"You're strong?"
Kai was amused.
"Of course." Ace replied matter-of-factly.
"Then how about you spar with Sanji?"
Kai propped up his chin with one hand, a mischievous glint flashing in his eyes.
"Then I won't hold back!"
Seeing that Sanji was similar in age and height to him, Ace didn't hesitate. He rolled up his sleeves and lunged forward.
In the Gray Terminal of the Goa Kingdom, even those fierce pirates weren't his match.
Then...
BANG!
Ace was sent flying and crashed heavily to the ground.
"How is this possible!"
Ace grimaced in pain, looking in disbelief at Sanji in the distance, who had just withdrawn his leg with a relaxed expression.
His own attack had been easily seen through and dodged by his opponent.
But he couldn't see Sanji's attack at all.
Was even an ordinary trainee pirate on this ship this strong?
"Now you understand the gap."
Kai wasn't surprised.
Even though Sanji hadn't fully awakened his exoskeleton, the high-intensity training during this period wasn't for nothing.
Looking at Ace, he had been somewhat neglected these years.
Garp's survival-style education had indeed given Ace a physical foundation and countless wild combat experiences.
But lacking systematic Haki and martial arts guidance, Ace was like an unpolished rough jade... having potential but unable to convert it into real combat power.
"I'll work hard."
Ace dusted himself off and stood up, showing no dejection but instead filled with unprecedented excitement.
Compared to one failure, seeing broader prospects for improvement made him more thrilled.
Thus, Ace also joined Sanji and Zoro's training group.
Time quietly passed in the sound of sweat and determined training.
After crossing Reverse Mountain, Kai's group re-entered the New World.
"The New World seems different?" Violet frowned slightly.
She felt there was a tense atmosphere permeating the air.
Kai stood at the bow, saying calmly: "That's natural. The new emperor can barely contain his ambitions."
According to the plot, Shanks would officially become a Sea Emperor next year, and the New World would bid farewell to the Three Emperors era and enter Four Emperor rule.
Now it was October, Sea Circle Calendar 1517.
Shanks's power was expanding rapidly like a snowball.
Those unruly strong people under him were probably already eager to push their captain to that supreme position.
Now, Shanks just lacked a war to prove himself.
A war to announce the arrival of a new era's emperor.
The question was who he would choose as his opponent.
After several more days of sailing...
"Wow! What a huge waterfall!"
Bonney was almost entirely draped over the ship's rail, her little face flushed red with excitement, greedily gazing up at this wonder that defied common sense.
A massive waterfall, like a water curtain connecting heaven and earth, roared as it flowed upward.
Although Ace, Sanji, and Zoro... the three boys... tried to appear calm, their staring eyes and slightly open mouths had already betrayed them.
Kai smiled and introduced: "Through the waterfall ahead, we can reach Wano Country via the underwater port."
The rest of the journey was uneventful.
The Rayquaza smoothly arrived at Onigashima.
Kai had Kozuki Hiyori arrange accommodations for Ace, Sanji, and Zoro, while he took Kuma and Bonney to Wano Country.
"Wow, he turned into a dragon!" Looking at the divine dragon before her, Bonney's eyes sparkled.
This was her first time seeing Kai transform.
"Hold tight, taking off!"
Kai's massive dragon claws gently grasped the father and daughter, soaring into the air and rushing toward the Kuri region.
In less than an hour, a lush, vibrant forest appeared below.
Under the careful care of the Tontatta tribe, the vegetation here was flourishing beyond imagination.
Bonney suddenly pointed curiously at a conspicuous snowy mountain deep in the forest: "Kai-nii, there's still a snow mountain here?"
Hm?
How could there be a snow mountain in Kuri during this season?
Kai looked down and immediately understood.
No wonder Bonney had mistaken it.
That was clearly an animal as massive as a small mountain, completely snow-white.
The Mountain God!
A giant pure white wild boar unique to Wano Country.
However, Kai hadn't expected the Mountain God to come to the Tontatta tribe's settlement.
Either way, he should go down and take a look.
Soon, Kai landed steadily with the two.
"S-such a big wild boar!"
Seeing the Mountain God's massive body like a moving hill and its huge tusks, Bonney cried out in alarm and quickly hid behind her father, only showing half her little face.
"Don't be afraid, Bonney."
Kuma gently comforted his daughter. "It's just a wild boar with a special body size."
At the same time, the resting Mountain God also noticed the three uninvited guests.
Its massive body slowly stood up, like a small mountain rising from the ground.
"OINK!" The Mountain God let out a warning pig call.
Kai's eyes focused as he released a terrifying, intimidating aura toward the Mountain God!
THUD!
The Mountain God, which had been majestic the previous second, swayed like it was drunk the next second. Its huge body shook a few times, made some meaningless grunts, then crashed sideways to the ground, raising clouds of dust as it fell unconscious.
"Toot toot toot!"
The forest instantly filled with sharp, urgent whistle sounds rising and falling.
"Warning! Warning! Mountain Mom is down!"
"Enemies have invaded!"
Accompanied by a series of anxious shouts and dense "thud thud thud" sounds, a group of "little Mountain Gods"... several meters tall, also snow-white but much smaller in size... charged out from the forest.
"Ahhh! So many big wild boars are charging over!"
Bonney was so scared she hugged her father's leg tightly.
"Kai-san?" Kuma raised his palm, the paw pads glowing faintly.
But Kai gently patted Kuma's body: "Don't worry, they're allies."
Sure enough, just as this group of angry piglets charged to within dozens of meters of Kai, new, surprised voices rang out from the forest:
"Stop, stop, it's Kai-lando!"
Under the Tontatta tribe's appeasement and command, the piglets slowed down and gradually approached Kai.
A Tontatta warrior wearing a green hat nimbly jumped out from the thick fur of the leading piglet.
"Long time no see, Kai-lando."
Leo excitedly saluted.
"Long time no see, Leo."
Kai praised: "How amazing! In just a few months since we last met, you've tamed the Mountain God and her children."
The Tontatta tribe's ability to tame animals was indeed extraordinary.
"We're partners who help each other!"
Leo embarrassedly touched his hat: "We provide food for Mountain Mom's children, and they help us guard the safety of this forest."
"Are these the Tontatta tribe?"
Bonney's fear was replaced by curiosity. She carefully let go of her father and moved a bit closer: "They look exactly like in picture books!"