In the East Blue, somewhere out on the open sea, a small wooden boat drifted aimlessly with the wind.
Covered in sweat, Alex was doing one-handed push-ups on the tiny vessel, counting each rep out loud.
It had been seven days since they left Shells Town. During that time, Alex had resumed his relentless, day-and-night training routine on the boat.
His intensity was so extreme that even Zoro—a training maniac himself—was impressed. But it also sparked Zoro's competitive spirit, so he began practicing swordsmanship onboard as well.
However, on his very first day of practice, Zoro nearly split the fragile boat in half with a single swing. Seeing his complete lack of restraint, Alex and Luffy had no choice but to beat some sense into him. After that, Zoro gave up on sword training aboard their delicate boat.
While Alex was immersed in intense workouts, Luffy and Zoro sat around chatting and doing absolutely nothing.
"You said you were heading to the Grand Line, right? But you know nothing about navigation. Isn't that kind of ridiculous?"
Zoro said to Luffy, having discovered a grim reality since sharing a boat with him and Alex.
There were three people on the boat, yet no one was rowing. They just let the boat drift wherever the wind took it. At this rate, it would take a miracle—or a dozen—to reach their destination.
Luffy didn't want to row from the start. Alex was too focused on training, and by the time he finished, he was too exhausted to even breathe, let alone row.
As for Zoro, who couldn't train on the fragile boat, he'd rather nap than pick up a paddle.
Besides, even if they had the energy to row, none of them had the slightest clue which direction to head in over the vast, endless sea. So why waste the effort?
The oars, lying untouched on the boat, were beginning to gather dust.
"What's so funny? Alex and I both got here by drifting. We'll hit an island eventually."
Luffy replied casually.
"You're a bounty hunter who drifts from sea to sea, right?"
"I don't recall making a living by collecting bounties."
Zoro lazily rested his arm on the boat's edge. "I set out to find someone. But I got lost and couldn't find my way home. So I started attacking pirate ships for money, just to survive."
After listening seriously, Luffy concluded:
"So, basically, you're lost."
"You're in no position to say that—you can't navigate either!"
"Come on, being a pirate without knowing navigation is just embarrassing. How are we supposed to get to the Grand Line ? I think you should find a navigator—fast."
Zoro offered his advice.
Luffy immediately ran with the idea:
"Yeah! And we'll need a cook and a musician too—"
Zoro shouted, frustrated by Luffy's cluelessness.
Luffy and Zoro collapsed onto the boat like starving ghosts.
"Alex, we're starving!"
Luffy yelled at Alex, who was still doing one-handed push-ups.
"We just ate a few hours ago!"
Alex stopped after completing his 600th rep, panting heavily. "Listen, something's weird—I feel strange lately."
"What? You still look like a human being,"
Luffy said, sitting up and making Alex want to punch him.
I mean seriously, if I didn't look like a human, would I still be here talking to you?
Alex forced himself to stay calm.
"I think I'm growing stronger way too fast. I don't know what's happening. If it's due to a Devil Fruit power… I don't even know when I used one."
Truthfully, when Alex first noticed himself growing stronger, he had been thrilled.
Just two days ago, he could barely finish 400 one-handed push-ups. Now he could do 600 relatively easily.
Sure, he had been training hard all week—but the rate of improvement was almost scary. Even he found it hard to accept.
"That's not so strange. It might not be a Devil Fruit thing. Maybe you're just a genius. That would explain the rapid progress." Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by ⓝovelFire.net
"Yeah, if you don't remember using a Devil Fruit ability, that must be it!"
"Wow, I didn't know you were a genius, Alex. That's awesome!"
Luffy's praise filled Alex with pride and satisfaction.
"I didn't realize I was so gifted! What a surprise!"
Alex laughed smugly, no longer worried about his sudden strength gains.
"But both of you are Devil Fruit users. If you fell into the ocean at the same time, I'd be stuck alone—how the hell would I rescue you both?"
Zoro stroked his chin, suddenly realizing the problem.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Alex and I are super reliable! We'd never fall in the ocean at the same time. That'd never happen."
Luffy said, pounding his chest with confidence.
"Exactly. We're totally dependable. The chances of that happening are even lower than you finding your way home without help!"
Luffy burst into laughter.
"That's too good! Zoro the lost cause—hahahaha!"
"Shut up, both of you!"
Zoro exploded in anger.
"Alright, Alex, we're starving! Catch us something to eat!"
Luffy begged again, his stomach growling louder than ever.
"Maybe your stomach needs to be filled with rocks. How can you be this hungry all the time?"
Alex rolled his eyes, grabbing a fishing net.
"Wait, I don't feel like eating fish today. Get us something else!"
Luffy stopped him, drooling as he pointed skyward at a massive bird flying overhead.
"I fish—I don't catch birds!"
Alex looked up at the bird. It was huge—its wingspan must've been at least thirteen meters.
"Give it a shot. If you can catch stuff from the sky and sea, you'll be the world's greatest hunter!"
"World's greatest? That doesn't sound bad at all…"
Alex's eyes lit up. Determined, he said:
"Alright! Let me show you what the future world's number one hunter can do!"
"Yeah! Go, world's greatest hunter!"
Luffy cheered, clapping enthusiastically, which made Alex beam with pride.
For nearly ten minutes, Alex watched the bird's flight pattern carefully. Every three minutes or so, it would drop down and fly low for about 25 seconds—perfect timing to catch it.
When the bird dropped to about ten meters above the boat, Alex hurled the fishing net with full force.
The net, over thirteen meters long, opened wide—and miraculously snared the bird flying directly overhead.
"HAHAHAHA! You saw that, right? That bird is mine now! That's the power of the future world's greatest hunter! There's nothing I can't catch!"
Alex was ecstatic, turning to Luffy and Zoro to gloat over his successful catch.
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