While aboard the ship, Badak could have the Somersault Cloud split into several branches to wrap around each of the four crew members for weighted training. The interconnected clouds didn't significantly hinder mobility within a small area, nor did they cause additional strain.
But this wasn't feasible on land. Ashore, the four might spread out, drastically increasing the energy expenditure. Plus, it would look bizarre to outsiders. Instead, Badak wore the Somersault Cloud like clothing, multiplying the weight it applied to his body.
He'd recently discovered that Mansherry's Devil Fruit ability could also heal training injuries. So he began donating blood for her to transform into dandelion puffs.
Damn, these were practically the Senzu Beans of the pirate world! While they couldn't restore mental fatigue, no matter how physically exhausted you were, one dandelion puff would have you bursting with energy again.
As a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit user, Badak's natural recovery was swift, but even he couldn't match the restorative power of these blood-made dandelions. He started leveraging his enhanced Zoan-type regenerative abilities to donate blood regularly, keeping Mansherry supplied with material.
Badak's training intensity multiplied several times over, his progress advancing by leaps and bounds. Beyond the Shave technique he'd mastered earlier, he'd now learned Iron Body, Moon Walk, and Tempest Kick from the Six Styles. His swordsmanship had also improved significantly—especially his blade control—now capable of delivering perfectly straight cuts with every swing.
Late at night, when all was quiet and Robin's trio had retired, Badak continued training in the courtyard. The wealthy district's houses were spaced generously apart with excellent soundproofing, so he didn't worry about disturbing neighbors.
"Boss, this is the place, right?"
"Right here. Over the wall we go—keep your gear ready and don't make too much noise. Though even if we do, no big deal. Just make sure the job gets done clean. Move out!"
All ten men scaled the wall in coordinated fashion. When their leader finally climbed over, he found his underlings frozen in place. "What the hell are you waiting for?" he growled. "Find that punk and waste him!"
"Boss... no need to look. He's right there."
The leader pushed forward—sure enough, the target was still doing push-ups.
"Just wait a bit," Badak said without getting up. "Almost done."
"Since when does he call the shots? Who's the boss here? Kill him now!"
The thugs didn't dare disobey. Weapons appeared—iron pipes, long blades, hand axes, even a pair of jitte—all striking from different angles.
Badak sighed. Only twenty-some push-ups left to reach his daily goal. He really didn't want to quit—he'd adopted Rock Lee's punishment-based training regimen from Naruto, where missed targets meant extra drills elsewhere. The thought of letting these small fries disrupt his training when he could clearly finish rankled him.
"Sorry about this, neighbors."
With a frown, Badak unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, knocking out all intruders instantly.
"Sigh... I hate collateral damage. When will I learn to target my Conqueror's Haki selectively?"After finishing the remaining push-ups, Badak ate a Blood Donation Dandelion. A surge of warmth spread through his body, restoring him to peak condition. He grabbed the leader and slapped him several times across the face. Seeing the man regain consciousness, Badak threw him to the ground, picked up a long blade from the floor, and pressed the tip against his throat. "Talk. Whether you live or die depends on your performance."
"I'll talk, I'll talk! Don't hurt me! We're from the Night Wolf Gang. The boss—Oliver—ordered us to kill you and capture the two little people to bring back as proof."
"Oliver... the Night Wolf Gang. So you're also in the slave trade?" Badak's voice carried a murderous edge.
"No, no! We're just a small local gang—we don't have those kinds of connections. It's just that some higher-ups occasionally make us handle dirty work. This has nothing to do with me! I was just following orders. Really, it was all Oliver's doing!" Sensing Badak's killing intent, the leader desperately shifted blame to save himself.
"Higher-ups? Who? And where is Oliver now?"
"Oliver lives in the most luxurious house in the slums—you can't miss it. As for the higher-ups, the higher-ups..."
"Hmph. Seems like you don't value your life much."
"The higher-up is Lord Adrian, Viscount Adrian! He's nobility—we had no choice but to obey his orders. What can you even do about it? You might be strong, but he's a noble! Please, let me go. I'll never cross you again."
"Annoying!"
Badak lightly kicked the man's neck, knocking him out cold again.
"Oliver, huh? I'll start with you."
Badak summoned his Somersault Cloud, tossing each of the unconscious men onto it before hopping on himself. He then flew straight toward the slums.
"Just as he said—one fancy villa standing out in a sea of run-down shacks. But he wasn't entirely honest. This is probably the Night Wolf Gang's headquarters. Quite a few people here... Damn, I forgot to ask what Oliver looks like. Whatever, I'll just fight my way in. Might as well make a scene."
Badak's plan to "kill the chicken to scare the monkeys" was missing a suitable chicken—though this one wasn't particularly impressive either.
Leaping down, Badak landed heavily in front of the villa's entrance. The guards immediately drew their weapons and attacked without hesitation.
"Oh? Not bad. Well-trained lackeys."
Before their strikes could land, Badak kicked twice in rapid succession, sending them flying. He then unleashed two Tempest Kicks—crossing wind blades that sliced the villa's doors apart—before striding inside nonchalantly.
The moment he stepped in, Badak was ambushed. Hidden attackers behind the door? Too bad they were weak. The blade aiming for his neck moved far too slowly. Under the man's disbelieving stare, Badak pinched the blade between his thumb and forefinger, then shoved it forward. The hilt smashed into the attacker's chest, caving it in—whether he lived or died was anyone's guess.
In mere moments, the entire villa erupted into chaos. A crowd of armed men surrounded Badak, while several gunmen on the outskirts took aim, ready to fire at any second.
Oliver, clad in pajamas, frowned down at Badak from the second floor. "Who are you? Why are you attacking the Night Wolf Gang?""Tsk tsk tsk, how can you still sleep after sending people to attack me?"
"Attack you? You're that merchant's son. What a loser, can't even handle such a small matter. Hmph, though you have some skills, dreaming of defeating our Night Wolf Gang is pure delusion. How about this—hand over those two dwarves obediently, and I'll let you be a captain under me. What do you say? I rarely show such kindness."
"Oh? How about you strip naked, run three laps around the city, and shout 'Adrian is a pig'? Then I might mercifully spare you. What do you think? I, too, rarely show such kindness."
"Kill him!"
The Night Wolf Gang members had been waiting for their boss's order. Now that it was given, they immediately attacked, seemingly intent on pounding Badak into mincemeat.
Surrounded, Badak remained completely unfazed. He charged straight ahead, plowing through the men in front of him as if they were straw, effortlessly breaking out of the encirclement.
Adhering to the principle of taking out ranged attackers first, he used Shave to rapidly close in on the gunmen, knocking them down one by one. In moments, not a single gunman remained standing.
The remaining gang members were already panicking. Unable to even see his movements clearly, they realized they were completely outmatched—this man was a monster. They merely circled him with their weapons, too afraid to actually approach.
Oliver, watching from above, grew furious at his subordinates' incompetence. He leaped down from the second floor.
"I admit your strength is unexpected, but do you really think you've got me cornered? Don't look down on me! I'm the boss of the Night Wolf Gang—the ruthless Oliver!"
Oliver tore off his pajamas, revealing a muscular torso that began sprouting long fur as his head morphed into a human-feline hybrid.
"It's here! The boss's bobcat form—victory is assured!" The gang members' confidence surged.
"Wait, the boss of the Night Wolf Gang is actually a cat?" Badak couldn't help but deadpan.
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