Pirates: Martial Arts Masters on the Straw Hat Ship

"Ah!" Zoro suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and intense.

"Yes, it's a very peculiar energy. I feel like I have inexhaustible strength all over my body, and even if I'm injured, as long as I circulate this energy, I seem to be able to recover quickly."

"It is indeed peculiar." Sanji nodded in agreement, looking at his own hands.

"I feel like my vitality is getting stronger and stronger. Before, when I used to kick with that kind of high intensity, my leg bones would ache slightly, but now... I feel no burden at all."

Luffy was even more direct. He took a deep breath, his belly instantly bulged out, and then he slapped it hard.

"Bang!"

A dull thud, like striking a thick cowhide drum, was heard.

"Hehehe! I feel it too! It's all warm and cozy here!" Luffy pointed to his belly button, "I feel even more resilient now!"

Ronan nodded, stood with his hands behind his back, and gazed at the island that was getting closer and closer:

"That's natural. Reaching this level through external martial arts training is truly a case of reaping the rewards after all the hardships. The beatings we endured before were not in vain."

"Once we master the third stage and reach the state of 'Universal Unity'... the first half of this Grand Line will be ours to roam freely! Even those with special abilities will find it difficult to shake our physical bodies!"

Just as everyone was immersed in the joy of becoming stronger, Nami poured cold water on them at the right time.

"By the way, don't get too excited yet."

Nami pointed to the record pointer on her wrist, her expression serious: "Don't forget, we have to stay on this island for a while."

"Why?" Luffy tilted his head.

"Because of magnetism."

Nami explained, "The Log Pose must stay on an island and record the magnetic force of that island before it points to the next one. This is an ironclad rule of the Grand Line."

"And..." Nami held up a finger, "the speed at which magnetic force is recorded is completely different on different islands."

"Some islands only take a few hours, while others... might take several days, or even months or a year!"

"What?!"

Usopp's eyes nearly popped out of his head in fright: "Months?! Are we going to stay on this thorny island for that long? What if there really are monsters?!"

"That's how it is." Nami shrugged helplessly. "It's an unchangeable rule."

"Hehe, it's okay!"

Luffy crossed his arms behind his head, wearing a nonchalant smile.

"If that's really the case, we'll figure something out then! Right now, the most important thing is—to get to the island! And to eat meat!"

"Luffy is right."

Zoro yawned, but his hand never left the hilt of his sword: "Let's go. There's no point in thinking about this here. We'll deal with whatever comes our way."

"That's right, no matter what happens..." Sanji instantly switched to Knight mode and knelt on one knee in front of Nami.

"I will take full responsibility for protecting Nami's safety! Any monster that tries to harm you will be crushed to pieces!"

"Everyone……"

Looking at this group of guys who seemed completely oblivious to the danger, Usopp suddenly clutched his chest and collapsed onto the deck, convulsing.

"Wait, wait a minute! I've suddenly contracted a 'disease that prevents me from going to the island'! I think it's better if I stay on the ship and keep watch..."

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Nami punched Usopp on the head, interrupting his performance: "We're going in now! Are you ready? Be prepared for battle at any time!"

The Merry sailed slowly inland through the thick morning fog, following the river channel.

"Um?"

Zoro, standing at the bow of the ship, suddenly frowned, his expression shifting slightly: "Someone's here? Quite a few."

"Huh?" Usopp instantly scrambled to his feet, shakily raising his slingshot, drawing the string taut, and aiming it into the depths of the mist. "Is it the enemy? I knew there was an ambush!"

Ronan stood in the shadows, his Observation Haki spreading out like ripples on water.

In his perception, there were indeed hundreds of people gathered on the shore.

But these people didn't charge in with weapons; instead...

As the Going Merry emerged completely from the fog, the sight before them stunned everyone.

Hundreds of men, women, and children had gathered at the docks on both sides of the river.

They were dressed in bright festive attire, carrying flowers, ribbons, and musical instruments.

Upon seeing the pirate ship appear, instead of fleeing, they erupted in deafening cheers!

"Welcome to the Grand Line!!!"

"Welcome to our town—Whiskey Peak!!"

"Long live pirates! Welcome to the passionate island of heroes!!"

The sound of gongs and drums filled the air, and colorful flags fluttered in the wind.

Some people were playing the saxophone, some were scattering flower petals, and there were even sexy women dancing and blowing kisses.

"Long live the pirates?!"

Usopp's slingshot slipped from his hand, his mouth agape, completely unable to comprehend the situation before him:

"Not only are there no monsters... they're actually welcoming us! What's going on? Am I some kind of infamous pirate now?"

Nami hesitated for a moment, "So enthusiastic... could this be a supply depot specifically for pirates?"

however.

Beneath this peaceful and joyous facade, Ronan and his companions displayed completely different expressions.

"snort."

Zoro gently pushed aside the hilt of the "Sandai Kitetsu" with his fingers, revealing a chilling glint of light.

His gaze, sharp as a hawk's, swept over the most beaming faces in the crowd, a cold smirk playing on his lips.

"I don't think so... Nami."

"I sensed a deep-seated malice from them."

As a swordsman, he is most sensitive to killing intent.

Those hands hidden behind the flowers, those seemingly warm eyes, conceal a greed and coldness as venomous as a snake.

"right."

Sanji also dropped his infatuated expression, took a deep drag on his cigarette, the smoke obscuring half his face, but unable to hide the cold glint in his eyes:

"Luffy, we need to be careful. These guys... they're smiling, but their smiles are like those of wild beasts eyeing their prey."

Ronan stood at the back, nodding silently to himself.

really.

This is the result of hellish training.

The awakening of their Observation Haki has transformed them from the naive and easily deceived pirate crew of the original story.

In his perception of sight and hearing, this was no welcoming ceremony at all; it was clearly a huge trap with its jaws wide open.

Those so-called townspeople, every single one of them, concealed knives and guns in their waistbands, boots, and even bouquets of flowers.

Their heartbeats were steady and strong, and their breathing was long and even; they were clearly trained professionals—bounty hunters.

"You can sense malice from this far away? It seems your Observation Haki is quite good."

Ronan walked to Luffy's side, looking at the group of clowns putting on a show on the shore, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes:

"But it's okay."

"Since they want to put on an act, then we'll play along."

Ronan gripped the ebony staff tightly, his tone as calm as if he were discussing the weather:

"Anyway... this group of people is just a bunch of low-level thugs who can't be brought up."

"If they dare to make a move, then we'll just take care of it while we're at it."