While the human body does grow stronger through exercise, that typically happens after recovery—not during continuous exertion. Yet Nami had observed Ikki training for a full hour without a single pause, and throughout that time, his strength and speed had visibly increased rather than diminished.
"Want to know my secret?" Ikki asked, noticing her puzzled expression.
"Yes, I do!" Nami replied eagerly.
"It's because of this," Ikki smiled, pointing to the empty bottle on the counter nearby.
"That?" Nami glanced curiously at the container. "You mean drinking that liquid makes your power grow stronger during exercise?"
"Exactly. It's a nutritional potion I prepared using an exclusive formula that dramatically enhances the effects of training."
Ikki explained with a casual smile. He had already decided to take Nami as a partner—his navigator—and was even considering letting her use the Zanpakutō Gonryōmaru. For this reason, he didn't mind sharing some of his secrets with her.
"A potion like that exists in this world? Are you serious?" Nami asked skeptically.
"I have no reason to lie to you," Ikki assured her, patting her shoulder as he retrieved his clothes from a nearby hanger.
He walked out of the gym and approached the door of the Sword Enlightenment Room. Since he could no longer use the Nutritional Potion for today's training, he wanted to explore the other system-granted space.
Nami watched him go with a slight pout before following. As she entered the Sword Enlightenment Room, she glanced back through the doorway, confirming that she could still see the lockbox containing the Slip-Slip Fruit in the captain's cabin. With an internal sigh, she suppressed her disappointment and approached Ikki.
"Is this another training area?" she asked, looking around. "Why is there nothing here?"
Unlike the gym, the Sword Enlightenment Room was equally spacious but conspicuously empty. Apart from incandescent lights on the ceiling and a glass-enclosed arena in the center, the room contained nothing.
"This is the Sword Enlightenment Room," Ikki explained, "a space specifically designed for developing swordsmanship. In the future, it will also serve as a place where my companions can master their blade techniques."
After surveying the room, Ikki mentally contacted the system, focusing on his "Sky-Cutting Realm Challenge Permission."
[Ding! Host has been matched with a Sky-Cutting Realm swordsman opponent. Defeat him to advance your swordsmanship to the Sky-Cutting Realm.]
[Note: Sword Enlightenment Room opponents are masters of swordsmanship styles that Host has acquired.]
[Opponent: Kyojuro Rengoku]
[Life force: 2000, Level C]
[Swordsmanship Realm: Sky-Cutting Realm]
[Swordsmanship School: Flame Breathing]
[Special Ability: None]
[Does Host wish to use one challenge permission? Note: Host has permission to observe Kyojuro Rengoku's Sky-Cutting Realm swordsmanship techniques.]
'Kyojuro Rengoku?' Ikki's eyebrows rose in surprise. 'And he's mastered the Sky-Cutting Realm? Was the original Rengoku this powerful with 2,000 Life force, or has the system created an enhanced version?'
Ikki mentally assessed the gap between himself and his potential opponent: 'My Life force is at 1600, and my swordsmanship is one level below his. However, I have Junior Armament Haki and Junior Observation Haki as special abilities. If I use Sun Breathing—the most powerful technique—or Thunder Breathing for its superior speed, I should have a chance.'
'The Sky-Cutting Realm allows him to produce flying slashes, but it doesn't necessarily increase his speed. And I can still use Zangetsu's power. With our Life force levels being relatively close, I could test the techniques I acquired from the system and from Zoro.'
After careful consideration, Ikki concluded that he could likely succeed in the challenge.
'If I don't attempt it now, I don't know what kind of opponent the system will arrange next time. Better to seize this opportunity.'
Having made his decision, Ikki sat cross-legged on the floor to recover the energy he had expended during his weight training. Though further training with C-level Nutritional Potions might have made him more prepared, he was eager to obtain the power of the Sky-Cutting Realm.
"Nami, could you prepare some food from the kitchen? My stomach feels quite empty after all that exercise."
Despite not having Luffy's legendary appetite, two hours of intense training had left Ikki genuinely hungry.
"Really, Mr. Ikki? You want me to be both navigator and cook..." Nami began to protest.
Before she could finish, Ikki produced a stack of Berries from his coat and handed them to her.
"Now, would you be so kind as to prepare a meal, Miss Nami?"
"Of course!" Nami quickly snatched the money from his hand before he could reconsider. "Just wait, I'll take care of it!"
With that, she hastily departed from the Sword Enlightenment Room, heading toward the kitchen.
"Such a simple woman," Ikki shook his head with a smile, leaning against the wall and closing his eyes to rest. Simultaneously, he activated the permission to observe Kyojuro Rengoku's swordsmanship.
Soon, in the central arena of the Sword Enlightenment Room, Rengoku's figure gradually materialized and began demonstrating the elegant yet powerful techniques of Flame Breathing.