Three Colors Haki Explained

"Conqueror's..." Zoro's pupils contracted slightly as he repeated in a low voice, "What an overbearing name."

Ronan, seeing the others' inquisitive gazes, began to explain in detail:

"Of these three types of Haki, the first two—Observation Haki and Armament Haki—are latent abilities that most humans have the opportunity to master through diligent training."

"First, there's Observation Haki. This is the technique I used when dealing with Kuro and the Cat-man Brothers."

"It's a Strength that allows you to intensely sense the presence of surrounding creatures. Once activated, you can 'see' the location, number, and even their next intended move in your mind without using your vision."

"Predict movements?" Usopp's mouth gaped open in surprise, and the chicken leg in his hand fell onto the plate.

"That's so messed up? No wonder that Sam guy couldn't catch you no matter what; it was like you had eyes in the back of your head!"

Ronan smiled slightly, "That's right. When Observation Haki is cultivated to a high level, it can not only sense attacks but also the opponent's emotions and Strength."

"And the legendary experts who have cultivated this Haki to its extreme..."

Ronan paused, glancing at Luffy, "Can even briefly foresee the future!"

"Foresee the future?!"

These four words struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer.

Nami shook her head in disbelief, "Is that kind of thing... really something humans can do?"

"There are many monsters on the sea," Ronan said meaningfully.

"What about Armament Haki?" Zoro pressed, more sensitive to attack and defense methods as a swordsman.

Ronan clenched his fist, although he couldn't release Armament Haki yet, he could describe the feeling:

"If Observation Haki is the Strength to 'hear,' then Armament Haki is the Strength to 'use.'"

"It can be imagined as an invisible armor. Covering this Strength on the surface of the body or wrapping it around weapons can greatly enhance defense and attack power."

Speaking of this, Ronan looked at Luffy specifically, with a hint of playfulness in his eyes.

"For example, Luffy."

"Huh?" Luffy, who was listening intently, pointed at his nose, "Me?"

"You're a Rubber-Rubber Fruit user, and your body is like rubber."

Ronan explained, "So ordinary blunt weapon strikes, like fists, wooden sticks, and even bullets and cannonballs, will bounce off you because of the rubber, basically ineffective, right?"

Luffy nodded triumphantly, pulling at his cheek, "Hehe, that's right! I'm a rubber man, immune to attacks!"

"But..." Ronan changed his tone, "If the enemy's fist is covered in Armament Haki, it's a different story."

"Armament Haki can suppress the 'physical form' of Devil Fruit users."

"In other words, your rubber properties will be ineffective in the face of Armament Haki, and you will be beaten black and blue like an ordinary person, with pain that goes deep into your bones."

"Even Logia users who have become elements can only touch their physical form through Armament Haki."

Luffy was stunned upon hearing this.

Immediately, a sealed childhood memory suddenly attacked him.

He clutched his head, his face turning pale as if he had remembered something extremely terrifying:

"I remember! My grandfather!"

Luffy shouted in horror, "When my grandfather used to beat me, I was a rubber man, but every time he hit me, it hurt like hell! I always thought it was because it was the 'Iron Fist of Love'... Is that how it was?!"

"What about the last one?"

Nami, who had been listening silently, couldn't help but ask, although she wasn't good at fighting, this kind of knowledge sounded valuable, "What's it called... Conqueror's Haki?"

Hearing this name, Ronan's expression became serious.

The sea breeze seemed to become heavier at this moment.

"Conqueror's Haki."

Ronan slowly uttered this word, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, finally resting on Luffy's clear eyes.

"This is a Strength completely different from the previous two."

"Observation Haki and Armament Haki can be awakened by ordinary people through acquired effort and training. But, Conqueror's Haki... cannot be obtained through training."

"What?" Usopp was shocked, "Can't even train it?"

"That's right," Ronan affirmed, "It's an innate aptitude, an inborn 'Spirit of a King.'"

"In this vast sea, only one person out of millions may possess this aptitude."

"It is the 'qualification of a King' who stands above ten thousand people."

Ronan's voice was low, with an epic sense of describing a legend:

"Those who possess Conqueror's Haki don't need to take action; they can intimidate enemies simply by relying on the Spirit and Spirit pressure they release."

"For those opponents with weak willpower, such as ordinary soldiers or miscellaneous Pirate, they will instantly lose consciousness, foaming at the mouth and fainting under the impact of Conqueror's Haki. Even tens of thousands of people can be instantly killed."

"I-Instantly kill tens of thousands of people?!" Usopp was so frightened that the wine glass in his hand fell, "Is that still a human? That's just a monster!"

Ronan continued, "Not only that, powerful Conqueror's Haki can even generate substantial physical shockwaves, shattering ships, splitting rocks, and even altering the weather."

"Only those with this aptitude are qualified to stand at the very pinnacle of this world."

Silence.

A deathly silence enveloped the deck of the Merry.

Even the usually carefree Luffy was now staring wide-eyed in shock, forgetting to swallow the meat in his mouth.

"So... so amazing!" Luffy's eyes sparkled. "Only one in millions has it?"

Ronan chuckled inwardly at Luffy's excited appearance.

Silly kid, you yourself are the one with the strongest Conqueror's Haki aptitude.

And the green-haired swordsman present also possessed a demon-god-like potential for Conqueror's Haki.

But Ronan didn't reveal it. These potentials needed to be awakened and comprehended by themselves in the life-and-death struggles of the future.

"Haa..."

Zoro exhaled a long breath, draining the remaining wine in his cup, his eyes becoming sharper than ever before.

"It seems our road ahead is still very long."

He stood up, walked to the ship's railing, and looked at the dark ocean in the distance:

"Observation Haki, Armament Haki, and that Conqueror's Haki... If I don't master these Strength, I'm afraid I won't even touch the threshold of the World's Greatest Swordsman."

Ronan also stood up, walked to Zoro's side, and patted him on his shoulder:

"Don't be too anxious. Haki is a Strength that is born to cope with extreme crises. Only on the edge of life and death, in the ultimate collision of willpower, will Haki awaken and become stronger."

"We have already embarked on this path."

Ronan turned around and looked at his companions.

Although Nami was a little scared, her eyes showed more determination towards the unknown challenges;

Although Usopp's legs were trembling, he had already begun to imagine the scene of bragging after he learned Haki;

Luffy was even more eager to fight, wishing he could find a Haki master to fight right now.

"Alright, that's all for the lesson."

Ronan raised his glass again, facing the starry sky and the boundless sea:

"For our new ship, for the upcoming adventure, and for the Strength we will eventually master..."

"Cheers again!"

"Cheers!!"

The five glasses collided again.