Even though the intensity of the storm here is stronger than when we were in the East Sea, correspondingly, the quality of this ship is also very strong!
Just as Sage said, as long as your strength is sufficient, you can overcome any bad luck or misfortune!
Otherwise, those injured under Sage would have died long ago. It is precisely because they honed an extremely strong will in the Bridge Kingdom that they've been able to fight against death with basic medicine even when heavily injured, persisting until now.
Willpower is also a form of strength.
"Marika, make some more food, just enough for ten servings."
After finishing the large plate of food Marika brought, Sage drank down the wine in one gulp, smacked his lips, and said.
"Got it."
Marika smiled slightly, cleaned up the plates, and went downstairs.
The three layers of buildings on the Death Star are connected up and down, all the way to the first deck's cabin, though this passage can only be accessed by those seated here.
It leads directly to the center of the ship's Treasure Room. The cabin's structure was replaced with steel by Renedia, even the door is changed to steel, and the intricate structure can't be opened by even the most skilled thief.
Usually, Gin guards it.
It's not that there's no trust in the pirates under him; it's just that the necessary caution is still present. That place is undoubtedly a restricted area where common pirates voluntarily steer clear.
Seeing Marika carry away the plates, Lily said, "Sage, your appetite seems bigger than before, aren't you healed yet?"
"I've healed a long time ago."
Sage clenched his fist, the air within squeezing out a sound, and he smiled coyly, saying, "Just strengthening my physique."
A large amount of food was converted into energy and actively absorbed by him, further strengthening his body by his seemingly limitless 'Life Return'.
Besides increasing his physique, he could also more intricately control the 'Life Return' technique, advancing in his desired direction.
Therefore, under normal circumstances, he always goes for the best food and drink; most of the rare ingredients Marika obtained from Logue Town ended up in his belly.
But even without this purpose, he enjoys the finer things and naturally wants the best of everything.
He didn't have the means before, but now with the means, why not indulge?
In the East Sea, he fought three intensely high-stakes battles consecutively, so of course, he realizes where improvement is needed.
The most critical aspects are his own body's strength and the quantity of Haki.
Sage actually believes his body is already quite strong; before becoming a pirate, he could easily shatter rocks, and when using the Dragon Transformation Breathing Technique, lead bullets couldn't break his skin.
Without sufficiently high physique, he couldn't immediately use Six Styles after seeing through it; this technique essentially requires a superhuman physique to execute.
But starting with Garp, he began to feel it wasn't enough.
He couldn't even withstand Zephyr's punches, who was already severely ill, with diminishing willpower and morale. Even though Zephyr's Haki intensity far surpassed his, without adequate physique, it failed to exhibit strong power.
Having Haki doesn't automatically make someone a master; it just indicates willpower is enough to control it and unleash power. A common person wielding Haki remains an ordinary person.
Some people's Haki is like a cup of water, while others are like a river.
One plus one always equals two, never equals two hundred.
Besides bodily quality, the amount of Haki must also be strengthened, and Sage isn't one to neglect training; apart from combat, he often uses Haki to cover the surface of the Treasure Vault, striving to make it harder.
As long as there's enough Haki, over time, objects interacted with can retain and harden with Haki, much like the renowned 'Black Blade'.
A blade is an object, and the Treasure Vault's walls are objects; Sage has confidence in turning them into a 'Black Wall'!
As for the whole ship... there's not enough Haki yet.
And Sage's overall strength now...
Who could truly know?
It's not a game where leveling up determines power.
If there's no fighting, you'll never clearly know who is stronger.
He took down Ennio, the cursed father, who mastered Haki and Six Styles. Although their Haki was weakened by issues of willpower and morale, their years of pampered life had also weakened their body significantly.
But being able to learn all Six Styles and even develop variants, no matter how weakened, it couldn't possibly be weak.
If it were before, they would definitely be Elite Vice Admiral, but the Ennio Sage encountered shouldn't have reached that level anymore.
He's also exchanged a few moves with Garp, completely overwhelmed.
As for Zephyr, it seemed they fought evenly, but only Sage himself knew the true situation.
Still need to strengthen further...
Not long after, Marika brought up freshly cooked dishes. After Sage finished eating and rested for nearly an hour, there came a knock on the door.
"Come in," Lily said.
A pirate pushed the door open and entered, "Captain, Miss Lily, Miss Marika, Miss Renedia, we've spotted land!"
"Looks like we've arrived."
Sage stood up, adjusted the black-red velvet cloak on his back, and strode outside.
Outside, dark clouds continued to cover the sky, the wind and rain raging. As the Death Star progressed, it gradually moved forward to block, splashing water and unveiling waves on the sea distantly distorted by the sunlight.
As Sage reached out, one of his men handed him a telescope, and he gazed ahead through it, spotting an outline of land with seemingly no boundary.
Lily also gazed through a telescope, sighing, "It's much bigger than Oykot."
"They say it's a superpower, with a population of over ten million," Marika said.
"Huh? That many?" Renedia exclaimed.
After tossing the telescope back to his subordinate, Sage said indifferently, "No matter how much or how big, it's just an island."
The world is vast, the Grand Line is vast, and the Calm Belt is vast too.
However large a place is at sea, it's still only ever called an 'island.'
So, the sea is truly magical...
...
At the port city of Alabasta, Nalohara, outside a city wall on the edge.
"Listen up, we've all been seen by the faces of the Baroque Workshop; we absolutely must not be exposed."
Nami pointed at everyone, "Only Sanji and Chopper haven't been recorded, buying food and water is left to you two."
"Don't worry Nami!"
Sanji's body almost twisted like a noodle, holding by his hands and his eyes turned into love hearts, "Leave it to me, no problem at all!"
Boom!
Just as he spoke, a thunderous sound was heard in the distance.
Everyone reflexively looked, all were shocked.
A huge dark cloud from the sea, mixed with a storm, was coming closer.
"A, a storm?!"
Nami cried in surprise, subconsciously looking at the woman beside her with sea-like colored wavy long hair, "Vivi, do storms occur here?"
Vivi stared blankly at the approaching storm, eyes filled with confusion, "Alabasta... has never had a storm."
Rain is rain, but a storm is a storm. The climate here shouldn't allow for storms!
But now, mysteriously, one appeared.
Dancing powder?
Dancing powder wouldn't create storms either!
While they puzzled over this, the people of Nalohara did not; the enormous thunderbolt had caught their attention, one by one they happily took out basins, barrels, ceramic pots, and any other water-catching tools from their homes, showing signs of great excitement.
Although Nalohara is one of the few lively cities in Alabasta, as a desert region, no matter how lively, there's still a shortage of water.
Water here can be sold for money!
No matter how fierce the storm, survival will always outweigh it.
This place, even as a port city, hasn't seen rain for a long time!
"It rains! It storms! Everyone, quickly come out and collect water!!"