Chapter 238: Ralph, That Feeling Just Now Was So Thrilling!
Early the next morning, the eastern shore of Jaya Island was bustling with activity.
According to Cricket's calculations, around noon today, the White-White Sea and the Knock Up Stream would appear simultaneously.
The Straw Hat Pirates had to complete the modifications to the Going Merry before then and set sail.
Everyone was busy.
The entire hull of the Going Merry was reinforced, with additional wing-like sails installed on both sides.
Masira and the Shoujou were strong, carrying planks and steel beams back and forth, working with great enthusiasm.
Little Lufia also wanted to help, but she was still in her shrunken form, with short arms and legs. Running around not only didn't help, but she nearly got hit by planks several times and even tripped Masira.
"Lufia, go play somewhere else!"
Nami shouted, feeling a headache coming on.
"No! I want to help too!"
Little Lufia pouted, looking defiant.
Just then, Ralph's voice rang out:
"Lufia, come here for a moment."
Little Lufia turned her head and saw Ralph standing on the shore, holding a few small pills in his hand, waving her over.
He had a smile on his face and green hair on his head, looking rather untrustworthy.
She immediately hopped over:
"Ralph, Ralph! What's this?"
Ralph crouched down and handed her the pills:
Little Lufia took them and, without thinking, popped them straight into her mouth. She chewed a bit, and her eyes lit up:
"Mmm! It has the flavor of fish meat!"
Ralph smiled: "Of course, these are made from fish meat."
"At least from fish bigger than the Going Merry, mixed with plenty of food and medicinal herbs."
"So amazing!"
Little Lufia exclaimed, "But turning such big fish meat into something so small—it's not satisfying at all!"
"These pills need to be eaten in a special way."
Ralph looked at her, "Lufia, I'll teach you a skill. Once you learn it, these pills will become satisfying."
Little Lufia blinked: "What skill?"
"Life Return."
Ralph had been thinking about this idea for a while.
Lufia had suffered countless injuries growing up, but as long as she ate well and slept, she would recover.
She had naturally mastered the technique of Life Return, but it was passive—she had never actively triggered it.
Early this morning, Ralph had gone into the sea and caught many fish. Combined with a large amount of food and medicinal herbs, compressed and blended by Munch-Munch, and drawing on his experience studying Rumble Balls with Chopper, he had created these pills.
Specifically tailored for Lufia.
If an ordinary person ate one, they would probably burst on the spot.
Even Zoro and Sanji could go ten days without hunger after eating one.
But for someone like Lufia, whose body shrinks after using a big move and urgently needs energy, this was the perfect thing.
According to Ralph's plan.
Lufia could completely digest the pills using Life Return and, combined with his Acupressure technique, completely ignore the side effects of giantification.
He could even imagine that in future battles, Lufia could be covered in wounds, eat one pill, and instantly become full of energy right in front of her enemies.
Thus, he named this pill the "Senzu Bean."
"Come, I'll teach you."
Ralph sat cross-legged and began explaining the principles of Life Return, "Simply put, it's about using your will to control your body. If you want your blood to flow faster, it will flow faster; if you want your stomach to digest faster, it will digest faster."
Little Lufia looked confused:
"I don't understand."
Ralph thought for a moment and changed his explanation:
"The essence of this technique is that it allows you to digest food quickly and sleep quickly."
Little Lufia's eyes lit up as she suddenly understood:
"You should have said so earlier!"
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Immediately, Ralph sensed a change in her aura.
The Senzu Bean rapidly digested in her stomach, releasing immense energy that surged through her limbs and entire body.
Little Lufia furrowed her brows, as if struggling to control something.
"Yes, just like that," Ralph guided her, "Think about the acupressure points I stimulated earlier. Focusing on them will help you better mobilize your body."
Following his instructions, Little Lufia guided the energy circulating within her.
Suddenly—
Crackle-pop!
A series of popping sounds erupted from her body!
Under the astonished gazes of everyone, Little Lufia's shrunken body began to grow—
Her arms lengthened, her legs stretched, and her height increased. In just a few seconds, she returned to her original size!
"Wow!"
Little Lufia opened her eyes, looking at her hands in delight, "That feels amazing! It's like I just had a huge meal and a wonderful nap!"
Ralph smiled:
"Because you just experienced the deepest level of rest."
Little Lufia rushed over and hugged him:
"Ralph, you're amazing!"
Feeling the softness in his arms, Ralph sighed inwardly.
This was the path he truly wanted.
What kind of skill was it to grow stronger by sacrificing lifespan or becoming a god at the cost of longevity?
According to Eastern cultivation theories, true strength required comprehensive improvement.
And to become a god, one must attain immortality.
He still had a long way to go to help Lufia become the true Sun Goddess.
But at least, today marked a solid step forward.
"Ralph, Ralph!"
Little Lufia's voice interrupted his thoughts. She tugged at his sleeve, her eyes sparkling, "Give me another one! That feeling was incredible!"
Ralph sighed helplessly:
"You can't eat too many. It's medicine."
"Just one more!"
"No."
"Stingy!"
The two returned to the Going Merry, where everyone gathered around in surprise upon seeing Lufia restored to normal.
"Lufia's back to normal?"
Nami asked joyfully.
"Ralph gave me a Senzu Bean!"
Lufia said proudly, "And he taught me something really amazing!"
"A Senzu Bean?"
Everyone turned to look at Ralph.
Ralph took out a Senzu Bean from his pocket and explained its effects.
Zoro's eyes lit up. Without a word, he grabbed it and stuffed it into his mouth.
"Hmm," He chewed expressionlessly, "Not hungry for ten days. Pretty good."
Sanji twitched at the corner of his mouth:
"Are you the same as Miss Lufia? Aren't you afraid of messing up your body?"
"I'm not as cowardly as some people!"
Zoro shot a challenging glance at Sanji, "And this way, I don't have to put up with a certain stinky cook's attitude."
A vein throbbed on Sanji's forehead:
"If you don't want to eat my food, why don't you just starve to death?"
"I'll cut you down before I starve."
"Come at me, moss-head!"
"Who are you calling moss-head?!"
The two immediately started fighting.
"Sigh..."
Nami facepalmed.
Usopp egged them on from the sidelines, Chopper anxiously ran around in circles, Lufia watched with great interest, clapping and cheering.
Robin smiled softly at the scene and whispered, "How lively."
Ralph looked at this chaotic yet familiar scene, his lips curling into an unconscious smile.
This was the daily life of the Straw Hat Pirates.
Amidst the commotion, the sky gradually changed.
The entire sky rapidly darkened.
Everyone looked up but saw no clouds.
Because the entire sky was pitch black.
The clouds were so thick they seemed solid, completely blocking out the sunlight, turning day into night in an instant.
The Knock Up Stream.
"It's time!"
Cricket's voice came from the shore,
"Brave Pirates, it's time to set sail!"
The refurbished Going Merry was pushed into the sea, its hull floating steadily on the water.
The wing-like sails installed on both sides unfurled, resembling a giant bird ready to take flight in the darkness.
All crew members boarded the ship.
The Going Merry sailed southward, guided by the South Bird.
Ace stood on the ship of the Saruyama Alliance, escorting them for a while.
As they parted, he waved to them:
"Lufia! Ralph! Everyone! Have a safe journey!"
Lufia stood at the bow, waving vigorously:
"Ace! Next time we meet, let's fight again!"
Ace laughed: "Alright! I'll be waiting! Let's meet at the pinnacle of Pirates!!"
As they approached the designated location, the wind and waves gradually grew stronger.
Huge waves crashed against the hull one after another, causing the Going Merry to rock violently in the turbulent sea.
But the reinforced hull withstood the impacts steadily, while the wing-like sails on both sides flapped noisily in the fierce wind.
"Hold steady!"
Nami commanded loudly, "Following this direction, we'll soon reach the predicted location of the Knock Up Stream!!"
Everyone tensely took their positions, preparing for the impending impact.
Just then, Usopp suddenly pointed into the distance and shouted:
"What's that!"
Everyone looked in the direction he pointed.
On the dark sea, a crude, massive wooden raft rose and fell with the waves.
Several figures stood on the raft, their imposing presence strikingly noticeable even in the pitch-black surroundings.
Ralph's pupils contracted.
At the front of the raft, the man missing teeth, grinning widely—
Blackbeard Teach.
Behind him, Van Augur held his reassembled long rifle, Burgess flexed his fists, and the sickly Doc Q sat in a corner, coughing.
The Blackbeard Pirates had arrived.
In Ralph's mind, that voice echoed once more:
"Remember what you said."
"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten."