"Four hundred ninety-seven."
"Four hundred ninety-eight."
"Four hundred ninety-nine."
"Five hundred!"
Shirayama counted quietly, and as he reached five hundred, his body surged with energy. A white energy wave radiated from his back, lifting the massive boulder before gently placing it on the ground.
Crack! Crack!
Shirayama stood up, stretched his arms, and his entire body erupted in a symphony of sharp, rhythmic pops—like a finely tuned orchestra.
"Physical strength is all well and good, but without proper techniques, it's still a waste," he mused. "If I join the Navy, I could learn the Rokushiki techniques. Now that would be a game-changer."
"And of course, there's the pinnacle of combat mastery—Haki, the three great colors. I'd love to learn those. Too bad nobody in the first half of the Grand Line seems to know them."
"But as I am now, I don't have the strength to venture into the New World. A random natural disaster could easily end me," he thought, shaking his head.
"No point worrying about that yet. For now, I'll focus on mastering what I have."
Shirayama's energy fruit had enormous potential, and he had already charted a path for its development.
"Increasing speed and power—like Kizaru's light-speed kicks—that's the goal. And as for offensive techniques, energy cannons and waves will be my primary focus. Aerial mobility with energy wings could also be invaluable in a world dominated by the sea."
"Yeah, this is the way forward," Shirayama muttered, his eyes alight with determination. "If I push hard enough, reaching a level comparable to Kizaru's might not be a pipe dream."
As he spoke, white tendrils of energy sprouted from his back, carving intricate patterns into the ground beneath him with precision.
The sound of energy cutting into the earth was sharp and grating, producing an ear-piercing screech that caused Aki, standing behind him, to clasp her hands over her ears in pain.
"Ah, sorry about that," Shirayama said, snapping out of his focus. He stood up and gave her an apologetic smile.
"It's fine. I'm the one intruding on your training," Aki replied, her cheeks flushing as she lowered her gaze.
For a moment, neither of them knew what to say, and an awkward silence fell between them.
"Good morning, young hero!"
The silence was broken by an elderly voice. Shirayama turned to see the village chief approaching with slow, deliberate steps.
"Good morning, Chief!"Shirayama greeted him with a smile, relieved by the interruption.
"I hope you'll pardon this early intrusion," the chief said, his tone humble. "I've come with a request, though I fear it might be too much to ask."
Shirayama could see the hopeful yet weary look in the old man's eyes and immediately understood what he was about to ask.
"Chief, you must know that I can't stay here forever," Shirayama said gently.
The chief's hopeful expression faltered, and his shoulders sagged. "I understand," he said with a heavy sigh.
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