After some time had passed…
Bai Yu finally finished evaluating the results of the trio's latest training session—Maya, Bellumebo, and Dasqi.
Not long after, a few navy soldiers approached from the deck, informing them that dinner was ready.
The Maya trio immediately stopped their exercises, preparing to return to the cabin with Bai Yu.
As they turned to leave, they suddenly noticed something odd—Smoker, crouched in a corner, awkwardly wielding a katana and practicing sword swings.
"…What's up with him?"
Watching Smoker, who was clearly unfamiliar with using a blade, attempt basic sword forms, Maya asked Bai Yu curiously.
"Who knows," Bai Yu replied, grinning. "Maybe I'm just too strong. He probably wants to learn from my teacher too."
Hearing that, all three of them burst out laughing.
Bellumebo, the most talkative of the group, walked over to Smoker with a smug expression. He gave Smoker a friendly pat on the shoulder—only for Smoker to nearly drop the sword, startled.
"You…"
Smoker glared at Bellumebo with rising irritation.
"Colonel Smoker, I've been where you are," Bellumebo said with a sage-like tone. "As someone who's already walked that path, let me give you a kind word of advice…"
"Don't try it. You can't learn it."
"I thought I could do it too, just like you. But the more I trained, the more useless I became."
Having dropped that bombshell, Bellumebo chuckled and quickly ran back to stand beside the others.
His antics caused another round of laughter from Maya, Dasqi, and Bai Yu.
As the group strolled back toward the cabin, they left behind a red-faced and fuming Smoker, muttering under his breath.
---
The Next Morning
Bai Yu and the trio were on the deck early, preparing to begin their daily regimen.
That's when they noticed Smoker still there—collapsed in a heap, his hands tightly gripping the hilt of Sakuragi, the practice sword Bai Yu had lent him.
The sight of the stern Smoker slumped like a ragdoll, clutching a blade, was both pitiful and comical.
"Hey, wake up."
Bai Yu waved his hand, signaling the trio to start their own drills. Then he walked over and lightly kicked Smoker.
"…Ugh. Morning already?"
Jolted by Bai Yu's foot, Smoker groaned and slowly regained consciousness.
"The sword was only on loan," Bai Yu said, crouching beside him. "Time to return it. I've got my own training to do."
With that, Bai Yu tugged Sakuragi free from Smoker's stiff fingers.
Thump!
Only then did Smoker fully snap out of it and jump to his feet.
Unfortunately for him, the rest of the group had seen everything—his collapsed form, his sleepy muttering, and his failed training.
Flustered but proud, Smoker looked at Bai Yu, trying to find the right words.
"Well? Got something to say? Don't waste my time," Bai Yu said coolly, casually swinging the sword in his hand.
Smoker hesitated… then spoke with absolute conviction.
"No. It's not my fault. It must be your weird body. Some kind of physical freak."
"That's the only explanation."
With that, Smoker turned and stomped off.
Bai Yu stood there, caught between amusement and disbelief.
So that's the grand result of your 'all-night research'? he thought, shaking his head.
Still… Smoker wasn't entirely wrong. Bai Yu's ability to wield a sword and grow stronger stemmed from his unique System Physique.
Without another word, Bai Yu returned to his own training and began his daily blade routine.
"301, 302, 303…"
Under the morning sun, the sound of Sakuragi slicing through the air echoed over the warship's deck.
---
Before Bai Yu could reach his daily quota of 1,000 sword swings, something unexpected happened.
Woooo! Woooo!
The sea lions and Sea Kings pulling the warship let out warning calls.
At the same time, a G-5 marine raced up to Bai Yu, saluting hurriedly.
"Reporting in, sir!"
"We've spotted a large raft up ahead, directly in the warship's path!"
"And… there appears to be a giant on board!"
"A giant?"
Bai Yu's eyes lit up at once.
Faced with an unusual situation, Bai Yu halted his sword practice. Maya, Bellumebo, and Dasqi quickly joined him on deck.
Smoker and his aide Dasqi followed soon after.
Everyone gazed toward the horizon.
Sure enough, floating not far ahead was an enormous wooden raft.
And lying motionless atop it—was a massive human being.
Even from this distance, it was clear the person was about the size of a full-grown giant.
"Wait… something's off!"
"Why does he look… like a child?"
As they drew closer, Maya's sharp eyes widened in surprise.
The "giant" on the raft wasn't an adult. He was unmistakably a child—albeit a child the size of a marine warship.
"…Giant experiment," Bai Yu muttered instinctively.
"Giant experiment? What's that supposed to mean?"
Smoker and the others turned to him, eyebrows raised.
"I'll explain later," Bai Yu replied briskly. "For now, get him aboard!"
Following Bai Yu's command, the sea lions and Sea Kings carefully towed the massive raft closer.
With everyone helping, they managed to lift the unconscious boy onto the deck—where he immediately took up almost half the available space.
"He's breathing," Bai Yu observed. "Where's the doctor?!"
Medical personnel from the ship's infirmary rushed out with stretchers, tools, and diagnostic gear.
They surrounded the boy and began a full examination.
After some time, their expressions darkened.
"This is… strange," one of the lead medics said.
"Very strange."
"From our blood analysis, this boy wasn't originally a giant."
"There's an unfamiliar medicinal compound in his system—it's forcing his body to grow at an accelerated rate."
"But we've never seen anything like it before."
Bai Yu narrowed his eyes.
Just as I thought…
He already had a theory forming.
"Can you save him?" he asked urgently.
"With our current technology—and the equipment on this ship…" the doctors hesitated. "We're afraid not."
They exchanged worried glances. For now, the boy's condition was beyond their expertise.
"I'll give it a shot," Maya suddenly spoke up, stepping forward.
Her gaze was locked onto the child, focused and calm.
Though her face was tense, there was a quiet confidence in her voice.
"You? Little girl, this isn't the time for games," one doctor said, frowning. "This could be an unknown disease. A contagious virus, even."
"You could put the entire crew in danger."
The other medics nodded in agreement, clearly skeptical.
Smoker turned to Bai Yu, eyebrows raised in silent question.
"I trust her," Bai Yu said firmly.
"Move."
His sharp voice left no room for argument.
The doctors reluctantly stepped aside.
Maya, no ordinary medic, stepped forward.
Her knowledge didn't come from books—but from ancient mysticism and witchcraft.
If anyone had a chance of unraveling this strange illness, it was her.
All eyes turned to her as she knelt beside the boy.
The warship, the wind, the ocean—all fell silent.
Maya began.
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