Re-examining Dao Power

Ninth Tower, rooftop.

Reg, with the stars and moon as his companions and the proud plum blossoms as his friends, opened his eyes... He had already mastered the Breath-Following Method proficiently, thanks to awakening his Observation Haki ahead of time.

Otherwise, he probably would have struggled even to get started by now... After all, this method demanded an extremely high degree of control over one's body.

He could now control the growth of his hair, the opening and closing of his pores, and even consciously regulate the speed of his heartbeat. He could even use the Breath-Following Method to replace periods of sleep... Something he would never have dared imagine before.

The bodies of people in this world were like treasures buried deep underground... The more you excavated, the greater the rewards you gained.

After moving his somewhat stiff body and shaking the snow from himself, Reg headed for the dining hall to replenish the energy he had expended during this time.

Today was very important to Reg... He needed to undergo Doriki tests from the four instructors.

Only if all four of their evaluations were above 400 could he begin training in the Six Powers.

Though it differed somewhat from his projected one-year timeline, Reg was not anxious because of it... Awakening Observation Haki had allowed him to learn "Paper Art" with ease.

Paper Art was a basic application of Observation Haki, though its nature was somewhat different... First, he had to release all the strength from his body and evade attacks according to changes in the airflow caused by his opponent's attacks.

Simply put... It meant using control over the body and observation of the enemy to make one's body soft and pliable.

Observation Haki merely allowed one to predict the movement trajectories of everything nearby... It had nothing to do with releasing one's strength, which was why Paper Art was only a basic application of Observation Haki.

Reg now possessed both requirements: Observation Haki and bodily control.

The principle behind "Shave" was not complicated. As long as one's physical abilities were sufficient... it could be learned through hard training.

Over the past two years, Reg had lost count of how many sparring sessions he had held with Colin... Seventy percent of them had involved leg attacks, just like Sanji.

Colin had said that, with the right training methods, Reg would be able to learn those two techniques quickly.

For the remaining half year, what Reg needed was to learn "Moon Walk" and "Tempest Kick."

Reg had deliberately given up Finger Pistol and Iron Body... After all, with Observation Haki, getting injured was basically impossible unless he encountered someone faster than himself. There was no need to learn them for now.

Thud, thud, thud... After replenishing himself with food, changing out of his gravity shirt and gravity pants, and taking a good rest, Reg arrived on the first floor.

All four instructors of the Ninth Tower had arrived... as had the other eleven members.

After all, they also wanted to see... the results of Reg's efforts over the past two and a half years.

That figure, busy without rest day and night... they had watched every bit of it.

Reg was not a genius... but his efforts had made him one.

What he put in was hard work, at least several times more than everyone else... A person like that was impossible to envy.

"Good luck... Reg!"

As usual, Eileen gave Reg the benefit of a big hug... Two years had made the young girl bloom even more. The places that should have curves were beginning to show them, though she was still somewhat immature.

"Thank you, Eileen."

As usual, Reg received a wave of hostile stares... After all, aside from Mountain Hag and the older women, Eileen was the only pretty young girl.

"You seem to have grown quite a bit... Are you 140 centimeters now?" Eileen reluctantly let go after the hug.

"Fourteen centimeters."

Smiling as he answered, Reg looked toward Jabra... The physical enhancement brought by his Zoan Devil Fruit had allowed Jabra's Doriki to reach 400 a year ago, and that was without transforming.

When transformed, he had once reached a peak Doriki of 700... nearly doubling his combat power. He had already learned Iron Body and Tempest Kick among the Six Powers.

"Good luck, Reg!"

"Yo yo yi, good luck... Reg!"

Reg nodded to each of them in response before approaching the four instructors, who were watching everyone interact. "Brother Joey, I'm applying for the Six Powers qualification test."

"Reg, you'd better think this through... Once you fail, the next test will be next month."

Joey gave him a serious reminder... He truly could not understand why this kid acted as if he were rushing to his death. That training intensity was practically inhuman.

"I'm sure!"

Reg stood straight as he answered... Colin, standing nearby, remained calm. Time was squeezed out like this.

The only one seated, Joey, raised his head and gave Reg a slight nod... Only those who treasured the value of time could go farther.

Unfortunately, many people did not understand such a simple truth... Even he himself had been willful in his youth.

Mountain Hag was also very satisfied with this half-disciple of hers... What meditation training required most was perseverance.

After every training session, the other members were exhausted half to death... Very few were willing to spend more energy on this kind of slow-yielding cultivation.

"Very well... Then let me go first."

Joey raised both arms and pressed his wrists together, his palms facing Reg... This was the most accurate way to measure the Six Powers game, "Hand Match."

"Brother Joey, I'll trouble you."

Feeling light and nimble, Reg was brimming with confidence... After taking a deep breath, the muscles throughout his body tensed. Rustle, rustle!

After taking two running steps, Reg raised his leg and kicked Joey's palm... The latter remained terrifyingly steady, completely motionless.

The test itself wasn't complicated, but the calculations were a little troublesome for Joey...

Especially since this would determine whether Reg was qualified to train in the Six Powers.

More than ten seconds later, Joey finally spoke slowly. "40. Pass."

"Yeah!"

Everyone cheered in unison... As long as Reg didn't make any mistakes himself, passing was basically guaranteed.

"Yo yo oi... all right~ Little Reg~ come on--!"

Mountain Hag started singing again. Everyone else was collectively left in disarray, while Kumadori alone swayed along with her.

Why was Mountain Hag during training so different from Mountain Hag outside of training?

"Please, Teacher Mountain Hag."

Reg took another deep breath. This time, he still used his legs for the measurement... He hadn't neglected training his arms, but there was still some gap compared to his legs.

"401. Pass."

Mountain Hag announced the result without hesitation. No one questioned it, because her control over her body was unquestionably No. 1 on the entire island.

"This time, use your fist."

Colin spoke as Reg came before him and assumed his stance.

The atmosphere around them suddenly tightened... This teacher was really strict. He clearly knew Reg had focused on training his leg strength.

"Yes, Teacher Colin."

Reg closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he completed the test with a standard straight punch.

Colin withdrew his hand and rubbed his chin. Like Joey, he paused for more than ten seconds before speaking. "400. Pass."

"Whew..."

A wave of relieved breaths rose from the crowd... Thank goodness it wasn't an awkward number like 99.

"Teacher Joey." Reg bowed slightly when he reached the chair.

"Attack." Joey showed no intention of getting up.

Reg knew how powerful the old man was. He immediately threw a side kick... Bang.

Joey extended a hand and slapped Reg's leg back with equal force. "40. Pass."

"Congratulations... You've finally gotten what you wished for. Starting tomorrow, Teacher Colin will personally guide you from 6:00 to 1:00, until you master the training methods of the Six Powers."

As soon as Joey finished speaking, everyone surged forward, lifted Reg up, and tossed him into the air... Being allowed to learn the Six Powers wasn't particularly rare.

But this was Reg... the lovable kid who had conquered everyone through hard work and sweat.