Chapter 58 — Hell Training: Day 2
Sunny's POV
The morning sun rose leisurely over the endless expanse of the East Blue, painting the sky in soft, vibrant orange hues that bled into pinks and purples like a watercolor masterpiece. Seagulls wheeled overhead, their cries mingling with the gentle symphony of waves lapping against the sturdy hull of the Going Merry. The air was crisp with the salty tang of the sea, carrying hints of adventure and freedom. It was the kind of perfect, peaceful morning that made you want to lounge on the deck with a good book or a steaming cup of tea, letting the world drift by.
Or it would've been, if not for the fact that everyone on board was already screaming their lungs out, turning the serene scene into a battlefield of sweat, grunts, and questionable life choices.
> "STOP—! I'M DYING—!!" Usopp wailed, his voice cracking like a teenager hitting puberty mid-sentence. "MY LEGS AREN'T MEANT TO BEND THAT WAY!" > "Zoro, your abs are crying blood!!" Sanji shouted from across the deck, his usual suave demeanor shattered as he dodged a flying dumbbell. > "THAT'S JUST SWEAT, YOU WEAKLINGS!!" Zoro roared back, his face a mask of determination mixed with what looked suspiciously like pain. > "NO IT ISN'T, YOU MANIAC!!" Nami chimed in, her voice laced with equal parts horror and exasperation.
I stood at the ship's railing, casually sipping a cup of perfectly brewed tea that I'd manifested with a flick of my wrist—green, no sugar, just the way I liked it to cut through the morning fog in my brain. The chaos unfolded behind me like a poorly directed play, but I couldn't help the grin that tugged at my lips. It was almost devilish, the way it stretched across my face, making me look like the puppet master of this madhouse.
{ego}: "He's doing that smug protagonist pose again. Look at him—hair tousled perfectly in the wind, eyes gleaming with mischief, the world literally burning behind him in a metaphorical sense. Absolute main character energy. If this were a manga, there'd be speed lines and dramatic shading right now."
[system]: "Fufu~ You say that like it's a bad thing. My darling looks divine when he's watching his friends suffer for growth. UmU~♡ The way the sunlight catches his profile... it's like he's sculpted by the gods themselves. Or, well, by me, since I'm the one enhancing his stats~♡"
I sighed, setting my teacup down on the railing with a soft clink. "You two realize this is basically torture, right? I mean, we're pushing them to their limits here. One wrong move, and someone could actually get hurt."
[system]: "Correction: Character development. And besides, you asked for hell training, did you not, darling? This is all in the name of making them unbreakable. Stronger bodies, sharper minds, unbreakable spirits~♡"
{ego}: "To be fair, he didn't say he wanted to enjoy it. But we all knew he would. Admit it, Sunny—you're getting a kick out of this sadistic symphony."
I couldn't even argue with that. There was something oddly satisfying about watching the crew evolve, even if it came with a side of screams. Aqua was beside me, lounging against the mast with her legs crossed elegantly, munching on a bowl of popcorn she'd somehow conjured from seawater using her goddess powers. Kernels flew as she laughed, her blue hair shimmering like ocean waves under the sun.
"Ahahaha~! Look at them go! Zoro's doing push-ups with the ship's anchor again—look at those veins popping! And Sanji's trying to out-cook Nojiko while blindfolded—oh, he's juggling flaming pans now! This is glorious!" she giggled, actual tears of laughter sparkling in her eyes as she wiped them away dramatically.
"Oi, goddess," I muttered, glancing at her with a raised eyebrow, "weren't you supposed to assist the training, not spectate like a fan at a gladiator match? You're supposed to be helping, not providing commentary."
Aqua grinned wickedly, popping another kernel into her mouth with exaggerated delight. "I am assisting. I made the floor slippery with holy water! Adds an element of unpredictability—builds agility and reflexes!"
"YOU WHAT—?!" I yelped, my eyes widening as the implications hit me like a rogue wave.
A loud thud echoed across the deck, followed by a chain reaction of disaster. Usopp, who had been attempting some kind of acrobatic dodge drill, slipped on the slick surface and yelped like a startled puppy. His flailing arms knocked into Zoro, who was mid-push-up with the massive anchor balanced on his back. Zoro tripped forward, his swords clanging against the wood, and in a domino effect, he barreled into Sanji, who was spinning plates of half-cooked food. Sanji faceplanted spectacularly, sending flour and spices exploding into the air like a confetti cannon. Lucy, ever the hero, leaped in with a stretched-out arm to catch them both—but her momentum carried them straight through the air and into Nami's hammock, which she'd strung up for a "supervisory nap."
WHAM.
The hammock snapped with a resounding rip, dumping everyone into a tangled heap of limbs, swords, and kitchen utensils.
Silence fell over the deck for a heartbeat. Then—
> "I'M GONNA KILL SOMEONE!!" Nami roared, emerging from the pile like a vengeful phoenix, her orange hair disheveled and her eyes blazing with fury. She brandished a broken hammock pole like a weapon. "WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?!"
I slowly turned to Aqua, my expression a mix of amusement and mock sternness. "…You're cleaning that up. And fixing the hammock. Divine powers or not, that's on you."
Aqua puffed her cheeks out in that adorable pout she did when she was caught red-handed, crossing her arms defiantly. "Divine immunity says no. Besides, it was for training! Character building through comedy of errors~♡"
The crew's groans turned into reluctant chuckles as they untangled themselves, the tension breaking like waves on the shore.
---
Lucy's POV
I stood near the mast, arms crossed over my chest, my eyes locked on Sunny with an intensity that surprised even me. My usual carefree smile was plastered on my face—the one that said "everything's fine, adventure awaits!"—but beneath it simmered something else. Something sharp, like the edge of a blade hidden in a bouquet of flowers. Jealousy? Maybe. Possessiveness? Definitely. Watching Sunny laugh with Aqua, their shoulders brushing casually, her teasing him with that flirtatious lilt... it stirred something primal in me.
Sunny laughed again at one of Aqua's quips, their easy camaraderie on full display. Aqua tossed her hair back, her voice dripping with mischief. "Ufufu~ You're blushing again, captain~. Is it the heat, or is it me?"
My smile twitched, stretching just a tad too wide, the kind that made people nervous without knowing why.
{ego}: "Oh no. She's in that stage again. The smile-too-wide-to-be-safe phase. Code red—jealous captain incoming."
[system]: "Ara Ara~ She's jealous. Isn't that adorable, darling? I could almost melt~♡ Look at that fire in her eyes; it's like a romance novel come to life."
Sunny (distantly, muttering to nobody in particular as he felt the chill down his spine): "Why do I feel like death is looking at me? Like, actual grim reaper vibes?"
I approached him slowly, sweetly, my steps light and deliberate. "Sunny~♡" My voice was honey-sweet, but with an undercurrent of threat that only someone attuned to danger would pick up.
He froze mid-sip of his tea, his eyes widening slightly as he turned to face me. "Ah… hey, Lucy. You look… uh… radiant today. Like, glowing. Must be all that training paying off already."
"Thank you~" I replied, my tone dripping with equal parts affection and menace. I tilted my head, letting my straw hat cast a shadow over my eyes for dramatic effect. "I was just wondering… who taught you to smile that much at Aqua? It's awfully... chummy."
Sunny blinked, caught off guard, his teacup hovering halfway to his lips. "Uh, I was… born with it? Natural charm, you know? Comes with the protagonist package."
{ego}: "Wrong answer, buddy. Abort mission—jealousy levels critical."
[system]: "Rest in peace, darling~♡. I'll prepare a nice flower for your funeral."
My aura darkened for a split second—my cloud-like hair flickering white with a surge of suppressed power before fading back to normal. I forced my smile back to its cheerful default, stepping closer until I was right in his personal space. "Good answer, captain~ Let's get stronger together! After all, a strong crew needs a strong bond, right?"
Sunny exhaled slowly, the relief palpable as he realized he'd dodged a bullet—or in this case, a rubbery fist. "Yeah... yeah, totally. Teamwork makes the dream work."
I leaned in just a bit closer, my hand brushing his arm lightly, sending a spark of electricity between us. "Exactly. And remember, I'm always watching~♡" With that, I spun on my heel and bounced away, leaving him flustered.
---
Zoro & Sanji POV
Zoro grunted through gritted teeth, lifting the massive ship's anchor with one hand while precariously balancing on a rolling barrel that Aqua had "helpfully" enchanted to wobble unpredictably. Sweat poured down his face, his muscles straining like taut ropes. "Tch. This training's nothing. Hell? Please. I've trained under worse.
Sanji, covered head to toe in a chaotic mix of flour, spices, and what looked like singed eyebrows, shouted from the galley where he was attempting to prepare a gourmet meal blindfolded and with one hand tied behind his back. "SAYS THE GUY WHO GOT LOST BETWEEN TWO DECKS YESTERDAY!! You couldn't navigate your way out of a straight hallway!"
Zoro glared daggers at him, nearly dropping the anchor on his foot. "That was a strategic detour. I was... scouting for weak points in the ship!"
"Oh yeah? Strategy my ass! You couldn't find your way out of a frying pan if it had a map engraved on it!"
"Maybe I should throw you in one and see how you like it!"
"BRING IT ON, MOSSHEAD!! I'd season you first—make you taste like defeat!"
The two lunged at each other—or tried to, given their respective handicaps—resulting in a comical scuffle that involved Zoro swinging the anchor like a wrecking ball and Sanji countering with a flurry of kicks that sent pots flying.
{ego}: "Ah, the eternal love story of violence and stupidity. Romeo and Juliet, but with swords and cigarettes."
[system]: "They really are like siblings. If siblings constantly threatened each other with cookware and swords~ UmU♡. It's almost endearing, in a destructive way."
Lucy giggled from the sidelines, clapping her hands. "They're fun! Like a comedy duo, but with more bruises."
Sunny smiled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "They're going to break the ship again (Sunny being here=never). Or each other. Or both(probably)."
---
Nami & Nojiko POV
Meanwhile, Nami lounged in a newly repaired deck chair (courtesy of a reluctant Aqua), sipping fresh orange juice from a chilled glass, her map spread out beside her as if she were actually working. "This is the most entertaining chaos I've seen since the Armpit Disaster back in Cocoyasi. Remember that, Nojiko?
Nojiko smirked, leaning against the railing with her arms crossed, her blue hair tied back in a practical ponytail. "You're not even training. Just sitting there like a queen on her throne."
"I'm the navigator. I supervise. My brain is my weapon—can't risk straining a muscle," Nami replied with a wink, adjusting her sunglasses.
Aqua teleported next to her in a puff of sparkles, smirking as she stole a sip of the juice. "Translation: you enjoy watching your crew suffer while you plot ways to charge them for the entertainment."
"Exactly," Nami said without a shred of shame, clinking glasses with Aqua. "Perks of being the smart one."
Nojiko rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "You two are incorrigible. But... it's grown on me."
---
Sunny's POV
After hours of unrelenting chaos, sweat-drenched drills, and arguments that ranged from playful banter to near-brawls, the sun began to dip low on the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the deck. Everyone collapsed in a heap, forming a haphazard pile of exhausted bodies amid scattered training gear.
Usopp groaned face-down on the wood, his limbs splayed out like a defeated starfish. "I think my bones learned new directions… Up is down, left is purple, and my spine is now a pretzel."
Zoro snorted, sitting up with a wince. "Good. Now go run a marathon. Pain is just weakness leaving the body."
Sanji glared at him from his spot, still dusted in flour. "You're cooking dinner next, muscle-brain. Let's see how you handle a ladle without slicing it in half."
"I'll cook you first, swirly-brow."
"TRY ME!"
Clang! Their fight reignited instantly, with Zoro drawing a sword and Sanji lighting a cigarette mid-kick.
Lucy and Aqua both sighed in unison, shaking their heads. "Boys…"
Nami rolled her eyes from her chair. "Idiots. All of them."
I laughed quietly, wiping sweat from my neck as I surveyed the scene. "Well… that's day two. Not bad, huh? Progress is being made."
[system]: "Not bad~? They only cried twice and fainted once. Efficiency improving by 8%. Excellent progress~♡ Tomorrow, we'll amp up the intensity for maximum gains."
{ego}: "Yeah, if 'progress' means psychological damage. These poor souls are one more drill away from mutiny."
I grinned, feeling a surge of excitement. "Perfect. Then tomorrow we'll double it. More weights, more illusions, more everything."
Aqua gasped, her eyes lighting up with delight as she clapped her hands. "Yes~! Hell Training: Goddess Mode! I'll add divine obstacles—like raining holy arrows or shape-shifting dummies!"
Lucy blinked, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "Wait, double…? You're not serious, right?"
[system]: "He's joking, of course. Mostly. Probably."
I raised an eyebrow, my grin widening mischievously. "Am I? Gotta keep pushing boundaries."
Lucy's smile faltered for a second, her eyes widening in mock horror. "You're serious, aren't you. Oh man, what have I gotten us into?"
The crew broke into laughter, the tension melting away into that strange, chaotic warmth that only this crew could create. The kind that said they'd survive anything—even hell itself—because they'd face it together, bickering and bonding every step of the way.
As the stars began to twinkle above the calm sea, I glanced at Lucy. Her eyes met mine—soft yet dangerous, full of unspoken promise and a hint of that earlier jealousy that made my heart race. There was romance in the air, subtle but electric, like the calm before a storm.
I smiled, stepping closer to her. "Let's make tomorrow even crazier. You and me, leading the charge."
Lucy blushed, looking away with a shy grin, her hand brushing mine. "You're impossible, Darling… But yeah. Together."
[system]: "And that's why we love him~ UmU♡. The romance, the chaos—it's all so perfect."
{ego}: "Reader, if you're still alive after this much chaos—congrats. You're officially part of the crew. Now buckle up; day three's gonna be a doozy.")