, how about trying one more time—" Ryomen started, only to notice Luffy had already fallen asleep. "Really?" He let out a deep sigh, shaking his head.
"C'mon, Luffy, wake up." Ryomen tried to nudge him back to focus, playfully attempting to hit him with the stick. To his utter shock, Luffy dodged the blow effortlessly.
Ryomen's eyes widened. 'No way...In his sleep?!' He swung again and again, each time with the same result—Luffy dodged unconsciously.
Before Ryomen could comprehend what he was seeing, Sanji appeared at the entrance to the deck. "Dinner's ready!" He shouted. At the mere sound of food, Luffy bolted upright and sprinted to the kitchen.
"Woohoo! Meat!" Luffy exclaimed excitedly.
Ryomen remained frozen, the stick still in hand, unable to process what had just happened. After a moment, he clenched his jaw and muttered. "Sanji!!"
…
After calming down, Ryomen was approached by Zoro.
"Let's switch to Armament today." Zoro suggested, cutting straight to the point.
"Huh? Yeah, sure." Ryomen replied, still rattled by Luffy's inexplicable dodges.
"So, how do we do it? Just punch each other until we figure it out?" Zoro asked, cracking his knuckles.
Ryomen chuckled. "It's a little more complicated than that. Having a strong body helps, but that's not all it takes." He began explaining. "Armament Haki is an invisible armor made from spiritual energy. You can coat your body or weapons with it, but it's only visible to someone with Observation Haki. You've probably already used it before without knowing."
Zoro frowned in confusion. "If I've already used it, why do I need to train?"
Ryomen smiled. "Most people have a barrier stopping their bodies from actively using it at will. You have to fight someone who can push you to your absolute limit, and—here's the tricky part—you need to believe that you can break through that barrier. That's when Armament truly manifests."
Zoro pondered this for a moment, then glanced at Ryomen with a raised eyebrow. "Fight someone who can push me to my limit, huh?"
Ryomen narrowed his eyes. "What's that look for?" He huffed, crossing his arms. "I know we're pretty evenly matched in strength, but I'll be reinforcing my body with Cursed Energy."
Zoro grunted. "Tsk. Cheater." He unsheathed his swords.
"Whoa, hold on!" Ryomen protested. "No swords! This is Haki training, not a duel."
"I'm a swordsman." Zoro retorted. "It's normal for me to train with my blades."
Ryomen shook his head. "True, but we're still at the basics. I'd rather not get cut in two because you got too carried away. Weapon coating is more advanced—let's stick to learning the fundamentals first."
"Tch. Fine." Zoro grumbled, setting his swords aside.
The two squared off and began their training, throwing and blocking strikes as they tried to feel the spark of Armament Haki within them.
A short while later, Luffy and Sanji emerged from the kitchen, full from dinner.
"Are we fighting?! I'll join in too!" Luffy exclaimed, bouncing on the soles of his feet.
"Sure." Ryomen said with a smirk, then quickly explained the basics to Luffy and Sanji.
"Yeah, yeah! Let's fight already!" Luffy eagerly responded, ready to throw himself into the fray.
With that, Luffy leaped into the brawl, leaving Sanji and Zoro to their own training.
"Looks like it's just us, huh?" Sanji quipped, sizing Zoro up with a competitive gleam in his eye.
"Lucky you. No one will be around to see you get embarrassed." Zoro shot back with a smirk.
"Talk all you want—just don't start crying when I beat you." Sanji retorted, stepping into a fighting stance.
Without further warning, the two clashed, their fight filled with the usual banter and intensity.
Meanwhile, Ryomen and Luffy faced off. They both prepared mentally, knowing this was more than just a sparring match.
"Sucks I can't go all out on the ship." Luffy remarked, grinning. "I really want to see how strong you are!"
"Same here." Ryomen replied with a chuckle. "But we'll have our chance someday."
Both of them took their stances. Ryomen thought to himself, 'Ever since I started using Cursed Energy, I've felt something deeper—almost like I can sense my own spirit. Maybe it'll help break through that barrier.'
Without warning, Luffy charged at Ryomen, and the sound of their clash filled the deck of the Merry.
Inside the ship, Nami, Usopp and Chopper watched through a window, wide-eyed.
"They're going to break Merry in half!" Usopp wailed, kneeling in despair.
"Ugh, those idiots. How am I supposed to go outside now?" Nami grumbled.
"Doesn't your Devil Fruit make you immune to physical attacks?" Robin asked, curious from her seat.
"It does." Nami replied, her arms crossed, "But they'll still end up launching me off the ship without realizing it!"
Robin chuckled softly. "True enough."
Chopper, meanwhile, muttered to himself. "I'll have my hands full when this is over..."
…
Hours later, the four fighters sat on the deck, being treated by Chopper. Bruises and cuts decorated their bodies, evidence of their intense training.
While Chopper patched him up, Luffy spoke up.
"Nami, do you think the next island will be snowy?" Luffy asked, his curiosity always insatiable.
"Haven't you had enough snow?" Nami replied without looking up from her log pose, her voice carrying a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"After Alabasta, we should hit an autumn island." Robin chimed in calmly, flipping through her book.
"Great! I like autumn too!" Luffy grinned, his excitement building.
But before they could continue their conversation, small objects began falling from the sky.
"Rain?" Zoro muttered, squinting up.
"Doesn't seem like it." Sanji replied, frowning as he tried to make sense of what was dropping.
"Then…rice crackers?" Usopp added, his voice hopeful but uncertain.
"Usopp…do you seriously–" Ryomen began, but his words faltered as he realized what was truly falling. His eyes widened, unable to believe what he was seeing.
"Out of the sky…!" Luffy's face twisted in a mixture of horror and amazement.
"A galleon!?" Nami shouted, eyes wide in disbelief.
Everyone stood frozen as the enormous ship hurtled down from the sky, crashing into the water with a deafening roar. The impact sent massive waves rippling toward the Merry, threatening to capsize the ship.
"Waaaaah!" Chopper screamed as he was launched off the deck. Ryomen darted forward, catching him just before he plummeted into the sea.
"Hang on! Grab onto something!" Nami ordered, her voice strained as the Merry rocked violently.
"It's a dream! It's all a bad dream!" Usopp yelled, desperately trying to convince himself of the impossibility of what was happening.
"A dream? What a relief." Chopper muttered, wiping the sweat from his forehead in misplaced relief.
"Don't worry. Just relax, close your eyes." Usopp continued, now fully committed to his delusion. "Then slowly open them. See? It's a nice peaceful morning."
As Usopp cautiously opened his eyes, he was greeted by the grinning face of a skull.
"GAAAH! A SKULL!"
"Don't throw it my way, you idiot!" Zoro barked as Usopp hurled the skull toward him.
The crew held on for dear life as the waves battered the Merry, only relaxing when the sea finally calmed.
"Why's it raining ships?" Luffy asked, still staring at the sky as if it held some answers.
"Aahh!" Nami suddenly cried, her eyes locked on the log pose.
"What's wrong, Nami?" Sanji asked, concern filling his voice.
"The log pose! It's broken! It's pointing upward and won't move!" She exclaimed, her voice laced with panic.
"It's not broken." Robin corrected gently, her eyes drifting upward. "It's picked up the magnetic field of another island." She paused for a moment, her gaze fixed on the clouds above.
"Our log pose has been captured…by a Sky Island."
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
Alex_305
Alex_305 We've officially entered the Skypiea saga! What do you think about the story up until now? Please tell me!
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