Chapter 156 — Increasing Weight Levels
S.C. 1511 — Early March
Hidden Island — Training Hall
Morning sunlight filtered through the narrow ventilation slots Ren built last month.
The room smelled faintly of metal dust, clean stone, and warm air from the wind turbine above.
A row of weighted objects sat neatly on the ground:
5 g pebble
100 g ink bottle
300 g wooden block
700 g metal disc
1 kg iron block
2 kg stone brick
2.5 kg stone plate
3 kg metal slab
3.5 kg KEA-reinforced block
Ren tied his hair back and exhaled slowly.
"Today we push the limits again."
Zemo sat at the doorway like a furry judge.
Kiro stood behind him, carrying a notebook to record results.
"Ready?"
Ren nodded.
"Let's begin."
---
Phase 1 — Warm-Up Weights
Ren raised his hand slightly.
5 g Pebble
It floated instantly. Almost too easy.
Zemo yawned.
100 g Ink Bottle
It rose smoothly, wobbling only once.
Kiro scribbled, "Stable."
300 g Wooden Block
Ren flicked his fingers—
the block spun in a steady circle.
His control had improved dramatically.
"Good," Ren murmured.
"Move to the next."
---
Phase 2 — Standard Limit Zone
700 g Metal Disc
This was his "effortless upper limit."
Ren breathed in—
the disc floated smoothly, perfectly horizontal.
He guided it in a gentle arc.
Zemo wagged his tail.
Kiro wrote, "As easy as wood."
1 kg Iron Block
Ren extended his hand.
The block trembled… lifted… and stabilized.
Not easy, not hard—
just steady.
He held it for ten seconds, then set it down.
"Still consistent," Ren said quietly.
Kiro nodded. "Feels like you're getting stronger."
---
Phase 3 — The Hard Zone
2 kg Stone Brick
Ren inhaled slowly.
His eyes focused.
The brick lifted—
shakily—
but lifted.
Sweat formed at his temple.
"…Hold it," Kiro whispered.
Ren held it for four seconds before placing it down gently.
He wiped his wrist.
"This is the real threshold."
2.5 kg Stone Plate
Ren centered his breathing.
Focused.
The plate rose half a centimeter— shivered— rose another centimeter—
Zemo stood on alert.
Ren gritted his teeth.
"Come on…"
The plate lifted just enough to slide a shadow beneath it.
Then—
thump.
It dropped.
Ren exhaled sharply.
"Better than last week," Kiro noted quickly.
"Much better."
---
Phase 4 — The Wall
3 kg Metal Slab
Ren stared at it.
He already knew the difficulty.
Still, he had to try.
He focused.
Nothing happened.
He focused harder.
The edge of the slab trembled—
barely noticeable—
but it trembled.
Zemo's ears perked.
Kiro's eyes widened. "It shook!"
"Only a little," Ren said, breathing heavier.
"But it moved."
A small victory.
He allowed himself a faint smile.
---
Phase 5 — The Impossible
3.5 kg KEA Block
Ren placed his palm outward.
Expectation low—
Still—
He tried.
He focused with absolute precision.
He engaged the breathing method.
He narrowed his telepathic field around the block.
The block remained perfectly still.
No shake.
No vibration.
Not even a twitch.
Ren lowered his hand.
"Still nothing."
Kiro closed the notebook.
"That's fine. That's your cap for now."
Ren nodded.
He wasn't disappointed.
Limits meant goals.
---
Break Time — Unplanned Chaos
Just as Ren sat down—
SLAM!
The door burst open.
"REEEEEN! KIRO! ZEMO!"
Luffy barrelled in full force, holding—
A giant fish.
Like… ridiculously giant.
It slapped the floor.
SPLAT.
Ren blinked.
Kiro froze.
Zemo jumped backward like he'd seen a ghost.
Luffy beamed. "I caught breakfast!"
Ren stared at the fish…
and the trail of slime it left.
"Luffy," Ren said slowly, "…why bring it here?"
"Because your knives are sharper!"
"That doesn't mean—"
"CUT IT FOR ME PLEASE!"
Ren sighed deeply.
Kiro laughed until he had to hold his stomach.
Even Zemo barked as if laughing.
---
Final Test — Micro Precision (With Fish Smell Everywhere)
Ren returned to the weights after helping cut the fish.
(And after forcing Luffy to wash the floor.)
He picked up a 300 g wooden block.
Then a 700 g disc.
He raised both simultaneously.
No tremble.
No wobble.
Even with fish smell still lingering, he was calm and stable.
Zemo nudged Ren's elbow.
Ren smiled faintly.
"Yes… the control is better today."
---
Evening — Quiet Reflection
As the sun set behind the island trees, Ren packed the weights neatly.
His fingers brushed the 2.5 kg stone.
"Soon."
Then the 3 kg slab.
"Sooner."
Then the 3.5 kg KEA block.
"…Eventually."
Zemo curled at his side.
Kiro stretched his arms, tired from hours of watching but excited.
"Same time tomorrow?"
Ren nodded.
"Yes. Every day."
They walked out together, leaving the training room in peaceful silence.
Tomorrow would push further.
Not rushed.
Not forced.
Just steady growth.
---
End of Chapter 156