Location: Outside the Sorbet Kingdom Church
A unique banquet unfolded in the open space near the chapel.
Storm, Kid, and Killer sat in the very center of the festivities, while the residents of the Sorbet Kingdom formed a lively circle around them. Everyone enjoyed the high-quality food and rum looted from the Marine warships.
Storm devoured the mountain of food in front of him in a flash. His metabolism, enhanced by his upgraded stamina, demanded fuel.
Between bites of roast sea-king meat, Storm glanced at the two boys beside him—the red-haired punk and the blonde masked fighter.
"After the banquet, I'll devise a training plan for you two," Storm said, his voice clear despite the food in his mouth. "Your physical condition is terrible. We'll talk about technique after you've built some muscle."
Kid and Killer exchanged a glance, their eyes gleaming with intensity.
"Yes, Boss!"
"Oh, and one more thing." Storm focused his gaze on Kid. "Kid, besides physical training, you need an education. Specifically, physics and magnetism."
"You ate the Jiki Jiki no Mi (Magnet-Magnet Fruit). That fruit has god-tier potential, but right now? You're using it like a toddler playing with scrap metal."
In Storm's view, even the future "Captain Kid" of the Worst Generation wasted this fruit.
Look at the Op-Op Fruit. Law turned it into a domain of absolute control.
Look at the Nika Fruit... well, that's a cheat code, so ignore it.
But Kid? His ultimate move in the future would be a Railgun. Impressive, sure. But against the true monsters of the sea—like Shanks—it was useless if the user lacked Haki and creativity.
'Gods avoid me? No. Shanks one-shot you,' Storm thought cynically.
"Boss," Kid looked troubled, holding a chicken leg. "You mean... I have to study? Is being a pirate really this complicated?"
"Because you are a 'Magnet Man,' you have to study," Storm said seriously. "Otherwise, you'll never know where your limits are. You're sitting on a gold mine and treating it like a garbage dump."
"Faa faa faa!"
Killer burst into laughter, patting Kid's shoulder hard. "Good luck, brother! Study hard!"
"Shut up, Killer!" Kid glared at him. "Boss! Doesn't Killer need to study?"
"Him? No. He's a non-ability user. All he needs to do is cut people."
Storm turned his scrutiny to Killer, eyeing the scythes at his waist. "You like scythes?"
"Yeah." Killer drew his weapons. "Used them since I was a kid."
"Not bad. For a swordsman, the best weapon is the one that feels like an extension of your arm."
Storm opened his palm. Warm white clay flowed out, molding instantly into two sleek, menacing scythes. He hardened them with a thought.
"Try these."
He tossed the ceramic weapons to Killer.
Killer caught them. They were lighter than steel but felt denser. He clashed one against his old metal scythe.
CLANG!
The sound was crisp and high-pitched. Killer examined the blade. The white ceramic didn't have a scratch. His old metal scythe, however, had a deep chip in the edge.
"Incredible hardness..." Killer breathed.
"Now," Storm wiped his hands. "How much do you know about the levels of swordsmanship?"
Killer tilted his head, confused. "...Levels?"
"Alright, so you're a complete amateur." Storm sighed. "Listen closely. Swordsmanship is roughly divided into levels."
"First is the Swordsman. You can cut flesh and bone. You are here."
"Second is the Sword Master (Kengo). This is the level where you master the 'Breath of All Things.'"
Storm picked up a fallen leaf with his chopsticks and tossed it high into the air.
Shing!
The Iron Cloud Sword flashed from its sheath. The snow-white blade danced like a silver streak, passing directly through the falling leaf.
Kid and Killer saw it clearly. The blade hit the leaf.
But the leaf floated down, uncut. Unharmed.
"How?" Killer picked up the leaf. "Boss, you definitely hit it."
"A true swordsman can cut steel when he wants to," Storm said softly, "and he can choose not to cut a piece of paper when he doesn't want to."
"Give me your old scythe."
Killer handed over his chipped metal weapon.
Storm tossed the scythe into the air. He didn't swing hard. He just let the Iron Cloud Sword drift forward.
Slicccck.
Like a hot knife through butter, the sword severed the steel scythe in half.
"To hear the 'breath' of the material. To cut iron as if it were fruit. That is the realm of a Sword Master."
Storm handed the broken pieces back to Killer.
"Above that is the Great Sword Master. But you are years away from worrying about that."
Killer held the broken metal, staring at the mirror-smooth cut. He nodded solemnly.
"I understand, Boss."
Before this, Storm was just a powerful guy they decided to follow. Now? He was a Sensei. A mentor.
Kid, feeling left out, jumped in. "Boss! Do Devil Fruits have levels?"
"Of course."
Storm tapped the ground. The earth rippled into liquid clay.
"If you understand your ability deeply enough, you can affect the environment around you, not just your own body. We call this state Awakening."
Kid's eyes lit up.
"Don't even try it yet," Storm shut him down. "You haven't even figured out how a magnet works. Focus on your body first. Haki and Stamina are the foundation of everything."
Location: Inside the Chapel
The banquet continued outside, but the mood inside the church was heavy.
Storm sat on a pew. Kuma, who had disappeared for a few minutes, reappeared beside him.
"Mr. Vongola..."
"You made up your mind?" Storm stood up.
Kuma nodded. He looked at Bonney, who was happily eating cake on her clay beanbag chair.
"I contacted Dragon," Kuma said softly.
"And?"
"He confirmed your intelligence. Dr. Vegapunk is currently on Punk Hazard in the New World. It is a government black site. Heavily guarded. Impossible to enter."
Kuma clenched his fist.
"As for the Op-Op Fruit, the Revolutionary Army has no leads. We only know the Government is hunting for it."
"However... Germa 66."
Kuma looked at Storm. "Dragon located them. They are not in the North Blue right now."
"Oh?" Storm raised an eyebrow.
"They are in the East Blue. A nation there has hired the Germa Kingdom to fight a war for them."
Storm nodded. That made sense. Germa was a mobile nation; they crossed the Red Line using their giant snails to act as mercenaries in all four seas.
"So," Storm crossed his arms. "You want to go to the East Blue to find Judge? To see if Germa science can cure the Sapphire Scale?"
"Yes," Kuma said firmly. "I have to try."
"I can't guarantee Judge knows the cure," Storm cautioned. "Vegapunk is the sure bet. But going to the East Blue is safer than storming a Government research facility in the New World."
"But..." Kuma hesitated. "Dragon said it was too dangerous to trust a pirate."
"Are you a fanatic, Kuma?" Storm interrupted, his voice sharp. "Do you believe everything Dragon says? He told you to wait. He told you it's dangerous. Meanwhile, the stones on your daughter's face are spreading."
Kuma stared at Storm. "You said... you had other ways to help. If I paid the price."
"I did."
"I have no money," Kuma said, his voice trembling but his eyes hard as steel. "But I have my life. I have my strength."
He looked at Bonney one last time.
"As long as Bonney is cured... I will accept any price."
Storm smiled. It wasn't a kind smile. It was the smile of a man who had just acquired a very powerful weapon.
"Deal."
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