Chapter 179: Return to the Sabaody Archipelago
After eating the Doa Doa Fruit, Porche entered hell training mode. Not only did she intensify her Haki training, but she also began pushing herself to master her Devil Fruit ability—as if she were training 24 hours a day.
Seeing someone her age suffer like that, Perona silently offered her a word of sympathy: "Poor girl!" Then, making sure to protect herself, she ran far away to avoid being dragged into the misery.
"Traitor! Waaah!" After a whole day of hellish training, Porche burst into the room and threw herself into Perona's arms, crying uncontrollably.
"Let go… you're getting snot and tears… on my clothes!" Perona struggled to peel her off, but it was no use.
Seeing Porche crying like that, Perona couldn't bring herself to hit her with a Negative Ghost.
"Don't cry~ don't cry~" Perona patiently patted Porche's shoulders to comfort her. "If you really don't want to push yourself so hard, just tell the captain. He and Teacher Chiron are actually pretty reasonable."
"I know," Porche said quietly, stopping her sobbing. "But I don't want to keep dragging the captain and the others down. Every time they fight powerful enemies with everything they've got, I'm the one standing on the sidelines, silently cheering them on…"
"I'm so weak I can't even get close to the battle. My cheers don't even reach them. But now I finally have a chance to fight alongside them. I have to work hard, get stronger, and then…"
Porche clenched a fist, her face full of determination, giving herself a boost. "I'll be able to help the captain and the others!"
In that moment, Porche seemed to glow with a holy white light.
"Kyaah! So cute~" Perona hugged her tightly and rubbed their cheeks together. "Hardworking Porche is so cute!"
"Eh? What's this?" Perona stopped, feeling a wet patch she had rubbed against.
Porche said shyly, "That might be my snot."
"Ew! Gross!" Perona wiped the snot from her hand onto Porche's face.
"What are you doing?! How dare you treat your idol like this!"
The two of them started playfully fighting in the room.
At the door, a mechanical bird extended its neck, recording everything through its camera.
In the control room, Eric, Akame, Chiron, Scáthach, and Da Vinci were watching the feed on a monitor.
Akame gently touched her chest. "Thank goodness the intense training didn't harm Porche. I'm just glad she's still in good spirits."
Chiron smiled. "When students push themselves, it works better than any teacher's lecture."
"So, does that mean we can crank up the intensity?"
Everyone leaned back, looking at Eric like they were seeing the devil.
"Just kidding," Eric scratched his head. "I'm not that heartless of a drill sergeant."
Da Vinci, completely unapologetic, said, "Honestly, all this effort just because she felt useless? Isn't it better to just stay in the lab like I do?"
Unfortunately, her comment backfired.
Akame exposed her on the spot, "But the tools you make are very useful. And now you're studying Vegapunk's bio-modification tech really hard—because you want to help Eric, right?"
The usually composed and big-sisterly Da Vinci blushed for the first time. "W-What?! How did you know?!"
"I saw you while you were obsessively studying."
"…Akame's stealth is terrifying. Good thing I don't have anything shameful to hide." Da Vinci glanced pointedly at Eric.
"Is that so?" Akame tilted her head. "But didn't you lie naked across your bed painting yourself in front of the mirror…"
"Eeeeek!" Da Vinci's face turned beet red like a steamed crab, steaming with embarrassment. She quickly kicked everyone out of the control room.
…
After ten days of sailing, at the end of June, the iron hull of the Eternal Fearless once again approached the edge of the Sabaody Archipelago.
Gin stood at the ship's railing, struggling to believe what he saw. "We've already traveled halfway through the Grand Line so quickly?"
"Of course," Eric said, stepping beside him. "Only this ship could pull that off. It's the fastest ship in the world!"
"Captain Eric!" Gin stood at attention.
"This time we had a clear goal, so we didn't stop at any islands along the way. Do you have any regrets or complaints?"
"No way!" Gin said quickly. "I'm already incredibly grateful that you saved my life and let me join your crew! Why would I complain?"
"No need to be so tense. I think I'm pretty easygoing." Eric laughed. "Next time, we'll travel the Grand Line properly again. But this time, we're heading to the New World to stir up trouble—no time for sightseeing."
"Yes, sir!"
Meanwhile, seeing the Sabaody Archipelago again made Carla and Kana involuntarily recall their days as slaves under the Celestial Dragons. Even though they were free now, their bodies trembled unconsciously.
Slap slap
"Eek!"
Eric clapped them both on the shoulders, making them jump.
"Don't let those scumbags affect the rest of your lives. You've broken free of their chains. Right, Lant?"
Lant showed a rare, honest smile and nodded firmly.
Seeing this, the sisters stopped trembling. "Mm!"
"Oh my~ how gentle of you, Eric~" Kurumi teased. "Want me to give you wings?"
Carla and Kana didn't understand what she meant. Eric pretended not to hear and turned to Scáthach. "Master, I'll have to trouble you with the disguises again."
…
"Shakky, long time no see~"
"Welcome…" Shakky was wiping the bar counter. "Aren't you little Eric and your crew?"
Rayleigh, who had been reading the newspaper, lowered it. "Didn't expect you'd be back at the Sabaody Archipelago just over two months after that Celestial Dragon incident."
"So, how was your battle against an admiral?"
"Hmm… I felt like I was way out of my league~"
"Hahaha," Shakky and Rayleigh both laughed. "No pirate has ever self-reflected like that. If any other pirate crew had fought Akainu to a draw, they'd be bragging about it in bars across the world!"
Eric scratched his head with a silly grin. "We only managed to draw with Akainu thanks to my crew. I know how much strength I really have."
"And I believe pirates who can fight evenly with Akainu won't stay in bars bragging—they'll be shaking up the New World."
Rayleigh, usually relaxed, turned serious as he looked at Eric. "Good. Not blindly arrogant, and able to assess the situation clearly. That's crucial for a captain."
"I'll lead my companions to the top of this world!"
Shakky asked, "So, little Eric, does that mean you've decided to enter the New World?"
"Yeah, just a short trip. We'll be coming right back."
"Hm?" Shakky, who had access to information, looked puzzled. "The things reported in the paper aren't true, right? I just can't picture you provoking BIG MOM on purpose."
"The stuff in the newspaper is fake, of course. Damn Morgans made it up. But now that BIG MOM's responded, I can't pretend I didn't hear it."
"Phew… With your current strength, if you take on the BIG MOM Pirates, I'll be blunt—you don't stand a chance." Shakky said gravely, flicking the ash off her cigarette.
"I know that," Eric nodded. "That's why, Shakky, I'd like to buy some intel on the BIG MOM Pirates~"
(END CHAPTER)
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