One Piece: Rise of Valoria

Two years on Rusukaina had transformed them all, inside and out. The once-barren camp now buzzed with strength and camaraderie, forged by the relentless training they endured under Rayleigh's guidance. Now, as they gathered one last time with him, each felt the weight of their accomplishments.

Rayleigh looked at each of them, his pride evident. "You've come a long way," he said, his voice steady. "William, you've mastered the advanced form of the three types of Haki. Hancock, you've mastered the advanced form Armament Haki, and you're close to conquering Conqueror's. Your Observation Haki may not be advanced, but it rivals the best." Hancock gave a nod, her hand resting on her hip, eyes fierce with pride.

Rayleigh's gaze shifted to Sandersonia, Marigold, and Robin. "You three are solid too. Advanced Armament – you can hit as hard as anyone on these seas. Your Observation Haki might not see the future, but it's more than enough to keep you alive." The sisters exchanged glances, eyes lit with silent gratitude.

"Two years ago, except of William and Hancock, this island's beasts gave you trouble," Rayleigh continued with a wry grin. "Now, you're each capable of taking them down with ease. Even you, Robin," he added with a chuckle, giving her a reassuring nod. She smiled, proud of how far she'd come.

Rayleigh paused, his voice dropping into a more serious tone. "Now, it's time for you to push the boundaries of your Demon Fruit powers. I've taught you all I can. Develop your abilities – and make them unstoppable." A ripple of excitement went through the group. They'd trained their bodies, hardened their minds, and pushed their spirits to the limit. Now, they would truly become forces to be reckoned with.

That evening, they celebrated. A wild feast of fruits, meats, and laughter, their last night together as master and students. They recounted every misstep, every small triumph, and Rayleigh's countless lessons that had become part of who they were. As the fire crackled, Rayleigh clapped a hand on William's shoulder, his voice low. "You're ready for what's ahead, boy. Use your power wisely. The world won't forgive a mistake."

William gave him a lopsided grin. "I'm not planning on giving it a choice."

Rayleigh laughed, shaking his head, and the night went on, full of stories and lighthearted jokes, sealing a bond they'd carry into the coming storm.

---

The next morning, Rayleigh handed them a small Den Den Mushi. "I'll contact you when Shakky finds any trace of the Golden Lion. Until then, keep honing your abilities." With a last look, Rayleigh turned and headed off, leaving them standing in silence, the Den Den Mushi resting in William's hand.

For a moment, nobody spoke, the weight of the farewell settling over them. Then, Hancock lifted her chin. "We've got work to do," she declared, breaking the spell. They nodded in unison. Rayleigh had given them the tools, but now, they would carve out their own strength.

---

Over the following weeks, William dedicated himself to refining his elemental abilities. He spent days practicing his control over fire and ice, pushing himself until the two elements no longer felt like separate powers, but extensions of his own will. One day, after endless trial and error, something clicked. He managed to merge fire and ice, the two forces twisting and melding into an intense blue flame he named Icefire. As he unleashed it, the ground before him froze solid, encased in a wall of sparkling frost that burned on the edges. The fire crackled with an otherworldly chill, and William grinned, feeling the fierce power in his grasp.

Hancock and the others also focused on their abilities. Hancock's practice brought out the latent powers of her Love-Love Fruit, her attacks becoming more potent with the fierce precision she'd honed under Rayleigh. She could now petrify with an intensity that far surpassed anything she'd used before.

Sandersonia had taken her basilisk powers to frightening new heights. Her gaze alone could petrify anyone who met her eyes, a terrifying ability that worked without requiring the target to feel attraction. Those with strong Haki could resist turning to stone, but even they had to break her gaze quickly or risk becoming statues.

Her poison abilities had also grown formidable, she could now control poison at will, a lethal weapon against any who dared cross her path. When she transformed into her 50 meters massive basilisk form, she became an unstoppable force. In her hybrid form, her tough, dark green scales served as nearly impenetrable armor, making her a powerful defensive force.

Robin's power grew quietly but no less remarkably. She could now create clones of herself, armed with Haki, capable of defending her from all sides or even launching attacks with staggering force. Each clone was nearly as strong as she was, and with their coordination, she could overwhelm foes with sheer numbers and strategy. She worked tirelessly, perfecting each movement and refining her Haki so it flowed seamlessly through her creations.

Marigold, who had no Demon Fruit powers, had devoted herself entirely to her Haki training. Her Observation and Armament Haki reached formidable levels, and she could now read movements with startling accuracy, dodging attacks and striking with devastating force.

But the most dramatic change came with William's space abilities. Through months of practice, he developed his power until it exceeded his wildest expectations. No longer confined to small pockets, his spatial dimension grew vast enough to contain two entire islands, and he could open portals to move across any place he'd visited. And he can teleport instantly without opening a portal in a 1 km radius. His mind burned with the possibilities as he tested this power, envisioning the advantage it would give him in the chaos of battle.

Then came his most ambitious goal: freezing the very space around him. He'd tested it countless times, pouring every ounce of his space ability into halting the air itself. But each time, it slipped through his grasp. Yet, each failed attempt only made him more determined, his desire to unlock this power pushing him harder each day.

---

A year passed since Rayleigh's departure, and their progress was clear.

One night, as they gathered around a campfire, William looked at his companions, pride gleaming in his eyes. "I think it is time for us to leave this island."

Sandersonia smirked. "I hope the world's ready for us."

Marigold added, "They won't know what hit them."

Just as the conversation turned to their plans, the faint ring of the Den Den Mushi cut through the night air, startling them all. They turned toward the device. William reached out, his hand pausing just above it, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips.

"Well," he said, casting a glance at each of them. "Looks like we're about to find out what's next."

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