After Silver Axe returned, the pirate ship soared back into the night sky under the control of the Golden Lion.
On the deck.
Ares frowned as he looked at the wounds across his body and muttered to himself, "My body still isn't strong enough. Otherwise, I wouldn't be injured like this, and it wouldn't affect my fighting."
"If my physique were tough enough, I could keep fighting non-stop, even for ten days or half a month. That kind of endless battle… must be exhilarating!"
His heart longed for that kind of endurance. Just imagining the thrill of nonstop battle made him grin with anticipation.
And that kind of "lasting power"... well, let's just say it was enough to make many readers drool with envy.
His clash with Elizabello I, followed by the fight against Zephyr, had worsened his injuries, even with his incredible recovery ability. But this regenerative trait wasn't yet on par with Kaido's legendary resilience he hadn't consumed a Zoan-type Devil Fruit. Ares's healing was a result of growth, not some innate monstrous power.
After all, Devil Fruits had to be developed through effort to reach their full potential. Like the difference in how Ace and Sabo used the Flame-Flame Fruit same power, different mastery.
Even if you gave Kaido a basic Zoan-type Spotted Dog Fruit, he'd still beat someone like Ace to a pulp.
Right now, Ares only had one thought: recover quickly and resume training. He needed to harden his body and become physically invincible.
Growl...
His stomach betrayed him, rumbling loudly and interrupting his thoughts.
Clutching his gut, Ares chuckled. "I must've burned too much energy again. I'm starving!"
Then suddenly, his eyes lit up. "Wait... energy consumption... If food replenishes my strength, doesn't that mean food itself is a kind of power?"
"If I can store this energy in my body and convert it when needed... then I'd have even more power!"
Once that idea hit, it became unstoppable.
Scientifically, it could be explained as the Law of Conservation of Energybut Ares didn't care about science. All that mattered was putting the theory to the test.
This idea opened a new door for him.
Think about it every top-tier powerhouse in the world loved to eat and drink. Whitebeard, Shanks, Kaido, Big Mom, Garp... They were all massive gluttons.
Powerful bodies demanded massive energy intake.
With excitement shining in his eyes, Ares walked up to Riku Yo and declared, "Captain Riku, I'm hungry. I need food!"
"..."
Riku Yo looked exasperated. Under the moonlight, his expression darkened even more.
They'd just eaten a massive meal before the operation, practically clearing out the ship's food stores. And now, less than four hours later, Ares was hungry again?
Riku eyed Ares's eight-pack abs and sighed. "Fine. I'll have the cooks make something up for you."
He could already feel the headache coming. This kid's appetite was going to devour half their food again.
Then Riku added, "Ares, after you're full, go fish up something big from the sea. We'll need more meat."
"Got it! Next meal, fish it is!" Ares beamed. Even if fish had bones, he could crush and swallow them without a problem.
This time, though, he didn't scarf down his food like usual. Instead, he ate slowly, carefully observing the changes in his body.
A look of delight bloomed on his face. "My recovery is faster... and I feel my strength coming back."
"Food really is crucial!"
But then a question arose.
"How do I store this food energy inside me?"
The first thing he thought of was the human stomach. It's where food gets digested and absorbed. If he could store food in there and delay digestion...
"Maybe I can control my stomach. Hold off digestion until I need the energy... Then release it at the right time."
And so began his first-ever historic attempt at eating slowly.
When food entered his stomach, Ares consciously tried to suppress digestion. But the stomach, being a trained digestive organ, worked on autopilot.
Thanks to his mastery of body control from martial arts and the Six Powers, Ares had exceptional sensory and control over his internal organs.
After several tries, the digestion rate began to slow.
That meal ended up taking hours.
He devoured enough food to fill two large trucks.
Afterward, Ares laid flat on the deck, his swollen belly sticking out like he was pregnant with ten kids. But he looked utterly content.
"I've found a new way to grow stronger."
Gazing up at the bright moon, Ares whispered happily, "If I can store even more food energy... maybe I could outlast Zephyr in a drawn-out fight."
"Maybe even Garp... Shiki... Whitebeard..."
"I might actually beat them."
Of course, that was all theoretical but Ares didn't care. He had time. He was young. He could test and tweak things later.
What mattered most now... was making his body truly indestructible.
A body so tough that no matter how strong the opponent, their attacks would never break through.
That... was the path to invincibility.
While resting and recovering, Ares mentally replayed his battle with Elizabello I, gradually grasping a faint understanding of the King Punch technique.
Time passed.
Not long after, Riku Yo hung up a Den Den Mushi and turned to the Golden Lion, eyes shining with excitement.
"Shiki, I've got news about the Roger Pirates!"
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