How much pressure does it take to push the human body to its limit?
Two hours ago, Usopp might have just stared blankly at such a question.
But now, he could answer with certainty...
The extreme pressure on the human body feels like countless chains materializing from the void, binding you so tightly that every movement is unbearably heavy.
Drip... drip...
Beads of sweat fell from Usopp's long nose, hitting the ground and breaking into droplets.
Unlike Zoro and Sanji, who made breakthrough after breakthrough, accelerating with each one, Usopp's body lacked such extraordinary talents to propel him forward.
All he could do was strengthen his resolve and take each step with great effort, pushing against the overwhelming pressure.
At this moment, not giving up was his only driving force.
Behind him, the others were already panting heavily, exhausted.
For Nami, who had never done any intense physical training, every step now required a few minutes of rest.
In a short period, completing the test seemed nearly impossible.
Even Kuro, who possessed a certain level of strength, found himself unable to match Usopp's persistence. Facing the crushing gravity that pushed his body to its limit, he had to pause every few steps.
As for the merchant trainers, there was little need to say more. If the path back hadn't been sealed, they would have gladly turned around and escaped this hellish ordeal.
Fortunately, most of them adhered to the principle of seeing things through. Even if they could only inch forward, they didn't give up on this rare opportunity.
Finally, the entire morning passed.
Usopp summoned all his strength to take the final step out of the gravity field.
His final time: 3 hours and 55 minutes.
Leo couldn't help but feel a bit surprised.
Who would have thought that Usopp would consistently cover 980 meters and then miraculously push beyond his body's limits in the last 20 meters to reach the finish line?
It must be said—Usopp has a knack for doing the unexpected, always surprising when it counts.
Moreover, unlike Zoro and Sanji, who collapsed into unconsciousness upon reaching the finish line, Usopp managed to stay conscious. Upon arriving in the main hall, he placed his hands on his knees, bent over like a long-distance runner, and breathed heavily.
Perhaps...
Usopp's talent may not match Zoro's or Sanji's, but his resilience allows him to survive in a world filled with monsters!
To stand against the gods with a mortal body—this is what Leo admires about him.
"Congratulations, Usopp."
Whoosh!
A shadow flickered, and Leo suddenly appeared in the hall, greeting Usopp with a smile.
"Sir Leo!!!"
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Usopp's expression froze, and he quickly straightened up, respectfully saying,
"Long time no see, Sir Leo!"
"Yes, it has indeed been a long time."
Though Leo could monitor everything around Usopp through the Rotom mobile phone, for Usopp, this was the first time he'd seen Leo in a year since their initial transaction.
After assessing Usopp's condition, Leo couldn't help but nod in approval.
"Yes, you still have plenty of energy left. I knew I was right about you, Usopp."
"It seems I should raise my expectations for you."
"Huh?"
Usopp was momentarily stunned.
He had been mentally celebrating upon hearing Leo's praise, but his joy quickly vanished at the mention of stricter expectations, his face turning pale.
"Thank you, Sir Leo, for your high regard!"
"Actually... I'm quite exhausted right now!"
"So, it would be better not to burden Sir Leo with additional training..."
"Ahem!!"
Pale-faced, Usopp hunched over, pretending to be tired and coughing twice.
Even this small test had worn him out. He didn't dare imagine what kind of intense training Leo had in store.
But...
Usopp's little ploy didn't fool Leo.
Leo merely smiled and gave him an unreadable glance before gesturing to Enel behind him.
Enel immediately understood, stepped forward, and said,
"Usopp, right?"
"Congratulations on completing the gravity field test. Follow me next—I'll take you to your dormitory."
"Huh? Okay, okay, thank you, sir."
Eager to avoid extra training, Usopp quickly bowed to Leo, then hurriedly followed Enel to the rest area, not daring to linger.
Leo, however, continued to smile as he watched Usopp's retreating figure.
Avoid extra training?
Maybe someone else could manage that, but Usopp? He'd been on Leo's radar long before he ever set foot in the Celestial Gym.
Once this extra training began, he wouldn't escape, no matter what.
The trainers currently on the list were either immensely powerful, like Garp, who feared no strong enemies, or exceptionally talented, like Ace and Zoro, who could grow stronger rapidly.
These were legendary figures in the world of pirates, destined to leave their mark in history.
In truth, even without Pokémon, they would have reached their current status sooner or later.
One or two of such individuals would be fine, but with so many at the top now, how could the impact of Pokémon in the world of pirates be highlighted?
While pondering this, Usopp's figure suddenly appeared in Leo's mind.
Indeed, Usopp's talents were impressive. Whether it was his ultra-long-range observation haki, his masterful sniping skills, or his ingenuity in crafting weapons, his abilities were far beyond the ordinary.
But there was one issue...
His talents had such a low profile!
So low that it was hard for the average person to recognize his brilliance.
Leo could use this to his advantage.
Just imagine—during the Pokémon League Tournament, a character everyone considered weak suddenly relies on Pokémon to overcome countless obstacles, defeating one powerful opponent after another...
This kind of dramatic transformation would have a much greater impact than a simple battle between strong opponents, and it would better demonstrate the power of Pokémon!
Besides, it's not like Leo would be the one getting hurt during extra training—it would be Usopp.
Leo murmured with a smile: "This is all for your own good, Usopp. You'll understand later~"
...
Two hours passed after Usopp completed the test.
By then, the Celestial Gym had returned to the sky.
Without the protection of the clouds, the scorching sunlight pierced the void, spreading suffocating heat evenly over every trialist in the gravity field.
Just as the trialists were about to faint from the heat...
In the vast sky, the divine dragon that circled the main hall suddenly came to life, exhaling a long breath of green mist toward everyone present.
This green breath felt like a refreshing spring in a desert, rejuvenating everyone's spirits and giving the exhausted trialists the courage to keep moving forward.
Time passed slowly, minute by minute. As the sun began to set, Nami finally stepped up, not wanting to lose face. She watched as the three new Four Heavenly Kings completed their trials one after another. Finally, she pushed herself harder and became the fourth person to complete the test.
Time taken: 6 hours and 15 minutes.
"Congratulations, Miss Nami."
Just as before, when Nami finished the trial, Leo appeared to greet her. In line with his principle of caring for women, he subtly used some of his life force to ensure Nami didn't collapse from exhaustion.
If Usopp was an uncut gem that Leo was refining, then Nami was certainly a polished diamond! Her Pikachu had not only awakened its psychic potential but also gained a double power boost from its electric beads. It could be said that Pikachu was the only Pokémon among them capable of defeating Cobra's Suicune!
However, Nami seemed to have been holding back, not showing her full strength to keep Bella off guard. Leo believed that after a month of special training, Pikachu's power would surely astonish the world!
"Sir Leo!"
Nami's face lit up when she saw Leo. Since borrowing the half-price BUFF from the Revolutionary Army, she had been trading for various supplies. Thanks to the Revolutionary Army's support, Nami was now a fully-fledged VIP Level 3 member. With the half-price BUFF, she selected a variety of powerful skills for Pikachu.
The skills Leo sold weren't just CDs for Pokémon to learn on their own. Instead, the skills appeared directly in the Pokémon's mind as memories the moment they were purchased. With guidance from the knowledgeable Butterfree, Pikachu had developed an impressive array of tactical skills. Even the Three Sacred Birds of the Revolutionary Army might suffer serious losses if they weren't careful!
As a result, Nami's status in the Revolutionary Army had risen steadily, second only to Koala, who had grown up in the army.
And to have come this far and even resurrected her mother, Nami would never forget who made it all possible. She was more grateful to Leo than anyone else.
"Sir Leo, I'm so sorry. My talent is lacking, and I've embarrassed you!" Nami blushed as she thought about how long it had taken her to finish after Usopp, feeling shy and self-critical.
"It's alright," Leo chuckled, comforting the diamond before him. "Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Your talent is no less than anyone else's. If you use it well, you can also astonish the world."
"Sir Leo!" Nami's eyes sparkled with excitement, her face flushing with happiness. Being recognized by Leo was her greatest honor.
"Thank you for your encouragement! I'll definitely become stronger!!!"
"I believe you," Leo replied with a gentle smile. He then nodded towards Enel, signaling him. "Go rest now. Enel will guide you on what to do next."
"Please follow me, Miss Nami," Enel appeared at the right moment, guiding Nami to the rest area.
...
After Nami, the next to complete the test was Kuro, who had followed her to the Grand Line.
Time taken: 6 hours and 30 minutes.
In fact, with his strength, Kuro could have caught up and finished the trial before Nami. However, considering the strategic significance of Nami's new title as one of the Four Heavenly Kings, he deliberately slowed down, choosing a result more suitable for himself.
Influenced by his surroundings, Kuro's personality and outlook began to shift after joining the Revolutionary Army. Compared to temporary glory, Nami's plan clearly held more importance.
It's a pity...
When Kuro completed the test, Leo wasn't there to greet him. Confident that those who hadn't given up would finish the trial by sunrise, Leo left everything in Enel's hands and went to the office center to prepare for the next day's special training.
...
Night fell.
The darkness outside had no effect on Celestial Gym. With the help of various Electric-type Rotoms and technological devices, the gym remained brightly lit.
After a shower in the dormitory, Nami shook out her damp hair and walked down the spacious corridor in her sandals. Having spent time in the battle area, she was familiar with everything in the Celestial Gym. Humming a tune, she made her way to the rest center's restaurant.
Just as she stepped inside, a familiar voice called out from her right.
"Miss Nami!!! You're finally here!!!"
A whirlwind with pink starry eyes appeared beside her, and the next second, Sanji materialized in front of her, bowing like a gentleman and gesturing her forward.
"Miss Nami, please come this way. I've prepared dinner for you and selected dishes that Butterfree and Pikachu love. Trust me, tonight's meal will delight you and your beloved Pikachu! We can enjoy the candlelight and discuss the beauty of life."
"Thank you, Sanji-kun," Nami responded with a sweet smile. "But this isn't the Baratie restaurant; you don't need to serve me."
"How could I not?" Sanji replied, suddenly serious. "It's my duty to serve a beautiful lady! No matter where we are, as long as Miss Nami needs something, I'll be there to fulfill any request!"
Not everyone can handle a persistent romantic, but Nami, used to Sanji's ways, simply smiled and praised him like a charming rogue: "Sanji-kun is indeed a reliable gentleman."
With that, she stepped forward in her sandals, heading in the direction Sanji indicated.
It wasn't that Nami wanted to have dinner with Sanji...
But in the direction he guided, she saw Zoro and Usopp already seated and enjoying their meal.
With all three of the New Four Heavenly Kings gathered, she couldn't very well stay away, could she?
And for some reason, though she had only met Zoro, Usopp, and Sanji by chance, she felt a closer bond with them than with Captain Kuro.
Maybe we were good friends in our past life...
Nami thought to herself with a light-hearted smile.
(End of this chapter)