In the following days, the ship slowly traversed the sea, surrounded by silence.
The ocean waves rose and fell, as if echoing the mood of everyone on board, a calm that subtly contained a force about to erupt.
Sengoku and the other injured marines quietly stayed in the ship's sickbay, their injuries having been treated promptly, but the weakness and pain in their bodies remained ever-present.
Whenever the night was quiet, Sengoku would unconsciously clutch his chest, the pain making his eyes hollow and deep, as if an unfillable emptiness was constantly spreading in his heart.
Garp, on the other hand, stayed by Sengoku's bedside every day, gently urging him to rest more, while Tsuru often stood quietly at the bow, gazing into the distance, her mood heavy.
Even without words, everyone knew that the upcoming situation would be more complex and dangerous than they had anticipated.
Jin, as the sole commander on the ship, did not allow this heavy atmosphere to affect his determination.
He still maintained his daily training routine, using the limited time to study the mysteries of power.
To improve his strength as much as possible, Jin stayed in a corner of the cabin every day, silently tempering himself.
Through meticulous meditation, he searched for the boundaries of his body and mind, and then broke through them again and again.
Every drop of sweat slid from his forehead, every deep breath was like compressing time, forcing himself to grow rapidly.
He stood in the corner of the cabin, closed his eyes, and sensed the surrounding fluctuations.
That strong sense of crisis still lingered in his mind, like an approaching ghost.
He knew that Imu, Blackbeard, and the shadows of the World Government always loomed over them, and he could only confront these terrible enemies head-on by constantly becoming stronger.
On such a dark and windy night, Jin finally woke up from his meditation, his face covered in sweat.
He slowly got up, gently rubbed his neck, and his bones made a slight cracking sound.
Looking up at the window, the stars twinkled, and the moonlight sprinkled on the deck of the ship like a thin veil.
Although feeling a little tired, a resolute determination shone in Jin's eyes.
He knew that he could no longer be as arrogant as before, but must desperately pursue strength like these old marines to protect the people around him.
Just then, the cabin door was gently pushed open, and Garp stood at the door, holding a cup of hot tea in his hand.
"Still training so late?"
Garp looked at Jin, his eyes filled with helplessness and relief,
"You kid, you're really pushing yourself.
Take a rest, there are no problems on the ship."
Jin stopped his movements when he heard this and smiled slightly:
"Training is necessary, Uncle Garp.
The situation will be more complicated next, if I don't improve myself, how will I deal with the challenges ahead?"
Garp did not respond directly, but walked into the cabin, placed the teacup on the table next to Jin, and said softly:
"Some things cannot rely on strength alone; wisdom is equally important."
His eyes revealed a hint of profound meaning, as if warning Jin not to rely solely on brute force.
Jin picked up the teacup, took a light sip, and the heat rose from the rim of the cup, warming his cheeks.
He looked down at the tea, his eyes gradually becoming deep, pondering Garp's meaning.
Yes, he knew that mere strength was not enough to deal with the situation ahead, especially against existences like Imu and Blackbeard, whose power and wisdom far surpassed ordinary people.
"I understand."
Jin nodded gently, put down the teacup, and a flash of determination flashed in his eyes,
"But strength is our most direct weapon; no matter what, I must use it to the extreme."
These few days of peace were temporary, and everyone knew that the real storm was far from arriving.
And Jin, finally found his inner persistence and determination on this calm sea.
The next day, the sky was just beginning to brighten, and there was still a layer of mist on the sea. Jin stood at the bow, watching the distant horizon.
The breeze blew, stirring his hair and clothes, bringing a fresh scent.
He took a deep breath, feeling the power from the sea, and the natural aura made him feel a trace of peace.
On this morning, the sea was still shrouded in a layer of mist, and the first ray of dawn broke through from the distant horizon, shining on the deck of the ship.
The air was fresh, and the slightly salty sea breeze gently caressed Jin's face.
He stood at the bow, holding the railing, staring at the rising sun, his thoughts drifting on this calm sea.
Suddenly, a steady sound of footsteps broke the silence.
Jin came back to his senses and turned to look.
He saw Garp walking over, his steps light but with a steady aura that was inconsistent with his age, his face wearing that familiar, confident smile.
"What are you planning to do to me today?"
Jin smiled slightly, his eyes with a trace of anticipation.
He had already noticed that Garp's eyes contained some kind of determination, and it seemed that this time it was not a casual teaching as in the past, but a deeper purpose.
Garp did not answer immediately, but walked to the bow, stood beside Jin, and looked up at the rising sun.
His face still wore that confident smile, but there was a long-lost solemnity in his eyes.
"Today, I'm going to teach you something."
Garp said softly, his tone mixed with a hint of seriousness.
Jin was slightly stunned, he looked directly at Garp, a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes:
"What?"
"Haki."
Garp's voice was low and powerful,
"I'm going to teach you what I'm most proud of."
Haki?
Jin's heart stirred.
Haki is one of the most powerful forces in the pirate world, rumored to give ordinary people the ability to defeat the strong.
And Garp, as a legendary figure in the Navy, has an unquestionable level of Haki training.
Although Jin had heard various legends about Garp's Haki, he had never truly experienced it.
At this time, a feeling of anticipation arose in his heart.
"I know you are training, but Haki, especially Haki like mine, is something that cannot be replaced in your current power system."
Garp continued, his words containing his years of experience and accumulation,
"You already have great potential, but you still lack a force that can break through the limits, and Haki is the most critical part of it."
Jin listened to Garp's words, and his heart gradually calmed down.
He understood that Garp's words were not just simple teaching, but a beginning to lead him from a layman to a completely new level.
This was a transformation of heart and strength, and it was a necessary path for him to become strong.
"I know."
Jin nodded, a flash of determination in his eyes,
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Uncle."
Garp smiled slightly and raised his hand to pat Jin on the shoulder:
"Don't worry, I will lead you to understand step by step."
...
