The sea wind howled as the massive pirate ship cut through the waves on the azure sea. Kaido stood in the center of the deck, his towering figure like an immovable mountain peak. He looked over his subordinates standing before him, their faces full of anticipation, and a ferocious grin curled at the corner of his mouth.
"Alright, you brats. Being on the ship isn't for you to laze around. Now, all of you, move! Training starts now!" Kaido's voice exploded like thunder on the deck, startling the seagulls perched on the mast into a panicked flight.
Enel, who had been daydreaming about encountering the Tontatta Tribe on Green Bit, immediately slumped upon hearing this. "Huh? Captain, we have to train on the ship too?" His golden earlobes swayed with his exaggerated expression, reflecting glaring light in the sun. He had just been imagining what those miniature dwarves might look like, wondering if they'd be as cute as legendary fairies.
The others also showed reluctant expressions. Kawamatsu touched his samurai sword; this ancestral treasure hadn't been properly maintained for a while. Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, the old partners, exchanged a helpless look; they had originally planned to catch up properly during the voyage. Sebastian silently set down his meteor hammers, the newly forged weapons not yet having seen proper use.
"Nonsense!" Kaido grabbed Hassaikai from his waist. The heavy spiked club slammed into the deck, creating a deep dent and sending wood chips flying. "I brought you out for two reasons: one, to let you see the New World and broaden your horizons; two, to make sure you train properly under my watchful eye!"
He glared specifically at Enel. "Especially you! Don't think you can slack off just because you developed that 'Lightning Tempering'." Speaking of this, a hint of approval flashed in Kaido's eyes. The "Lightning Tempering" mentioned in One Piece fanfiction from his previous life—he hadn't expected this kid to actually figure it out. But as captain, he wouldn't show this appreciation. Instead, he deliberately kept a stern face.
THUD! Kaido planted Hassaikai heavily on the deck, making the entire ship shudder. "Sebastian, Enel, Kawamatsu, Inuarashi, Nekomamushi! Now, run ten thousand laps around the ship for me! If you're slow..." He grinned viciously and brandished the club. "Sebastian, go strap on the 2-ton weight from the training room and run with that."
Everyone instantly fell silent. Sebastian silently walked towards the ship's hold, his heavy footsteps echoing on the deck. Before long, he emerged carrying a massive metal block, each step leaving a deep footprint on the wooden deck, his back already soaked with sweat.
The training began.
The five of them lined up and began running in circles on the not-so-spacious deck.
Kaido sat on the gunwale, took out his beloved gourd, and took a big swig, his sharp gaze always fixed on his training subordinates. The sea breeze ruffled his purple mane; sunlight danced on his bronze skin.
"Too slow!" he suddenly roared, grabbing his club and swinging it at Nekomamushi, who had fallen behind. The cat mink nimbly rolled away, but the wind pressure from Kaido's swing still made his fur stand on end, sending a few tufts floating onto the deck.
"That's more like it!" Kaido laughed and took another swig, liquor dripping down his beard. "Remember, in the New World, speed is life!"
Once they finished running, before they could even rest, Kaido immediately said, "Alright, warm-up's done. Now, attack me using every means at your disposal. And of course, to train your ability to withstand hits, I'll be hitting back too." Saying this, Kaido casually swung Hassaikai a few times through the air, directly stirring up a gale that forced everyone back several steps involuntarily, nearly making them crash into the ship's railing.
"Have mercy, Captain!" everyone shouted.
Enel was already panting heavily, his golden earlobes having lost their luster. Kawamatsu's samurai attire was soaked with sweat. Inuarashi and Nekomamushi had to support each other to stand steadily. Sebastian was outright kneeling on the deck, utterly exhausted from the 2-ton weight.
Unfortunately, their pleas for mercy were useless. They could only desperately dodge the spiked club Kaido swung at them. Hassaikai carved terrifying whooshes through the air, every swing carrying destructive power.
Enel barely managed to release a bolt of lightning, only for Kaido to casually swat it away. Kawamatsu's slash couldn't even scratch Kaido's skin. Inuarashi and Nekomamushi's combined attack was scattered by a single swing of the club. Sebastian's meteor hammers were outright caught by Kaido, who then flung both the man and his weapon away.
"Too weak!" Kaido bellowed. "Attacks of this level can't affect me in the slightest, even if I don't defend!" Battle spirit burned in his eyes. "Again!"
And so, under Kaido's strict supervision, the pirate ship, carrying alternating wails and the sound of the spiked club splitting the air, steadily advanced towards Dressrosa. The setting sun dyed the entire ship blood-red; sweat on the deck reflected the last of the light. No one noticed that beneath Kaido's stern exterior, as he watched his subordinates giving their all, the corner of his mouth lifted in an almost imperceptible curve.
The training lasted until night. Only when everyone had collapsed on the deck did Kaido nod with satisfaction.
"Alright, that's enough for today. Now, go get something to eat!" Kaido said to them, retrieving his club.
"Huff... huff... Finally... it's finally over," Enel said weakly, lying on the deck. "Bring me the food, quick!"
"Yeah, food! Meat! I want meat!" Sebastian, Kawamatsu, Inuarashi, and Nekomamushi all shouted in turn.
The pirates who had long been prepared nearby immediately hurried over, carrying basin after basin of sea beast meat before the group. Seeing the meat, they all grabbed it and began eating voraciously.
"Wororororo." Seeing this, Kaido laughed heartily. He then accepted the food respectfully offered by a pirate beside him and began to enjoy his meal.
Night fell, starlight sprinkling over the calm sea surface. The well-fed crew members lay sprawled haphazardly on the deck, without even the strength to move a finger. Kaido stood alone at the bow, looking at the distant horizon, his gourd gleaming faintly in the moonlight.
"Captain..." Enel called out feebly. "Tomorrow... can we... rest for a day...?"
Kaido took a swig of liquor without turning his head. "Don't even think about it! Tomorrow morning at seven, training starts on time!"
A chorus of wails immediately rose from the deck. Yet, within those wails, there was a hint of laughter. Though the training was brutal, each one of them clearly understood that it was precisely this kind of training that would allow them to survive in the New World.
The sea wind still howled. The massive pirate ship continued to cut through the waves on the azure sea. Kaido's figure appeared especially tall in the moonlight, like an unshakable mountain peak.
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