It had been one and a half months since the Straw Hat Pirates began their training in the Monster Mountain Range.
Currently, the crew was advancing toward a valley suffocated by demonic energy, where even the air bit with an unnatural chill.
"Luffy... isn't it a bit early for us to challenge that guy now?" Usopp asked, his voice trembling as he adjusted his goggles.
Zoro chuckled, his hand resting on Wado Ichimonji.
"Usopp, have some confidence in yourself. That guy is already the weakest yokai overlord around us."
Sanji blew out a plume of smoke, a confident smile playing on his lips.
"Don't be afraid. You, Nami-san, and Robin-san can safely stay far away and provide long-range support. That's enough for us. besides, the plant seeds you've recently developed are quite remarkable."
Upon hearing the praise, Usopp instantly puffed out his chest.
"Of course! Who do you think I am? Hahahaha!"
Nami pursed her lips and quietly hid behind Usopp's suddenly broad back.
"Captain Usopp, you must protect little old me. I'm still scared."
"And Chopper, you must protect me too!"
The little reindeer currently wore a very serious expression, his nose twitching as he constantly sniffed the air.
"With Chouchou absent, I have to rely on my nose to detect danger in time!"
Robin patted Chopper's furry head.
"Our ship's doctor is really reliable."
...
High above, Ray stood on a cloud, watching the scene unfold below.
Only Chouchou was by his side.
Ray didn't want Jaken to know about his actions yet; if the little imp learned Ray was secretly aiding humans, he might fight him to the death out of sheer loyalty to 'Sesshomaru.'
Ray actually quite liked Jaken and didn't want to have to kill him.
"Master, Luffy and the others have improved so quickly in just half a month," Chouchou noted, tail wagging slightly.
Ray responded calmly. "True, Otherwise, how could they be worthy of being our companions?"
But Chouchou remained worried. "But the opponent they're challenging today is really powerful. Even stronger than that old dragon I encountered before."
Ray nodded in agreement, then gestured for Chouchou to relax.
This was exactly why Ray had come today.
The Blue Oni ruling this valley had strength roughly equivalent to an elite Vice Admiral.
Given the Straw Hats' current level, this was a dangerous gamble.
If the opponent proved too strong, Ray would simply "pass by" and eliminate the threat.
...
Some time later, Luffy and the others reached the depths of the valley.
The demonic energy here had reached its peak, heavy and suffocating.
Dressed in animal skins, the Straw Hat Pirates resembled primitive hunters stalking their prey.
"Nami-san, Usopp, you'll provide long-range support today—find places to hide!" Sanji ordered.
"Chopper, Robin-san, don't venture more than 100 meters away from them."
The four acknowledged and scattered.
Usopp set up a massive bone slingshot, nearly 1.5 meters tall.
The elastic band was made from the tendon of a flood dragon they had slain days ago—a hidden boss that would have been Vice Admiral level in their world.
Its toughness had been a nightmare, forcing Luffy, Sanji, and Zoro to use Ryou for the first time, albeit in a crude form.
Now, that dragon's strength powered Usopp's artillery.
Meanwhile, Nami began discreetly releasing thunderclouds from her Clima-Tact.
In the gloomy, primeval forest, a sudden thunderstorm wouldn't raise suspicion.
Usopp had reinforced her staff with yokai bone, boosting its durability for melee combat, though the magic remained entirely Nami's domain.
Chopper and Robin's mission was simple: guard the backline.
Robin would use her Devil Fruit to intercept attacks, while Chopper stood ready with a handful of Usopp's lethal, yokai-bone shuriken.
...
Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji approached the Blue Oni.
Accustomed to being the apex predator, the creature slept deeply, fearing nothing.
It was a behemoth, nearly ten meters tall, with muscles that looked capable of shattering mountains.
"Luffy, shitty cook, I'll wake it up first. You two be ready to follow up."
After a month and a half of hellish training, they no longer held back.
A foe like this wouldn't fall to a single strike.
Zoro tied his bandana tight.
He coated all three swords with Armament Haki, a layer of red-black energy about one centimeter thick enveloping the blades.
"Three Sword Style—Purgatory Oni Giri!"
Zoro swung at the Blue Oni's nape.
In the instant their figures crossed, a fountain of demonic blood sprayed into the sky.
Simultaneously, the Oni's massive head fell with a thunderous thud.
Silence reigned.
"Holy crap, Zoro's amazing! Is it over already?" Chopper's jaw dropped, and the shuriken in his hand slipped, piercing his foot.
"Oww~~ That hurts!"
"All that thunder I've been building up, and I didn't even get to unleash a single bolt!" Nami wailed, exasperated.
"My poor thunder!"
"At least I didn't have to use these seeds," Usopp sighed in relief, pocketing his rare ammunition.
"Zoro, well done!"
Sanji and Luffy, however, looked sour.
"Moss Head, you're so sneaky, stealing the spotlight like that?"
"I never thought Zoro to actually one shotted it. I wanted to test out my new move."
Zoro endured their complaining, equally baffled.
"Shut up! I didn't know I was this badass!"
...
High above, Ray shook his head slowly. "Zoro accidentally struck the Blue Oni's weak point."
Normally, the Blue Oni had no such fatal weakness.
But Zoro's unique power resonated with the Oni's, and the creature's nape happened to be softer than the rest of its iron hide.
Combined with Zoro's 1cm Ryuo, it bypassed the defense entirely for a critical hit.
Anyone else would have had a grueling fight.
'So this is Zoro's unique Conqueror's Haki manifesting? Not bad.'
With that, Ray turned to leave since he knows the Strawhats is far stronger now.
....
Sure enough, below, the headless body of the Blue Oni suddenly stood up, groping blindly for its missing head.
Sanji immediately kicked the severed head into a ravine.
The headless corpse began to rage, attacking the air indiscriminately.
The Straw Hats lit up with excitement.
"Such incredible vitality! Truly worthy of being a yokai!"
"But it's attacking randomly! It can't see us!"
"Isn't this the perfect living punching bag?"
Nami finally released her pent-up thunder.
Usopp tested his new ammo. And the Monster Trio focused intently on their Haki.
"Moss Head, you only have 1cm? That's too short. I'll break through to 3cm today and show you," Sanji taunted.
"Perverted cook, stop boasting. I'll reach 4cm," Zoro shot back.
"You're both too weak! I'm going for 10cm today!" Luffy roared.
The three charged the headless giant like hungry wolves.
Ray smiled faintly.
The Straw Hats were now the rulers of this valley.
As for him, it was time to check on his foolish younger brother.
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