Whoosh!
A sharp wind tore through the incoming waves.
Kuro dashed across the water, doing his utmost to explore the abilities of the Sickle Weasel fruit.
In his mind, he kept seeing the scene where he and Gin teamed up, yet were still effortlessly suppressed by Ochoku.
All he felt inside was a deep, unspoken frustration.
He had obtained a devil fruit that was completely compatible with him, and he believed that he had a combat power that was not inferior to the level of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
But when facing Ochoku, a pirate who was close to the four emperors, he still felt an indescribable sense of powerlessness.
But the more this happened, the more Kuro couldn't swallow his breath.
He could accept losing to Gawain, after all, that was a monster that could not be understood by common sense.
But he couldn't accept losing to anyone else besides Gawain, especially an outrageously arrogant old man.
"Sickle Weasel fruit's ability and my ability should not be limited to this level!"
"I can feel that kind of limit. Once it is broken through, it will be another world. Maybe I can catch up with that monster..."
"But what's missing?!"
The wind on the sea became more and more violent.
From time to time, an amazing force erupted from Kuro, raising dozens of meters of water.
It was just that he could always feel the boundary that seemed to exist and not exist, but he was still a little short of breaking through.
Hiss!
With a sharp breath, Kuro hovered over the sea, and the restlessness in his heart gradually subsided, and his heart also calmed down at this moment.
As far as his sight could see, there were only the undulating waves and a bright moon reflected on the water.
After a short breath, Kuro began his practice again, exploring the boundaries of the Sickle Weasel Fruit and the limits of his own abilities.
On the side, Zoro and Sanji fought on the beach, trying their best to confirm each other's will and develop moves.
Flaming kicks and flying slashes flickered across the shore.
Lucci and Gin abandoned their Devil Fruit abilities and engaged in close-quarters combat. Every move was sharp and fierce; if they hadn't avoided each other's vital points, onlookers would've mistaken it for a deadly brawl rather than training!
Van Augur, Chopper, Bepo, Kalifa...
The people around them were gradually getting into the state of training.
They were immersed in the state of training, seizing every opportunity to improve their combat power in order not to experience the tragedy of Water 7 in the future, or at least not be the one who would be left behind.
Nami stood aside, watching them train, and subconsciously pursed her lips.
Unlike the others who still had room for improvement, she had seen her own limits shortly after entering the Grand Line.
That was a natural barrier that could not be crossed, no matter how much training she did.
She couldn't even remember the last time she felt improvement; only the last time she picked up a weapon was back in Drum Kingdom.
Even if she was unwilling, she had to admit that she no longer had the strength to fight alongside these people.
Although Gawain, Kuro, and other crew members would not care about this, Nami herself found it difficult to accept that she would be the one to be protected from beginning to end.
She is much stronger than she looks, and more stubborn than Gawain expected.
"I really envy these monster-like guys."
Nami couldn't help but sigh, but there was an unspeakable loss on her face.
"There's nothing to envy about those guys."
A sudden voice broke the silence around. Nami turned her head and saw Reiju, who had a gentle smile on her face.
She was still technically Gawain's captive and had left with his group after Akainu let them go.
As for the other members of the Germa 66, whether they can survive depends on whether they are strong enough.
Compared to her former identity, Reiju preferred her current situation.
After all, there are living and emotional people around here.
Rather than a group of brothers who have been deprived of normal emotions, or a mass-produced clone.
Compared to others, the people under Gawain, even the prisoners, seemed more human.
Especially… Reiju turned her head to look toward the distant beach, her gaze softening as it landed on Sanji.
She could naturally see Sanji's abnormality.
The high-temperature flames wrapped around Sanji's feet were enough to burn the flesh and blood of ordinary people, but they had no effect on Sanji.
Apparently, Germa 66's transformation technology had taken effect on Sanji, and this ability, which was completely unreasonable for ordinary people, was the best proof.
Sanji might be the only successful work of Judge. While retaining benefits, he also had normal human emotions.
Rather than a monster with an incomplete personality…
"Reiju..."
Nami was a little stunned, but she gradually relaxed when she saw the gentle smile on Reiju's face.
Reiju was Sanji's sister and the only relative recognized by Sanji. Neither Sanji nor Reiju had any intention of hiding this.
Nami naturally knew it.
Even when she saw Reiju, her heart gradually settled down.
Nami lowered her head and pursed her lips: "I'm gradually falling behind my companions."
"I can't accept that."
Reiju was stunned and reached out to rub Nami's head: "You don't want to become a burden to your friends?"
"If you just want the power to protect yourself, the Devil Fruit is the most cost-effective one."
"At the cost of losing the ability to swim forever, you get all kinds of magical abilities. If you're lucky, you might even get a powerful ability like the one Golden Lion has that can make an island float."
"Let the island float..."
Nami murmured in a low voice, but her eyes gradually lit up.
As a navigator, she was the one who designated the sailing route for everyone.
Nami naturally knew what a pirate ship that could fly in the sky meant.
But what Nami knew was that the Devil Fruit cost hundreds of millions of Belly, and the top abilities like the Float-Float Fruit were likely to be hyped up to tens or even hundreds of billions of Belly.
How could she afford it?
But Reiju's words undoubtedly opened up another way of thinking for her...
Since her own strength is not good and her talent is limited, she can make up for it through external objects.
Devil Fruit is one way, but there may be other ways!
With that thought alone, Nami sprang into action. She hastily thanked Reiju, then rushed back to the camp, rifling through her nautical science books.
Before long, she found a somewhat tattered old book.
"Weather, air currents, electric currents... These can all become weapons! When they work together, they can also produce huge power!"
Clatter!
The sound of pages turning rustled in the camp.
Based on weather changes, the prototype of weapons that can form electric currents and clouds in a small area soon took shape in Nami's mind.
The next morning, Nami found Franky and told him the general idea in her mind.
"What a genius idea!"
Franky nodded heavily, amazed at Nami's wonderful ideas. Even more impressed by Nami's knowledge of navigation, he patted his chest and said, "Leave it to me!"
"I also want to try, based on this theory, what kind of power such a weapon will have; maybe it can be used on that dream ship!"
"A warship that can affect the weather, just thinking about it makes me extremely excited!"
"A warship that can affect the weather?!"
Nami's mind suddenly flashed through the Pluton drawings that she had seen accidentally, but could such a thing really have been made by humans?!
Maybe… she misunderstood.
It's just that her design gave Franky some inspiration for future shipbuilding.
"That's right!"
Franky whispered mysteriously, leaning over Nami's ear, and said: "Is there still a spot for a shipwright on your ship?!"