Thanks to Kaido's insight, a lightbulb went off in Ares's mind.
He had never fully grasped the nature of Devil Fruits. Up to now, he'd been relying on his own physical fighting style, copying it directly onto his Mythical Zoan form without understanding its true potential.
The power of the Azure Dragon Fruit he hadn't even begun to unlock it.
He suddenly burst into hearty laughter and slapped Kaido on the back. "Kaido, you're a damn genius!"
"Got any more ideas?"
Ares stared at him, eyes glowing with anticipation. He genuinely wanted to know if Kaido had more suggestions on how to develop Devil Fruit powers.
Pleased by the praise, Kaido laughed proudly, "Gurararara!"
"I was thinking if those flame clouds can carry you through the air, they should be able to lift other things too. Just like what Captain Shiki did..."
"He floated entire mountains and ships and dropped them from the sky. The destruction was massive!"
Kaido had clearly drawn inspiration from the ability of the Float-Float Fruit.
If the flame clouds could mimic that effect keeping objects suspended midair and then releasing them Ares could unleash cataclysmic force.
The heavier and larger the object, the more devastating the impact.
Kaido had even dreamed of lifting an entire island... though he knew something like that bordered on the impossible.
That kind of power would be pure annihilation.
Ares nodded seriously. "Not bad. That's a solid idea. Once I recover, I'll try a few of these methods you mentioned."
"It's time I stopped relying solely on my body's toughness and defense. I need to unleash the full potential of my Devil Fruit!"
He grinned with excitement.
Once healed, Ares planned to merge his mastery of the Six Powers with Kaido's strategic suggestions. He would weave together martial arts, swordsmanship, and Devil Fruit techniques.
A triple fusion.
The very thought made his blood boil.
Kaido, meanwhile, couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. Back when Ares was unconscious on Hachinosu, he'd learned that Big Mom had tried to eliminate him... but instead, Ares had claimed the Mythical Zoan Fruit for himself.
He'd also awakened a Conqueror's Haki far stronger than Kaido's own.
Each blow to Kaido's pride was heavier than the last.
He had once dreamed of surpassing Ares...
But after witnessing Ares's terrifying talent and almost insane training regimen driven by obsession and discipline Kaido had no choice but to admit the truth:
This monster, both gifted and hardworking, was someone he might never be able to surpass.
Still, Kaido believed Ares would rise to claim a world of his own.
Between Big Mom and Ares... he chose Ares.
Watching Ares deep in thought, Kaido quietly hoped he would one day master his Devil Fruit to become the world's strongest creature.
At the same time, he couldn't help but wonder, "When will I find a Devil Fruit of my own?"
Right now, Ares was completely absorbed in thought.
Kaido had inspired him.
He realized he had been too focused on the regenerative aspect of the Mythical Zoan completely overlooking its other latent powers.
"But how exactly can I control lightning?"
"And how do I combine swordsmanship and the Six Powers with the abilities of the Devil Fruit?"
These questions swirled in his head.
Solving them would mark another massive leap forward in his strength.
As his thoughts drifted toward his dream, a new idea struck him.
"What if I temper my body with lightning instead of fire? Would it be more effective?"
This thought immediately reminded him of a blurry memory from Riku Yo's past about Bruce Lee.
Because they shared the same surname, Riku Yo had idolized Bruce Lee deeply.
One of the vague memories was about Bruce Lee using electrical stimulation in training. The details were hazy, but the idea stuck.
Ares started drafting his next training regimen.
"My body's already strong as hell... maybe that method could work. But before I try electric conditioning, I should finish my Fire-Hammer Forging training first."
He'd only just started the fire-forging discipline. Ever since boarding the pirate ship, he had paused the burning exercises to avoid damaging the vessel.
One, because he needed to preserve his strength for battle with Zephyr, and two, because setting the ship on fire would be... problematic.
So instead, he went back to the old methods pounding his body with iron rods and doing intense weight training.
Just then, Wang Zhi walked over and said to the two on the deck, "Ares, you're sitting out tonight's operation. Stay aboard and rest."
"Kaido, you're in charge of looking after him."
Kaido glanced at Ares, who was wrapped in bandages. The fire in his eyes dimmed slightly as he gave a firm nod. "Don't worry, Captain Wang Zhi. I'll take good care of Boss Ares."
"If you want to fight, go. I'll be fine," Ares told Kaido.
He knew Kaido lived for battle especially epic ones.
As for pillaging? Ares couldn't care less.
Those weaklings didn't interest him.
And ever since merging with part of Riku Yo's memory, Ares had become even more resistant to pirate behavior.
But over time, he came to understand... the moment he became a pirate, that label was already burned into his soul.
A villain. A scourge. A monster.
Everything he ate and drank came from stolen goods. Whether it was plundered from pirates, extorted from civilians, or squeezed through so-called "protection fees" it was all the same.
Through Riku Yo's memories, Ares saw just how brutal and unfair this world really was.
Pirates weren't the only ones soaked in evil.
The Celestial Dragons, corrupt royals, the underworld, racism, class oppression, special privileges every layer of society reeked.
Ares sighed inwardly.
"Once you choose this path, there's no turning back. Like drawing a bow you either let it fly or snap the string."
The pirate's mark was now a permanent part of him.
Though he was still a teenager, he had the thoughts and weight of someone twice his age.
In some ways, he felt like an old soul in a young body.
Kaido, meanwhile, stubbornly insisted, "It's just a raid. I've been through a ton of these since joining the Rocks Pirates. What I want... is war."
"A grand, earth-shaking war where I take center stage!"
This vast ocean could hold all kinds of dreams and madness a twisted world of chaos and ambition.
And Kaido?
He was a born war maniac.
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