Armament Haki

"...Today, I'll first explain Armament Haki to everyone. Let's start with the different types of Armament Haki.

"One type can coat your body, increasing your attack power and defense. In this case, you need to control how much Haki you coat yourself with. Generally, the more you cover, the more Haki you consume, so people usually only coat their fists or legs. Luffy and Sanji can learn this to increase their damage."

As he spoke, Zero coated his fist in a layer of black Armament Haki, making Luffy, who was watching intently beside him, recall the terror of once being dominated by the fist of love.

"The second type of Armament Haki can be wrapped around the weapons you use. It can increase both damage and the weapon's own durability. If Zoro had coated his swords with Armament Haki during the last battle, he might have been able to try blocking Mihawk's attacks. Of course, he still wouldn't have won. After all, the Armament Haki of the strong has been tempered through countless battles and is far stronger than that of a beginner!"

Seeing Zero look at him, Zoro nodded, fully agreeing with that.

"As for the third type of Armament Haki—"

Zero hesitated, then shook his head. "I won't talk about that one yet. It's still far too distant for you. Building a solid foundation is the most important thing right now!"

"Got it, Teacher Zero!"

"Roger that!"

"Mm!"

"I'm Iron Fist Fullbody! You pirates can just wait to die! Hahahaha!"

Did something strange just get mixed in there?

Everyone followed the voice and looked to the side. A battered naval vessel had somehow approached the Going Merry. A somewhat familiar-looking Marine was leading a dozen or so Marine soldiers, standing on the ship and laughing wildly at them!

"Men, don't let them get away! Fire the cannons and sink that ship!"

"Roger!"

"..."

Wasn't that the useless Marine they had run into at the Baratie?

Zero inwardly sighed that enemies were bound to meet again. Seeing Luffy and the others eagerly step forward, his eyes shifted, and he simply moved ahead of them to the front.

"All right, since enemies have come knocking for once, I'll demonstrate the second use of Armament Haki for you!"

As he spoke, Zero drew Startled Dragon from behind his waist. As he aimed it at the ship before them, a pitch-black coating spread across the blade.

Bang!

That was the sound of a cannon firing.

Facing the roaring cannonball, Zero merely slashed forward.

A gigantic azure slash flashed forth, not only annihilating the cannonball in midair, but also sweeping toward the Marine vessel and cleaving it cleanly in two!

"Did you see that? That's how Armament Haki is used!"

Zero turned back to the others with an easy expression.

Seeing the ship slowly sinking behind Zero, along with the Marines floundering in the sea, Luffy and the others could not help swallowing. Their understanding of Haki seemed to have risen another level.

"So, if we want to enter the Grand Line, we have to pass through Loguetown."

Nami pointed at the map, explaining the Going Merry's next course to everyone.

Zoro, who was currently trying to feel out Armament Haki, said, "I've heard of it—the town that represents beginnings and endings, Loguetown!"

"If we have to pass through that place, then let's go ashore and enter the Grand Line head-on!"

Luffy said this with his fist clenched. Everyone felt his determination and could only nod, deciding that their next landing spot would be Loguetown!

"Loguetown, huh?"

Standing at the bow, Zero recalled that in the original story, the Straw Hat Pirates had encountered Smoker, a Marine who could turn into smoke, when they entered that place. They had barely escaped, only to be pursued by Smoker afterward. He was quite a formidable enemy.

The only difference from the original story was that Zero was now on the ship, and Luffy and the others had begun to grasp Haki. But that was all. It would still take them a long time before they truly learned to use Haki!

He just wondered whether he would get a chance to meet the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Luffy's father—Dragon!

As Zero thought this, the Going Merry had already changed course and sped toward Loguetown!

They finally arrived at Loguetown.

Zero was walking alone, taking in the distinctive streetscape of Loguetown while considering his next objective.

As for his companions, Luffy had run off to the execution platform, supposedly the place where the Pirate King had died. Zoro was going to buy new weapons, while Nami was buying new clothes. As for Usopp and Sanji, Zero had no idea where they had gone. They were probably wandering around like him.

As he walked, he noticed that compared to the towns they had visited before, Loguetown was much closer to modern civilization. Marines could be seen everywhere on the streets, which showed just how much importance the government placed on this town.

"No wonder it's a town that must be passed through to reach the Grand Line!"

Zero sighed.

"Huh, this is?"

All of a sudden, the sight before him became familiar. He had actually reached the harbor, where ships docked, and saw Luffy in his straw hat, as well as—

"Smoker?"

Zero's expression suddenly turned grave.

He walked over. Luffy spotted him too and greeted him cheerfully, "Zero, did you get lost too?"

Zero looked up at Smoker, who had a cigar in his mouth. His expression did not change at the mention of Zero's name.

Could it be that Smoker had not received their wanted posters yet?

Zero felt that was highly likely. While confirming it, he did not forget to raise a hand in response to Luffy.

"You're both heading to the execution site, right? Just follow the direction of this smoke."

Smoker narrowed his eyes and pointed them in the right direction. As he spoke, the smoke rising from the end of his cigar unnaturally pointed toward an alleyway nearby.

Is this the ability of the Smoke-Smoke Fruit?

Zero thought to himself.

Then, after thanking him, Luffy headed off first. Since Zero had no other destination for the moment, he simply followed Luffy to the Pirate King's execution site.

"Luffy!"

Hearing Zero call his name, Luffy turned around and asked in confusion what was wrong.

Zero continued, "That man just now was Smoker, the Marine captain stationed in Loguetown. Like you, he's a Devil Fruit user. You'd better be careful if you run into him again!"

"That smoking old man? He's a Marine?"

Only then did Luffy realize it.

"Yeah. His ability lets him turn into smoke. For you guys, who haven't properly learned Armament Haki yet, he's a very troublesome enemy!"

"Turn into smoke? Forget it, let's go to the Pirate King's execution site first!"

"..."

Zero stopped talking.

He knew that without seeing Smoker's abilities for himself, Luffy probably had no real understanding of them yet. Once he truly encountered Smoker, he would surely take that enemy seriously.

"Huh, Gol D. Roger?"

"?"