The next day dawned bright and clear, with the sun shining high in the sky.
The ship steadily sailed toward the Grand Line, cutting through the calm waves. Mio stood at the bow of the deck, practicing with his newly acquired weapon. As one of the twenty-one Great Grade swords, Raikiri was indeed exceptional—razor-sharp, elegant, and undeniably powerful.
Puff—!
With a swift swing, the blade sliced the air, unleashing a sharp slash that shot across the sea, striking the surface in the distance and stirring up a wave.
Suddenly, a shadow burst from beneath the waves—it was Warwick.
Dripping wet, he landed heavily on the deck and shouted excitedly, "Master, the food is here!"
No sooner had he spoken than a massive sea beast erupted from the sea behind him, letting out a deep roar as it surged forward, its gaping maw open in a savage attack. Sea spray rained across the deck as the creature lunged.
"Heh. Come on, then," Mio said, lips curling into a grin. He stepped forward, leapt into the air, and with one smooth motion, drew Raikiri and slashed downward.
Puff—!
A gleam of cold light streaked through the air. The massive sea beast's body was split cleanly in two, its flesh and bone parted effortlessly. The precision of the cut left the cross-section smooth as glass, a testament to the sword's fearsome sharpness.
"Not bad at all," Mio chuckled, clearly satisfied.
He ordered Warwick to haul some of the beast's meat to the kitchen and toss the rest overboard.
Later, Mio sat cross-legged on his bed inside the cabin. From his belongings, he took out the notebook he had previously acquired and began reading it carefully. It contained detailed training methods for both Haki and the Navy's Rokushiki (Six Powers). After thoroughly studying the notes, Mio transcribed them onto fresh sheets of paper.
He made three copies—one for himself, one for Warwick, and one for Erica.
While Erica might not benefit as much from Rokushiki, since her focus was swordsmanship, Warwick was a different story. His combat style was heavily reliant on brute strength and physical techniques. With Rokushiki, his fighting abilities would grow significantly.
As for Haki, both Erica and Warwick would need to learn it. In this world, Haki was an essential power for anyone aiming to reach the top. Especially Armament Haki—it could enhance both offensive and defensive capabilities immensely once mastered.
By the time he finished copying the manuals, it was already noon.
Erica called from the kitchen, "Master, lunch is ready!"
"Alright, coming," Mio replied. He stood up, tossed the original notebook into the sea, and carried the three handwritten copies with him as he headed to the dining area.
Inside the ship's small mess hall, Mio handed Warwick and Erica their respective training notes and reminded them to start practicing. The three then sat down for a hearty meal together.
After lunch, the deck became their training ground.
The group began their exercises, focusing first on the basics of Haki and Rokushiki. Among the two disciplines, Rokushiki was easier to grasp initially. As long as one possessed sufficient physical fitness, learning the techniques wasn't overly difficult. Haki, on the other hand, was more abstract. It required one to "feel" it—to awaken and develop it through intuition, pressure, and combat experience.
Thankfully, the notebook contained practical tips to accelerate the process. The guidance allowed them to train more efficiently.
Time flew by as they practiced.
Five Days Later
Monagob Island – The North Blue's Final Stop
Monagob Island was the last island Mio and his crew would reach in the North Blue. Much like Loguetown in the East Blue, Monagob Island served as a checkpoint before entering the Grand Line.
The island housed a sizable town, complete with a naval branch and strong marine presence. It was a hub of trade, regulation, and surveillance.
Their ship was only a few hours from reaching the island.
Fortunately, Mio and his crew weren't wanted criminals—at least, not yet. So even with the navy's presence, he wasn't particularly concerned.
"One thousand four hundred ninety-eight… one thousand four hundred ninety-nine… two thousand!" Mio let out a deep breath, sweat pouring down his body.
Using a dead sea beast as a training weight, he lifted it off his back with a grunt, twisted around, and kicked it into the sea with a thud.
He reached for the rum nearby, ice clinking in the bottle, and took a long gulp. Then, without the slightest care for his image, Mio dropped onto the deck, panting and resting.
Bulu Bulu… Bulu Bulu…
The Den Den Mushi at the cabin's entrance rang.
Erica emerged, carrying the snail-phone. "Master, it's Doflamingo calling."
"Hmm. Give it here," Mio said, sitting up and wiping sweat from his brow.
He accepted the Den Den Mushi and answered casually.
"Fufufufu… my friend, I take it you're near Haikyo Town by now?" came Doflamingo's distinct, amused voice.
Haikyo Town was the central town of Monagob Island.
"Yeah, we're close. Should dock in a couple of hours," Mio replied.
"Heh heh, great! We'll meet soon—I brought the little thing you wanted."
"Oh? That's exciting. Hope it's a good one," Mio said with a grin. Of course, he was referring to the special insect he had asked for. Something rare and useful, hopefully.
"Fufufufu… trust me, I wouldn't disappoint you. You know, I lost almost ten men catching this thing."
"What's this? Starting to care about small fry now?"
"Haha, of course not. You really get me."
"We're friends, after all."
"Exactly! We are friends," Doflamingo echoed with a laugh.
Mio smirked. "Let's talk more once I land."
"Sure thing. Oh—and by the way, intel from my men says the Devil's Child was spotted recently in Strait Town…"
Click.
The Den Den Mushi went silent.
Mio handed it back to Erica and accepted a fresh towel from her. As he wiped himself off, his eyes locked on a distant landmass ahead.
Monagob Island.
"Nicole Robin… heh."
He let out a small laugh, then stood up. Wrapping the towel around his waist, Mio strolled toward the cabin.
"Erica, get ready. We're landing soon. I'm taking a shower first."
"Yes, Master," Erica replied sweetly, following behind him.
An Hour Later
The ship docked at Monagob Island's port.
Mio stepped off the ship, freshly showered and dressed. His sharp eyes scanned the area—numerous navy officers were stationed near the port, a clear sign something—or someone—important was here.
The corners of his mouth lifted in amusement.
"Looks like Doflamingo wasn't bluffing. Nicole Robin really is here. So many marines on guard… afraid she'll slip away, are they?"
He chuckled softly.
The hunt was about to begin.