Thud!Thud!
The training on the deck continued well into the afternoon.
Adopting Hill's suggestion from the morning, Law was now blindfolded while sparring with Ren Kurogane. However, for a normal person, suddenly losing the sense of sight they had relied on their entire life made even walking difficult, let alone fighting.
Consequently, the afternoon session remained a one-sided beatdown of Law by Ren.
"Move! Can't you hear the whistle of the staff? Can't you hear the friction in the air?"
Thud!
Another solid strike landed on Law's ribs, sending him flying until he crashed into the mainmast.
"You bastard! Stop using so much force!" Law groaned, rolling on the ground. The cold, aloof aura he usually maintained had completely vanished.
"Stop whining! I'm building up your pain tolerance!" Ren stated righteously. "In a battle between powerhouses, physical constitution is the key to victory. With a fragile body like yours, I could make it so you can't even stand up with a single punch, let alone fight me!"
Law's groans quieted down as he grit his teeth. "Again!"
The crew watched with looks of approval; Law was quickly earning their respect. For the next few hours, no matter how many bruises he sustained, he didn't let another cry of pain escape. He grit his teeth, clearly holding onto some inner resolve.
After sending Law flying into a bulkhead once more, Ren spoke up. "Law, if it hurts, it's better to just shout. We're training; there's no need to bottle it up until you snap."
Law froze for a moment, gasping for air. "Didn't you say this was pain tolerance training?"
"Yeah, but I never said you weren't allowed to scream," Ren replied matter-of-factly. "Though I have to admit, you've got some iron will. You didn't make a sound for three whole hours!"
"You bastard! That's the kind of thing you should mention at the start!!" Law's voice returned to its usual venomous rasp. If he weren't blindfolded, Ren suspected the fire in Law's eyes would have incinerated him several times over.
"Fine, fine. My bad." Ren swung the staff. "Continuing!"
Just as he was about to move, Blue shouted from the crow's nest. "Captain! Pirate ship ahead!"
"Got it. Are they moving toward us?" Ren paused his training and looked up.
"They're closing in fast!"
"Bold move!" Ren's lips curled into a smirk. He turned to the crew. "Prepare for battle!"
"Leave this enemy to me." Klin stepped onto the railing, watching the approaching vessel. He spoke to Ren over his shoulder. "Captain, after we deal with this lot, let's head straight for the Grand Line. There's no point in wasting more time in the Four Blues."
"No problem," Ren agreed immediately.
While the North Blue had its share of strong individuals, compared to the Grand Line, it simply wasn't enough to satisfy them anymore. As the ships drew closer, the identity of the enemy captain became clear. He was a man with long blonde hair, a stoic expression, and white-and-gold robes, currently holding a deck of cards.
"That's Basil Hawkins. He's been making a name for himself lately. His powers involve divination and mystery," Hill explained to the group.
"What do you think? He's not a scrub like the 'Great Bear' from before. Need a hand?" Ren teased.
"I don't need help."
Klin drew his longsword with a single hand, the tip pointing directly at Hawkins. As the ships came alongside and Klin prepared to strike, Hawkins spoke.
"Hold your hand. I did not come here to fight."
"Hm?" Ren sat on the railing beside Klin, looking at Hawkins with suspicion.
"I have come to seek an alliance," Hawkins said bluntly.
"An alliance?"
"Correct."
"And the benefit for us?" Ren asked.
The benefit? Hawkins closed his eyes in thought for a moment. "I foresee a disaster in your near future—a struggle between life and death. I can help you survive it."
"A disaster for me?" Ren looked skeptical. He was currently at a level where he could one-shot a Vice-Admiral and hold his own against an Admiral. Who could possibly push him into a life-or-death crisis?
"The divination results are absolute." Hawkins met Ren's gaze with a flat, unblinking stare that didn't look like a lie.
"That's not a benefit. I'm a man who doesn't believe in fate!" Ren waved him off dismissively. "Forget the alliance. Leave now, or we start swinging."
"How regrettable."
As Hawkins' ship sailed away, the crew turned to Ren.
"Why are you looking at me? Don't worry, I'm not going to die," Ren said lightheartedly. "I bet that guy just calculated that we'd beat him to death, so he made up that story to save his skin."
"Fine, as long as you know what you're doing," Hill sighed. Her trust in Ren kept her from arguing further, but she made a mental note to keep him away from high-risk zones and prevent him from doing anything too reckless.
After pummeling Law for another two hours until the sky turned dark, Ren tossed the staff aside. "That's enough for today. We continue tomorrow."
"Right..."
Law collapsed onto the deck, his body feeling entirely numb. He suddenly asked, "Captain, do you really not care about that guy's prediction? With things like that, it's better to be safe than sorry."
"My fate is mine to control, not the heavens'!" Ren grinned. "Even if the heavens want me dead, I'll bite a chunk out of them before I go!"
"Besides, I won't die!"
There were countless other "Ren Kuroganes" in other worlds. Although he didn't know how many there were or why they existed, ever since he met Ninja Ren, he knew they were the same person. They shared an unbreakable bond; they were all the original, and they were all clones. He firmly believed that one day they would merge back into a single, truly powerful being.
Therefore, he could not truly die. Even if he died here, there would still be infinite versions of himself in other worlds!
Watching Ren's smile, the corners of Law's mouth involuntarily twitched upward. He muttered under his breath, "Yeah... I won't let you die. Even if you're cut into a thousand pieces, as long as you're still breathing, I'll bring you back."
"Hey, hey! Can't you wish for something a bit more positive?" Ren laughed, reaching down to pull Law to his feet. "Go get patched up, and then let's eat!"
"Ow, ow! Can't you be a bit gentler?"
"A man shouldn't be so fussy. Move it!"
Smack!
"AAAGH!!"