Ethan Chen's strength had grown to the point where he could handle pirates with bounties in the tens of millions with ease, though he wasn't yet invincible in the East Blue.
Tifa's earlier punch, however, served as a brutal reminder of the gap between him and those who had already mastered Haki.
He was still too weak.
Until he learned Haki himself, his power amounted to little more than brute force no different from the countless pirates he had defeated before.
That realization ignited a fire in him a determination to train.
Without a mentor or any formal instruction, Ethan could only take cues from Tifa. He practiced punching over and over, focusing his will into each strike, imagining his fists cloaked in invisible armor as he tried to grasp the essence of Haki.
Tifa had already left the gym. Now, Ethan was alone, sweating and shouting with each focused punch.
That's when Ada Wong entered.
After last night's intimate entanglement, she seemed to radiate an inner glow. Her beauty was no longer just sharp it was intoxicating.
She wore a high-slit cheongsam that revealed the curve of her waist and hugged her hips, paired with thigh-high stockings that accentuated the smooth, toned muscle of her legs. Every step she took made her hips sway with an almost hypnotic rhythm.
"Still training? No wonder you're built like that," she said with a teasing smile.
"Your figure's not bad either," Ethan replied, giving her a glance. "Defined abs, solid frame. No excess fat."
"That doesn't come easy. I work for it."
She walked over to the squat rack, ran her fingers over the barbell, and added playfully, "Looks a little heavy. Mind spotting me?"
Ethan raised an eyebrow. Despite her words, she easily lifted the barbell with one hand. He couldn't help but question her intent especially given her current outfit. She didn't look like someone here to work out seriously.
He was reminded of those women he'd seen online clad in skintight yoga wear, striking poses in front of mirrors more for social media than for training.
But Ada Wong didn't even bother with that pretense. Her motives were far more direct.
If that's how she wanted to play, Ethan saw no reason to refuse.
He stepped in close, one arm wrapping around her waist, his palm resting just above her navel, his chest pressed lightly against her back. He leaned in and murmured near her ear, "Alright, I've got you. Let's begin."
Ada tilted her head, a knowing glint in her eyes. "This is spotting?" she asked, her fingers brushing teasingly low as she pressed into him. "Feels more like something else."
"Call it reinforcement. A double layer of support."
"Oh? So that's what this is? A stabilizing pin, maybe? To lock everything in place?"
Ethan chuckled. "If you want to play with locks, we'll need to move to another room. Right now, you're here to train."
She laughed softly, but didn't resist. Instead, she leaned forward slightly, resting her weight back against him, her movements slow and deliberate.
After a brief moment of tension wordless, breathless she gave him a kiss on the cheek, lifted the barbell off the rack, and began her squats.
As she lowered herself, their bodies pressed closer. The motion was slow and steady, and Ethan could feel every detail of her form her balance, her control, the power coiled in her legs and core. With each repetition, the contact intensified, drawing a low, almost imperceptible tension between them.
Ada's strength didn't falter, but her breathing gradually deepened, her thighs beginning to tremble with effort. Still, she persisted her form flawless, her presence radiating heat and poise.
Ethan's breathing matched hers, heavier now, but he said nothing. He kept his hands steady, guiding her, grounding her.
They moved together, the rhythm between them more like a dance than an exercise.
Finally, as her energy peaked, Ada let out a soft exhale and returned the barbell to the rack.
"That's it?" Ethan teased, brushing a bit of hair from her cheek. "Barely a few sets in and already winded. How are you supposed to be a pirate hunter like this?"
"I guess I need more discipline," she whispered, curling her arms around his neck. "Captain, won't you correct me?"
He gave her a playful smack on the rear. "You asked for it."
"Wait not now," she gasped with a laugh. "Let me rest a bit ah!"
Even as she protested, her body betrayed her, bending forward, catching herself against the squat rack. Her legs remained steady in their heels, her hips pushed back instinctively into his touch.
"You need a break?" Ethan murmured. "Then why are you posing like that?"
One hand on her waist, he leaned into her, drawing out each moment with deliberate control. His discipline met her mischief, their energies colliding in a silent storm that only deepened the fire between them.
She tried to keep her composure, but Ada was soon trembling beneath his grip.
She was strong, yes but also made for this kind of tension. Her body could endure more than most, and Ethan knew it. Her fruit power had enhanced her resilience in ways most women couldn't compare.
And yet, something changed.
Ada's body began to push back, muscles tightening, rhythm pulsing in response. It wasn't resistance it was challenge. A sensual counterattack.
Ethan's eyes widened. Was this her Devil Fruit's doing or just absurdly precise muscle control?
She lifted her head, her lips brushing his as she whispered, "Like that?"
"More than you know." Ethan scooped her into his arms, gripping her as if she were both prize and rival. "What other tricks are you hiding, Ada?"
Her eyes sparkled, her voice a breathy hum. "A little fox like me? I've barely begun."
"Is that so?" He grinned, bracing her firmly. "Then let me show you what a real dragon can do."
And so, in the middle of the quiet gym, amidst the scent of iron and sweat, their game continued not just a clash of bodies, but of spirit and desire, echoing with the same intensity that drove them both toward strength.
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