One Month Later — Midday at Marineford
The midday sun blazed like molten metal over Marineford.
In the Sigmar family's backyard training grounds, the sun had heated the stone floor until it radiated heat that made the air shimmer. Even the occasional sea breeze, carrying its salty tang, could not cut through the oppressive summer heat.
At the center of the training field, Lipo and Tyzolo faced each other, sweat soaking through their training uniforms.
"Tyzolo, aren't you worried about heatstroke, wearing so much in this weather?" Lipo wiped her brow, her white rabbit ears drooping slightly under the blazing sun.
"Summer's like this, Lipo," Tyzolo replied, flicking his wrist. His gloves of golden powder glittered under the sun. "Besides, hot or not, we'll finish our training before complaining."
"Then don't expect me to hold back!" Lipo grinned, and in the next instant, she vanished.
"Ziiip!"
Her speed was astonishing; the sweltering heat didn't slow her explosive movement in the slightest.
Tyzolo's pupils narrowed sharply. He raised his hand just in time, and golden liquid erupted from his glove, forming a shield before him.
Bang!
Lipo's kick slammed into the shield with tremendous force, sending Tyzolo half a step back. The shield's surface dented slightly under the impact.
"Her strength… has increased?" Tyzolo thought with unease, but his hands didn't stop moving.
With a flick of his left hand, the golden liquid morphed into dozens of sharp needles, shooting toward Lipo from every direction.
"Life Rampage!" Lipo shouted. She raised her left hand, summoning a green healing glow that struck her chest.
Instantly, her cells accelerated, temporarily pushing her body beyond its limits and triggering the battle-ready alert of her Devil Fruit.
Her feet tapped the air lightly, and she launched skyward like a living arrow, dodging every golden needle.
In midair, she flipped, planting her hands on the ground, and spun her legs like whips, cutting through the air with a sharp swish.
"Rabbit Kick: Meteor!"
Tyzolo leapt back quickly, manipulating the golden liquid on the ground to form spiked barricades, attempting to trap Lipo's landing point.
But Lipo's enhanced reflexes were faster. She used the Moon Step midair to change direction, barely tapping the spikes with her toes to vault again.
"I've got you!" Her figure appeared behind Tyzolo, dagger gleaming coldly, aimed at his back.
In the critical moment, golden armor instantaneously coated Tyzolo's back.
Clang! The dagger struck the armor, sparks flying.
"Sorry, looks like I caught you first!"
"Golden Bind!" Tyzolo seized the chance, the golden liquid at his feet snaking like living tendrils to entangle Lipo's legs.
"Ah!" Lipo cried as she lost balance. Tyzolo pivoted, swinging a golden fist toward her face.
But just before the punch landed, a sly grin curved Lipo's lips.
"Heal–Flash!"
A blinding green light erupted from her palm. Tyzolo instinctively shut his eyes.
When he opened them again, Lipo had broken free, dagger pressed to his throat.
"Haha! You lost again, Tyzolo!" she said proudly, shaking her rabbit ears. Sweat streamed down her cheeks, but her smile was radiant, as if she had conquered the world.
"Damn it… next time you go full enhancement, I want one too," Tyzolo grumbled, throwing up his hands in surrender. "Fine, I admit it. But that move… using your healing fruit to flash me in the eyes? That's… dirty."
"That's called tactical genius!" Lipo said with a flourish, sheathing her carrot-shaped dagger and standing with her hands on her hips, ears proudly erect.
She cleared her throat, mimicking Gern's voice:
"A true warrior knows how to use every advantage…"
Then she spun and pointed dramatically at the scorching sun.
"Including sunlight that could roast a person alive!"
Tyzolo could only groan, pressing a hand to his forehead.
From the edge of the training grounds came a gentle call:
"Tyzolo~"
Stella strolled over, holding a parasol against the sun. Her white dress fluttered in the warm breeze. One hand carried a chilled towel, the other a glass of lemonade, her hair damp with fine beads of sweat.
"You've been training in this heat. Just stay by the sidelines," she said softly.
Tyzolo immediately softened his expression and hurried over to take the towel and lemonade from her.
"That's right, that's right!" Lipo bounced over, eyes glued to Stella's small bag. "Tyzolo's tough! He can roast into a golden crispy pig and still be fine!"
Stella giggled and, with a magician's flourish, pulled out a bottle of chilled carrot juice.
"For you. Specially prepared."
"Ugh~! Stella's the best!" Lipo cheered, launching herself forward to hug her, only to be blocked by Tyzolo's swift step.
"Stop! You're all sweaty…" he said, spreading his arms like a protective mother hen.
But Lipo, ever nimble, slipped through, tumbling into Stella's arms, leaving streaks of sweat on her dress without concern.
…
Meanwhile, in the backyard gazebo, a salty sea breeze swept through, flipping open a newspaper laid out on the table.
The headline blared:
"Shocking! 'Desert Crocodile' Crocodile Challenged Whitebeard Pirates and Was Utterly Defeated"
The subheading read:
"Unshakable Dominance in the New World; Whitebeard Fells Challenger in Just Three Moves."
The photograph captured the dramatic moment: Crocodile kneeling on the deck, face bloodied, while Whitebeard stood proudly, wielding the Murakumo and cape billowing in the wind. In the background, Marco's blue-flamed phoenix form circled in the air.
The report detailed the fight from three days prior: ambitious Crocodile had led his crew in a surprise attack against the Whitebeard Pirates but was completely overwhelmed within ten minutes.
Eyewitnesses claimed Whitebeard hadn't even used his Tremor-Tremor Fruit; mere martial skill and Haki were enough to dominate the Logia user.
A sidebar read:
"The seventh rookie Supernova to challenge Whitebeard in five years and fail. Whitebeard's supremacy in the New World remains unchallenged."
As the breeze turned the paper, the back page revealed a faint World Government notice, mentioning terms like Shichibukai System and Recruiting Powerful Individuals.
But at this moment, Crocodile's humiliating defeat stole all attention.
Gern sipped his iced barley tea, a satisfied hum escaping him.
"Lipo and Tyzolo's Devil Fruit applications are improving nicely," he murmured.
The two fruits he had obtained years ago had finally been developed into practical combat power.
Lipo's healing abilities were particularly impressive: beyond basic carrot-based healing, she could now use Rage Healing, Overclocked Self-Heal, Pain Suppression, Purification, and more. She could even launch reverse-heal attacks like Overrepair, which could amplify pain, redirect damage, or cause nerve overload.
Her wide-area techniques, like Cloud of Regeneration, healed multiple allies at once, and she had begun developing energy-based attacks like Life Pulse, Healing Blade, and Life Drain.
As for Tyzolo, Gern had originally intended him to follow a more traditional path. But the butterfly's guidance had redirected his craving from wealth to power, turning him into a relentless "Golden Emperor" in training, focused entirely on combat proficiency.
Gern accepted this evolution—it would have been abnormal if nothing had changed under his guidance.
At that moment, footsteps approached the edge of the training ground. Lipo and the others hurried over.
"Gern, Gern!" Lipo jumped to his side, her excitement palpable. "Did you see that? How was my 'Heal–Flash' move?"
"Not bad. You're improving," Gern said, ruffling her hair. "Lipo, your martial arts are smoother, and Tyzolo's Devil Fruit control is becoming more precise."
"Too bad I still lost," Tyzolo sighed.
Gern smiled. "That's because your Haki training is still too slow. Even with a Devil Fruit, you can't neglect Haki. Lipo clearly used Observation Haki to anticipate most of your attacks this round."
"Hmm…" Tyzolo frowned, realizing he had been overly focused on Devil Fruit development and had neglected Haki.
"Anyway," Gern continued, "make time to train with Zephyr, and remember to bring gifts for Sister Lina when you go. You two always freeload during training sessions."
Tyzolo and Lipo exchanged sheepish glances.
"It's for Sister Lina… she saw us working so hard…"
..
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