On the open sea, the crew settled into their usual rhythms aboard the ship. Ronin lounged on the deck, fast asleep with a book casually draped over his face, his sword resting nearby. Lila, not far from him, practiced her spear thrusts with precision and focus, the rhythmic sounds of her movements cutting through the gentle breeze. Te sat cross-legged in the center of the ship, deep in meditation, his aura calm and controlled. Meanwhile, Koby stood at the helm, confidently steering the ship through the waves, eyes sharp as he guided them toward their next destination.
"How much longer till we reach land," Lila yelled to Koby.
"Not much longer there an island Te and I visited when we were younger it should be abandoned now so it should be the perfect place for you and Ronin to duel."
"Perfect," Lila muttered, returning her focus to the precise thrusts of her spear. Each movement was fluid and sharp, reflecting the years of dedication she'd put into mastering her weapon.
At the helm, Koby spotted a News Coo circling above. With a wave, he caught its attention, and the bird swooped down, dropping the latest paper in exchange for a handful of Berri. Koby skimmed the headlines as he leaned against the wheel, mostly filled with the usual propaganda from the World Government.
However, something caught his eye—Eustass Kid had started his pirate journey, and apparently, he was in the South Blue as well.
"Kid, huh?" Koby mused, glancing out at the horizon. "He shouldn't be too much trouble if we cross paths."
Satisfied with the intel, Koby folded the paper and turned to his brother. From an outsider's perspective, Te appeared to be quietly meditating in the center of the ship. But Koby, knowing better, could sense the invisible waves of aura Te had expanded over the entire ship.
His brother was practicing controlling vast amounts of Nen at once, something they'd been refining for the last decade.
Ten years ago, they had learned a new Nen technique, one that condensed their aura into droplets, enhancing its quality over quantity. The shift had initially reduced their overall reserves, making it harder to maintain techniques like Ten, Ren, and Ryou for extended periods. But the payoff was massive.
Their refined Nen required far less energy to unleash devastating attacks, though it came at the cost of shortening the duration they could maintain certain abilities.
They had spent years slowly rebuilding their aura reserves, and though the process was grueling at first, once their Nen adapted to condensing itself, their growth skyrocketed. Now, their energy could last for days in combat, and their control had improved so much that their attacks were not only stronger but more precise.
At full power, their combined techniques had the potential to level cities, though they preferred not to flaunt that kind of strength—at least, not yet.
In their sparring sessions with Biscuit, Lila, and Ronin, the brothers never used Nen, keeping that secret weapon to themselves.
They had considered teaching it to Lila and Ronin, but ultimately decided to let them grow naturally within the world of One Piece. If the time ever came when Nen would be their next step to unlock greater power, Koby and Te would gladly share their knowledge.
"Something's approaching the ship," Te murmured, slowly opening his eyes and retracting his aura.
A ripple disturbed the water beside the ship, and just seconds later, a massive Sea King erupted from the depths.
"Woah! That thing is huge!" Lila exclaimed, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and excitement.
Meanwhile, Ronin remained obliviously sprawled out on his lounge chair, snoring softly.
"WAKE UP, IDIOT!" Lila screamed, hurling a piece of driftwood at him.
The projectile flew through the air but Ronin, in a surprising feat of luck, rolled over just in time for it to miss him entirely. He continued to sleep soundly, blissfully unaware of the enormous creature looming above them.
'Did Ronin unlock Observation Haki these last few years?' Koby wondered, both impressed and annoyed.
'Helpless,' Lila thought, crossing her arms in exasperation.
"Finally, something to do!" Te shouted, his excitement palpable.
He stood up, a fierce grin spreading across his face. Combining Geppo and Soru, he shot towards the Sea King like a bullet. In a split second, he closed the distance, his fist drawn back and ready.
Before the beast could even register what was happening, Te delivered a light but explosive punch right to the center of its chest. The impact sent the massive creature skidding across the water like a stone thrown on a pond, causing waves to crash against the side of the ship.
"See ya!" Te called out with a laugh, watching the Sea King tumble back into the depths, its pride clearly more wounded than its body.
Ronin finally stirred, blinking sleepily at the splashes around him. "What's going on? Did someone say something about a snack?"
"Not quite, but if you keep sleeping through things like that, you'll end up as one!" Lila teased, poking him playfully.
Koby shook his head, a grin creeping onto his face. "You know, if you'd just wake up a little sooner, you might actually get to join the fun, Ronin."
Ronin grinned back, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Next time, I promise I'll wake up for the snacks… I mean, the action!"
Te's eyes sparkled with mischief as he gazed at the retreating Sea King. "I'm going after it! I'm going to tame that beast!" Without waiting for a response, he leaped off the ship and plunged into the water with a splash.
"Te, wait!" Koby shouted, but it was too late; Te was already swimming after the giant creature with determination in his eyes.
As he cut through the water, Te focused on his aura, channeling it to enhance his speed. The Sea King was thrashing about, clearly disoriented from its earlier encounter, but Te was undeterred. He swam with fierce determination, closing the distance until he was right next to the beast.
"Hey there, big guy!" Te called out, a grin on his face. "Let's see how tough you really are!"
With a combination of Geppo to propel himself above the water and Soru to dodge the Sea King's swipes, Te engaged in an epic underwater dance. He landed punches and kicked off the creature's massive scales, trying to wear it down. The Sea King roared, its frustration only fueling Te's determination.
After a lengthy struggle, Te finally managed to grasp the Sea King's fin and, with a powerful surge of energy, wrestled it into submission. "Gotcha!" he exclaimed triumphantly.
Moments later, Te emerged from the water, gasping for air but grinning from ear to ear. To everyone's amazement, he was riding the now-subdued Sea King, which floated docilely beneath him.
"Behold!" Te declared, raising his arms in victory. "I have tamed the mighty Sea King!"
Ronin blinked in disbelief, "You've got to be kidding me."
Lila's jaw dropped. "How did you manage that?"
"It was all in the technique!" Te laughed, patting the Sea King's head as if it were a loyal puppy. "I think it likes me now."
The Sea King let out a low rumble, almost like a purr, as it bobbed its head in agreement.
Koby shook his head, a smile breaking across his face. "So, what's next, Captain Te? Are we going to have it pull our ship?"
Te thought for a moment before nodding. "Why not? I bet we could travel even faster!"
Lila chuckled, shaking her head. "Let's just hope it doesn't get any ideas about taking a bite out of the ship."
Te hopped off the Sea King and waded back to the ship, dripping water everywhere. "Don't worry! This one's on our side now!" He turned to the Sea King. "You stay here and follow the ship, okay? We'll be back!"
With a contented rumble, the Sea King bobbed its massive head in agreement, swimming alongside the vessel as if it were the newest member of the crew. Te climbed back aboard, his grin unshakeable.
"Alright, now that we have a new friend, what's next?" Te asked, excitement still bubbling in his voice.