ONE PIECE: THE GREAT VOYAGE

Moreover, Brad had also consumed a Devil Fruit, allowing him to clearly compare his physical training progress with that of other Devil Fruit users.

Seeing the calm, unwavering light in Caesar's eyes, Brad's heart wavered slightly.

Caesar was the only one who had kept his distance from him after that incident.

And he seemed to know the origins of that fruit.

In that case, training together was the best option.

"Alright."

He nodded firmly, a broad smile spreading across his face.

A week had passed.

He and Brad sat opposite each other, locking their ankles as they performed sit-ups.

The definition in their abdominal muscles was becoming increasingly prominent.

Caesar paused for a moment. As he reflected on his progress, he could clearly see the changes in his body over the past week.

He had already confirmed it—his memory was extraordinary.

Every bit of information he had intentionally or unintentionally absorbed in his past life was neatly cataloged in his mind.

His brain functioned like a vast library, storing everything he had ever encountered. When needed, he could extract knowledge simply by inputting a mental keyword.

This was an invaluable advantage for his training and studies.

After completing three sets of sit-ups, the two rested back-to-back.

Their bodies were at ease, but their minds remained active.

Now that he had recognized the sheer potential of his memory, he wouldn't waste it. He planned to make full use of everything he had ever learned—including the martial arts techniques he had once studied through countless videos.

Even in his free time, he had absorbed knowledge of physical training, martial arts, and boxing.

With this, he would develop a combat style perfectly suited for this era—one that could maximize his strength.

He took elements from Shaolin Kung Fu's powerful strikes, the fluid movements of Tai Chi, and the close-combat techniques of Wing Chun.

From them, he would forge a body technique that was easy to learn yet highly effective.

Superb Memory—The Awakening of Observation Haki!

"Too slow."

Smack!

"Still too slow."

Caesar raised his arms, letting Brad kick at them repeatedly.

This was a training method adapted from Taekwondo—high kicks, spinning kicks, and rapid striking movements.

"Argh!"

Smack!

Brad gritted his teeth, putting his full strength into his next kick.

Finally, Caesar's arm took a slight impact.

Brad exhaled sharply, relieved.

A few days ago, Caesar had introduced him to a new training regimen—one filled with bizarre but powerful movements.

It was undeniably effective, but the difficulty level was overwhelming. Even with the strength boost granted by his Devil Fruit, his raw combat skills were lacking.

"Switch."

Caesar patted Brad on the shoulder, signaling the next phase.

Without hesitation, Brad activated his Zoan-type Devil Fruit ability—transforming into a massive saber-toothed tiger.

Caesar spun and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick straight to the beast's head.

Nothing.

No reaction whatsoever.

Caesar gritted his teeth and kicked again, harder this time.

Smack!

His foot stung red from the impact, but the saber-toothed tiger remained unshaken.

It was like trying to dent steel with bare hands.

Impossible.

His frustration mounted as he analyzed the sheer density of the Zoan's muscles.

He took several steps back.

"Alright… let's try this again."

With the full momentum of a charging army, he lunged forward.

"Haah!"

His left leg scraped the ground, leaving a deep footprint in the dirt.

"Argh!"

His right foot crashed against the saber-toothed tiger's thick hide.

For a brief second, all he felt was searing pain coursing through his leg.

He clenched his jaw, bracing himself.

At first, it seemed like another failed attempt.

But then—

The massive saber-toothed tiger shifted slightly to the left.

Just a little.

But even that small movement was proof of progress.

"Yes!"

Brad immediately reverted to his human form, his eyes gleaming.

"It's only been three days, and you already managed to move my Zoan form!"

Caesar, still nursing his aching leg, let out a relieved breath.

Then, a grin spread across his face.

"Finally… some progress."

Brad puffed his cheeks in frustration, staring at Caesar.

"Ugh, you're so annoying! It took me three whole days just to land a hit on your arm!"

Caesar waved a hand dismissively.

"That's just because my base physical strength is a little higher than yours."

After a short rest, the two sprinted deeper into the forest.

"Let's see who gets there first!"

Brad took off running before Caesar could react.

Caesar hesitated for a second—then dashed after him.

The Wild Test—Facing Death in the Forest

Deep within the jungle, they arrived at the crocodile pond.

The waters were teeming with monstrous reptiles.

Sometimes, when hunger struck, they would attempt to drag a crocodile out as food.

But the risk was enormous. At their current strength, they couldn't hope to face these creatures head-on—except for Brad, when in his saber-toothed tiger form.

Excitedly, Brad stepped forward.

"Brad!"

Caesar's voice rang out, laced with urgency.

A shiver ran down his spine.

Cold sweat formed on his skin.

Observation Haki.

The ability to sense the presence of hidden dangers.

Through it, he instantly detected something lurking nearby.

And it wasn't just one creature.

A deep, guttural growl echoed through the trees.

A gray wolf emerged from the dense foliage.

Brad froze, his entire body trembling.

"W-Wolf…?"

Panic gripped his voice.

He seemed to be holding back a scream, afraid the sound would provoke the beast.

Caesar's expression darkened.

Wolves were pack hunters.

If one was here, the others weren't far behind.

His sharp gaze darted around, confirming his fears.

Behind the lead wolf, a shadowy mass began to form—more wolves were gathering.

He took a deep breath.

This was no time for fear.

"Brad."

His voice was calm but firm.

"You're a saber-toothed tiger. What are you scared of?"

Brad's pupils shook violently. His voice wavered.

"T-That's different…"

His instincts as a human—a child—couldn't simply be ignored.

These were real, living threats.

Caesar stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Brad.

There was no way he would die here.

He had dreams to fulfill.

He aimed to conquer the seas.

Dying to a pack of wild animals? That was unthinkable.

His thoughts sharpened.

His determination solidified.

"Roar!"

The wolf, sensing Caesar's lack of fear, lunged forward.

Caesar's eyes locked onto its movement.

His Observation Haki flared.

And in that moment—he was ready.