"Easier said than done..."
Zoro, using his three swords to desperately hold back the gorilla's fist, muttered under his breath.
Here, even his slashes couldn't pierce the skin of that damned gorilla.
In truth, this kind of battle had been going on for almost a week, and they were still stuck on this single gorilla.
This feeling of defeat made the Straw Hat Pirates, who had experienced many battles and felt they had grown, acutely aware of their own shortcomings.
"If you can't even handle a wild beast that has mastered Haki, then you are even less qualified to set foot on the battlefield to rescue Ace."
Rayleigh spoke these words unhurriedly, and everyone's expressions turned serious upon hearing them.
"On that battlefield, those who have mastered Haki are everywhere. If you go in your current state, you might even die before Ace does."
Rayleigh's words were heavy, but they were the truth.
Originally, according to his thinking, if the World Government was just using Ace to lure Whitebeard and others, it might have been acceptable for just Luffy to participate.
But now, even Naruto was involved. He knew the World Government definitely wouldn't lower its guard and would definitely have backup plans lying in wait.
Actually, the safest choice for Luffy right now was not to get involved at all.
After all, given his current fame, he was still just a rookie who had recently 'debuted', and couldn't attract much attention from the World Government.
Even with the [Devil Child] Nico Robin on their team, it was the same.
Thinking of this, Rayleigh turned to look at Robin, who had found a chair to sit and watch the battle, and asked,
"What? Don't you plan to train with them?"
"...No, I don't think I have the talent to master Haki in such a short time."
Due to a certain someone's influence, Robin, who hadn't suffered imprisonment or the Enies Lobby battle, wasn't yet fully integrated into the team.
She liked the sincere atmosphere within the Straw Hat Pirates, but she also understood that with their current strength, the mere appearance of that cold man would be enough to wipe them all out.
Therefore, Robin actually didn't support the plan to rescue Ace.
But she didn't voice this thought rashly.
Because she had a feeling that if she were the one arrested by the Marines, she believed Luffy wouldn't hesitate to rescue her.
It was an intuition, one of the skills that had allowed her to survive all these years.
Robin chose to trust this intuition.
She turned her gaze to the musician Brook, the doctor Chopper, and the shipwright Franky below.
These three, like herself, had some combat ability, but neither their talent nor physical prowess could compare to Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji.
It could be said that if anyone could master both Armament and Observation Haki from scratch within three weeks, it would likely only be the captain and the other two main fighters.
"Haki is just one manifestation of strength. The real key is whether you have the will to fight for your captain."
"Or rather, are you willing to truly join this group and become one of them?"
Rayleigh's eyes seemed to see through Robin's heart. After saying this, he didn't speak further, not waiting for Robin's reply, and instead went down personally to instruct the others in their combat.
Not only Zoro and the others, but even the [Cowardly Trio], Chopper, Usopp, and Nami, were included in the combat sequence.
As the right-hand man of the Pirate King, Rayleigh's knowledge was sufficient to tailor a set of supportive combat methods for these three.
For Luffy and the other two, he focused on strengthening their Haki Training.
Whether in combat awareness or willpower, Luffy and the others weren't lacking. They only lacked the means for a 'qualitative' improvement in combat power… namely, Haki.
The three watched in shock as Rayleigh easily pierced the gorilla's Haki defense with his Haki-covered index finger. The sight of the beast that had rendered them helpless rolling on the ground from a single finger truly made them feel their own weakness.
"I have a preliminary understanding of your potential. Considering the limited time left, I will now subject you to even more arduous training… if you want to quit, now is the time."
Hearing this, not only Luffy and the other two, but even Usopp and the other members showed expressions of defiance.
"We won't give up!"
"That's right! We're going to help Luffy save his brother!"
"I... I feel the same!"
The Cowardly Trio were the first to declare their stance.
"Yohohoho... I can't just stand by and watch either… although I don't have eyes to watch with."
"Suuupppeeeerrrr-"
"Bring it on, I can't wait!"
Luffy put his straw hat aside, Sanji gently extinguished his cigarette, and Zoro took off his upper garment, put on his bandana, and entered full combat mode.
Seeing everyone's high fighting spirit, Rayleigh smiled lightly, then glanced back at Robin.
The Devil Child still seemed lost in thought.
And so, the training on the Giant Beast Island accelerated.
Rayleigh chose to compress a curriculum that would normally take months, or even a year or two, into just two weeks.
Perhaps the final results wouldn't meet expectations, but at the very least, it would give the Straw Hats the most basic ability to protect themselves.
As for the real front lines of the battle-
'Let those two... no, maybe three... hmm, let those four willful guys handle it.'
…
The Gran Tesoro, with a total length of 10 kilometers, pulled by two giant turtles at the bow, can freely reach any place on the sea.
This ship is the world's largest den of extravagance, with casinos, amusement parks, theaters, even aquariums… all kinds of entertainment facilities available.
One could say this single ship is almost equivalent to a 'mobile country'.
And in fact, it is indeed one of the independent countries recognized by the World Government, also known as the [Country of Gold].
Here, whether Marines, pirates, or any other criminals or kings, all are acceptable guests.
The World Government, due to the massive Heavenly Tribute paid annually by the Country of Gold, turns a blind eye, designating it a so-called [Special Neutral Zone], even stipulating that Marines cannot pursue pirates here.
Its privileges run deep.
The master of the Country of Gold, also the king of the independent country, Gran Tesoro, is the man known as the [Golden Emperor], Gild Tesoro, a man who controls twenty percent of the world's Berry flow.
He is a king, a ship captain, and even a singer.
Right now, he is holding his concert on the Gran Tesoro.
A magnificent golden stage rises from the sea. This is not only the stage for Tesoro's performances but also the port for others to board the Country of Gold.
At this moment, countless tourists, spectators, or gamblers are cheering for Tesoro's performance.
"...Forget everything, let us be free and easy~"
As the song ended, Tesoro bowed slowly to the cheers and applause.
The stage descended. The Golden Emperor, assisted by his subordinate Baccarat, changed out of his performance costume and into loose robes before entering his private room.
To outsiders, Tesoro is an extravagant, flamboyant, luxurious, and somewhat crazed individual.
For those truly in power in the World Government, such people are actually the most reassuring.
Because such individuals are easier to control.
In contrast, people like Dragon and his Revolutionary Army are the truly immovable ones… for them, only destruction is the answer.
However, upon returning to his restroom, the dramatic, performative smile instantly vanished from Tesoro's face, and his entire aura became as still as a deep pool.
Seeing this, Baccarat wisely chose to leave.
Only at times like this would Tesoro reveal his true personality.
Taking off his loose upper garment, Tesoro didn't mind at all exposing the [Hoof of the Soaring Dragon] mark on his back, symbolizing his former status as a slave.
He hadn't even considered covering it up with anything else.
Looking at his immensely muscular reflection in the mirror, Tesoro's memory involuntarily returned to over a decade ago.
Back then, he was still a slave of the Celestial Dragons, without freedom, and had learned of the death of his beloved, his spirit once on the verge of collapse.
He lived on numbly as a slave for five years, and then the event that changed his life occurred.
That man saved him.
Not only did he rescue him from the Celestial Dragons, but he also pulled him back from the brink of extreme hatred.
"Get stronger. Only by becoming strong enough can we eliminate those beasts."
"Wealth? Wealth alone isn't enough. Do you think the Celestial Dragons rule the world because of wealth?"
"You have your ideas, then go do it. Perhaps one day, we can fight side by side."
His time with that person changed the beliefs Tesoro had held for years. Thanks to that man, he didn't fall into the vortex of obsessively chasing wealth.
With a slight exertion, Tesoro's body was immediately covered in Haki as sturdy as armor.
"How much longer until I can fight alongside you and completely change this unfair world?"
"...Naruto-san."
Just as Tesoro was muttering to himself, a large head suddenly phased up through the floor.
Tesoro didn't turn around, merely asking calmly.
"Tanaka, you know I don't like being disturbed at this time."
Tanaka-san, who had eaten the Nuke Nuke no Mi allowing him to phase through inanimate objects with others, seemed to sense Tesoro's displeasure and quickly explained. (T/N: Through-Through Fruit.)
"Tesoro-sama, we have visitors."
"Hmm?"
"It's the [Queen of the Pleasure District] and... and the [Pirate Empress]!"
Tanaka-san looked somewhat nervous.
One Pirate Empress, one Queen… neither was someone to be trifled with.
When Tesoro heard [Queen of the Pleasure District], he only frowned slightly, but upon hearing [Pirate Empress], his expression instantly softened.
Although Tesoro didn't know why she was associating with that troublesome woman, if it was the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, she was someone trustworthy.
"Take them to the reception room. I'll be there shortly."
"Yes!"