Seawater poured in, and the shattered deck scattered everywhere.
The pirates on the ship let out terrified screams, watching helplessly as their ship was split in two and sank into the sea!
"How... how is this possible?!"
"Our ship... actually... with one sword..."
Foxy's eyes widened, his arrogance instantly turning into terror.
His lips trembled as he muttered, "What... what kind of monster is this...?!!!"
Zoro slowly sheathed his sword, his gaze as cold as ice.
"Who gave you the courage to challenge us? You small fries."
His tone was indifferent, yet it made the Foxy Pirates feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar!
At this moment, they finally understood... they and the Straw Hat were not on the same level of existence at all!
Foxy trembled all over, his lips quivering.
He wanted to say something, but in the end, nothing came out.
"Ridiculous."
Lin Ning slowly shook his head, his gaze calmly sweeping over the Foxy Pirates gradually sinking into the sea.
His voice was calm but carried an irresistible pressure.
"The weak actually think of using rules against the strong, how foolish!"
He turned to look at Luffy and his crew, a hint of sharpness in his eyes:
"Next, our training will enter the next stage."
When everyone heard this, their spirits instantly lifted.
Lin Ning continued, "Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, your Body Tempering Technique needs to advance.
As for Nami, Usopp, Robin, and Chopper, you have now surpassed the threshold of the Elementary Body Tempering Technique.
Next, I will teach you the Elementary stage of the Body Tempering Technique one by one."
Long Chain Island, the endless grassland shimmered with golden waves under the sunlight.
A gentle breeze blew, carrying the faint scent of fresh grass.
However, at this moment, the people standing on this land had a Battle Intent burning in their hearts that was far hotter than the sun.
"Hahaha, we've finally waited for this day!"
Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji stood at the front.
Their faces were full of excited smiles, and their eyes shone with incredibly determined light.
Although their Body Tempering Technique was constantly increasing their physical strength every day.
Recently, it had become increasingly difficult to feel the pleasure of Breakthrough.
Recalling the feeling of rapidly growing strength when they first started practicing the Body Tempering Technique.
It made each of them addicted.
Now, they yearned to go further, to Breakthrough their limits again!
Just as everyone was rubbing their fists and eager, a figure suddenly rushed out.
"Me first! Me first!"
Usopp strode quickly to Lin Ning, his eyes firm, his tone unwavering.
Everyone was stunned.
Zoro tilted his head and glanced at him, raising an eyebrow:
"Oh? That's not like you, Usopp."
Sanji, with a cigarette in his mouth, chuckled mockingly:
"Could it be that he hasn't woken up from a dream? Usopp actually volunteered for training?
The sun must have risen in the West Blue."
Nami and Chopper were also full of surprise, after all, every time Usopp heard about training before.
His first reaction was to find an excuse to avoid it.
But this time, he didn't back down.
Usopp stood still, his eyes incredibly firm.
His fists were tightly clenched, his knuckles slightly white.
"I've had enough..."
His voice was deep, but it carried a determination he had never shown before.
"I've had enough of watching you all fight while I can do nothing!"
"I hate that version of myself! I hate having to run away every time I encounter a strong enemy!
I hate being able to only hide in the back and watch you all fight desperately!"
Usopp took a deep breath, then suddenly lifted his head, his eyes flickering with fiery fighting spirit.
"From today onwards, I will change!
I will become stronger! I will become a true warrior of the sea!"
His voice echoed across the grassland, lingering for a long time.
The air was silent for a moment.
Everyone looked at Usopp in front of them, all showing surprised expressions.
Lin Ning, however, smiled slightly, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.
"Very good."
He slowly raised his hand and gently patted Usopp's shoulder:
"Since you are ready, let's start with you."
"However—"
Lin Ning's lips curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile:
"This is your own choice, don't cry and beg to stop."
Usopp swallowed, a little cold sweat seeping from his forehead.
But he still gritted his teeth and nodded: "I won't back down!"
..."Ah ah ah ah—!!!"
The next second, deafening screams echoed across the entire grassland!
Usopp's face was contorted, his eyes rolled back.
He struggled wildly like a dehydrated salted fish!
"Help me ah ah ah ah—!!"
"Lin Ning, you devil! This isn't training! This is torture!!!"
"My bones! My muscles! They're splitting apart ah ah ah!!!"
Usopp's screams rose and fell, piercing the sky.
They shook the birds of Long Chain Island into scattered flight, and even the distant giraffes were scared and ran away!
Nami, Chopper, Robin, and the others watched this miserable scene with wide eyes, their faces slightly pale.
"Uh..."
Chopper shrank his neck and swallowed.
He whispered, "It looks... like... it really hurts..."
Nami sighed, rubbing her forehead: "Usopp... can he really do it?"
Sanji's mouth twitched: "That kind of scream sounds exactly like a rookie who has lost the will to live..."
Zoro, on the other hand, stood with his arms crossed, calmly watching it all, a slight smirk on his lips.
"Hmph, this is just the beginning."
...Usopp lay on the ground, panting heavily, his clothes soaked with sweat.
"Ha... ha... ha... Am I... am I dead?"
Lin Ning squatted down, looking at the breathless Usopp, and nodded with satisfaction:
"Very good, the potential of your body's bones is much stronger than I expected.
Your endurance is even better than you imagine."
Usopp barely propped himself up, a look of relief on his face after escaping death.
His lips trembled as he said, "Lin Ning... what... what did you do to me...?"
Lin Ning calmly said, "Just helping you feel your bones and perfecting your exclusive Elementary Body Tempering Technique, that's all."
"Next, is the real training."
"What just happened was merely a warm-up."
Usopp: "???"
"What??? That kind of agonizing torture... was just a warm-up?!"
His face instantly turned pale, his eyes blank.
Although he had seen Lin Ning training Luffy and Zoro.
But when it was his turn, the bone-deep pain made every second feel like a year... Finally, under Lin Ning's hands-on guidance, Usopp successfully mastered the Elementary Body Tempering Technique.
Lin Ning stood up and clapped his hands: "Alright, next one."
Usopp lay sprawled on the ground, his eyes vacant, muttering to himself: "Did I make the wrong decision...?"
Meanwhile, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, who were standing nearby, grew increasingly excited.
"Hehe, it seems this training will be very interesting!"
Luffy grinned, his fists clenched, his Battle Intent soaring.
Zoro smirked, his eyes gleaming with fervor: "Yeah, we can finally move to a higher level."
Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke, a look of anticipation curving his lips: "I'm really looking forward to it, Lin Ning."
Lin Ning smiled faintly, his gaze sharp as a torch.
"Don't worry."
"All of you will achieve your own Breakthrough."