waiting time

The banquet was fantastic, - Ussop said as he fished at the edge of the small port, with dark circles under his eyes. The morning was chilly, and he could be seen dozing at intervals before getting a bite.

-We need to train a bit; Gad, stop drinking more wine! - Axel called out to everyone. The sense of urgency has been constant in his heart; the Grand Line is a treacherous sea with no second chances.

-Deuce, you need to practice controlling your Devil Fruit, -- Axel said. -- The same goes for you, Agatha. Both of you need to improve your control, endurance, and attack power. -

-Lia will practice underwater breathing with me, Axel said to Lia, who was testing her breakfast with dark circles under her eyes from yesterday's celebration.

-The triplets will follow the same type of training we've been doing: endurance and speed. -

-Nihtal and Ussop will try to gain more endurance for future escapes or maintaining distance. -

-Metal and Kuro will fight on one, and then Gad will join, practicing boxing techniques and a bit of his Fish-Man Karate, - Axel announced to the entire crew. - You must stick to your plans as much as possible. -

-I'll do some exercise. I discovered that boxing can be used with the sea in a way similar to Fish-Man Karate. It's natural for us fish; it just requires enough concentration, and in a few months, I'll have my Fish-Man Boxing down pat, - Gad said.

Axel threw the Fish-Man Karate manual to him. "Take this. It's a Fish-Man Karate manual, along with boxing. You'll grow, and the triplets can also learn something from karate," Axel said.

The Fish-Man Karate manual is very comprehensive, covering all the basics of karate along with some special skills and advice.

While it is quite true, it does not negate the need for a suitable master to guide Gad, who must autonomously dedicate himself to improving his skills.

Despite having a large set of skills and some knowledge, Axel can only think of two ways at this moment to increase the powers of Agatha and Tashigui. While others have to explore uncharted territories.

-Well, everyone can do the training they want. You can follow the instructions I gave you last time or focus on new skills. These are just some ideas, - Axel said.

The crew, somewhat exhausted from the previous night's grand celebration, nodded.

-Well, I'll be practicing with Tashigui with the sword. Agatha, come with me for a moment, - Axel said.

Ussop continued his fishing activities, training solo when he passed by his activities. Nihtal went to her room to do who knows what with her plans and experiments. Metal obediently prepared to challenge Kuro to a battle of wills, while Rubis and Emeraude went to study each other in their specialties, which are cooking and medicine.

Deuce Mask practiced his Devil Fruit powers until exhaustion, understanding a bit the urgency of Axel, and being aware of the potential dangers that could arise.

-Well, Captain, I'd like to see what you have prepared for me. You must know that my cooking skills have not reached an acceptable level, and I have a lot to practice according to old Zeff, - Agatha said.

-Water pressure, I want you to use your Logia as a water pressure gun. I want you to have the ability to cut rocks with your water. Position yourself as long-range support; your skills with the staff can help you escape from dangerous situations and keep your distance from opponents, - Axel said.

-I'll do it for a while. I have to cook lunch. You'll be hungry after a while, -Agatha said, creating the image of a cannon on her arm.

-Well, try to find out if you can overstimulate your viscosity. Sap is a natural glue; if you can stick the enemy, your long-range work would help increase your survival, - Axel said.

Sap is used as a natural glue, and sometimes sap resin can be used in smaller-scale constructions.

-Yes, yes, - Agatha said in the distance. She usually dedicates an hour a day to practicing powers or moving the koi staff, but now she prefers water whips.

Axel took out his sword and began a small sparring match with Tashigui, similar to the practices he has with Koushiro. As the fight progresses, he increases his attack speed and mixes in a bit of his underwater breathing postures, without materializing his water aura.

-Breathe deeper, Tashigui, a single breath, and gradually exhale with each movement of your breath while continuing to take in air through your nose, - Axel said, following a fast pace in his attacks.

-I'm trying, but the breath doesn't come; there are some steps that I don't quite understand, - Lia said.

Lowering his sword in exhaustion, breathing is complicated to complement with sword skills; every day, he feels his lungs burning like burnt coal, boiling his throat.

-Follow the water dance as I do, then we'll look into the power jumps. Don't rush to improve; time and calmness are the fruits of swordsmen, -Axel said.

Performing the water-breathing postures. In a dance of six postures known so far: the water surface cut, waterwheel, current dance, tide strike, rain after drought, and whirlpool vortex.

Lia Tashigui followed Axel's steps one by one; she had all the water-breathing postures in her head. The problem is concentrating on using them while breathing deeply from her lungs.

-Try to breathe deeply; as you move, exhale that breath and deliver a powerful blow while performing the posture. Focus well on the flexibility, flow, and adaptability of the liquid, like a river flowing through the mountains, like the sea hitting the sand, - Axel said.

Tashigui kept trying, but her arms hurt, and she couldn't hold her breath; even small breaths were not allowed by the cost of the exercise.

-Come on, let's continue; enemies won't give you a break, Lia, - Axel said.

Lia stood heavily and extended her sword while trying to support her body with her slender legs. Axel ruthlessly attacked without giving Lia time to catch her breath, barely keeping up with Axel's powerful blows, to fall unconscious from exhaustion after three hours of intense training.

-Deuce, help me with Tashigui; she needs a good rest and some medicine for her lungs, - Axel said.

Crocus, who was in the distance, approached Lia and checked her vital signs.

-She has extreme exhaustion; two days of rest and good food will relieve her. I have some medicines that help alleviate lung problems; let me find them. They will surely benefit the girl, - Crocus said.

-You're a doctor! - Deuce exclaimed.

-I am. This old man has a few tricks up his sleeve, - Crocus said, checking Lia's pulse and physical condition.

-We can... - Deuce began.

-We can. Come on; I'll treat your companion and show you some recipes that will help you in the Grand Line against diseases, - Crocus said. While carrying Tashigui in a wheelbarrow, he chatted with Deuce about different scientific methods.

-Kuro, it's your turn to receive some training, - Axel said, showing evident fatigue but able to keep on fighting.

The classic practice with Kuro, Metal, and Gad involves fighting until your body gives up. Draining all physical resistance through combat was unthinkable for the past Axel, but he has been improving as he continues training and earning rewards.

-It was a good day, - Gad said, completely exhausted on the ground, with cuts and bruises.

-Kuro, you need to improve your control over the Devil Fruit. The fruit doesn't control you; you control the fruit. You might lose your humanity and become an animal without reasoning, - Axel said.

-Can that happen, Captain Axel? - Metal asked.

-It can happen; you have to master the fruit, - Axel replied.

-What's the way? - Metal inquired.

-Try to control parts, the size, or the complete transformation, combined transformation, - Axel explained. -- But the method I see as most important is learning to handle the body perfectly. -

-I'll try the methods a bit, - Metal said.

The Devil Fruit has increased Metal's physical resistance, strength, and recovery. His physical attributes are twice as strong as they were before consuming it. However, it has brought disadvantages, and now there's another one to add.

...