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The morning sun poured over the deck of the Elysian, the salty breeze carrying a quiet determination through the air. Rael leaned on the railing, watching the waves roll past, his eyes half-closed like he was just enjoying the view. But his ears had already caught the sound of footsteps approaching behind him.
"Rael," Vivi's voice was steady, but there was a stubborn edge in it. "We want to talk."
He turned his head slightly. Kaya and Robin stood behind her, all three of them wearing the same serious expression. It wasn't the look of someone asking for permission—it was the look of someone ready to push back.
"What is it?" Rael asked, his tone calm but curious.
Vivi crossed her arms. "We want you to train us."
Rael raised an eyebrow. "Train you? I've been teaching you some basics already."
"That's not enough," Kaya said, her voice surprisingly firm. "You always end the fight before we can do anything. I'm… tired of feeling useless."
Robin's eyes narrowed, not in anger but in agreement. "It's not about pride. It's about not being dead weight. We've seen the kind of enemies chasing you… and us. If we can't stand beside you, then we're liabilities."
Rael studied them for a moment. He could hear the faint hitch in Kaya's breathing, the iron determination in Vivi's heartbeat, and the calm steadiness in Robin's. They weren't saying this for his approval—they were saying it because they'd already decided.
"Do you even understand what you're asking for?" Rael asked. "I don't fight the way most pirates or marines do. My training will break you before it makes you stronger."
Vivi stepped forward. "Then break us."
That made Rael smirk faintly. "Heh. You've got guts, princess." He looked at Robin. "And you?"
Robin's lips curved into the smallest of smiles. "You've seen my past. You know I don't scare easily."
"And you, Kaya?" Rael asked, his gaze softening just slightly.
Kaya swallowed but didn't look away. "If I don't do this… I'll never forgive myself."
For a long moment, the only sound was the sea. Then Rael straightened up, pushing away from the railing.
"Fine. But you follow my rules."
"What rules?" Vivi asked.
Rael's expression turned deadly serious. "Rule one: you fight to win, not to look good doing it. Rule two: if I tell you to run, you run. Rule three…" His voice lowered. "Never hesitate. Hesitation is the fastest way to die."
The girls nodded, each of them absorbing the weight of his words.
"Alright," Rael said, stepping to the center of the deck. "Let's see what you can do."
The First Test
Rael tossed Vivi a wooden training blade, handed Kaya a pair of short sticks, and gestured for Robin to use her Devil Fruit powers.
"You have ten seconds to land a hit on me," Rael said casually. "If you can't, you'll run laps around the ship until I get bored."
"Only ten seconds?" Kaya asked.
Rael smirked. "You won't need more than five to fail."
Vivi didn't waste time arguing. "Robin!"
Robin's arms bloomed from the deck, reaching for Rael's ankles. Kaya darted forward at the same time, trying to close the distance while Vivi swung the wooden blade in a precise arc.
Rael didn't even move from his spot—he just shifted his weight slightly, sidestepping Robin's hands, letting Kaya's swing pass inches from his shirt. Vivi came from the other side, her slash aiming for his ribs—only for Rael to tilt his head and let the blade pass harmlessly.
"Seven seconds," he said, glancing at an imaginary clock.
Kaya tried to feint left before going right, but Rael caught one of her sticks between two fingers and flicked it out of her hand. Robin summoned another set of arms to grab his wrists, but he twisted effortlessly, using her own strength to pull her off-balance. Vivi aimed for his knee, but Rael lifted his foot just enough for her strike to hit empty air.
"Time," Rael said.
The three of them were panting, glaring at him.
"You fight like you expect me to slow down for you," Rael said. "I won't. Neither will anyone else who wants your head."
"Then make us faster," Vivi said, brushing her hair back.
Rael gave a sharp nod. "Again. But this time… don't think. Move."
Hours Passed
The sun climbed high and began its slow descent. By the time Rael called for a break, the girls were drenched in sweat, their arms and legs aching from countless failed attempts to touch him. But they were faster now—less hesitant, more willing to commit to their attacks.
Kaya collapsed onto the deck, breathing heavily. "Do… you enjoy… making people suffer?"
Rael crouched beside her. "If I enjoyed it, you'd be bleeding."
"That's comforting," she muttered, rolling onto her back.
Robin leaned against the mast, her expression thoughtful. "You're teaching us to think less in a fight."
Rael nodded. "Instinct over hesitation. You'll still plan, but in the heat of battle, you won't have time to second-guess yourself. That's the difference between someone who survives… and someone whose crew buries them."
Vivi drank from her canteen, still catching her breath. "And how long until we're ready?"
Rael looked at each of them in turn. "That depends on how badly you want to be."
A Looming Presence
As the Elysian drifted toward the next island, Rael's gaze turned toward the horizon. His senses prickled—someone was watching. Not just watching… tracking.
"They're still here," he muttered under his breath.
Robin noticed. "Who?"
Rael didn't answer directly. Instead, his lips curved into a small, dangerous smile. "If they think I haven't noticed, they're in for a surprise."
"What will you do?" Vivi asked quietly.
Rael looked back at her, his eyes cold. "Warn them… once."
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