Only a few hours later. Leroy, Eliza, and her sisters sat on the main entrance to Cyprus. Waiting for none other than Zeke.
Who broke through the water. Walking up the sandy shore as he rubbed his hand through his hair. Shaking the sea water from it.
"Did…Did you Swim, through the calm belt?" He looked at Zeke with a look of utter bewilderment as the man pulled a towel out of a bag and dried his face off. Slipping on a loose cotton shit.
"Hello Eliza." Zeke nodded to the Empress first before turning to Leroy. "And yes I did. If it wasn't for that Devil Fruit of yours. You'd be able to swim no problem through the calm belt if you were as tough as me." He former pirate smiled
"Wow…" Red Sash breath a sigh of astonishment.
"Well! Ready to get going?" Zeke cocked a brow.
With a deep breath. Leroy nodded fast and hard "Yes! Yes I am! I got all the clothes I need. And-"
"I made bento boxes for him to grow real big and strong!" Eliza did a twirl and showed off the rice filled bento with sashimi coated in soy sauce
Leroy sighed and nodded. A smile on his face "Yes. She was very insistent about this part. And it looks good!"
"Hahaha. No worries." He raised a hand to reassure the two "More food to the better. You're diet will be planned and prepped for you. But you'll also have to do some harvesting and foraging yourself…"
The Captain gave a smile. He was excited!
It wasn't much time at all until Leroy and Zeke loaded up everything. Eliza, her Sister, and some of the girls waved them off and Zeke pulled the rip cord. The boat motoring off into the distance.
They were headed to an island that Zeke had been visiting every year for the Last 50 years. It was a strange island. It took a few hours until it was around 7 pm, Sun lowering in the sky, dazzling the blue into a mix of vibrant purples and orange.
The Island that came over the horizon. Was Large. Unique. It wad enormous peaks of mountains, and was filled with oak like trees that were enormous. Rocks jagged and sharp stuck out of the sea like a natural reef barrier.
The Island was known as Nomanis Island.
80 KM in size. A full strange jagged mountain range. And strange plants that were dull and hard in appearance. From Palm trees with large nuts that were like Iron Balls. Deep trenches in the ground. Grass spread across the surface while other parts were just harsh rock of a strange burgundy.
Pulling the boat up. Leroy and Zeke departed.
"Now. I should Explain to you. That it will not be only us training on this island. I've also gathered two other friends of mine to really cultivate you into the Pirate you wish to be. They walled under a canopy. The vines like steel cables, twisted and braided together.
Right into the fist clearing. There was a…Cabin of Sorts. Large and impressive. But very Traditional in its look. "A…Cabin?" Leroy questioned
"Yep. Built it here myself. I used this island to train for years. It was my work out. And kept me Sharp. But for you and the next 4 years. It'll be your home."
"Heheh…eh…" He gave a nervous laugh.Walking around the cabin. There was a fire pit. And around the fire, was two men. Sitting around. One of them was dark skinned. With impressive heft and muscularity to his body. Face round. With a small mustache beneath his nose. His hair bald. Wide framed glasses on his broad nose
Across from him was a man who was on the opposite side of the Spectrum. He was wiry, and as opposed to the large mans simple tee and sweats. This man wore a more formal attire. A simple collared vest that was short sleeve. Wearing shorts with many pockets across them. His face was thin, with a large bushy beard that was greying. Slicked back hair. And strong cheeks
Most of all. There was a…Full Gym around the out side of the Cabin. Freeweights like Dumbells, Plates, Bars, Racks. But also machines, cables, presses, pulleys, There was also what looked to be, and in fact were, large medicine balls and calisthenics weight tools
"Leroy. Meet your teachers." The two men stood up. Zeke walking to move between them. The Muscular man was head and shoulders above zeke. While the Bearded man was far shorter. Head and shoulders bellow
"This" He gestured to the large man "Is 'Big Mike Coal-Man' Arnie Felix. He will be your fitness trainer. He will be the one teaching you to lift, how much to lift, growing your muscles and body for power, hypertrophy and strength. I know quite a bit. But he basically invented modern ways to build the body."
"Coal-Man?" Leroy asked with a questioning smirk
"No worries man. I gotchu. This is why." He pulled out a small black lump. Put it between his hands. And in a single hand. Crushed it and immediately tossed it to Leroy. He quickly caught it in his hands. It was hot. But quickly cooled. It was…A diamond!
"Coal…to"
"Diamonds." Arnie finished Leroys sentence "You look like you'd be able to do that. No doubt. But I have the name cuz I did it when I was 14." Red Sashes eyes widened to saucers. "Huh."
"But like Zeke said. Imma be your Coach. Bit of info about me. I grew up skinny. But started working out at 12 religiously. Figuring it all out. I ain't no fighter. But I can give a thrash if I need. I'm 67. I grew up around Colorism and Racism. As I was raised amongst fishmen. A solidarity between them and those like me. With my silky complexion. Humans are weird ain't they? Can't hate Fishmen so they just hate on the next one that looks closet to them." He smiled a wide toothy smile as he thumbed his digits into his waist band
"Yeah I heard about that. People with Dark Skin are treated like other races. Though Rarely and its usually only the most extreme of Supremacist who believe the real humans are those of Stark Complexion and like those of the Dragons." Leroy stroked his chin
"Yep! Exactly. Its strange. But it happens. And unfortunately I got a brunt end of it and saw quiet a bit of it second hand. I'll help teach you some stuff if you'd want!"
"My navigator is a Koi Fishman. He's taught me some stuff and I learned about it with him. But we aren't experts. So absolutely! I'd love to learn!"
Arnie nodded slowly in a sense of pride "Good. Good."
Zeke then gestured to the smaller man. "This is Richie Fredrich. He's gonna be your political teacher."
"I'm Richie. Or Richard. I have been studying the social sciences and anthropology along with Sociology, economics, human societies, and politics for decades. While I am no where near qualified to write or expand any of those theories. I do however know how to teach it all and explain it. Let you come to your answers. I've read a lot about you Leroy. And your liberatory escapades. Along with your father and his Agitation Propaganda. Amazing stuff truely."
"Sweet! Gonna learn politics and pump Iron!" He bent forward with clenched fist.
"Also. I am 74. I grew up in the South Blue and watched the 30 years war push out the nobility and aristocracy and industrialist Lucherist grow and leave the South Blue Impoverished and stollen from"
"I don't know how to fight. But I do know how to argue and use my words like any gun."
Zeke then gestured to himself. "And of course. I'm Zeke. Or Ezekiel Hand. I will be your teacher in all other things. From survival, to combat, Haki, martial arts, and learning to apply your strength."
"Also just a heads up." Zeke picked up a dumbbell that looked to weigh on 30 pounds given its profile "Here."
He set it in Leroy's hand. And he lurched forward! The weight was far heavier than he had expected! "Woah! What is this made of!"
"Thats, Osmivol. Its a special alloy thats mixed with a chemical known as Tuong. And its 44,000 times denser than steel." He lifted the weight up
"This single weight looks like it weighs 35 Pounds. But in reality it weighs almost 35,000 tons."
"Wh-What?! THATS INSANE?! I think I can only lift like…A hundred thousand or something…I Mean I lifted a battleship but it took a ton out of me…Heh." He sweat a bead of nervousness
"Don't worry. You'll get far stronger than that. These weights will be your starters. Pushing your body into hypertrophy."
"All through out your body. Theres a connective tissue known as Omega Fascia. It connects and grows when normal muscle no longer can. And only activates when you normal muscles push past that and offset it on to them. Its what makes people despite their size be so incredibly strong and fast."
"And your Fascia grows, strengthens and shapes into the physique best suited for you."
This was so much information. So quickly! Out of nowhere! He couldn't understand it all. Well at least fully get it. But he understood well enough! This was going to be a long 4 years…But the best 4 years he could get with out those he loved around him
"Leroy. Come with me for a second. Theres one last thing I want to show you…"
Red Sash Followed after Zeke. Leaving the near perfect circular clearing. They traveled for some time. Walking in a straight line. Until it seemed like they were in the exact middle of the island. As they walked. Dodging and traversing the terrain, zeke explained
"This island. Nomanis. Is unique. Many years ago. Before I ever stepped foot on it. A Martial Artist by the name of Zhang gathered up animals all over the world. And put them all on this island. And forced evolution to explode."
"They're called Tosu Beast. They thrive on struggle. And have rapid healing and recovery rate."
"All the animals here are untold times stronger than even you. Let a single one of the critters out on a normal Island. And they'd lay waist to entire cities. Hollow out mountains. Destroy the land scape. And worse. They move laster than any normal bullet. Cannon, or missile. They're closer to astronomical bodies moving that typical animals."
Leroy looked at him with both fear and excitement! If he were younger he'd eat this up! But he'd matured. He knew these fights would be glorious. But not for fights sake. But for the skill and ability to grow! "Woah…"