Armament Haki of Zoro and Kuina

Sea Circle Calendar 1530, January 1.

East Blue, Shimotsuki Village, Isshin Dojo, rear mountain.

The grassy slope behind the mountain had been dyed dark gold by the slanting sunset. Wind blew in from the sea, carrying salt and chill.

Kuina sat cross-legged on the dry grass, Kikoku laid across her knees. The cross pattern on its sheath seemed to writhe slowly in the fading light.

Eighteen hours had passed, yet her fingers had never left the sword hilt. Sweat slid down from her temples, dripped along her pale cheeks into her collar, and her breathing rasped like an old bellows. Every breath made her shoulders tremble uncontrollably.

Beneath an old pine tree nearby, Koshiro clenched his fists. The normally gentle man had his lips pressed tight, and sweat in his palms had soaked through the cuffs of his kimono.

Zoro crouched beside his master, unusually quiet. The green-haired boy who was normally so loud stared fixedly at Kuina's trembling back, unconsciously biting his lower lip.

He saw unnatural bluish-black veins beginning to emerge along Kuina's arm, as though living things were wriggling beneath her skin.

"Come on. I believe you can do it."

Dawn held a rice ball and brought it to Kuina's lips.

This was the year the Supreme Great Staircase Incident would occur. To prevent it before it happened, Dawn had come here on the first day of the year to use Kikoku to help Kuina rapidly awaken her Armament Haki. With Armament Haki protecting her body, she would not be beaten to death by the fall when the time came.

Kuina unconsciously opened her mouth and swallowed. Rice grains clung to the corner of her lips, but she did not wipe them away. All her awareness was focused on the sword across her knees.

Hallucinations began to