Chapter 25 - Syrup Village 04.

[Chapter Size: 1626 Words.]

Third Person POV

Village Syrup, East Blue.

...

...

On the beach near Syrup Village, Luffy stood in front of his entire crew and Usopp, holding up a wanted poster he had obtained through a point. He had collected thousands of wanted posters, but this one was special. It featured Kuro, a pirate who was believed to be dead.

"Did you say this pirate Kuro was actually the butler Klahadore all along?" Usopp asked in disbelief.

"Are you sure he's not his brother?" Yamato inquired.

"No, it's him all along. I had some information that he was hiding on this island for a while, and I confirmed it today. The idiot had the audacity to openly insult us just because I have a bounty of 10 million berries, lower than his, but I bet after the beating I gave him, he won't be getting out of bed for the next 3 days." Luffy said with a grin.

"But even so, Kaya is in danger!" Usopp exclaimed.

"Then it's your duty to save her, Usopp," Luffy said calmly.

"Me??" Usopp asked, astounded. He might have seen Luffy defeat Kuro with ease, but he knew he wasn't a monster like that straw-hatted man.

"Yes, to be honest, I saw you insulting her just like your own father, while you kept quiet. I thought you were a brave sea warrior. But what I saw was just a coward." Luffy's smile faded, and he looked seriously at Usopp.

Usopp was taken aback by this. He never expected someone to call out his true personality in such a critical moment, making him lower his head in shame.

"Nami was the first to speak up in her maid outfit. "Luffy-Sama, you don't need to..."

"Shirahoshi as well was about to comment, "Please, I'm just a maid..."

"Silence..." Luffy said sternly, and they fell silent.

"...I admit, I was tempted to recruit you, but I was disappointed with what I saw, making me wonder if you're really your father's son..."

"...And no, Usopp, I won't help her because she herself banished me from her place. I have nothing to do with her if her life is in danger now." Luffy spoke indifferently, which made Usopp even more cower in the face of this reality, thinking that he would watch Kaya die without being able to do anything.

"But, I can help you get stronger..." Luffy continued.

"You can?" Usopp asked incredulously.

"Yes, but it won't be easy. I'll make you experience hell on earth if you want. But at least you'll have a chance to face Kuro. What do you say? We might have three days before he starts his plans. Do you really want this?" Luffy didn't change his serious tone, making everyone wonder what they had done to their captain and who stood in front of them, as Luffy had never been so serious with them.

The long-nosed young man contemplated Luffy's words and stood up to face the man over two meters tall with determination.

"I want it. Make me strong to protect Kaya!" Usopp finally spoke with determination, and Luffy smiled at that.

"That's the first step. Now let's start your hellish training." Luffy said with a mischievous grin, even releasing some of his Zoan power, causing his eyes to glow and purple flames to surround his body, which frightened Usopp and the others.

"Your first training will be to get used to the feeling of facing death. Maybe that will make you less of a coward!" Luffy spoke as he exerted pressure.

Usopp was scared and intimidated as he shrank back from Luffy. He began to wonder if he had made the right decision when he agreed to train with this pirate.

The rest of the day, Usopp didn't have an easy moment and it would only get much harder the next day.

The following morning, Usopp found himself in an open field on the outskirts of Syrup Village, with the East Blue sun shining brightly in the sky. Luffy and Usopp stood a certain distance apart, surveying the scene before them.

Usopp held an unfamiliar object in his hand, a new type of weapon he had never used before. But under Luffy's guidance, it was the weapon that would accompany him on their adventures. The field was filled with improvised targets that Luffy had acquired through the system, from high-quality equipment to empty cans and thin branches hanging from ropes.

Luffy explained to Usopp, "To become a skilled sniper, you need to enhance your accuracy, speed, and reaction. Let's start with precise shots. The goal is to hit those targets with surgical precision."

Usopp nodded, focusing on the nearest target. He took a deep breath, stabilized his stance, and aimed with determination. Then, he fired.

Bang!

The ammunition flew at a surprising speed, hitting the central target with a satisfying metallic sound. Usopp smiled at the accuracy of his first shot.

Luffy applauded Usopp's effort. "Well done, Usopp! Now, try to hit that moving target." He pointed to a swinging target.

Usopp focused once again, tracking the moving target with his aim. He waited for the right moment and released the bullet. It flew through the air and struck the moving target, making it stop swinging. Usopp smiled, feeling more confident in his shooting.

Luffy continued to train him, adding challenges such as shooting at multiple targets and high-pressure situations. As the hours passed, Usopp became more comfortable with his new weapon, improving his skills and reactions. Luffy also emphasized the importance of concentration and breath control.

As the training progressed, Usopp became more skilled and confident in his shooting abilities. He realized that with dedication and proper guidance, he could become an exceptional sniper like his father, according to Luffy's descriptions. Gradually, he began to pave the way to becoming the sniper his crew needed.

The scene of training, with targets being accurately hit and the East Blue sun shining in Usopp's eyes as he devoted himself to improving his skills, created an environment of growth and progress in his journey as a sniper.

Little did he know that this was the easiest part of his training. Luffy had no intention of letting up on his endurance and physical strength training. Not to mention that he would need to learn about all his new weapons and put his slingshot aside.

Three days passed.

Usopp lay on the ground, resembling a battered dog. He had no more strength left to continue his training for today. Luffy looked at him with an indifferent expression, just as he did with the rest of the crew sprawled on the ground behind Usopp.

Luffy had put everyone through rigorous training, including Nami, Shirahoshi, and even Chouchou. He trained Chouchou in increased gravity and weights. Although the dog didn't have humanoid limbs, he could become stronger once he learned Haki. Luffy intended to teach a dog Haki, but he needed to buy the manuals first, which were quite expensive, along with the six styles of the Marine.

"Is this your limit?" Luffy asked seriously, addressing Usopp, Nami, and Shirahoshi, who were the worst off among them.

"I can't take it anymore..."

"Please, I'm just a maid..."

"Luffy-Sama is so mean... Buaaaaa."

The three of them, utterly drained, responded to this question with lifeless eyes. Luffy just sighed. He wouldn't tolerate weakness to make them stronger. He was determined to turn them into strong warriors.

"You can do better than this!" Luffy replied without hesitation. He learned a lot from his grandfather.

Kuina and Zoro seemed unwavering in their determination, despite being in the same condition as the previous three, they didn't give up easily and kept pushing through the training.

"In any case, training is over for today," Luffy finally said.

"THANK YOU!!!"

"THANK YOU!!!"

"THANK YOU!!!"

The three, who were completely wrecked, cried out in gratitude.

"It was quite fun!" Yamato said, with a towel wrapped around her neck. She had trained relentlessly with Luffy, even engaging in sparring matches with him.

Of course, Luffy had been training as well, testing the potential of his body. He was satisfied with the combination of his increased learning speed from the system and his Zoan power, which allowed him to make progress. He was working hard to develop his Devil Fruit powers further.

"But Usopp, you better be prepared. The Kuro Pirates are expected to arrive tomorrow. Get everything ready by sunrise. I've left new equipment for you. Study the manuals I provided." Luffy warned.

"Yes!" Usopp replied with determination, closing his fist.

"Do you think he'll be okay? He's going to fight a pirate with a 16 million bounty, after all," Nami asked as she limped over to Luffy.

"This is a trial he needs to pass; otherwise, the sea won't be kind to him," Luffy said, thinking about how weak Usopp was in the original story. He wanted the lying long-nosed sniper to reveal his true potential as soon as possible because their journey wouldn't be as enjoyable as in the anime.

Luffy was certain he would encounter his grandfather in the East Blue before entering the Grand Line, and their battle wouldn't be a quiet one. He would have to use a considerable amount of his Devil Fruit power, even undergoing a complete transformation. He was training to enhance the power of his fruit.

Apart from his grandfather, he had no intention of losing to Kuzan and Kizaru during their journey. If they ever crossed paths, he wouldn't hesitate to display significant strength. While he wasn't strong yet, he could continue to increase his strength until that time arrived.

"I'm counting on it, Usopp..." Luffy murmured as he watched Usopp walk away toward his home, struggling to walk.

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