Special Training!

"Yo ho ho ho, Captain, long time no see."

Brook smiled as soon as he saw Nicholas.

"Brook, you seem to be in a good mood."

Looking at Brook in front of him, Nicholas could feel the joy emanating from his soul.

It can be said that after a person dies, their soul should enter the Land of the Dead. However, Brook's soul, having consumed the Yomi Yomi no Mi, is different. In order to exist in the world, Brook's soul continuously emits powerful energy, making his soul almost indistinguishable from a physical body.

This strong energy can even clearly convey Brook's emotions to others, a resonance between souls.

Of course, he can be severely injured indefinitely by Haki and Seastone.

But it can be said that unless there are means to attack the soul, it is almost impossible to eliminate Brook.

"Yo ho ho ho, Captain, I had the Master Swordsmith of Wano help me create a new cane sword. With this sword, I can use Soul-Wrapping Strikes to bring the cold air of the underworld into this world."

After twirling the cane sword in his hand for a few rounds, Brook said to Nicholas.

Obviously, under Nicholas's guidance, his strength has made a leap.

"By the way, how is the progress on the development direction I mentioned to you?"

Nicholas wasn't particularly concerned about Brook's ability to bring the air of the underworld into the world. Compared to the true potential of the Yomi Yomi no Mi, these were just minor details.

"Although there has been some progress, it's still difficult. After all, although I can sense it, it seems to be rejecting me. Currently, I can only borrow a little bit of the air of the underworld. As for the level you mentioned, it might take a lifetime."

Brook's upper and lower jawbones clashed continuously, indicating how close to eternal life he was. For Brook to say such words, it showed how unreasonable Nicholas's demands were.

"Don't say such discouraged words. Since the Yomi Yomi no Mi chose you, then maybe you can achieve..."

Nicholas began to encourage Brook.

Simon watched the scene unfolding before him, and it didn't differ much from his own experiences. Nicholas, the devil...

At the same time, Simon looked at Brook, who was treading the same old path, with a look of pity, recalling the days when he himself was being encouraged by Nicholas. Just the bullets he fired alone could fill a mountain.

But it had to be said that targeted intense training could indeed greatly increase proficiency.

Although Simon had a talent for marksmanship, without that period of intense training, he might have reached his current level of marksmanship, but it would have taken several years longer.

And Brook had consumed the Yomi Yomi no Mi for decades, yet the extent of his fruit's development was not particularly high. Bearing the important role in Nicholas's plan, it was still quite necessary to spend time developing his abilities.

"Brook, your development path mainly revolves around the Devil Fruit ability. I'm sure you're aware that the Yomi Yomi no Mi's ability is fundamentally different from other Devil Fruits. Other Devil Fruits rely on physical strength to activate. Once the user's physical strength is exhausted, the Devil Fruit ability becomes almost impossible to use.

But the Yomi Yomi no Mi is different. Although I'm not entirely sure what it requires to activate, it obviously doesn't rely on physical strength."

Nicholas looked at Brook and said, after all, he was just a skeleton frame, without muscles or nerves. It was impossible for him to generate physical strength.

"Yo ho ho ho, it seems so. I am just a bone frame without flesh and blood."

Brook heard Nicholas's words and looked at his own body, emitting his iconic laughter.

"So I'll have someone prepare a large number of small animals for you to experiment with. Also, Simon, your physical strength, Observation Haki, Armament Haki, still have room for improvement. So I'll have someone prepare several shooting targets made of Seastone for you. And I'll notify Vista to spar with you to strengthen your martial arts."

Simon was surprised at the suggestion, recalling Vista's figure punching a mountain with one punch, and without hesitation said, "Captain, I'm just here to support you from behind, and my physical skills are already good..."

Three minutes later.

Simon lay on the ground, his chest heaving violently, gasping for air, his greedy breaths making people worry if he would die the next second.

The guards around were dumbfounded.

Just now, they witnessed firsthand the whole process of Nicholas overwhelming Simon.

It took less than three minutes? Without even seriously attacking, Nicholas made Simon collapse in exhaustion.

Nicholas looked down at Simon lying on the ground, gasping for breath, and said, "I didn't even try seriously, but you couldn't last three minutes. With such stamina, do you think you have enough? Do you know that although snipers have the advantage at long range, once a strong enemy gets close, can you only wait to die? Besides, although your marksmanship is indeed good, what if you run out of bullets? Do you just surrender?"

It had to be said that although Simon couldn't last three minutes against Nicholas, it was in close combat. Although the distance was negligible in terms of lightning speed, pulling away would make a difference.

But he was already a top powerhouse in the sea, and it was quite impressive that Simon could reach this level.

"!!!"

Simon looked at Nicholas with a black line on his face, wanting to say something, but in the end, he didn't say anything.

Because he knew that with Nicholas's petty nature, if he argued back, the training volume would increase.

"Cough, you all train well. Also, Katie, although you're a chef, you're not a good chef if you can't fight."

Looking at Katie bringing drinks to everyone, Nicholas also directly named her, leaving Katie in a daze.

Then he looked at June standing next to Katie, "Uh, June, you're excused."

"..."

Everyone was speechless; the difference in treatment was too obvious.

Time passed.

In no time, half a month had passed.

During the days and nights of helping small animals achieve enlightenment, Brook's proficiency in his abilities steadily increased. Although he was still far from Nicholas's requirements, there was progress after all.

And while Simon and Katie's strength hadn't improved significantly, their stamina had clearly increased.

...

On the sea outside Wano Country.

A huge pirate ship was forced to stop on the sea surface by three ships flying the Hakumai's flag and pulled by giant goldfish.

On the deck of the pirate ship, there were many pirates lying motionless.

And the pirates, who were usually fierce and brutal on the high seas, were now being driven together like livestock to the center of the deck.

"Captain Clinton, what the hell is going on!"

On the deck, a pirate holding a weapon looked at the samurai surrounding them and couldn't help but ask. If it were an ordinary enemy, he would have started fighting without saying a word.

But the problem now was that he couldn't win. There were over a dozen swordsmen who could cut through iron and use Busoshoku Haki wrapped swords, not to mention the three flying swordsmen who could use Flying Slash.