Haki Explained

On the ship.

"Hey, don't tell me you've never heard of Arlong?"

Joseph looked at the utterly unconcerned group, speechless.

Luffy and Sanji really had never heard of him. Zero knew, though, and figured he should properly fill them in on some common knowledge, so he let Joseph continue.

"Then let me explain it properly. There are seven powerful pirates on the Grand Line recognized by the government, known as the Shichibukai. Arlong is a fish-man who once followed Jinbe, one of the Shichibukai, and Mihawk is one too!"

"What? There are seven people like Mihawk? That's amazing! Hahahaha!"

Joseph felt like Luffy's attention had gone off track again. He was about to say something else when Zero spoke up as well.

"The Shichibukai aren't the strongest. I've heard there are even more powerful pirates farther along the Grand Line. They're called the Four Emperors, and they're no weaker than the Shichibukai—if not stronger."

Before everyone could process that, Zero added, "Red-Haired Shanks, the man who gave Luffy his hat, is one of the Four Emperors now too. If Luffy wants to become the Pirate King, they might become his enemies someday!"

Luffy thought for a moment, then gave the answer Zero had expected. "No problem. I'll definitely become the Pirate King! Any enemy standing in my way, I'll beat them all!"

"Hahahahaha!"

Zero burst out laughing. Sanji lit a cigarette and asked him, "Still, Zero, you seem really strong. You actually held your own against one of the Shichibukai. You really don't seem like some nobody pirate!"

Luffy chimed in, "Yeah, Zero, you're really amazing. I feel like I can't even beat you."

Zero waved his hand.

"Mihawk's strength isn't that simple. I feel like he didn't even use one-tenth of his power. I'm still far from strong enough!"

"I see. Well, never mind that. As long as you're my companion, that's enough. Shishishi!"

"Hmm, if you want to get stronger, I can teach you how to use Haki."

"Haki?"

"What's that?"

Faced with Luffy and Sanji's questions, Zero explained, "If you want to sail freely across the seas, Haki is an indispensable ability!

Haki is divided into Conqueror's Haki, Armament Haki, and Observation Haki.

Conqueror's Haki is possessed by only one person in a million. Armament Haki can be used against Devil Fruit users—even Logias can be harmed by it. And at a high level, Observation Haki can let you hear the voice of all things. Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, was a powerful man who possessed that ability!"

"That's amazing!"

"I never knew such a mystical power existed!"

Seeing that Luffy still only half understood, Zero simply stood up, walked over to him, coated his fist in Armament Haki, and smashed it down on Luffy's head!

Thud!

A huge bump instantly rose on Luffy's head.

"There, that's it!"

"That hurts, Zero!"

Luffy clutched the bump and protested to Zero. He had only ever felt pain like this from his grandfather, Garp.

Zero ignored Luffy outright.

"Hmm, I'll teach you when we have time. I'm getting a little hungry now."

The moment he heard about food, Luffy immediately forgot his headache. Drooling, he shouted at Sanji, "Yeah, now that you mention it, I'm hungry too! Sanji, I want food!"

"I want food too!"

Looking at the three crying out for food, Sanji extinguished his cigarette. Smiling as he responded to them, he rolled up his sleeves and headed into the kitchen.

"Alright, alright! I'll make something for you now!"

After a while, Sanji carried the prepared dishes to the table and called everyone over to eat. They immediately began wolfing down the food.

Suddenly.

Zero paused in the middle of eating. Seeing that, Sanji asked, "Zero, what's wrong? Does it not taste good?"

"There's something beneath the ship."

"Something...?"

As Luffy asked, he did not forget to shove a chunk of meat into his mouth. His words came out somewhat garbled.

Is this Observation Haki?

Sanji looked at Zero and thought that to himself.

Before he could say anything, the ship suddenly began rocking violently. Along with the sound of enormous waves surging up, a giant horned sea beast appeared before them.

"Ahhh! What a huge sea beast! Something like this shouldn't be in the East Blue, right? Did it come from the Grand Line?"

Joseph's eyes widened.

The next moment, amid his scream, Luffy knocked the sea beast down with a single punch. Then Sanji stepped up, intending to feed it something, but when he saw the beast open its mouth as if it wanted to eat him, he delivered another heavy kick.

Joseph: "..."

Zero thought about it and decided that such a large sea beast should not go to waste. He simply jumped onto its head and said calmly,

"You, take us to find Arlong, alright?"

"Moo?"

Only then did Sanji realize.

"That's right. Arlong is the most famous pirate in these waters. This sea beast clearly came from the Grand Line, and Arlong came from there too. It must be connected to Arlong—maybe it's even Arlong's pet!"

"So that's how it is. Then we can't let it go!"

Luffy nodded in realization, then clenched his fist and flashed the dumbfounded sea beast a "kind" smile.

"Moo?"

With the sea beast's help, it did not take them long to reach the island where Arlong was.

Only.

"Ahhhhh!"

Luffy, Sanji, and Joseph screamed as the small boat beneath their feet shot straight into the island. Unable to stop them, Zero could only have the sea beast set him down before entering the island as well.

When Zero found them, this was what he saw—

Luffy, Sanji, and Roronoa Zoro had gathered together again, with Johnny and Joseph standing beside them. Across from them, Nami watched them with a cold expression, telling them to leave quickly.

Honestly... even at a time like this, you're still thinking about us!

Zero shook his head and stepped forward.

"Zero!"

"You're here!"

"Big Brother Zero!" ×2

Nami was the first to spot Zero. The instant he appeared, her eyes briefly lost focus, and her cold expression gradually melted away.

Even so, she controlled her expression and said flatly, "Why did you come too, Zero?"

Zero could naturally hear that Nami was suppressing her emotions.

He looked at Nami seriously.

"Of course I came to bring back our navigator. Right, Captain?"

Seeing Zero look at him, Luffy nodded with equal seriousness. "Yeah, Nami, come back with us!"

"I don't want to. You should go back—"

"Stop lying to yourself, Nami!"

"?"