Chapter 57: The Sea King Attacks

The massive warship raced across the sea at an astonishing speed, propelled by the strong ocean winds.

"2000... I've done 2000 push-ups..." a young, exhausted voice weakly reported.

Kuzan nodded, impressed. The boy he had chosen was indeed remarkable, finishing earlier than expected.

"Good job. Now, let's move on to the next part of the training."

Doflamingo, his hands trembling, struggled to flip himself over onto his back. He groaned bitterly, "Can I... refuse?"

His arms felt like they no longer belonged to him. If he kept going, he was sure he'd die...

"Doffy, you need to believe in yourself. It's just 2000 push-ups. We're barely getting started. I know you can handle the next part of the training," Kuzan encouraged.

He had been training alongside Doflamingo, but with several times the intensity. For Kuzan, this was barely a warm-up.

"Keep it up, Doffy. I believe in you..." Renji chimed in, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

The more the kid suffered, the more Renji enjoyed it. Watching others struggle was his specialty.

Doflamingo didn't even have the strength to lift his hand, so he simply ignored Renji and focused on catching his breath.

"Next up is climbing the mast. I can't wait to see how you handle that," Renji said mercilessly, gesturing toward the 40-meter-tall mast.

"Huh?"

Doflamingo stared at the mast, which seemed to stretch all the way to the sky, and exclaimed, "I think I'm going to die today..."

"..."

But just then, something unexpected happened...

"ROAR!!!"

A deafening roar erupted, shaking the entire warship and everyone on board. It sounded like a cry from the depths of hell.

The Marines exchanged terrified glances, their faces pale with fear.

In that moment, the sea seemed to transform into a monstrous beast, hiding unimaginable threats beneath its surface.

The oppressive force of the roar felt like an invisible mountain pressing down on everyone's chests, making it hard to breathe.

"What's going on? Is it a Sea King passing by?"

The warship was sailing dangerously close to the Calm Belt, and they knew there was a chance of encountering the massive Sea Kings that inhabited the area.

"Find out where that sound is coming from!" the navigator commanded.

The lookout immediately grabbed his telescope and scanned the horizon, but all he saw were turbulent waves and endless water. There was no sign of anything unusual.

Yet, the presence of the monster didn't need to be seen to instill fear. The unknown was always the most terrifying.

A young Marine pointed a trembling finger toward the distance, stammering, "S-something's... under the ship!"

His voice shook, and it seemed like his mental defenses were on the verge of collapsing.

The navigator's expression turned grave. He took a deep breath and tried to sound calm. "Prepare to change course! Everyone, battle stations!"

The Marines sprang into action, their movements hurried but orderly.

Weapons were quickly checked, defensive measures were deployed, and everyone braced themselves for the potential danger.

The atmosphere on the ship was tense and solemn, with everyone's nerves stretched to the limit, ready to face whatever threat might emerge from the depths.

"Stay calm. Turn the ship around and head in the opposite direction," Renji's steady voice reassured everyone on board.

His calm demeanor was like a lifeline for the Marines, helping them focus on their tasks.

The ship quickly changed course, trying to escape the dangerous area.

But the sea, as if angered by the monster's presence, became wild and turbulent. Waves crashed against the ship, making it difficult to navigate.

"A Sea King is just a big fish causing trouble under the water. If it dares to show itself, Captain Renji will take care of it easily!" one of the Marines shouted, trying to dispel the fear in their hearts.

The ship rocked violently with the waves, and the crew struggled to maintain their balance as they fought to keep the ship steady.

"CRASH!!!"

The waves, like towering walls, slammed into the ship repeatedly. Seawater sprayed like blades against the hull, creating a deafening noise.

The ship struggled to push through the turbulent waves, its progress slow and arduous. The bow was frequently submerged by massive waves, while the stern was tossed violently, threatening to throw everyone overboard.

As the ship rocked wildly, a massive shadow broke through the surface of the water, soaring into the sky.

"SPLASH!!!"

The Sea King crashed back into the sea, creating a wave hundreds of meters high. Seawater poured down like a torrential rain.

"Hold on! Steady!!!"

The Marines shouted, their voices filled with determination as they faced the colossal wave, acutely aware of how small and insignificant they were in comparison.

"That thing is bigger than most islands..." Doflamingo muttered, his mouth agape. "I told you, every time we go out with Renji, something bad happens!"

"Tsk tsk, what a big guy."

Just as everyone was on the verge of giving up, a calm and reassuring voice broke through the chaos.

Hearing this voice, the Marines' panic subsided, and they instinctively turned toward the source.

There stood Renji, holding his sword, calmly observing the massive Sea King.

The Marines silently watched their captain, a sense of pride swelling in their hearts. They believed that as long as Renji was there, they could overcome any challenge, even this colossal beast.

"I know you possess intelligence rivaling that of humans," Renji said slowly. "Leave now, and I'll let this slide."

The Sea King looked down at the tiny human before it, filled with disdain. It had roamed the Calm Belt for years, bringing despair to countless people. This was the first time it had encountered someone so fearless.

"Seems like you're not interested in my offer," Renji said, shaking his head in disappointment. "Such a big head, but not much brain, huh?"

"Would there be any negative consequences if I killed this thing?" Renji asked, turning to the crew.

His words stunned everyone. To them, the monster was an insurmountable threat, but to Renji, it was nothing more than prey.

"Captain Renji, please take care of it. We're no match for this Sea King," Kuzan said, his voice steady.

Kuzan was one of the few who wasn't afraid of the Sea King, but even he knew he was powerless against such a creature.

But before Kuzan could finish speaking, he felt a blur before his eyes. When he regained focus, Renji was already gone...

"Captain Renji!"

Kuzan was startled. He knew Renji was a Devil Fruit user, and they were in the middle of the ocean. If Renji fell into the water, it would be over...

...

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