Awakening Observation Haki

At that moment, boosted by the fivefold Deathmatch multiplier of the [Perseverance] panel, Ronan's mind was heightened to an unprecedented peak.

He did not turn around.

Yet within his senses, in that vague, intangible premonition, he "saw" it!

He "saw" a twisted black afterimage filled with malice attacking the center of his back from a tricky angle!

—It was coming!

Ronan did not think. His body was completely taken over by a warrior's instincts.

He suddenly sidestepped, pushing the "Dodge" technique of Xing Yi Quan to its limit!

"Screech—!"

The shriek of a sharp blade tearing through the air rang out almost against Ronan's chest!

Ten flashes of cold light narrowly grazed Ronan's clothes.

Ronan felt a chill against his chest. Looking down, he saw that his shirt had been torn open, exposing several shallow bloody marks.

If he had been even a tenth of a second slower, that attack would have pierced straight through his chest!

At that moment, the cold mechanical notification sounded in Ronan's mind like heavenly music:

[Congratulations, Host, for activating "Observation Haki (Beginner)"]

[Current Host Observation Haki Level: Beginner 1/100]

Ronan took a deep breath and suppressed the wild joy in his heart.

I did it! Under the fivefold Deathmatch multiplier and Kuro's extreme pressure, I finally... awakened Observation Haki!

At that moment, the entire world changed.

In Ronan's "vision," the storm still raged, but Kuro's blurred, lightning-fast afterimage became clear.

No, he had not "seen" it clearly with his eyes.

He had seen it with his "heart"!

He could clearly "sense" a violent, chaotic aura ricocheting madly through the courtyard.

Every time that aura changed direction, every time it launched an attack, a faint warning rose in Ronan's heart beforehand!

"Clang!!"

Zoro was struck again, gaining a fresh wound on his arm.

"Damn it! Ronan, how did you..."

Before Zoro could finish, he saw a sight that left him dumbfounded.

Ronan stood in the center of the storm, facing slashes that seemed to teleport in from every direction, yet he acted as though he knew them in advance.

The instant Kuro appeared to his left, Ronan had already lightly tilted his head to the right, the claws brushing past his ear.

The instant Kuro's aura rose behind him, Ronan had already ducked low. Ten flashes of cold light swept over the top of his head, cutting away several strands of his black hair.

Under Luffy and Zoro's astonished gazes, their wounds continued to multiply, while Ronan moved like a prophet dancing on the edge of a blade. At the final instant before Kuro struck, he always evaded every fatal attack with the smallest movements and the most exquisite motions!

"Hey! Ronan!"

While dodging, Luffy shouted in shock, "How are you doing that?!"

"Feel with your heart!" Ronan replied loudly with his eyes closed, immersed in that wondrous state.

"Huh? With my heart?" Luffy was utterly confused.

"Riiip!"

The instant he lost focus, Kuro's claws struck again, carving several deep wounds into Luffy's arm!

"That hurts!!"

Luffy got angry.

That glasses-wearing guy had been playing him for a fool, had injured his companion, and now had even slashed him up so badly!

"With my heart... with my heart..." Luffy closed his eyes and copied Ronan's posture.

"Bang!"

The next second, Kuro's strike tore open his chest, sending him flying backward.

"Idiot! What are you doing?!" Zoro roared.

"I can't catch him!!" Luffy climbed up from the ground, carefully sensing Kuro's figure, sensing that "wind" rushing through the air.

When Kuro left several more wounds on him, Luffy's anger reached its peak!

He stopped trying to "predict" and stopped trying to "sense."

He abandoned every technique, leaving only the most terrifying combat instinct, as wild as a beast's!

Just as Kuro's afterimage closed in before him once more, ready to Severely Injure him—

Luffy's eyes snapped wide open, bloodshot!

Rather than dodge, he let out a thunderous roar at that blurry afterimage:

"Got you!!"

His right arm shot out—not as a fist, but with all five fingers spread wide!

"What?!"

Kuro, moving at high speed, suddenly felt an immense force seize his ankle!

His unmatched speed was forcibly interrupted by that rubber arm!

"Bang!!"

Luffy violently yanked Kuro out of his high-speed state and smashed him hard into the ground!

"Gum-Gum... Grab!"

Luffy grabbed Kuro's foot, swung him up, and smashed him into the ground again!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

"Pwah—!!"

Kuro vomited blood under that unreasonable assault. His prized "Shakushi" was completely broken, and the claws in his hands flew loose from the violent impacts, soaring into the distance.

Watching this, Ronan marveled inwardly.

As expected of Luffy... What an incredible combat instinct!

He had not awakened Observation Haki at all, yet with that terrifying, beastlike combat talent, he had knocked Kuro flat with a single blow amid the most chaotic attacks!

Kuro lay on the ground, drenched in blood, his body still twitching faintly. He had clearly lost his ability to fight, but he still tried to struggle back to his feet.

Ronan did not give him that chance.

"Strike while he's down and finish him!"

Ronan dashed forward in a single stride without the slightest mercy, then drove his right foot, charged with the force of the Collapsing Fist, viciously into Kuro's head!

"Thud!"

With a muffled sound, Kuro's head slammed heavily into the ground. His eyes rolled back, and he completely passed out.

The courtyard's mad killing intent and piercing sounds of air being torn apart finally vanished completely.

Zoro walked over, clutching the wound on his chest as blood continued to seep through the gaps between his fingers.

He looked at Ronan. The usual teasing expression was gone from his face, replaced by unprecedented seriousness.

"Hey, Ronan, that technique you used to dodge just now... what was it?"

Luffy also came over. The wound on his arm was slowly healing, but his expression was equally serious.

Seeing their earnest expressions, Ronan smiled slightly and unveiled the secrets of this world's High-End Combat Power.

"It was Observation Haki."

"Observation Haki?" Luffy and Zoro asked in unison. "What is that?!"

"A technique that strengthens the five senses, allowing you to sense the aura of living beings, changes in emotion, and predict danger."

Ronan explained, "Once cultivated to a certain level, it can even... briefly grant Future Sight!"

"What?! Future Sight?!"

Hearing Ronan's words, the two sharply sucked in a breath in shock.

"Ronan!" Luffy's eyes instantly lit up with desire. "You have to teach me that technique!"

Zoro also looked at Ronan with eager eyes.

After hearing Ronan's description, of course he wanted to learn it! If he could predict his opponent's attacks, his swordsmanship would rise to an entirely new level!

Seeing their expressions, Ronan nodded in satisfaction.

"Of course."

He said, "Observation Haki and Armament Haki are essential techniques. On the future Grand Line, if you cannot use Observation Haki or Armament Haki, you will never make it."

"Armament Haki?" Luffy tilted his head. "What's that?"

"It is a technique that can greatly enhance attack and defense, like an invisible suit of armor. It is also the only effective way to attack Logia Devil Fruit users."

Ronan explained, "But I haven't mastered it yet. Once I figure it out, I'll teach you."

Ronan sighed inwardly.

This is all Oda's fault. There was no such setting in the early stages, so it was no wonder Luffy and Zoro knew nothing about it now.

But it doesn't matter. Starting today, I will be teaching the Straw Hat Pirates' "Haki Crash Course."