Reflections of the starlit sky shimmered in Ares's eyes. Deep inside, he longed to give Whitebeard and Golden Lion a shock to show them just how far his strength had come.
He would wield the very forces of nature lightning, flame, and storm and make the world witness.
Kaido bared his fangs in a grin. "Yeah! When we return, we'll make everyone look at us differently. I'll prove to Linlin too that I don't need her help to grow stronger."
Turning, he gazed at Ares's profile, his voice brimming with anticipation. "Ares-ani, tomorrow start teaching me how to cut! I want to fuse swordsmanship into my kanabō make it strike like a blade!"
"Oh?"
Ares's eyes lit with approval. He tilted his head toward Kaido. "Not a bad idea. From tomorrow, I'll teach you the ways of the sword. Let's see how far you can push that club of yours what kind of power you can draw out of it."
Doctor Mitsuyō, who had been listening nearby, chuckled warmly. "Such passion! Truly enviable, the bond between you brothers. I wish you nothing but success."
To him, these two who had stumbled onto Zou by chance seemed almost destined to be here.
The next day.
Ares and Kaido found an open clearing far from prying eyes.
Ares's first goal: to master the elemental forces granted by his Azure Dragon form flames, storms, and most of all, lightning.
Though his growth over the past two or three months had been staggering, even genius had limits. Every Devil Fruit was unique; no guidebook existed. He could not yet bring out the full potential of his Mythical Zoan.
Battle had taught him that his greatest weakness lay in control. Now he aimed to fix that flaw and more.
Just as blades are tempered through fire and quenched to harden them, so too will I forge my body with fire and lightning. Burn away the impurities. Make myself unbreakable.
Not just a man. Not just steel. A weapon surpassing the Supreme Grade blades themselves.
Because his wounds were not yet fully healed, Ares did not start with body training. Instead, he assumed his magnificent dragon form, coiling in the sky.
Dark thunderclouds gathered, churning and rumbling around him.
"Now… guide the storm. Let the charges collide."
Under his command, lightning danced between the clouds. Blue-white arcs leapt like serpents, clashing with explosive force. The heavens roared like a chorus of enraged beasts.
Below, Kaido stared upward, awe burning in his eyes. "Ares-ani will master this. He'll rival Whitebeard, Shiki, even Linlin. He'll become the fiercest beast in the Rocks Pirates!"
"I can't fall behind."
He swung his kanabō with both hands, each strike ripping the air, stirring great gusts that bent trees and sent branches crashing down.
CRACK!
A searing flash split the sky. A bolt of lightning tore downward, striking the earth with a deafening boom. Rocks shattered, dust billowed, the ground scorched black.
Hovering above, Ares frowned. "Not accurate enough. I need precision. I must direct the strike. And the power it must be greater."
The destruction was immense, yet for those who stood among the world's strongest, it was far from enough.
Still, the lesson was clear. "Its force is incredible. Lightning moves faster than flame or wind too quick to defend against. To master it is essential."
With his gift for perceiving patterns, Ares quickly deciphered the flow of the storm. Each attempt grew sharper, more controlled. Soon, he could call down a bolt wherever his will commanded.
Ten days slipped by in training.
Back on Hachinosu.
In a lavish chamber, Rocks D. Xebec lounged with his usual dominance, a drink in hand. "John, still no word of Ares?"
Captain John set down his bottle, shaking his head. "Nothing. It's been nearly a month. With no trace at all, chances are…"
His voice trailed off.
The Rocks Pirates had scoured the seas, even reaching out to the underworld for whispers. Still nothing. The silence weighed heavy.
Rocks's brow furrowed. He pictured the bold youth who had once dared challenge him. Regret flickered in his voice. "A pity. That boy… with his talent, he might have stood before me one day."
He sighed. For a man like Rocks, true rivals were few. To watch one rise, only to crush them with his own hand that would have been exhilarating.
If Ares truly was dead, that future vanished.
Shaking off the thought, Rocks shifted the conversation. "And the Roger Pirates? I never expected their captain to rival Shiki in strength. His crew too stronger than I gave them credit for."
John nodded grimly. "Yes. No one predicted they'd withstand Shiki, Wang Zhi, Silver Axe, and even Ares. But they've left the New World now."
Rocks narrowed his eyes. "Left already? Hmph. Shame. I'd wanted to meet them myself. Seems that chance will have to wait."
Though his interest in Roger burned bright, it faded quickly too. The Roger Pirates had wisely withdrawn, leaving behind the brewing storm of the New World.
Rocks turned his gaze to Wang Zhi. "That treasure map locked in the ornate chest we seized. Have you unraveled it yet?"
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