Haki Explained

On the ship.

"Hey, you haven't heard of Arlong, have you?"

Joseph looked at the completely unfazed group, speechless.

Luffy and Sanji genuinely hadn't 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 Seven Warlords. Arlong is a fish-man who once followed Jinbe, one of the Seven Warlords, and Mihawk is a Seven Warlord too!"

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

Joseph felt that Luffy's focus had somehow gone off track again. Just as he was about to say something else, Zero spoke as well.

"The Seven Warlords aren't the strongest. I've heard there are even stronger pirates farther along the Grand Line, known as the Four Emperors. Compared to the Seven Warlords, they are no weaker—perhaps even stronger."

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

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

"Hahahaha!"

Zero burst out laughing. Sanji lit a cigarette and asked Zero, "But Zero, you look really strong. You actually managed to trade blows with a Seven Warlord. You really don't seem like some unknown pirate!"

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

Zero waved a hand as he listened.

"Mihawk's strength isn't that simple. I feel like he didn't even use one-tenth of his strength. I'm still nowhere near good enough!"

"I see. Then it doesn't matter. As long as you're my companion, that's enough. Hehehe!"

"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 roam 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; it can harm even Logia types. And when Observation Haki reaches a high enough level, it can hear the voices of all things. Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, was one of the powerful people who possessed that ability!"

"That's incredible!"

"I never knew there was such a miraculous power!"

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!

Thunk!

A huge bump instantly rose on Luffy's head.

"There, like that!"

"That hurts, Zero!"

Luffy clutched the bump and complained 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 a little hungry right now."

At the mention of food, Luffy immediately forgot all about the pain. Drooling, he shouted at Sanji, "Yeah, now that you mention it, I'm hungry too! Sanji, I want food!"

"I want some too!"

Looking at the three ravenous people, Sanji simply put out his cigarette. Smiling as he answered them, he rolled up his sleeves and headed into the kitchen.

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

After a while, Sanji brought the finished dishes to the table and called everyone over to eat. The group immediately began wolfing down their food.

All of a sudden.

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

"There's something under the ship."

"What... thing?"

Luffy asked while still stuffing a chunk of meat into his mouth, making his words somewhat unclear.

Is this Observation Haki?

Sanji looked at Zero and thought to himself.

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

"Ahhh! What a huge sea beast! This isn't something that should be in the East Blue, right? Did it come from the Grand Line?"

Joseph's eyes widened.

The next moment, amid his cry of alarm, Luffy knocked the sea beast over with one punch. Then Sanji walked up and tried to feed it something, but when the beast opened its mouth as if it were about to eat him, Sanji 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 calmly said to it:

"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. It might even be one of Arlong's pets!"

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

Luffy nodded in sudden understanding, clenched his fist, and gave the stunned sea beast a "kind" smile.

"Moo?"

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

Except—

"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 put him down before entering the island as well.

When Zero found them, this was the scene he saw—

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

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

Zero shook his head and stepped forward.

"Zero!"

"You came!"

"Big Brother Zero!" ×2

Nami was the first to spot Zero. The moment he appeared, her eyes went slightly vacant, and that cold expression gradually began to melt away.

Even so, she kept her expression under control and said in an even tone, "Why did you come too, Zero?"

Of course, Zero could hear Nami 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!"

"?"