[A/N:life is busy I have to make one chapter a day around 2500-4000 words in a chapter.
I have a small deal you can always cool dudes can take
Every 50 power stone I will make one chapter Max out up to 10 chapters per week.]
Chapter 57 – Welcome to Hell Training!
Sunny's POV
The morning sun was just beginning to peek over the endless expanse of the East Blue, casting a golden hue across the gentle waves that lapped against the hull of the Going Merry. It was one of those rare, serene moments at sea—birds chirping faintly in the distance, the salty breeze carrying the promise of adventure. But on our little ship, that peace was about to be shattered like a mirror dropped from the crow's nest. Because today marked the official start of what I liked to call "Operation: Turn This Crew Into Unkillable Monsters." Or, as Aqua had dubbed it with her signature flair, "Hell's Vacation Package—All-Inclusive Suffering!"
I stood on the deck, stretching my arms overhead, feeling the familiar hum of my powers buzzing just beneath my skin. The air was crisp, and I could already sense the crew stirring in their bunks below. Aqua was lounging against the mast, her blue hair catching the light like a cascade of ocean waves. She had that manic grin on her face—the one that said she was about to enjoy someone else's misery way too much. "Fufufu…" she chuckled, crossing her arms. "Oh, Sunny, this is going to be beautiful! Finally, someone other than me gets to suffer through your twisted training regimen!"
I cracked my neck with a satisfying pop, flashing her a smile that was probably a tad too calm for the chaos I was about to unleash. "Hey, {ego}, [system]—let's hear the plan. Break it down for me nice and slow."
[system]: Gladly, darling~♡
Her voice echoed in my head, sweet as honey laced with arsenic. It was that overly affectionate tone she used when she was plotting something diabolical—like a yandere girlfriend pretending to be innocent right before she locks you in a basement.
[system]: Phase one: Wake-up calls by cannon fire. Nothing says 'good morning' like a near-death experience. Phase two: Endurance training under weighted sea-stone shackles. We'll make sure they feel every ounce of that devil fruit weakness, even if they don't have one. Phase three… —she paused dramatically, her voice dropping to a sultry purr— mental collapse drills. We'll push their psyches to the brink until they rebuild stronger. Think of it as therapy, but with more screaming.
Lucy, our ever-optimistic captain (who I swear was Luffy in a previous life, but with a bit more common sense), rubbed her eyes sleepily as she wandered onto the deck. "Wait—mental what now? That sounds... kinda ominous."
{ego}: "Basically, she's gonna break your brain until even the most die-hard Luffy fans start feeling bad for you. Picture rubber boy meets existential dread."
Lucy's eyes widened like saucers. "WHAT?!"
Aqua and I burst into laughter—loud, evil cackles that echoed across the water, completely unbothered by the horrified stares we were getting. "HAHAHAHAHAHA!" I doubled over, clutching my sides.
Lucy took a hesitant step back, her straw hat tilting comically. "Oh no… you two sound like straight-up villains from a bad fairy tale!"
Zoro, emerging from the hold with his swords slung over his shoulder, muttered under his breath, "Correction—they are villains. I've fought actual demons who were less sadistic."
Usopp, who had been tinkering with some gadget in the corner, let out a blood-curdling scream. "WHY DOES TRAINING SOUND LIKE TORTURE?! I signed up for adventure, not a one-way ticket to the afterlife!"
Sanji, ever the hopeful romantic, lit a cigarette and waved it off with a suave grin. "Relax, everyone. My sweet angels, especially Aqua, would never do anything truly cruel. Right, ladies?" He blew a heart-shaped smoke ring toward Aqua.
Aqua's eyes sparkled with mischief, glowing faintly with her goddess powers. "Oh, we will~♡. In fact, we're just getting warmed up."
Sanji's face went pale, his cigarette dropping from his lips as he dramatically fainted right there on the deck, landing with a theatrical thud. "M-My heart... betrayed..."
The crew erupted into a mix of groans and chuckles, but I could see the underlying excitement—or maybe that was just fear disguised as enthusiasm. Either way, it was time to kick things off.
---
By noon, the Going Merry had transformed from a cozy pirate ship into a floating torture chamber straight out of a nightmare. The sun beat down mercilessly, turning the deck into a sweltering oven, and the air was thick with the sounds of grunts, yelps, and the occasional explosion. Chaos wasn't just happening; it had evolved into an art form, complete with its own soundtrack of suffering.
Lucy was in the thick of it, doing pushups with what looked like innocent drawings of sea-kings scribbled on her back courtesy of Aqua's divine magic. But these weren't your average doodles—oh no. Every time Lucy slowed down or her form slipped even a fraction, the drawings shimmered to life, their jagged teeth snapping at her heels or nipping at her arms. "GYAAAAAA!! WHY IS IT MOVING?! IT JUST BIT MY BUTT!"
Aqua cackled from her perch on a barrel, fanning herself with a leaf like a queen overseeing her subjects. "Because it's motivated you, my dear Captain! Nothing says 'push harder' like a little chomp from a mythical beast. Think of it as personalized encouragement!"
Lucy gritted her teeth, sweat pouring down her face as she pumped out another rep. "This isn't encouragement—it's assault! Sunny, make her stop!"
I leaned against the railing, arms crossed, trying not to laugh too hard. "Nah, it's building character. Plus, it's hilarious."
Meanwhile, Zoro was pounding the deck in relentless laps around the Merry—blindfolded, with heavy weights tied to each of his three swords. The clanking of metal echoed with every step, and he was weaving through obstacles I'd set up: barrels, ropes, even a few illusory dummies courtesy of {ego}. He slashed at one mid-stride, grunting as it dissipated into smoke.
[system]: Each lap completed increases his muscle density by 0.7%. Keep running, mossy darling~♡ You're looking positively ripped already.
Zoro snarled, nearly tripping over a loose plank. "Stop calling me that! And what the hell is 'muscle density'? Sounds like made-up nonsense!"
{ego}: "It's science, marimo. Or magic. Or whatever. Point is, you'll thank us when you can cut through a mountain without breaking a sweat."
Sanji, bless his chivalrous heart, was in the galley-turned-arena, tasked with cooking a full-course meal while dodging a barrage of flying knives thrown by {ego}'s manifested projections—ethereal hands that zipped around like angry hornets. Pots bubbled on the stove, flames flickering dangerously close to his curly brow. "You drop a dish, you die," {ego} intoned dramatically. "You burn the sauce, you die. You flirt with someone mid-stir, you definitely die. Focus, curly-brow!"
Sanji flipped a pan with expert precision, sweat beading on his forehead as a knife whizzed past his ear. "You're worse than Zeff on a bad day! At least he didn't try to skewer me while I sautéed!"
{ego}: "Thank you, I take that as a compliment. Now, dodge left—oops, too slow!"
A knife grazed his sleeve, and Sanji yelped, spinning into a graceful kick that shattered the projection. "Damn it! If I survive this, I'm making you all the best damn feast you've ever tasted!"
Poor Usopp was strapped to a custom training dummy I'd rigged up—a mechanical monstrosity that rolled around the deck on wheels, firing rubber cannonballs every time he missed a shot with his slingshot. The dummy had a painted face that looked suspiciously like a smug version of Buggy the Clown, complete with a red nose that honked mockingly on misses. "WHY DOES IT HAVE A MIND OF ITS OWN?!" Usopp wailed, diving behind a crate as a ball whizzed overhead.
[system]: Target practice: effective when motivated by fear of death~♡. Hit the bullseye, or become the bullseye!
Usopp popped up, firing a star that exploded in a shower of sparks. "This is inhumane! I'm an inventor, not a gladiator!"
Lucy, mid-plank with her sea-king tattoos wriggling threateningly, shouted across the deck, "SUNNY! THIS IS TOO MUCH! We're pirates, not marines in boot camp!"
I sauntered over, sipping a cup of tea I'd manifested with a flick of my wrist, feeling the warm liquid soothe my throat amidst the cacophony. Aqua joined me, linking her arm through mine with a playful nudge. "You'll thank me later," I said, winking at Lucy. "This is how we level up."
Aqua leaned her head on my shoulder, her voice a teasing whisper. "Oh, this brings back memories~ Remember our one-year nightmare on RGB Island? The endless drills, the Torico beasts chasing us, the times I had to heal your stubborn ass after you pushed too far?"
I smirked, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer. The contact sent a familiar spark through her—part comfort, part fire. "How could I forget? You cried almost every day, goddess. Big, dramatic sobs that echoed through the jungle."
Aqua puffed out her cheeks, her face flushing a cute shade of pink. "That was strategic crying! It was to... uh... release toxins! Yeah, that's it!"
{ego}: "Uh-huh. Totally wasn't panic or anything. Definitely not you bawling because a giant spider looked at you funny."
Aqua glared at the empty air where she imagined {ego} to be. "Shut it, voice in his head! You're just jealous you don't have a body to cry with!"
[system]: I'm also in his heart~♡. And maybe a little jealous. Sunny's got that charm that draws in all the weirdos.
Aqua froze, her eyes narrowing playfully. "Why do you sound jealous? Wait, are you... competing with me for his attention?"
[system]: Because I am. He's mine first, goddess girl. Back off~♡.
The entire crew within earshot paused their torturous exercises, staring at us like we'd grown extra heads. Lucy, still planking, whispered hoarsely, "...Is his system flirting with him? Like, actually flirting?"
Nojiko, who had been lounging on the upper deck with a book, sighed and closed it with a snap. "Don't ask questions you don't want answered. Sunny's inner world is a whole circus."
Nami crossed her arms, her orange hair whipping in the breeze as she eyed me suspiciously. "I don't know what's scarier—the training or that his AI has a crush. What's next, a love triangle with a computer?"
[system]: Correction: undying devotion. And it's not a triangle if I'm the apex~♡.
{ego}: "This story's gonna get flagged at this rate. We're veering into rom-com territory with a side of psychological horror."
Aqua snorted, but I could feel her grip tighten on my arm—a mix of possessiveness and amusement. I turned to her, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Jealous of a voice in my head? Come on, Aqua. You know you're irreplaceable."
She blushed deeper, punching my shoulder lightly. "S-Shut up, idiot. I'm not jealous! I just... don't like sharing."
The moment hung there, sweet amidst the sweat and screams, until Usopp's dummy fired another cannonball, breaking the spell with a comedic boom.
---
After several grueling hours filled with more screaming, a few tears (mostly from Usopp), and at least three minor explosions (thanks to a misfired slingshot star), I finally called for a break. The crew collapsed in various heaps across the deck, panting like they'd just outrun a Buster Call.
Lucy flopped face-first onto the wooden planks, her hat tumbling off. "Water… need water… fresh water, not that salty crap from the sea..."
Aqua, ever the helpful one, kicked a barrel over with her foot. It rolled to a stop beside Lucy. "There you go. Drink up!"
Lucy lifted her head weakly, peering inside. "That's saltwater! Are you trying to kill me?!"
Aqua shrugged nonchalantly, her grin unrepentant. "Hydration is hydration. Builds resilience to dehydration, right? Fufufu~"
Usopp groaned from his spot slumped against the mast, his limbs splayed out like a starfish. "I'm gonna die before we even reach the next island. My bones feel like jelly, and my soul left my body three times today. Once during the pushups, twice during the dodging!"
Sanji crawled up beside him, still clutching a spatula, his suit rumpled and his hair disheveled for once. He lit a cigarette with trembling hands, exhaling a shaky puff. "If I die surrounded by beauties like this, it's worth it. Nami-swan, Nojiko-swan, Lucy-swan, Aqua-swan... your radiance is my lifeline."
Zoro was the only one still standing—barely—wiping sweat from his brow with a smirk. "That all you got? I've had worse naps."
Lucy lifted her head just enough to glare at him. "Liar. I saw you wobble on that last lap."
Before Zoro could retort, [system] chimed in cheerfully: Activating 'Phase Two'… Prepare for gravitational adjustment.
Zoro blinked, confusion flickering across his face. "Wait wha—"
Suddenly, the deck tilted as if the Merry had hit a rogue wave—but there was no wave. Gravity tripled in an instant, pressing down on everyone like an invisible giant's hand. The wood creaked under the strain, and the crew's screams harmonized in a chorus of despair.
Lucy: "WHY IS THE SHIP—BENDING?! I CAN'T MOVE MY ARMS!"
Usopp: "SUNNY, TURN IT OFF!! MY SPINE IS FOLDING LIKE A MAP!"
Sanji: "MY BONES ARE SCREAMING!! AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY!"
Aqua and I burst into laughter again, tears streaming down our faces as we clutched each other for support. The pressure didn't affect us—perks of being overpowered—but watching the crew flop around like fish on dry land was pure comedy gold. "You guys—wanted to get stronger, right?" I managed between gasps.
[system]: Behold: The Gravity Hell Chamber. Courtesy of yours truly~♡. Three times normal gravity to simulate fighting on a mountain... or just for fun.
Lucy flopped over onto her back, her eyes spinning like pinwheels. "I—I take it back… No more strength! I'll settle for being a noodle!"
{ego}: "No refunds on training packages. Suck it up, buttercup."
Nami, struggling to her knees under the weight, stomped (or rather, shuffled) over to me, her face a mask of fury. "SUNNY! You're going to break the ship! The Merry isn't built for this!"
I raised a hand, letting my void blue Haki flare lightly—a subtle pulse that reinforced the ship's frame, steadying it against the artificial gravity. The wood stop groaning and held firmly. "Don't worry, she can take it. I've got her covered."
Aqua giggled, pressing closer to me, her hand slipping into mine. "See? He's responsible sometimes. When he's not being a total sadist."
{ego}: "Keyword: sometimes. Remember that time he 'accidentally' blew up half an island during practice?"
Nojiko, who had managed to stay upright by clinging to the railing, watched us with a faint smile. Her eyes met mine, and there was something soft in them—admiration mixed with a hint of nostalgia. "You're enjoying this way too much, Sunny. But... you sound like Bell-mère sometimes, you know? She had that same tough-love approach with us kids."
Her words hit me deeper than expected, stirring up old memories of Cocoyasi Village and the fierce woman who'd shaped Nojiko, Nami and Aqua by little bit. I felt a warmth in my chest, unrelated to the training. "Heh. Guess that's not a bad thing. She raised two strong women, after all."
Nojiko's smile widened, her cheeks tinting slightly. "Flatterer. Careful, or I might start thinking you care."
Aqua noticed the exchange and squeezed my hand a bit tighter, her voice a playful whine. "Hey, no hogging his attention, Nojiko! He's mine for teasing today."
[system]: Emotional growth detected. Proceeding to tease mode paused. For him, always~♡.
{ego}: "Wait, she can pause teasing? That's new. Miracles do happen."
Aqua snorted, shooting a glare at the sky. "Oh great, now she's flirting in whisper mode. Sunny, your head is a romance novel waiting to happen."
I grinned, pulling Aqua into a quick hug and planting a kiss on her forehead. "You jealous? Don't be. There's plenty of me to go around... but you're always first."
She blushed furiously, burying her face in my chest. "N–No! I just—shut up, you big idiot!" But her arms wrapped around me, holding tight.
Lucy, somehow still conscious despite the gravity crushing her flat, groaned from the deck. "Can you two flirt after we stop dying? Some of us are trying not to become pancakes here!"
The crew chuckled weakly, the romantic tension cutting through the pain like a breath of fresh air.
---
An hour later, with muscles screaming and spirits tested, I finally clapped my hands. "Alright! Training complete for the day! Gravity off."
The pressure lifted instantly, and everyone collapsed in a collective sigh of relief, sprawling out like defeated warriors after a battle.
Usopp: "My soul left my body three times... no, make that four. And it took my dignity with it."
Sanji: "My spirit ascended… but only because of Nami-swan's beauty pulling me back. Ah, what a day to be alive... barely."
Zoro: "That was nothing. Bring on tomorrow."
Lucy: "Liar. I heard you grunt like an old man."
Aqua and I exchanged a knowing look.
"Tomorrow," I said with a wicked grin, "we start the next phase. Combat simulations with illusions—think fighting your worst nightmares come to life."
Lucy's eyes went wide with horror. "There's a next phase?! I thought this was it!"
[system]: Oh yes, captain~♡. You haven't even touched the nightmare simulation yet. Ghosts of past failures, multiplied enemies... it'll be delightful.
{ego}: "He's dead. Again. RIP, stretchy boy."
Lucy screamed into the deck, muffling her despair. "WHY IS EVERYTHING IN THIS CREW INSANE?! We're supposed to be pirates, not masochists!"
I chuckled quietly as Aqua leaned beside me, resting her head on my shoulder once more. The sun was dipping lower now, painting the sky in oranges and pinks—a beautiful contrast to the day's brutality.
"Think they'll survive?" she whispered, her voice soft.
I smiled, watching the crew slowly recover, already bantering and laughing despite the exhaustion. "They better. We've only just begun. But with us leading? They'll conquer the Grand Line."
Above us, the Straw Hat flag waved proudly in the sea breeze—mocking, defiant, alive. And beneath it, our chaos burned brighter than ever, fueled by laughter, love, and a healthy dose of insanity.