NOVEL NEXT Chapter 69: 69
At dawn, the sun rose as usual, shining brightly over the White Sea. The intense heat of the Skypiean morning was already apparent.
Tony led Vivi and Robin on their morning endurance run. Vivi was now able to keep pace with Tony, maintaining a distance of about five meters behind him over the full 20-kilometer stretch. Robin, however, struggled. She lagged behind by several dozen meters, clearly less accustomed to the demands of physical exertion.
Robin's heavy reliance on her Devil Fruit powers left her at a disadvantage when it came to physical stamina.
Tony, aware of this, slowed his pace and offered her encouragement.
"Come on, Robin! Just ten more kilometers!"
"Ugh, don't underestimate me! It's only twenty kilometers—I'll finish it, just watch!"
Robin's stubbornness and determination shone through. Gritting her teeth, she pushed herself and somehow managed to complete the full 20-kilometer run alongside Tony.
When they reached the finish line, her face had turned slightly pale, and her legs gave out beneath her. She sank to the ground, panting heavily, her body drenched in sweat. The sight was undeniably captivating.
Tony couldn't help but steal a few extra glances.
Vivi, standing nearby, felt like she was looking at a reflection of herself from three months ago. She crouched beside Robin and offered words of comfort.
"You'll get used to it in a week, Robin! Keep it up! I went through the same thing!"
Robin, gasping for breath, looked at Vivi in astonishment. In just three short months, this little girl had grown to a level she couldn't have imagined. After running 20 kilometers, Vivi barely seemed out of breath, while she…
The thought left Robin feeling frustrated and determined. She stood up, her pride refusing to let her quit.
"Tony, I want to keep going! If they're doing this, then as their big sister, I'll need to double the training."
Tony was taken aback for a moment, then smiled inwardly. He hadn't expected Robin to have such a competitive streak.
However, worried about her overexerting herself, he insisted she rest for a bit before continuing. After all, physical endurance couldn't be built in just a few days.
Elsewhere, Nami followed Tony's suggestion and ventured to an area frequented by Sea Kings to practice long-range attacks.
Nami had already achieved basic control over her lightning powers. The next step was to hone the precision of her attacks.
While lightning strikes had impressive range and power, mastering pinpoint accuracy required deliberate effort.
This was her first time engaging in live combat. As soon as she arrived, she was startled to see several massive Sea Kings writhing in the distance. Among them were a few enormous sea serpents, each as thick as a water barrel, hissing menacingly.
For some reason, the serpents weren't attacking each other. Instead, they all seemed to focus on Nami, their agitation palpable as they surged toward her like a tidal wave.
For many women, snakes were a natural source of fear. These gigantic serpents, mutated in appearance, were even more terrifying. One was entirely blue, another red, and yet another yellow. Each serpent stretched about 50 meters in length.
Their glowing red eyes, as large as lanterns, fixated on Nami, making her skin crawl.
She swallowed hard, unable to stop her body from trembling.
"Can I really handle creatures like this...? Does Tony truly think I can beat them?"
The next moment, she shook her head, dispelling her doubt.
"Trust Tony. His judgment has never been wrong before!"
Resolved, Nami raised her arm and aimed her palm at the yellow serpent's head, recalling the moment Enel had struck her with a devastating lightning pillar.
"Thunderclap! Fall before me!"
Boom!
A deafening roar echoed across the skies. A massive lightning pillar descended from above, its intensity overwhelming. The surrounding air crackled with static electricity as streaks of lightning danced wildly.
The bolt struck the yellow serpent square on the head, unleashing a horrific screech of agony. Within seconds, the creature's eyes rolled back, and its massive body sank into the White Sea, disappearing from view.
Nami stood there in shock. She hadn't expected her power to be this strong. While the lightning pillar was far from matching Enel's devastating attacks—probably not even a third as powerful—it had still been enough to kill a giant sea serpent.
The thought of her potential sent a thrill through her.
But the remaining two serpents let out enraged roars, their hissing filled with fury. They were determined to tear her apart.
The blue serpent surged forward, its massive body cutting through the water at an incredible speed. Within moments, it was nearly upon her.
Without hesitation, Nami leapt backward, activating her Rumble-Rumble Fruit powers to instantly widen the gap between them by over ten meters.
After defeating the first serpent, her fear had diminished significantly. She no longer felt as helpless against these sea monsters.
"You disgusting snake! You still dare to come at me? Watch as I fry you to a crisp!"
Electric currents crackled in her hands, forming two orbs of lightning. The condensed energy resembled cannonballs, each brimming with destructive power. Without hesitation, Nami aimed at the approaching blue serpent and prepared to strike.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
Nami looked like an unstoppable generator, hurling countless lightning balls at the Sea Kings. While the power of each individual lightning orb wasn't particularly overwhelming, their cumulative effect was significant.
Beneath the giant blue sea serpent lay seawater—a perfect conductor. As the electric currents made contact, their potency multiplied exponentially.
In an instant, the massive serpent convulsed violently, letting out a pitiful cry as if pleading for mercy. Moments later, its colossal body fell limp, lifeless, into the waves.
The crimson serpent, witnessing the demise of its two companions at the hands of this seemingly ordinary woman, began to tremble uncontrollably. Displaying a rare spark of intelligence, it turned its massive head toward Nami, nodding repeatedly in a gesture of surrender.
Surrounding them, countless other Sea Kings had been silently observing the scene. These creatures, unlike ordinary beasts, possessed a certain level of intelligence.
Witnessing Nami's terrifying display of power, they chose survival over pride. With a synchronized retreat, they vanished into the depths of the White Sea. In their minds, Nami's name was etched onto a permanent blacklist—never to be approached again.
The crimson serpent, sensing Nami's mercy as she waved it away, expressed a strange sort of gratitude before slinking off in defeat.
Standing motionless on the spot, Nami's eyes began to brim with tears. Her efforts hadn't been in vain.
Clenching her fists tightly, she whispered to herself, her heart swelling with pride and relief:
"Finally, I feel like I can truly be of use to you. No more hiding behind you like I used to."
Her voice quivered slightly as she continued, "Tony... from now on, it'll be my turn to protect you!"
One could only marvel at how fortunate Tony was. These women, once fragile in their own way, had transformed themselves into warriors.
By evening, the sun dipped below the horizon, its outline fading into the tranquil expanse of the sky. A soft breeze swept over the ship, mingling with the stillness of the world as if signaling a momentary reprieve from its usual chaos.
Tony carried an utterly exhausted Robin back to the ship's cabin, carefully attending to her.
"Bakudō #73: Tozanshō!"
Tony decisively used a healing Kido spell to help Robin swiftly recover her strength. Watching her push herself so relentlessly in her quest to master Haki, he couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.
But he knew there was no other way. Without establishing a solid foundation and building their strength now, their futures would only lead to becoming stepping stones for others.
In a world where strength reigned supreme, having no power meant resigning oneself to the mercy of others.
Tony understood this harsh truth better than anyone, which was why he never held back during their training. Giving them an easier path now would only harm them in the long run.
Fortunately, the three of them were incredibly dedicated. Each day brought visible improvements.
Tony believed without a doubt that they would one day become some of the finest pirates the world had ever seen.
~-------------------------
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