Sorry for the delay (extra chapter)
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After meeting with Ivankov, Rorschach didn't even eat lunch. He bid farewell to Magellan, boarded the warship with his soldiers, and left Impel Down, embarking on his next journey.
The endless sea was like an inverted galaxy, the boundless surface shimmering with silver light, a reflection of the moonlight and starlight.
In the calm belt at night, no large Sea Kings surfaced.
Their warship glided quietly across the serene sea, which sparkled like a galaxy.
The speed wasn't fast, the sails weren't unfurled, and Rorschach didn't use his wind-control abilities to accelerate.
The warship relied entirely on steam power, with the side wheels turning to propel it forward.
"Zzzz..."
On the bow deck of the warship, the faint sound of electric currents could be heard continuously.
Rorschach and Hibari stood under the mast, watching with astonishment as Law endured five million volts of electricity, lifting a two-ton barbell repeatedly.
The silver-white currents danced like spirits across Law's body, causing his muscles to twitch uncontrollably.
The deck beneath him was soaked with sweat, over and over again.
"Rorschach! Increase the current intensity!"
Law's voice, gritted through his teeth, sounded like a desperate beast roaring.
"Hey, hey, that's enough," Rorschach's mouth twitched. "You've been at this for hours without eating. This isn't healthy. Stop and eat something to replenish your energy."
"I... told you... to continue!"
Law clenched his teeth, stubbornly pushing the barbell upward.
The muscles in his arms twitched, and his bones creaked under the strain.
He had been repeating this motion since Rorschach set sail with them.
Bepo and the others had tried to persuade him to stop, but Law, unusually, had scolded them away.
Now, Bepo and the others were huddled by the cabin, looking at Law with pitiful expressions.
The newly enlisted third-class soldier, Palmer, also squatted beside Bepo, gazing at Law's intense training with awe.
He finally understood why this seemingly frail marine had been able to defeat him.
Such relentless, inhuman training, enduring extreme pain, was enough to make anyone's scalp tingle.
The electric currents coursing through Law's body were, of course, at his own request, to temper his body.
Rorschach, seeing Law's stubbornness, almost wanted to shock him unconscious.
He raised his hand, a spark of electricity flickering at his fingertips, and increased the current to six million volts.
Law let out a muffled groan, the barbell in his hands now also conducting electricity, causing his fingers to spasm, nearly losing his grip.
With a loud clang, the barbell fell from his hands, denting the deck.
"Damn it!"
Law gritted his teeth, clenched his fist, and punched the heavy barbell, breaking the skin on his knuckles, blood staining the surface.
"Why am I so weak? I can't even endure this level of training. Rorschach!"
He turned abruptly, his bloodshot eyes filled with a hint of madness, and shouted at Rorschach, "Tell me! How can I get stronger quickly?"
"You..."
Rorschach opened his mouth but hesitated.
He wanted to say that Law's current strength was already quite impressive.
Half a year ago, Law had easily defeated Palmer, who was now squatting behind him.
Despite Palmer's seemingly simple appearance, as a giant, his raw strength made his attacks formidable.
Moreover, unlike most giants who were clumsy due to their size, Palmer was exceptionally agile, with impressive speed and reflexes.
According to him, this was because he grew up on an island filled with dangerous animals, most of which were fast and deadly.
From a young age, Palmer had to learn to run and dodge to survive.
With a weapon in hand, he was no weaker than most marine captains or commanders.
But even such a nimble giant couldn't gain an advantage against Law and was swiftly defeated.
Having defeated Palmer half a year ago, and after six months of intensive training at the marine headquarters, followed by two months of electric body tempering provided by Rorschach, Law's strength had at least doubled.
His progress, even by Zephyr's strict standards, was commendable.
In this year's elite marine training camp, Law was undoubtedly the top trainee.
Of course, someone else was an exception.
If Law's strength hadn't been sufficient, Zephyr wouldn't have allowed him to accompany Rorschach on his graduation mission.
When they first left Marineford, Law had been confident.
But before even reaching the pirate paradise of the Grand Line, he had been dealt a harsh blow.
Shiryu's sword, imbued with Armament Haki, had sent him flying with a single strike.
If that were all, Law could have accepted the defeat.
After all, Shiryu was one of the two demons of Impel Down, the infamous bloodthirsty warden, second only to the Hell King, Magellan.
Losing to such a man wasn't shameful.
But then, a certain silver-haired boy's performance had been too dazzling.
Shiryu, who had effortlessly defeated Law, was completely crushed by Rorschach.
The overwhelming Armament Haki, like a tidal wave.
The devastating lightning, like a natural disaster.
The unparalleled physical strength surpassing even giants.
The incredibly wide-ranging Observation Haki.
The domineering, awe-inspiring Conqueror's Haki!
This boy was too brilliant.
Law couldn't even withstand Douglas Bullet's Conqueror's Haki shockwave, while Rorschach had clashed head-on with the legendary pirate.
All of this left Law feeling deeply frustrated.
This feeling wasn't jealousy.
It was inferiority, resentment, and shame!
His childhood experiences were similar to Rorschach's.
He had also endured unforgettable darkness.
He also had dreams and goals he wanted to achieve.
The incident half a year ago had solidified Law's resolve to help this foolish boy achieve his seemingly impossible, audacious ambition.
To change the world!
But now, his proud progress couldn't even come close to Rorschach.
How could he talk about helping him?
How could he talk about avenging Corazon?
He needed to get stronger!
He needed to catch up to Rorschach.
He needed Rorschach to trust him enough to guard his back.
Not to be someone who, in times of crisis, could only wait for Rorschach's rescue.
In Rorschach's Observation Haki perception, Law's spiritual will was like a sharp sword piercing the heavens.
It was his determination to become stronger!
Rorschach sighed inwardly, meeting Law's gaze, and nodded solemnly.
"I understand. I have some ideas about how you can get stronger. Let's have dinner first. After dinner, we'll discuss how you can intensify your training during the next leg of our journey."
"Alright."
Law nodded and headed to the cabin.
He needed to wash off the sweat.
"Bepo, Penguin, go help bring the food to the deck. We'll have dinner on the deck tonight. Gather everyone; I have something to say later."
Rorschach called out to Bepo, who was still looking dejected.
"Okay, I'll go right away!"
Bepo and the others hurried off to help.
Palmer also wanted to help, but his massive size made it impossible for him to enter the ship's kitchen.
Given his size, Rorschach had no choice but to have him stay in the ship's main cabin.
Soon, various dishes were brought to the deck by the soldiers.
The aroma of food filled the air, making the soldiers, who had been busy all day, salivate and their stomachs growl.
Rorschach pushed a large plate of Sea King meat, piled almost a meter high, toward Law.
"If you want to get stronger, the most important thing is to eat."
"The more you eat, the more energy you store, and the more stamina you'll have."
"Using abilities consumes stamina, and prolonged battles require stamina. Stamina is the foundation of all strong fighters on this sea. Without sufficient stamina, even if you have the world's most powerful Devil Fruit ability or some unique physique, you'll never become a true powerhouse."
Rorschach's voice wasn't loud, but it carried through the air, reaching every marine soldier who had started eating, making them all look over and listen attentively.
"Law, you must have noticed, right?"
Rorschach looked at Law, who was now devouring the Sea King meat, chewing vigorously.
"Your Ope Ope no Mi ability consumes an extraordinary amount of stamina, probably more than other Devil Fruit abilities."
Law, his mouth full of meat, nodded while chewing.
"Yeah, that's true."
"I think it's a characteristic of the Ope Ope no Mi."
"Whether it's maintaining the Room, expanding its range, or moving objects within it, all require varying levels of stamina."
He looked at Rorschach, frowning slightly. "Also, I've recently noticed that my Room can't move people with particularly strong Haki."
"Like you."
"When you're not using Armament Haki, I can easily move you. But once you activate it, with my current stamina and fruit development, I can't move you."
"So, the simplest and most direct way for you to get stronger is to increase your stamina."
Rorschach pointed at Law, then scanned the soldiers on the deck.
"All of you, too."
"As long as your stamina reaches a certain level, at the very least, Armament Haki, a power latent in everyone, will be awakened."
"Everyone, listen up. Starting tomorrow, anyone without work duties will undergo my stamina enhancement training, which is..."
Rorschach raised his right hand, a spark of silver-white electricity flickering at his fingertips, standing out vividly in the night.
"Having your bodies tempered by the electric currents I release."
"R-Rorschach's electric body tempering..."
The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, their throats bobbing nervously.
Many of them had seen the elite marines who had been electrocuted by Rorschach on Marineford's plaza, their miserable state.
Others, who hadn't seen it firsthand, had heard about the humiliating scenes of muscles spasming, foaming at the mouth, and losing control of bodily functions.
Now, hearing that they would also undergo such terrifying training, they couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.
Mostly, they were afraid of the potential embarrassment of losing control in public...
Bepo, in particular, had a deep psychological shadow about this.
So, the moment Rorschach mentioned electric body tempering, he instinctively clenched his legs.
Seeing the soldiers' anxious and hesitant expressions, Rorschach didn't show any disdain. Instead, he spoke calmly, "I won't force anyone who doesn't want to undergo this training."
"The process of electric body tempering is indeed painful. It tests not just your body, but more importantly, your willpower."
"The currents are under my control. With my Observation Haki, I can precisely adjust the intensity to your limits, ensuring you won't be electrocuted to death or permanently injured."
"The only downside is that you might lose control of your body during the shocks, leading to some... awkward situations."
"But let me say this: compared to becoming strong enough to survive future battles, to help your comrades, to achieve your dreams, and to uphold justice..."
"A little embarrassment is nothing!"
After Rorschach finished speaking, the deck fell silent.
The soldiers, who had been hesitant, now looked ashamed.
Suddenly, a loud, deep voice rang out from the crowd, "Rorschach! I want to undergo your electric body tempering! I want to get stronger!"
The soldiers turned to see the ten-meter-tall Palmer standing up, his face resolute as he addressed Rorschach.
"Good! Palmer, you have great potential. Starting tomorrow, I'll guide you in your training, aiming to awaken your Armament Haki as soon as possible."
Rorschach's eyes showed approval, and he nodded at Palmer with satisfaction.
"Really? I... I can awaken Armament Haki? Like you, Rorschach?"
Hearing Rorschach's words, Palmer's eyes widened, and his breathing became heavy.
He had witnessed Rorschach's power at Impel Down.
The overwhelming aura of deep blue Armament Haki had left Palmer in awe.
"Of course! Observation and Armament Haki are latent powers within everyone. It's just a matter of awakening them. You might not develop Armament Haki like mine, but with your physique, if you do awaken it, its quality won't be lacking."
Hearing Rorschach's affirmation, Palmer's face broke into an uncontrollable smile.
Joining the marines had been the right choice.
Seeing a newly enlisted third-class soldier like Palmer volunteering for the training, the other soldiers' shame deepened.
Immediately, many raised their hands, shouting:
"Rorschach! I want to undergo electric body tempering too!"
"That's right! If it makes me stronger, even if I... even if I wet myself in public, I'll do it willingly!"
As more and more soldiers stepped forward, the rest, who had been hesitant, couldn't hold back any longer, joining in the chorus of voices demanding to train.
In the crowd, Bepo looked at the enthusiastic soldiers with sympathy.
"I hope you'll still be this motivated tomorrow..."
He subconsciously scratched his bear bottom.
Law, having finally swallowed the last piece of meat on his plate, looked at Rorschach.
"What about me? Do I continue with the electric body tempering?"
Rorschach stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, then slowly shook his head. "No, I have a special training method in mind for you. One that will simultaneously train your Ope Ope no Mi abilities and rapidly increase your stamina and endurance."
"What kind of training?" Law's eyes lit up.
"We'll talk tomorrow. Rest well tonight. Be prepared, Law. I might use some extreme methods. I hope you can handle it."
With that, Rorschach also began to eat his dinner.
He licked his lips, feeling a bit dry after talking so much.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, a glass of juice was handed to him from the side, making Rorschach pause.
He turned to see Hibari holding the juice, and he smiled in surprise. "Hibari, how did you know I was thirsty? Thanks, you're so thoughtful."
"I... I guessed."
Hibari's face turned red, and she looked away, avoiding Rorschach's gaze.
Rorschach found it amusing.
This girl was too shy.
How was she going to live on a ship full of men?
Late at night, the warship was quiet, most of the soldiers asleep, with only a few on watch.
At the door of the captain's cabin on the top deck, Rorschach opened the door in confusion.
"Huh? Hibari, what's this?"
Outside the door stood a girl in pink bear pajamas, holding a blanket and pillow, looking shyly at him.
"R-Rorschach, can I... sleep with you?"
"What? Sleep... with me?"
Rorschach's mouth hung open, unable to believe his ears.
"N-no, not like that! I just... want to sleep on the floor in your room... I'm scared sleeping alone."
Seeing Rorschach's shocked expression, Hibari quickly explained.
As the only girl on the ship, Hibari's room was on the same level as Rorschach's, on the left side, close to the crow's nest where she usually worked.
Her room was separated from Rorschach's by an empty meeting room.
A girl sleeping alone in a room near the deep sea could indeed feel scared.
Thinking this, Rorschach felt a bit guilty.
"Sorry, I didn't consider your feelings. Come in, Hibari. You can sleep on my bed..."
"Huh?"
This time, it was Hibari's turn to be shocked, her big eyes widening, her face turning visibly red and hot.
Rorschach's mouth twitched, and he quickly waved his hands. "Not like that! I mean, you sleep on the bed, and I'll sleep on the floor."
"Oh, okay... Rorschach."
Hibari's voice was as soft as a mosquito's, her lips pursed as she tiptoed into Rorschach's cabin like a cat.
She placed her blanket and pillow on the bed, watching Rorschach spread a blanket on the floor, and whispered apologetically, "Sorry, Rorschach, for causing you trouble, making the captain sleep on the floor..."
"Don't overthink it. The floor and the bed are the same to me. The blanket is soft; I'll sleep comfortably anywhere. Go to sleep. Tomorrow, I'll need your help with navigation."
Rorschach pulled the blanket over himself, leaving his head exposed, and smiled at Hibari.
To avoid misunderstandings, he deliberately moved the blanket to the left side of the cabin, near the wall, about three meters away from the bed.
He placed a wooden table between them as a divider.
"Okay."
Hibari curled up in her blanket, stealing glances at the boy's sleeping face under the moonlight streaming through the window.
For some reason, her face turned red again, and she slowly buried her head under the blanket, curling into a ball.
(End of Chapter)
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