Haki Training

The Eclipse sailed steadily across the waters of the Grand Line.

The morning sea breeze carried a hint of chill. On the broad aft deck, Leona swung two heavy Bone-Cleaving Blades in her daily chopping practice. Carina checked the accounts nearby, while Buggy worked exceptionally hard to polish the cannons.

"Everyone, stop what you're doing and gather around."

Ace pushed open the cabin door and stepped into the middle of the deck. His tall, straight-backed figure naturally radiated a steady presence. At the sound of his voice, Sabo also set down the Logbook in his hands, and the four of them quickly gathered on deck.

"Before we venture farther into the Grand Line and face the battles ahead, I need to give you a lesson on the most fundamental power in these seas."

Ace's gaze swept over them. His tone was calm and serious.

At his words, Carina closed her ledger, and Leona put away her blades. Everyone looked intensely focused.

"Devil Fruits can certainly grant great power, but in the New World, those who rely too heavily on their abilities are the first to die."

Ace extended his right hand. Without activating any Devil Fruit ability, the muscles in his entire right arm were instantly coated in a deep, hard sheen like obsidian.

"Haki."

Looking at the black coating, Ace explained, "It's a latent power that lies within all humans—and, in fact, all races. At its core, it's the manifestation of willpower, presence, and intimidation. But most people go their entire lives without sensing it or learning to guide it."

"There are three types of Haki. The first is Observation Haki."

Ace let the black coating fade and pointed to his head. "It's the ability to sense an opponent's presence with heightened awareness. Once you've mastered it, you can detect an enemy's location and numbers beyond your field of vision, and even anticipate their next move."

On Sky Island, ten thousand meters above the Grand Line, this power was known as Mantra. Those who trained their Observation Haki to its utmost limits could even briefly see into the future during battle, glimpsing what was about to happen. Some people were born with a special kind of Observation Haki. Ace's Voice of All Things was one such ability, and he had used it to find the Zhuque Fruit.

"The second is Armament Haki."

Ace clenched his fist again, and the inky sheen reappeared. "It's like putting on invisible armor. It greatly increases both your defense and attack power, but most importantly, it's a universal way to counter Devil Fruit Users in these seas. With it, you can strike the tangible bodies of Logia users, who would otherwise seem intangible."

At that, Buggy swallowed hard, knowing the feeling all too well. Back on the Oro Jackson, he had seen with his own eyes how Vice Captain Rayleigh used a black-coated sword to cut Logia pirates to pieces, leaving them wailing.

"However," Ace continued, "Armament Haki lets you hit their tangible bodies, but it doesn't make their abilities disappear. For example, if you punch someone's body with a fist coated in Haki, even if you hit him, the extreme heat of his flames could still burn you."

"That's why an advanced application of Armament Haki developed: Ryuo."

Ace spread his fingers. Though it was hard to see with the naked eye, Sabo and the others could keenly sense an incredibly dense current of energy swirling around his palm.

"Don't let your Haki sit rigidly on the surface of your skin like Iron Body. Instead, consciously guide it toward your fist or the surface of your weapon and let it flow around them." Ace explained, "In this state, you don't need to make direct physical contact to strike your opponent. You can even send Haki into their body and destroy them from within!"

In Wano Country, with its borders closed to the outside world, this advanced application of flowing Armament Haki was known as Ryuo. Both Sentomaru, commander of the Navy's Science Unit, and the reclusive Dark King Rayleigh had demonstrated this supreme martial art, striking opponents without touching them.

"From a distance... and destroy them from within?!"

As a chef skilled in anatomy, Leona's eyes lit up at the theory. If she could channel this power into her Bone-Cleaving Blades, wouldn't she be able to shatter even the hardest bones of a Sea King in an instant?

"As for the third type..."

Ace's gaze grew profound. "Conqueror's Haki."

"Only one person in a million has the qualities of a king. You can't improve it through training after the fact; it only grows naturally as the user's own spirit matures."

Ace spoke in a steady voice. "Basic Conqueror's Haki can knock out the weak through sheer force of will, but against true experts, simple intimidation is meaningless. The rulers who stand at the very top of these seas can infuse that kingly spirit into their weapons and limbs, just like Armament Haki."

This was the highest level of combat application in the seas—Advanced Conqueror's Haki!

When Conqueror's Haki was used to empower an attack, it produced a distinct visual sign: substantial black lightning tore violently through the air along the path of a swinging weapon. Both Pirate King Roger of old and Kaido of the Beasts, who now ruled the New World, had mastered this destructive power, perfectly combining spiritual intimidation with physical strikes!

After Ace finished explaining, the entire deck fell silent.

"Captain, that Conqueror's Haki coating you mentioned..." Buggy wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and ventured, "Have you already mastered it?"

"Not even close."

Ace openly admitted how far he had progressed. "Right now, I can only use Armament Haki to cause a certain degree of internal damage. As for Advanced Conqueror's Haki, that requires absolute control over my spirit. I can't do that yet."

Ace looked at his palm, a clear-eyed fighting spirit flashing in his gaze. He knew very well that although he had tempered his body into a formidable one, reaching the level where a single strike sent out black lightning like Roger's or Kaido's would require grueling life-and-death battles.

"That's our goal for the voyage ahead."

Ace turned and looked at his crew, his gaze gentle yet resolute.

"Sabo, your foundation in Armament Haki is the strongest. With the support of the Mera Mera no Mi, try to reach the threshold of flowing Haki before we arrive at the Sabaody Archipelago. I'll spar with you personally and help you get a feel for projecting your Haki outward."

"Sounds good. I couldn't ask for more." Sabo smiled and pressed down the brim of his hat, excitement lighting up his eyes.

"Buggy, Carina, Leona." Ace turned his gaze to the three of them. "Your top priority for now is to keep pushing your bodies to their limits. Only when your bodies are strong enough can they sense and withstand the awakening of Haki. As you train, Sabo and I will guide you and help draw out your Observation and Armament Haki."

Ace looked at them, a bright, infectious smile spreading across his face.

"You're the companions I chose. There are monsters everywhere in the New World, and I don't want to see any of you fall on a battlefield someday. We have to reach the top together and turn this world upside down. To do that, every one of us needs the power to tear our enemies apart!"

At those words, Carina and Leona exchanged a glance, their eyes growing slightly moist. Even Buggy, who was always afraid of dying and obsessed with money, instinctively straightened his back. He felt something begin to burn in his chest.

"But," Ace added, his tone turning playfully sadistic, like a drill instructor's, "regular training is too slow for Devil Fruit Users. Sabo, bring out the Seastone."

At his words, Sabo turned and carried a heavy metal chest out of the cabin.

"Thud."

The chest opened, revealing several specially made handcuffs and greaves, arranged in neat rows. They were heavy and dark gray all over.

"I paid a fortune for these Seastone Handcuffs on the black market in Roana Port." Ace explained with a smile.

"Seastone?!" Buggy jumped back a full step.

"That's right." Ace stepped forward and casually picked up the heaviest pair of Seastone Handcuffs. With a click, he fastened them around his own wrist.

At once, a powerful wave of weakness washed over him. Ace's body sank slightly, but he forced himself to stand straight through sheer, terrifying physical strength.

"Devil Fruits grant people power, but they also make them dependent on it."

Ace rolled his Seastone-bound wrist and said solemnly, "When a Devil Fruit User wears Seastone, their abilities are suppressed and much of their stamina is drained. But training under extreme strain, while weak and feeling as if you're mired in mud, can squeeze far more potential out of your body!"

"Once you're used to throwing punches with Seastone on, the moment you're free of that restraint, your body's strength in its normal state will surge tremendously."

Ace looked at Buggy. "Especially you Devil Fruit Users. Buggy, put them on, then run five hundred laps around the deck. Sabo, you too."

"It's not only for Devil Fruit Users." Sabo picked up two slightly lighter pairs of Seastone greaves and handed them to Leona and Carina. "Seastone is much denser and heavier than ordinary steel. For those without Devil Fruit powers, it's also top-of-the-line weighted training gear."

"Bring it on!"

Leona took the greaves without hesitation and strapped them on. She picked up her two Bone-Cleaving Blades and gritted her teeth against the incredible weight. Instead, a fierce fighting spirit flared in her eyes. "As long as the training doesn't kill me, I'll get stronger, right?"

"It won't kill you."

Ace watched as everyone put on the torture devices and smiled in satisfaction.

"My flames will heal all your torn muscles and hidden injuries. Starting today, the deck of the Eclipse is your training hell."

At Ace's command, heavy footsteps and the panting of hard-working trainees soon filled the deck of the Eclipse.

The sea breeze swept over the black ship. On these perilous waters of the Grand Line, a pirate crew with every member on the path to becoming a monster was growing at an astonishing pace through training as hardcore as it was unbelievable.