Luffy, how can you become the Pirate King if you don't work hard!

"Give it a try."

Try?

How do I try it?

Where can I try it?!

Then Luffy was pulled into the girls' dormitory on the Going Merry by Robin.

Why do I say "again"?

Meanwhile, near the kitchen of the Sunny Journey.

Merry drifted into the kitchen like a gust of wind, leaning against the cold wall, panting heavily.

She covered her still burning cheeks with her hands, her heart pounding.

"This is so, so shameful!"

Robin actually saw it, and Luffy actually...

She muttered incoherently to herself, her mind replaying the embarrassing scene on the deck just moments before.

The warm touch of Luffy's fingers still lingered on her toes, making her feel uncomfortable all over, yet also giving her a tingling sensation.

"Merry, what's wrong? Your face is so red!" Chopper happened to come to the kitchen to get some milk and saw Merry looking like this, so he immediately ran over worriedly. "Do you have a fever?"

"No, it's nothing!"

Merry waved her hands repeatedly, "I'm just a little hot!"

Wait a minute.

What is Robin doing?

Damn it, let Luffy go!

Have they forgotten that I am the ship spirit of the Going Merry? Don't think you can do whatever you want just because there are no people on board!

Merry transformed back into Little Merry, letting out a mournful wail as she glanced at her little feet, her face flushed.

No, why do these two look so familiar with each other? Did something else happen while I was unaware?

"Melli? What's wrong?" Vivi's voice came from the side as she drank a glass of water.

Merry was startled, as if she had seen something again, and then said with a loss of interest in her eyes, "I, I'm fine..."

......

The morning sun shone on the deck of the Sunshine Thousand Miles, and the sea breeze carried a salty, damp scent.

Luffy looked radiant early in the morning.

It has returned to its previous state.

It has been confirmed that Ace is not in immediate danger while imprisoned in Impel Down.

It seems that apart from the Pirate King Roger being publicly executed, most of the other powerful Devil Fruit users who were captured by the Navy and imprisoned in Impel Down were imprisoned. Besides punishment, the purpose was to prevent the powerful Devil Fruits from spreading.

In any case, Ace should be safe.

This gave his sense of urgency the right direction.

Becoming stronger is the only true path.

With Robin's profound and heartfelt guidance last night, Luffy released all the pent-up pressure and felt like he was fully charged, with boundless energy that he had nowhere to vent.

"Zoro, how about we spar with Armament Haki?" Luffy spotted Zoro in a corner of the deck at a glance. "It's been a while since we've had a proper spar."

"I couldn't ask for more."

Zoro was sweating profusely while holding super-heavy dumbbells. After warming up, he stopped and casually put the dumbbells down with a dull thud.

He admitted that his overall strength couldn't catch up with this monster captain for the time being, but he was determined not to fall too far behind in terms of domineering cultivation.

Having witnessed the black blade, Zoro felt that there might be some connection between it and Haki.

Is it possible to turn my own knife into a black knife?

Nami came out of the kitchen with a glass of orange juice. Looking at the two who had instantly entered battle mode, she tilted her head in confusion: "Strange, why does Luffy seem particularly energetic today? He looked so preoccupied yesterday."

Not far away, Robin sat elegantly on a beach chair, holding a thick book in her hands.

Hearing this, she looked up, adjusted her glasses, and gave a meaningful smile: "Yes, it's not good to have too much pressure bottled up inside. Sometimes, it's necessary to release and reassure people."

As she spoke, she naturally crossed her long legs, adjusting to a more comfortable sitting posture.

freed.

enlighten?

Nami didn't delve too deeply into the deeper meaning of Robin's words and warmly invited, "Robin, the weather is so nice today, how about we go swimming together?"

"It's definitely a great day for swimming,"

Robin smiled and shook his head slightly, his tone carrying just the right amount of languor: "But never mind. I was too tired last night and want to rest."

Her words were gentle, but they made the tips of Merry's ears turn bright red instantly, even though she was pretending to wipe the railing next to her.

Merry secretly glanced at Robin, and Robin seemed to notice her too.

As soon as he looked up, he met Robin's knowing and slightly teasing gaze.

Robin even winked at her, which startled Merry so much that she let out a whimper, dropped the rag in her hand like a frightened little rabbit, and ran away with her face flushed red.

My inner voice screamed wildly:

"Ahhh, what happened last night! Only I know what Robin's smile was like!"

This is so embarrassing!

"Oh ho ho ho, what a vibrant morning! To arrive and already see such a fierce battle omen."

Brook, holding a cup of black tea, stood by the ship's railing, watching Luffy and Zoro's tense standoff. A fighting spirit seemed to ignite in his empty eye sockets. "A clash of Haki? Even though I'm just a skeleton now, I'm still quite interested in such profound techniques!"

Chapter 282 The Cunning Woman

Soon, the center of the deck became a temporary training ground.

Luffy didn't use his Devil Fruit powers; he simply used his physical skills, which were intertwined with black and red Armament Haki, to collide fiercely with Zoro's arm, which was also covered in dark Haki!

boom!

A dull thud resounded, and an invisible shockwave spread out from the two of them, causing Usopp and Chopper, who were watching from the sidelines, to have their hair fly wildly.

"Wow, that's amazing!" Chopper hugged Usopp's leg, his eyes sparkling.

"That's true romance for men!"

Franky strikes his signature pose, "Super—!"

After the collision, the two quickly separated, only to engage in combat again at an even faster pace.

The wind of punches, the shadows of arms, and the occasional slashes by Zoro using his hands as swords—every clash of Haki unleashed astonishing energy.

Luffy beckoned to Brook, "Come on, let's go together."

Brook watched for a moment, then couldn't resist any longer and drew his Soul-Slaying Sword. "Then I'll join in too! Nightfall Melody - Straight Pierce!"

"Brook doesn't know Armament Haki yet, so he'll have to take a few more hits."

Luffy laughed, his body swaying as he dealt with Zoro's fierce attack, while simultaneously delivering a precise backhand punch to Brook's sword spine, deflecting it.

"Oh ho ho ho, even bones feel pain."

The battle intensified, attracting even more people to join.

Vivi warned, "Luffy, be careful."

She was surrounded by a gentle breeze, using the power of the Wind-Wind Fruit to disrupt Luffy's movements.

Nika yawned, looking bored.

Luffy shouted, "Stop slacking off, get up and practice!"

Nika wanted to argue, but Luffy's glare silenced her, and she joined the fray. In her white tanuki form, she possessed incredible strength and slapped Luffy, but Luffy firmly blocked her arm with Armament Haki.

"Everyone has become so strong," Usopp murmured, watching the group of people in the arena who had almost turned into afterimages.

Although he also longed to become stronger, this kind of close-quarters, domineering hand-to-hand combat was really not his area of ​​expertise.

I guess I should go hone my Observation Haki.

The chaotic yet efficient morning training session only came to a temporary end when Luffy reluctantly called for a halt, as the sun was high in the sky.

Everyone was drenched in sweat, but their eyes were exceptionally bright, especially Zoro. Although he had several bruises on his body, he seemed to have gained a new understanding of how to use Haki.

As everyone prepared to rest, Sanji was already clamoring to prepare lunch to replenish their energy.

From the lookout tower at the top of the mast came Merry's clear, urgent shout:

"Everyone! We've spotted a ship! It looks like the Navy is chasing pirates!"

Everyone's eyes immediately turned to the distance.

Luffy darted to the bow of the ship in a few strides, shading his eyes with his hand as he looked out. He saw two small black dots on the horizon, one in front of the other. The ship in front looked smaller, while the one behind was a standard-issue naval warship with its cannons flashing intermittently, clearly attacking the ship in front.

"What's going on? Merry, can you see the pirate flag clearly?" Luffy asked loudly.

Merry stood on tiptoe, straining to see: "Hmm, it's a red-lipped skull, and the skull looks like it's eating pizza?"

"A red-lipped skull eating pizza?"

Luffy stroked his chin, his eyes lighting up. "Even a skull eats pizza, maybe we're kindred spirits!"

Pirate crew flags often represent the captain's characteristics; a skull eating pizza might indicate he's a glutton.

"This seems to be a pirate crew I've never seen before," Luffy said, looking at Vivi. "Do you know Vivi?"

Vivi walked to Luffy's side, gazed intently at him, and shook her head:

"This flag alone provides too little information to determine which pirate crew it belongs to."