Gold—the primary material used by Enel to construct the Ark Maxim—boasts exceptional conductivity, high resistance to heat, and remarkable anti-corrosion and oxidation properties.
In Maude's design, gold was also an indispensable material for building the Sky Fortress.
Now, having discovered an ore on Raijin Island with excellent insulation properties and impressive hardness, there was no reason to pass up the opportunity.
"Gaya."
While everyone else was focused on the minerals scattered across the ground, Maude had already devised a plan to use this newfound resource to further hone Gaya's Float-Float Fruit abilities.
Hearing Maude call her name, Gaya shifted her gaze from the ore and looked toward him.
A faint smile formed on Maude's lips.
He had yet to explain his intentions, but not far away, Law shivered inexplicably.
Gaya remained silent, waiting for Maude to continue.
Maude chuckled, "Before we head to our next destination, I'll have to trouble you to mold all the minerals on this island into usable shapes."
"..."
Gaya's eyes widened slightly. She glanced around at the scorched earth, remained silent for a moment, and then asked, "All of them?"
"That's right."
Maude nodded seriously.
Gaya pressed her lips together. With her current level of control over the Float-Float Fruit, levitating an entire island posed no difficulty.
However, manipulating solid materials with precision—especially reshaping them at will—was an entirely different challenge.
The difference was akin to strolling leisurely versus sprinting a hundred meters at full speed.
Even just imagining it, Gaya could already feel the overwhelming workload ahead.
"This... could take a long time..."
A last-ditch effort to resist.
Maude smiled. "That's fine. The one thing we're not short on right now is time."
"..."
Closing her eyes, Gaya realized that Maude was using this as an opportunity to train her ability. With a resigned nod, she accepted her fate. "Alright."
Meanwhile, Law finally understood why he had shivered earlier.
This situation was eerily similar to what he had experienced on Lorre Island.
Maude... that devil...
Law cast a sympathetic look at Gaya, watching her tread down the same grueling path he had once walked.
But, to be fair, such rigorous training was an effective way to rapidly increase one's mastery over a Devil Fruit ability.
Since Gaya had only recently consumed the Float-Float Fruit and bore the responsibility of controlling Thriller Bark, investing time into refining her power was necessary.
"Law, your stamina is still an issue. You'll be in charge of cutting the island into sections—it'll be good for your endurance."
"!"
Law's expression changed drastically. Memories of the hellish training on Lorre Island flooded back, and without hesitation, he objected, "I think my stamina is fine as it is."
Unlike before, he no longer had a target he was willing to risk his life to defeat. His desire to grow stronger had waned.
Maude replied flatly, "That's just your opinion."
Three minutes later.
Law lay sprawled on the scorched ground, chest rising and falling rapidly as he gasped for breath. He looked utterly exhausted, as though he might pass out at any moment.
Around him, the rest of the crew stood in stunned silence.
Just moments ago, they had witnessed Maude utterly overwhelm Law.
Without even attacking, Maude had forced Law to exhaust himself within three minutes.
Looking down at the breathless Law, Maude sighed, "I was only using half my strength, yet you couldn't last three minutes. And you call this stamina?"
Actions speak louder than words.
"!!!"
Law stared at Maude, his face dark with frustration. He wanted to say something, but he barely had enough energy to breathe.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the amused glances from Urouge and the others.
Their gazes seemed to say just one thing—Three minutes.
Law's expression darkened further.
Why are you looking at me like that?! If it were you guys, you'd be down in a minute or two!
He desperately wanted to retort, but his strength was utterly drained, leaving him no choice but to fume internally.
"Do you think Captain can only last three minutes because Maude is too strong...?"
Freshly freed from captivity, the crew's mascot, Bepo, looked at Law with genuine concern.
Hearing Bepo's words, a vein bulged on Law's forehead.
Bailey, who had long shaken off his gloom, sat cross-armed atop Bepo's fluffy head and spoke sagely, "Obviously. It's because Boss is too strong. But if it were me, I could at least last ten minutes."
"What?! Ten minutes?!"
Bepo was dumbfounded.
"Hey, you bastard! Since when were you sitting on my head?!"
"Pffft—"
Bailey, utterly unfazed by Bepo's outburst, let out a loud fart.
"Ugh, you damn skunk!!"
"Stupid bear!"
"I'm gonna punch you into next week! Wait—you can use Armament Haki?!"
"Didn't expect that, did you, dumb bear?"
"I'm so mad right now!!!"
After getting pummeled by Bailey, Bepo collapsed beside Law, their eyes meeting.
"Captain, I want to learn Armament Haki..."
"..."
To help Gaya refine her Float-Float Fruit abilities, Maude decided to halt their voyage temporarily.
At the very least, they would remain near Raijin Island until she finished reshaping all the ore.
Once that task was complete, they would set sail for Dressrosa.
Time passed quickly.
In the blink of an eye, half a month had gone by.
With relentless day-and-night training, Gaya's control over her ability steadily improved.
Meanwhile, Law, tasked with cutting the island's terrain, had also gained a slight boost in stamina.
At their current pace, it would take another two weeks to finish reshaping the remaining ore and loading it onto Thriller Bark's lower decks.
With the crew's numbers having swelled, their food supply was depleting at an alarming rate.
Finally, the day came when their provisions ran out.
To replenish supplies, the crew members who could fly descended beneath the cloud cover, scouring the seas for potential prey from high above.
After twenty minutes of searching, Maude spotted several ships in the distance.
"Let's go."
Spreading his black wings, Maude accelerated toward the ships.
Lafitte followed closely behind.
Brook and Jim, using Moonwalk, kept pace.
On the ocean below, a large merchant vessel had been cornered by three pirate ships.
The merchant ship's deck was littered with the bodies of its fallen armed guards.
Meanwhile, terrified civilians were herded together by ruthless pirates, treated no better than cattle.
"Captain Ellis, this haul is incredible!"
A pirate's excited voice echoed from the ship's cabin as his crew hauled crates filled with gold and treasures onto the deck.
"Haha!"
Ellis, the burly pirate captain, let out a hearty laugh while casting a cold, predatory gaze at the cowering civilians.
"Keep the young ones. Kill the rest."
"Wait, Captain! At least let the boys be playthings for the crew first!"
"Haha, fine by me."
As the pirates discussed their heinous plans, the civilians' faces filled with despair.
But then—
Ellis abruptly froze, his laughter cutting off as his gaze shot toward the ship's mast.
There, perched high above, several figures loomed over them, watching in silence.
"Y-You're... Bacardi Maude?! W-Why are you here?!"
Ellis's face drained of color as a chill ran down his spine.
The once-celebratory pirates trembled in terror.
Among the civilians, a child looked up at Maude in curiosity. "Mom, isn't Bacardi Maude the guy who killed two Celestial—mmph!"
"Hush! Don't say that!"
But it was too late.
Maude's gaze had already shifted toward the child.
"So... the news has spread?"
Maude was slightly surprised. Ignoring Ellis entirely, he instead turned his gaze toward the children among the crowd of commoners.
Considering the government's obsession with maintaining face, they should have covered up the fact that he had killed two Celestial Dragons. So how had the news still gotten out?
Lost in thought, Maude failed to notice that the mere glance he cast had left a mother in the crowd pale with fear, her body trembling like a leaf in the wind.
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