After standing silently for a while,
He withdrew his gaze from the distance, left the bow, and came to the open-air Sword Training Field on the second deck.
Most of the crew had gathered here, forming a circle as they curiously examined their peculiar new member—the Dream Mirage Grass.
This had been personally handed to Xiano by Old Link during last night's bonfire party, before he got completely drunk.
Its original true owner, Rocks, had long since passed away. After Xiano completely shattered the lingering Haki left by Rocks with his formidable Conqueror's Haki, this highly spiritual little thing seemed to regard him with awe and naturally accepted Xiano as its new master.
At that moment, Nami cautiously reached out a finger to poke its "cage."
Immediately, it snapped its leaves shut with a "snap," looking fierce as if it intended to swallow Nami's hand whole.
Startled, Nami let out a "wah" and withdrew her hand, hiding behind Nojiko.
"Hey, can you show us your ability?" Smoker found it amusing and leaned down, cigar in his mouth. "I'd like to see what kind of illusion can be so convincing."
The Dream Mirage Grass remained indifferent, even disdainfully turning its leaves away.
A vein visibly throbbed on Smoker's forehead.
What's with this attitude? It's just a plant!
"It seems it only listens to the Captain," Robin chuckled, looking up at Xiano as he approached. "Perhaps it believes only someone capable of erasing Rocks' will has the right to command it."
Xiano walked over and gently stroked the Dream Mirage Grass. It immediately nuzzled affectionately against his fingers, its leaves unfurling as it emitted a faint, dreamy glow.
"Remember these people on the ship—they're all your companions now," Xiano instructed. "If they want to borrow your ability for training, do your best to accommodate them, just like you did on Agatha Island. Understood?"
The Dream Mirage Grass nodded obediently.
"Who wants to try first?" Xiano glanced around.
Training within an illusion differed from reality in some aspects. For example, it wouldn't help much in improving physical strength.
However, the vast majority of other improvements—such as combat techniques, mastery of Devil Fruit abilities, tempering of willpower, and progress in Haki—could be carried over from the illusion to reality.
In essence,
With the Dream Mirage Grass, the ship now had an infinitely spacious, top-tier training ground.
The crew could enter the illusion at any time, training with full force without worrying about damaging the ship or accidentally harming their comrades. They could face their deepest fears and fight to their heart's content.
This training method was incredibly efficient.
"Boss, let me try it first," Smoker said, his eyes flashing as he stepped forward.
When he first joined the crew, his strength had easily placed him in the top three among the members. In fact, aside from Xiano, he could confidently take on anyone.
But now...
Excluding Nami, he was barely hovering around the average level. After entering the New World, the enemies they faced grew increasingly stronger, and the pressure gradually mounted.
Take the recent encounter with Vergo, for example. On Thunder God Island, they had fought three consecutive battles, each ending in a stalemate—neither could defeat the other.
In the end, as if unable to bear the humiliation, Vergo suddenly lashed out during dinner, snatching Smoker's Ten Hand and thrusting it toward Xiano's chest.
The outcome, of course, was never in doubt.
Xiano grabbed him like a chicken and casually snapped his neck.
Had they not known his true identity, the scene might have seemed tragic—a man fighting to the death, a Marine worthy of respect.
But everyone had already learned Vergo's true nature from Xiano.
Trying to seize an opportunity to kill the Captain and avenge that flamingo?
Smoker glanced at the crooked Ten Hand strapped to his back and couldn't help but feel exasperated…
"Alright, you go first." Xiano nodded, signaling the Dream Mirage Grass to prepare.
Smoker took a deep breath and strode forward.
"Remember, the illusion will generate opponents based on your deepest fears," Xiano reminded him. "Don't let it shake you."
"Don't worry, Boss. I've got nerves of steel—nothing scares me." Smoker grinned around his cigar. "Bring it on!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Dream Mirage Grass opened its mouth and exhaled a cloud of smoke, enveloping Smoker.
...
The surroundings twisted violently.
Smoker's vision darkened, and when he opened his eyes again, he found himself standing on a familiar training ground—the Marine Headquarters' training base.
The setting sun bathed the entire field in an orange glow.
"This is…" Smoker frowned, scanning his surroundings, when suddenly his pupils contracted.
Not far away, a towering figure stood with his back to him—broad-shouldered and imposing, arms crossed, his short purple hair swaying slightly in the wind.
"...Instructor?" Smoker's voice trembled slightly.
The figure slowly turned around, revealing none other than "Black Arm" Zefa—the former Marine Admiral and Smoker's most respected mentor.
Though it should have been a joyous reunion, Zefa's gaze was icy and unfamiliar, filled with deep disappointment.
"Smoker," Zefa's low voice rumbled. "I heard… you betrayed the Marines and joined the Pirates?"
Smoker's heart lurched, and he instinctively denied it. "No, I didn't! I just—"
"Just what?" Zefa sneered. "Just decided the Marines were too corrupt for you? So you threw in your lot with Pirates instead?"
"That's not it, Instructor!"
Smoker gritted his teeth. "The Marines do have serious problems, and I've been disappointed many times, but I've never betrayed my beliefs! The reason I chose to follow Boss Xiano is mainly because—"
"Silence!"
Zefa roared in fury, stomping the ground so hard the entire training field shattered beneath him.
"Pirates are Pirates! There's no difference—don't try to justify it! Smoker, I once saw you as the future of the Marines. You've let me down, you disgrace!"
Boom!
Zefa's figure blurred as he closed the distance in an instant, his pitch-black right arm wreathed in terrifying Armament Haki, smashing toward Smoker—
...
Back in reality.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on Smoker's face.
This guy... From the moment he entered the illusion, his pupils immediately contracted, his face twitched violently, cold sweat dripped continuously from his forehead, and his breathing became rapid.
The fear and panic were obvious to anyone.
"What did he see to get scared like this?"
Nami tiptoed and curiously waved her hand in front of Smoker's face. "Hey, Smoker, can you hear me? Smoker?"
Naturally, Smoker didn't respond at all.
"Stop messing around, Nami."
Nojiko pulled her back. "If you're curious, why don't you try it yourself?"
No way!
Nami immediately took a few steps back. She had little motivation to grow stronger in the first place—she had come to the second floor to watch everyone else's reactions. Becoming the joke herself wouldn't be funny.
"Let me give it a try too." A soft voice spoke up.
Everyone turned their heads in unison—the one who had spoken was none other than Robin.
"The one I fear the most... I think everyone can guess who it is."
Robin took off the sunglasses on her forehead and hung them on her chest, lowering her eyes slightly as she murmured, "Thanks to the Captain... I managed to crawl out of that dark, fearful abyss."
Her fingers unconsciously traced the frame of the glasses before she lifted her head and smiled at the Dream Mirage Grass.
"But I know that fear still lurks in my heart. Since there's an opportunity now, I want to face it myself."
"This time, I want to rely on my own strength to completely dispel that shadow."
Xiano turned his head and met her gaze. He didn't say anything, but he grinned.
As if encouraged, Robin's expression grew resolute. She stepped forward and stood before the Dream Mirage Grass.
The plant immediately spewed out a puff of mist.
Robin froze in place as well.
"Let me take a look inside."
Xiano patted the Dream Mirage Grass, grasped one of its leaves, and followed Robin into her illusion.
As its owner, he possessed higher-level permissions—like a manager holding a key, he could enter others' dreams, observe, and even intervene if necessary.
As the mist before him cleared, what he saw was an island engulfed in raging flames. In the pitch-black night, Robin stood with her back to him, her body stiff and trembling.
And in the distance, a man draped in a Justice cloak, his hair slightly disheveled, walked forward step by step, hands in his pockets, his expression indifferent...
"So it's you, Aokiji."
Xiano clicked his tongue and silently withdrew. He then took a glance at Smoker's illusion—what he saw there surprised him.
Zefa, huh...
He mentally sorted through the timeline.
By now, Zefa had already experienced the attack by Whitebeard Jr. several years prior, where nearly all his students were slaughtered and he himself lost an arm.
But he hadn't yet modified his prosthetic into a mechanical arm embedded with Sea Stone, nor had he left the Marines to become a Pirate... That would happen five years later, a year after the Summit War, when Whitebeard Jr. joined the Warlords of the Sea.
Still, the old man's disappointment and resentment toward the Marines hadn't built up overnight—Whitebeard Jr. joining the Warlords was merely the final trigger.
In other words, the current Zefa was already a potential candidate worth recruiting.
Xiano took note of this matter in his heart. After watching with great interest as Zefa pummeled Smoker for a while, he withdrew first and returned to reality.
Xiano glanced at the Dream Mirage Grass.
These world-class powerhouses could simulate abilities and Haki to a considerable extent. Achieving this level already satisfied him greatly.
Truly a divine tool for nurturing cadres.
Unfortunately, it couldn't help him. For his training, he still had to hammer away at the Poneglyphs.
The illusions—whether Zefa, Aokiji, or Rocks whom he had shattered with Conqueror's Haki just yesterday—were all far from the true strength of their real counterparts.
For top-tier powerhouses like him who stood at the world's pinnacle, every aspect—Haki, physique, willpower, conviction—was essential in battle. The Dream Mirage Grass couldn't perfectly replicate such beings.
Creatures that could be shattered in a few punches offered no real pressure.
However.
Xiano was also curious—what would he see if he entered his own illusion?
He voluntarily deactivated the Brain Shut Technique, allowing the Dream Mirage Grass to spray a mist at him. Truthfully, even he didn't know what his deepest fear might be.
Fear?
To be honest.
Since awakening Conqueror's Haki, he hadn't felt such an emotion in a long time.
Even during his time at Toll Island or Water Seven, facing monstrous foes far stronger than himself who radiated killing intent, he never felt fear—only an instinctive battle lust and excitement.
Whoosh~
The mist enveloped him.
The scenery before Xiano abruptly distorted, turning into a blank white void. The image remained static for a long time without any movement.
Bored, he was on the verge of losing patience when—
The scene finally shifted. A salty sea breeze brushed his face, and he felt fine sand beneath his feet. Looking down, Xiano realized he was now standing on the beach of Cocoyasi Village's docks.
Glancing toward the village, he saw a familiar wooden house in the distance, smoke curling from its chimney, coconut trees rustling in the wind.
And when he turned around, a towering, unmistakable figure stood before him—one he'd seen countless times in dreams...
"Pathetic, insignificant humans!"
Arlong spread his arms, baring his teeth in a wild laugh. "Listen well! From now on, this island shall be ruled by the Arlong Pirate Crew! Shaahahaha—!!!"
Boom!
A black torrent shot forth. In an instant, Arlong's body exploded into countless fragments.
Xiano retracted his index finger, his face dark.
What nonsense was this? Dragging up relics from which era?!
At least others faced fears like Aokiji or Zefa. What standing did this purple-skinned shark have to sit at the same table?
Sigh.
He exhaled melancholically, exited the illusion, and headed toward the training room housing the Poneglyph.
As expected, there was nothing left in this world that could frighten him now.
Better to focus on diligently training his Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist.
...
Three days later.
The drizzling rain had continued since morning, and in the blurred visibility, the outline of the next island finally appeared in the distance.
Nojiko, atop the lookout tower, immediately notified everyone. The crew members gradually emerged from the ship's cabins.
During this period, almost everyone except Nami had been training using the Dream Mirage Grass, each progressing at different rates, though no one had yet managed to shatter their fears.
That sort of thing wasn't something easily accomplished.
Xiano had just stepped out of the training room. After a quick shower, he made his way to the bow of the ship, letting the raindrops soak his black hair as his gaze pierced through the misty haze, looking into the distance.
A bustling port city gradually came into view.
It was a town of pure black, with nearly all its buildings constructed from dark stone, appearing solemn and mysterious under the curtain of rain.
At its highest point, a towering black spire stretched into the sky. The streets were crowded with people—locals who, strangely enough, were all dressed in black clothing and carried black umbrellas.
"Blackstone City?" Robin walked up beside Xiano, holding an umbrella, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. "I didn't expect to encounter it here."
"You know this island?"
"Mhm."
Robin nodded. "One of the New World's famous trade hubs, renowned for its durable black stone. It was once under Golden Lion's control, but after his capture, chaos ensued for a while. Over a decade ago, the Whitebeard Pirates announced they were taking over, and it's since regained its prosperity and stability."
"Whitebeard, huh…"
Xiano narrowed his eyes. At the top of that towering black spire, he could faintly make out a black Jolly Roger fluttering in the wind.
It reminded him of Fish-Man Island—back then, he had even made a promise with Marco to visit the Moby Dick and meet Whitebeard.
Unfortunately, the sea was vast, and he still hadn't crossed paths with Whitebeard's crew.
I wonder if any of Whitebeard's officers are stationed on this island… Just as the thought crossed his mind, Nojiko suddenly cried out from the crow's nest above:
"Brother! Look at the seven o'clock direction—that ship, the pattern on its sails is… is…!"
Hm?
Xiano followed her line of sight and spotted a rather eye-catching pirate ship docked at the far left of the harbor.
What made it stand out was its deep red hull, with the two largest white sails bearing a massive, unmistakable skull emblem—crossed swords behind it, a red scar over the left eye, and a red serpent with bull horns as the figurehead.
"It's the Red Hair Pirates."
Xiano's lips slowly curled into a grin.
The ship before him was unmistakably the flagship of the Red Hair Pirates. In the entire Red Hair Fleet, only one man had the right to command this vessel—
Red-Haired Shanks himself!
Behind him, Nami, still in her pajamas and drowsily clutching Gatomon, stepped out just in time to catch the expression on Xiano's face.
Was it just her imagination…?
She couldn't help but feel that her big brother was smiling—and smiling quite happily at that?
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