Deep beneath the ocean, Nao paid no attention to the Amazon pirate ship in the distance.
Because at this moment, he was in a state of near exhaustion, his eyes fixed only on the boundless, vast ocean ahead.
Twenty-eight days.
He hadn't rested or closed his eyes for a full twenty-eight days.
From the deep sea beneath Whole Cake Island to the edge of the Calm Belt, and then to this sea area at the southern tip of the Calm Belt, near the West Blue.
Aside from a few short moments to replenish fresh water, he had been swimming relentlessly, without stopping, challenging his physical limits while also guarding against various threats from the deep sea.
Every now and then, he'd have an intense clash with various colossal Sea Kings whose bodies were comparable to mountains. Sometimes, he even got swallowed whole between their teeth and had to find a way out through their mouths.
Yeah… this past month had been "fun," to say the least.
But Nao's efforts hadn't been for nothing.
Both his body and willpower had been honed once more. Combined with the massive battle against Katakuri, it was only natural that his stats had seen another leap forward.
[Name: Natsuya Nao]
[Age: 20]
[Strength: 31 (Current stage: 500,000 points/level)]
[Agility: 30 (+3) (Current stage: 500,000 points/level)]
[Stamina: 30 (Current stage: 500,000 points/level)]
[Intelligence: 10 (Current stage: 200,000 points/level)]
[Charm: 18 (Current stage: 500,000 points/level)]
[Current Points: 1,023,000]
[Standard Skills]: Swimming (Master), Dual Blade Swordsmanship (Advanced), Rokushiki (Advanced), Firearms Proficiency (Advanced), Close-Quarters Combat (Advanced), Self-Discipline (Master), Armament Haki (Advanced), Observation Haki (Intermediate), Drawing (Advanced), Fishing (Master)
[Innate Skills]: Radiant Smile, Craftsman's Spirit, Wind Barrier (Intermediate), Thick Skin (Intermediate), Iron Head (Intermediate), Limb Regeneration, Amphibious Breathing.
[Equipped]: Boots of Lightness, Thornmail Armor
...
Agility and Stamina each increased by one point on a data level.
And because of the Boots of Lightness' special effect, which added an extra 10% to Agility, the bonus points in the parentheses also increased from "+2" to "+3."
Additionally, it's worth noting.
His Armament Haki, which had somewhat stagnated in its training, also broke through this past month, following the intense battle with Katakuri.
It had now reached the "Advanced" tier as judged by the system.
And the best part? He hadn't spent a single point to get there.
All gains, zero cost. Jackpot.
"Strength, Agility, and Stamina all require 500,000 points per point now…"
Nao thought for a moment and decided, "Then I might as well add one point to Charm and Intelligence each."
He never considered adding to Charm before because it was simply too expensive. Now that the cost for his main attributes had also reached this level, it didn't really matter.
As for Intelligence.
While it didn't directly affect IQ, it was still crucial for advancing his Observation Haki and pushing further in swordsmanship.
He clicked two points on the "+" symbol next to both attributes. 500,000 + 200,000, and in a flash, 700,000 points were spent.
Intelligence became "11" points, and Charm became "19" points.
"Given previous patterns, adding two more points will most likely give me another Charm talent skill."
Nao glanced at his remaining points. "Even after spending so much, I still have over 300,000 left. Next time the shop refreshes with an item I want, I won't have to worry about not being able to afford it…"
Tsk, he really did have to thank Ms. Charlotte Linlin for her outstanding contribution to his points fortune.
Speaking of which.
Before entering the Calm Belt, he had shown up in a small country in the New World, and the news had already spread. Marine Headquarters and Shia were completely relieved upon learning this.
As for the Charlotte Family, their last glimmer of hope finally vanished. They despairingly confirmed that their meticulously laid net was utterly useless, and he had escaped unharmed.
Big Mom was probably furious and rampaging by now…
Nao chuckled at the thought. He wondered how much of Whole Cake Island had been demolished. No one could stop a maddened Big Mom.
Honestly, he was starting to feel a little bad for the poor Charlotte kids who'd been caught up in his mess.
...
Communicating with Sea Kings and a New Destination
"Chirp chirp~"
"Roar~"
At this moment, calls suddenly came from his side. Nao turned his head and met the curious gaze of two large eyes.
They were two Sea Kings only two to three hundred meters long, one resembling a long-beaked blue seabird, the other shaped like a green lion.
"What are you looking at? Do you think I've gotten handsomer again?"
Nao laughed and patted the heads of the two "little ones." "Come on, let's keep going. There's just a little bit left. The Calm Belt is almost at its end."
The two small Sea Kings obediently nodded, dragging their tails as they continued to swim forward, one on each side, escorting Nao while also acting as guides.
This was the effect of "Voice of All Things."
Over the past month, Nao had tested this talent skill multiple times, and the results were quite surprising. Most marine creatures could be communicated with through this skill.
Before entering the Calm Belt, he even had a large group of sharks act as bodyguards for over ten days, following closely behind him.
As for Sea Kings…
It wasn't as satisfactory. Many gigantic Sea Kings lurking in the Calm Belt could reach an exaggerated size of nearly ten thousand meters, towering like insurmountable fortresses in the deep sea.
In the eyes of these Sea Kings, Nao was no different from an ant… no, from a bacterium.
Forget trying to communicate; even if Nao used his full power against them, they simply ignored him…
So in the end.
Only smaller Sea Kings within a few hundred meters could be communicated with normally. And after several attempts, only these two little ones beside him successfully established friendship and trust.
It was still different from "Poseidon" after all.
Nao sighed inwardly, wondering if he could make more and larger Sea Kings his companions in the future, once his Charm increased again and his strength reached a new level.
...
In a blink of an eye, another week passed.
Nao, swimming at full speed in the deep sea, suddenly felt a subtle change in the ocean currents. His expression shifted, and he immediately surfaced, poking his head out. A warm, salty sea breeze immediately greeted him.
The Calm Belt had no wind at all.
"Finally in the West Blue, haha!"
He laughed joyfully, emerging from the sea with Geppo and hovering in the air. He turned to the two Sea Kings, smiling as he waved goodbye:
"Go back, Little Green, Little Blue! Live well in the Calm Belt, try to eat more, grow big and strong. See you again if fate allows!"
Chirp chirp!
Roar!
The two Sea Kings bid reluctant farewells, swimming a few strokes and turning their heads once, until they watched Nao's figure disappear into the horizon before finally diving down simultaneously, sinking into the depths…
...
On the other end.
Having left the perilous Calm Belt, Nao's tensed nerves finally completely relaxed. He searched for a long time in mid-air and finally found an uninhabited islet.
He immediately landed on the islet, took out a capsule, and flicked it open. A luxurious outdoor tent instantly appeared before him.
After a refreshing shower and a change into dry clothes, he filled his stomach with spicy snail noodles and fried chicken.
With his basic needs met, Nao yawned contentedly and lay down on the comfortable, soft double bed.
Having gone a full forty-plus days without closing his eyes to sleep, the moment his head hit the pillow, drowsiness surged over him like a tide. His eyelids quickly drooped, and he fell into a deep slumber…
Likely because his physical stamina had reached its limit, and upon entering the West Blue, he subconsciously believed there could be nothing to threaten him here.
Nao's sleep was exceptionally sound, deep, and heavy—the kind where an alarm clock could blare next to his ear for half an hour and still not wake him.
Therefore.
He had no idea that at dusk, a somewhat dilapidated white Marine ship passed by the nearby waters.
And upon noticing the conspicuous tent on the deserted island, it immediately drew closer.
Faintly, there seemed to be conversations drifting over:
"Huh, there really is someone inside? Why are they sleeping like a dead pig… Strange, how was this tent made?"
"Lieutenant Junior Grade! Look, over by the foot of the bed, there are two good swords!"
"Let me see… Whoa, they really are! Good eye, Lian!"
"Hehe, thanks for the compliment…"
"I'm an expert with swords, tsk tsk. Selling these two swords on the black market could fetch at least twenty to thirty million Berries, hahahaha, it's like a pie falling from the sky… We're rich, we're rich!"