Luffy, Zoro Master Observation Haki

Ronan glanced at Zoro, then at Luffy, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

The physical talent in this Pirate King world is truly unreasonable...

In his previous life, the first stage of the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Refinement, "Initial Membrane Formation," required ordinary people to cultivate diligently for three to five years, even with the aid of medicinal baths.

But these two guys, after only one day of training, relying on their monstrous physiques and protagonist's halo, actually managed to achieve entry?

Rough and tough skin, closed pores, bouncing back when force is applied – these are the hallmarks of "Initial Membrane Formation."

Ronan suppressed his inner exclamation and said calmly, "Your talent is indeed excellent. Although you are just starting out, your physical foundation is far beyond that of ordinary people."

He paused, his gaze sharpening:

"Since the first stage is complete, there's no need to waste time.

Starting today, we will directly enter the second stage of the Thirteen Taibao – Bronze Skin Iron Bones!"

"Bronze Skin Iron Bones?" Zoro repeated the words, his eyes flashing with brilliance.

"That's right."

Ronan clasped his hands behind his back and explained, facing the sea breeze:

"At this stage, not only will your physique and strength surge again, your muscles will become as firm as iron, your bone density will greatly increase, and your resistance to damage will undergo a qualitative change."

"Ordinary people's swords and sabers will only leave a white mark on your body, or even shatter your weapons! This is what is meant by – Horizontal Refinement Generates Divine Strength, Indestructible Vajra Body!"

"Shatter weapons?!"

Zoro clenched his fists. As a swordsman, he knew better than anyone how difficult it was to cut through steel. Conversely, withstanding steel with his bare body was an extreme temptation.

Luffy's eyes lit up with excitement, and he was practically drooling:

"Invincible to blades and spears! What are we waiting for! Ronan, let's start quickly! I want to get stronger! I want to become a steel-rubber man!"

"Don't rush."

Ronan turned and walked towards the ship's railing, lifting the hundred-pound Zhangba Iron Spear with one hand.

"Hum--"

As the iron spear entered his grasp, it emitted a dull, vibrating sound.

Ronan's aura instantly changed from a gentle mentor to an oppressive war god.

"At the second stage, ordinary punches and kicks will have minimal effect on your improvement."

Ronan stroked the cold spear shaft, his eyes stern:

"Next, I will use this Zhangba Iron Spear to attack you."

"During this process, you must not only cover your eyes and practice Observation Haki to dodge;"

"But also, when you cannot dodge and are about to be hit by my attack, you must use your breathing technique to instantly guide 'Qi' to the affected area!"

"Use Blood Essence and muscles to directly confront steel!"

"This will be very painful, and you might even bleed. Are you afraid?"

"We couldn't ask for anything more!" Zoro tied his bandana and directly took out a black cloth to cover his eyes.

"Bring it on!" Luffy also pulled down his straw hat to cover his eyes and assumed a fighting stance.

For the entire next week, the Merry transformed into a purgatory drifting on the sea.

Whether under the scorching sun or during torrential rain, the deck was always filled with the sounds of clashing metal and dull thuds of flesh impacting.

"Bang! Bang! Crack!"

Ronan wielded the iron spear, not using its sharp tip, but turning the shaft into a merciless whip.

Under the triple multiplier of combat mode, his strength grew, his spear techniques became faster and more cunning.

"To your left!"

Zoro instinctively dodged to the right, but the iron spear, like a persistent shadow, instantly changed direction and struck him hard on the back.

"Crack!"

"Ugh!" Zoro grunted, but he didn't flinch. The moment he was hit, his back muscles bulged fiercely, forcing him to endure the blow.

"Breathe! Don't panic!" Ronan roared, "Sink your Qi to your dantian, focus your intent on the point of impact!"

On the other side, Luffy's situation was even more chaotic.

Luffy tried to inhale and defend, but Ronan's spear shaft, carrying a penetrating "vibrating force," directly struck Luffy's stomach, causing him to exhale all the air he had inhaled.

"Luffy! You can't rely on your Devil Fruit ability!" Ronan's iron spear moved like a dragon as he attacked and instructed, "Use Observation Haki to 'see'! Use your body to 'listen' to my spear's wind!"

Nami stood on the second floor of the Merry, watching the scene of flesh and blood flying below (though it was mostly bruises), trembling in fear:

"This... this is how warriors train? It's too brutal!"

As for Ronan, this was also a thoroughly satisfying period of training.

Through continuously feeding them moves, his strength steadily increased, and his attribute values soared.

Unbeknownst to them, Ronan's Strength attribute had already increased to 16 points.

The sun rose and set, the waves surged.

The sweat of the three had nearly soaked through every plank of the Merry's deck.

Morning.

The sun was bright, and the sea breeze was gentle.

In the center of the deck, the atmosphere was extremely tense.

Ronan stood quietly, holding the Zhangba Iron Spear.

Opposite him, Luffy and Zoro stood blindfolded, their bare torsos covered in purple-blue bruises, the medals left by a week of "hellish training."

But if one looked closely, they would find that beneath these bruises, their muscles showed a bronze sheen, like fine steel that had been tempered a thousand times.

"Are you ready?"

Ronan's voice was soft, but to their ears, it was like thunder.

"Bring it on," Zoro's voice was low and hoarse.

"Swish--!"

Without warning, Ronan moved.

This time, he held nothing back. The iron spear in his hand turned into a black lightning bolt, carrying a piercing sound as it tore through the air, heading straight for Luffy's throat!

This thrust was as fast as lightning and as fierce as a tiger!

Nami, watching from the side, couldn't help but let out a gasp, "Luffy!!"

The instant the spear tip was less than three inches from Luffy's throat--

Luffy's blindfolded face twitched almost imperceptibly.

Without any wasted movement, it was as if he had been standing there all along.

"Chh--!"

A sharp gust of wind grazed Luffy's neck, but it didn't even break his skin.

Ronan's killing blow missed!

"Good!"

A sharp glint flashed in Ronan's eyes. He flicked his wrist, and the spear instantly bent into an astonishing arc. Using the rebound force, it transformed into three afterimages, stabbing towards Zoro's brow, heart, and lower abdomen respectively!

This move sealed off the upper, middle, and lower paths. A week ago, Zoro would have been unable to dodge it.

But at this moment, Zoro seemed to have entered a wondrous state.

In his world of perception, the surrounding darkness disappeared, replaced by red light spots.

He "saw" the flow of air; he "heard" the killing intent of the iron spear.

"Hoo--"

Zoro's body moved like a falling leaf in the wind, his footwork changing in bizarre ways.

He turned his head, tucked his abdomen, and slid.

The three actions were completed in one fluid motion.

"Shh! Shh! Shh!"

All three spear afterimages grazed Zoro's body, the closest one even cutting the cloth belt around his waist, but not harming him in the slightest.

Silence.

A deathly silence filled the entire scene.

Ronan slowly retracted his spear and placed it heavily on the deck.

"Training ends for today."

Ronan looked at the two, a pleased smile on his lips. "Take off your blindfolds. Congratulations, you've begun to grasp Observation Haki."

Luffy and Zoro slowly pulled off their blindfolds. Due to the prolonged darkness, the sunlight made them squint slightly.

But soon, an unprecedented excitement erupted in their eyes.

"I... I dodged it?"

Luffy looked at his hands, his face filled with disbelief. "In that instant, I really felt like I could 'see'! Ronan's spear was like slow motion!"

"So this is Observation Haki..."

Zoro clenched his fist, feeling the wonderful sensation of being in control of everything. "Hard work pays off. Finally... I've mastered it."

This was not just an improvement in skill, but a leap in their very being.

On this dangerous sea, they finally possessed a trump card for survival.