At the entrance of the Grand Line.
Once Lius's ship sailed into the distance, an iron door suddenly opened on the back of the whale floating on the water's surface.
"What just happened? Did Laboon encounter something terrifying?"
The lighthouse keeper Crocus furrowed his brows and muttered to himself. "I can feel it. Laboon is terrified!"
This sort of fear resembled a young child encountering a strict elder.
It was a natural suppression, leaving him trembling and entirely afraid to resist!
"Hmm? Are those pirates who just entered the Grand Line?"
Crocus suddenly focused his gaze. He watched the pirate ship fading into the distance with a look of confusion.
However, upon faintly making out only three youths on the ship's deck, the old man stopped paying attention to them. He turned back to observe the whale Laboon's condition.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
The Twin Cape lighthouse behind them gradually disappeared from view.
Having just experienced a thrill akin to riding a roller coaster, the three people on board finally calmed down and felt the pangs of hunger.
"Let's have a barbecue!"
Lius suggested with a laugh as he looked at Ace. "Since we have Ace around, he can handle the grilling temperature perfectly!"
"Alright!"
Nami had no objections.
The fire user originally wanted to protest. But for the sake of food, he ultimately held it in.
Soon enough, abundant grilling supplies were brought out onto the deck. Piled up like a small mountain, the ingredients passed through Ace's flames and Lius's seasoning to eventually transform into mouth-watering delicacies.
"This is so delicious. Who knew that sprinkling these seasonings on a barbecue could be such a treat for the taste buds!"
Nami could not help but give a thumbs up.
Vegetables, large chunks of meat, and soy products made up their grilled feast. With the temperature controlled by the fire-wielder, the food tasted unexpectedly amazing.
"Right, Lius. We might have entered the Grand Line, but what do we do next?"
Ace asked in a muffled voice as he tore into a piece of meat on the bone that was nearly as large as his own body.
"Hmm? As for the plan, Nami and I mapped it out before setting sail. Entering the Grand Line is only the starting point. We have a three-step plan moving forward!"
"First, we need to find the most outstanding crewmates in this world. That's right, geniuses as exceptional as you and Nami."
"Second, we must expand our forces to possess the capital to contend with the world's top powerhouses!"
"Third, we are going to change the world!"
Hearing this detailed plan left the young man wide-mouthed. He found it hard to imagine just how massive this guy's ambitions truly were.
"So how should we go about it?" he asked out of curiosity.
"We just let nature take its course," Lius replied casually. "We will naturally find what we want as long as we follow our sailing route. It is just like how we met you. Although it was quite unexpected, it also makes perfect sense!"
He then began to rapidly sweep through the food like a gluttonous beast. Everything in his path was utterly devoured.
"Hey, hey, hey! Don't eat everything! I'm not full yet!"
Seeing this scene prompted him to immediately shut his mouth and join the frenzy of devouring the meal.
The two of them only stopped when their bellies bulged outwards. Burping comfortably, they lay down on the deck and gazed up at the azure sky with faces full of contentment.
The fire user rested both hands on his stomach. "This ship is still too small. We will need to restock our supplies at Whiskey Peak for our next stop."
"That is because you two eat too much!" Nami roared from the side in sheer dissatisfaction.
"It does not matter. We will soon have our hands on an incredibly flashy pirate ship!"
Lius flashed a wide grin. "That is a massive ship forged entirely out of gold, and it even has the ability to fly!"
Hearing this caused Ace to draw in a sharp breath. His eyes widened into perfect circles.
The navigator's eyes literally morphed into the shape of beli symbols. "I really want to reach that stop as quickly as possible!" she beamed.
"Haha! But before that, you guys need to strengthen your physiques while we have yet to reach Whiskey Peak!"
Lius flipped to his feet. He opened his palm to reveal two glossy, pitch-black medicinal pills.
A refreshing medicinal fragrance instantly permeated the entire deck of the ship.
"What are these?"
Sitting up, the freckled youth looked over with immense curiosity.
"These are medicinal pills that can enhance your physique. Their effects are incredibly potent. Take one each!"
"Enhance our physique?"
Ace picked one up with skepticism and furrowed his brows. "Do I just swallow it directly?"
"Correct!"
Gulp!
Receiving Lius's confirmation, the young man tilted his head back and swallowed it in a single mouthful.
He squeezed his eyes shut in a tight frown. "What a weird feeling!"
His head tilted to the side right after saying that. He immediately lost consciousness and passed out.
"Is it really that terrifying?"
Having known about this beforehand, Nami still could not help but feel astonished when she watched him faint in an instant.
After all, even Lius could not endure the effects. If she were to take it, she would likely end up in a similar state.
"Just take half a pill first," Lius suggested. "That will give your body a slow process of acclimatization!"
"Okay!"
Nami nodded in response and returned to her room in the cabin.
She definitely did not want to pass out in a dead sleep right on the deck when the overwhelming effects finally kicked in.
"Hehe, let me see how effective it is!" Lius followed her inside.
"What is there to see..."
Nami's expression shifted slightly before she could even finish her sentence. She glared at Lius with wide eyes filled with displeasure. "What are you thinking about now!"
Facing her intense questioning, the man put on a look of complete innocence. "Uh, did I think of something?"
As if I would believe you!
Shooting him a dirty look, Nami took the pill he had cut in half. She picked up a piece, hesitated for a brief moment, and finally tilted her head back to swallow it.
The pill melted the instant it entered her mouth. It transformed into a majestic, surging heat that instantly flooded her entire body. Endless power wildly erupted from her flesh and cells.
Her skin and face flushed crimson. Her breathing grew heavy. She radiated heat like a furnace, causing the temperature in the room to rise significantly.
The fiery sensation made her feel absolutely miserable. She felt a desperate need to vent this overwhelming power outward.
"Hehe, just as I expected. Your physique is too weak to absorb everything!" Lius said, looking entirely unsurprised.
"Then why are you just standing there like an idiot..."
Before she could finish speaking, Nami lunged forward and pinned him firmly against the floor.
Having spent two years living together day and night, the two of them had long developed an unspoken understanding. He immediately embraced her, pulling her close as they made love. Their bodies fit together perfectly, helping her vent out all that excess energy.