Zoro and Kuina's Armament Haki

Sea Circle Calendar 1530, January 1.

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

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

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

Eighteen hours had passed, yet her fingers had never left the hilt. Sweat slid from her temples, ran down her pale cheeks, and dripped into her collar. Her breathing was as ragged as an old bellows. Every inhale made her shoulders tremble uncontrollably.

Beneath an old pine tree not far away, Koshiro clenched his fists. This usually gentle man had his lips pressed tight, sweat soaking the cuffs of his kimono.

Zoro crouched beside his master, unusually quiet. The green-haired boy, normally always shouting and making a fuss, stared fixedly at Kuina's trembling back, unconsciously biting his lower lip.

He saw unnatural blue-black veins begin to emerge on Kuina's arm, as though living things were writhing beneath her skin.

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

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

This was the year of the Supreme Great Staircase Incident. 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 Armament Haki. With Armament Haki protecting her, she would not be killed by a fall when the time came.

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

Hallucinations began to appear before