Watching Roger's Execution at the Start

Shuzo, facing Atlas, looked helpless. Only he, who sparred with Atlas every day, truly knew how terrifying her strength had become. Her rate of improvement had shattered his idea of what a monster was.

At first, Shuzo had been able to suppress Atlas somewhat with Haki. Now every bout was harder than the last. It felt as though her physique grew stronger by the second.

Atlas was surprised too. Perhaps she had taken so many beatings since arriving at Marine Headquarters that she was absorbing the Ox Talisman faster. She had a feeling she would fully absorb it before long. Her physique was growing at a frightening pace.

The clearest sign was her weight: at 2.8 meters tall, Atlas now weighed an astonishing 300 kilograms. If she knew Life Return, she would discover that the number and density of her bones and muscles far exceeded those of an ordinary person!

Bang!

Their blows collided again. Atlas stood unharmed, without shifting a foot, while Shuzo's fist was unmistakably coated in Armament Haki!

"Say, why haven't you awakened Armament Haki yet, kid?"

Shuzo sounded helpless.

"Huh? Neither you nor Teacher Zephyr has taught me!"

Atlas spread her hands, just as troubled. She knew a little about the Three Types of Haki, but that came from a rough understanding of the anime in her previous life. No one had explained it to her since she joined the Recruit Camp!

"Oh! Really? Maybe... I forgot."

Embarrassment crept across Shuzo's dark face.

Fortunately, an assistant approached just then, sparing him further embarrassment.

"Reporting to Instructor Shuzo: Rear Admiral Gion has gone to Head Instructor Zephyr's office."

Shuzo nodded and told Atlas, "All right. I'll explain Haki to you when we have time. First, let me introduce you to a swordswoman."

Atlas had heard the assistant clearly. She knew Gion had come to the Recruit Camp.

Atlas knew little about the woman who would later become Momousagi, a candidate for Marine Admiral. She only knew Gion would become a great swordswoman. Even if she fell a little short of an Admiral, her strength was formidable.

At this point, Gion should be close to promotion to Vice Admiral. Her strength undoubtedly qualified her for the rank, though she had yet to reach the level of an elite Vice Admiral. Her swordsmanship, however, was unquestionably superior to Atlas's.

In Zephyr's office, Gion sat with her legs crossed, revealing the spider tattoo on one long, pale leg. The Famous Sword Konpira lay casually beside her. Smiling, she chatted with Zephyr, her full red lips curving as she spoke.

"It's been a long time, Teacher Zephyr. You seem in a good mood lately. Has some extraordinary talent joined the Recruit Camp?"

Zephyr smiled. "As a matter of fact, yes. Atlas is an even greater monster than Kuzan and the others."

"Oh? Then I must see what sort of monster has impressed you so much."

Gion's eyes lit up. Though she had yet to meet Atlas, her interest had surged. Zephyr was not one to make claims without reason.

"Speaking of Atlas, there's a favor I'd like to ask you."

Zephyr sounded a little sly.

"The girl is talented not only in hand-to-hand combat but also in swordsmanship. I'd like you to find time to teach her."

Seeing no objection from Gion, Zephyr continued.

"No problem. I'm interested in her myself. Besides, another high-level fighter at Headquarters would ease the pressure on us. I might even get to relax and take a vacation."

As she spoke, Gion stretched sleepily, showing the graceful lines of her figure...

Swordsmanship Lessons ### Knock, knock, knock... Knock, knock, knock...

"Come in!"

Shuzo entered Zephyr's office with Atlas behind him.

"Teacher Zephyr." Shuzo greeted him first, then turned to Gion, who had stood up. "Long time no see, Rear Admiral Gion. You're as beautiful as ever! Hahaha."

"Thank you for the compliment, Shuzo," Gion replied politely. She did not know him well. They had both studied under Zephyr, but their acquaintance extended little beyond exchanging greetings.

"Oh, right. Let me introduce you to a swordsmanship prodigy. Sorry to trouble you, but could you teach her?" Shuzo pulled Atlas forward from behind him.

Gion looked startled, then exchanged a knowing glance with Zephyr. Covering her mouth, she laughed. "You must mean the monstrous prodigy Teacher Zephyr was talking about—Atlas."

"I was just telling Gion about Atlas. I didn't expect you to..." Zephyr said, sounding both helpless and proud.

Curious, Gion looked Atlas up and down.

The woman before her looked around eighteen. She was roughly Gion's height, with full, well-developed muscles that never looked bulky; instead, they gave her a powerful grace. Her slightly torn clothes showed she had just been in a fight. She had probably come straight from sparring with Shuzo. Gion's gaze then fell on Sandai Kitetsu at Atlas's waist...

"A cursed sword?" Gion looked in surprise at Atlas's calm expression. Few swordsmen chose a cursed sword as their weapon. Many avoided them at all costs.

"That's right. Sandai Kitetsu." Atlas spoke for the first time since entering the office and slowly drew the blade. Its eerie pattern gleamed coldly, almost seeming to light up the room.

"A fine sword!" Gion could not help praising it. Even among Skillful Grade Swords, its quality was outstanding.

"All right, stop showing off your sword. Gion, since you have some free time these days, come teach the recruits swordsmanship," Zephyr said seriously.

The Recruit Camp did have swordsmanship instructors, but they could teach only the basics. Atlas had already become a swordswoman, while the instructors had not even reached the level of cutting iron. Her swordsmanship had therefore made little progress.

"Don't worry, Teacher Zephyr. I'll be staying at Headquarters for a while after this mission, so I'll come by and trouble you."

Gion had no objections. She, too, had come through the Recruit Camp. Its recruits were the Marines' future and their fresh blood; helping them grow was part of her duty. That was how the Marines had carried on from one generation to the next.

The next day, on the Recruit Camp training ground, the recruits finished their physical training and quickly formed neat ranks.

Several of the usual swordsmanship instructors stood quietly to one side. Atlas barely knew them; she had not attended a swordsmanship class since joining the camp. Rear Admiral Gion stood before the formation.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Gion, your new swordsmanship instructor. My current rank is Rear Admiral at Marine Headquarters," she said with a smile to the solemn recruits.

"Anyone who wants to study swordsmanship, step forward."

A little over forty people promptly stepped out. Some were tempted by the beautiful instructor, but they would not gamble with their futures. Their choice of weapon was crucial to their development.

"Good! Those with a foundation in swordsmanship, stand to my left. Those without one, to my right." Gion nodded in satisfaction. With her Observation Haki, she could easily tell if anyone had stepped forward just to blend in. So far, she had seen no one like that.

"My time here is limited, so to make the most of it, those without a foundation will continue learning from your original instructors." It was a sensible arrangement. With her level of swordsmanship, having Gion teach beginners the basics would be a waste of her skills.

"Good. Those with a foundation, follow me."

Atlas and the others silently followed Gion to a corner of the training ground reserved for sword practice.

"Now I'll assess your swordsmanship. Find yourselves opponents and spar. I'll watch." Gion paused, then added, "Use real swords!"

The recruits erupted in surprise. They normally sparred with bamboo swords. Real blades offered far less protection against injury.

"What? Do you have objections?" Hearing the commotion, Gion's smile vanished and her eyes narrowed. She was no mere ornament. She had earned her rank of Rear Admiral through military merit, built on enough pirate corpses to form a mountain!

"Yes, ma'am!" the recruits answered at once when they saw her expression.

Clang! Clatter! Clash!

Amid a brief flurry of ringing steel, the recruits' bouts came to a rough end. Atlas stood alone where she was. It was not that she did not want to fight—no one had volunteered to face her!

"I've seen enough. First, you need to return to practicing the fundamentals. Second, your blades lack killing intent and fighting spirit! I honed my swordsmanship on the battlefield. It is a swordsmanship meant to kill!" Gion told the recruits as they stopped.

"Atlas, step forward! Fight me. Let me see your swordsmanship."

"Yes, ma'am!" Atlas stepped forward at once.

"Konpira, one of the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords." Gion lightly stroked the blade as she introduced it to Atlas.

Atlas answered by slowly drawing Sandai Kitetsu.

One Sword Style: Starfall!

A slash hurtled straight toward Gion. Starfall mimicked the descent of a meteor, combining force with explosive speed.

"Excellent!" Gion's eyes lit up. Armament Haki instantly flowed from her wrist over Konpira.

"One Sword Style: Steel-Cutting Flash!"

The Three Types of Haki ### December, Sea Circle Calendar 1503. Marineford.

Since Gion had come to the Recruit Camp as a swordsmanship instructor, she had replaced Shuzo as Atlas's sparring partner.

After all that sparring, Atlas had fully absorbed the Ox Talisman and moved seamlessly on to the Rabbit Talisman. As she had expected, it mainly strengthened her lower body. Her strength was already no less than that of a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, and it was still rising at a frightening pace.

In this world, powerhouses like Garp and Zephyr tended to have much stronger-looking upper bodies. That did not mean their legs were weak; their internal organs were extraordinarily powerful. Atlas was beginning to develop the same build, but the Rabbit Talisman balanced her strength throughout her body.

As for swordsmanship, Gion said Atlas favored broad, forceful moves but lacked fine control. A style that overwhelmed opponents with strength suited her best.

For now, Atlas was focused on tempering her body. She had no intention of eating a Devil Fruit yet. She did not want to give herself a weakness unless she found an exceptionally powerful one.

She also had a feeling that awakening Armament Haki was only a hair's breadth away.

On the beach behind the Recruit Camp, Zephyr stood straight, facing the sea. Even in retirement, the former Marine Admiral continued to devote himself to justice. That was why being betrayed by the very "justice" he believed in would later change him so drastically and drive him to extremes. The World Government's decision was breathtakingly foolish. Politicians simply did not think like ordinary people.

Atlas did not share Zephyr's idea of justice, but she could not help respecting him. For both personal and moral reasons, she would not let his later years end that way.

"Teacher Zephyr, I heard you wanted me?" Shuzo had summoned Atlas from training, and she still had no idea why.

"Yes. Today I intend to teach you about training Haki. This would normally be covered in your third year, but your physique has long met the requirements to awaken it." Zephyr turned to face her.

"Oh? Then thank you, Teacher Zephyr!" Atlas said earnestly. Haki was now the last major gap in her strength.

Her physique and raw power might already match a Headquarters Vice Admiral's, but she would still lose to one in a fight. Against a Logia user, she would be limited to taking hits. Even if victory were possible, she would have to wear her opponent down through sheer endurance.

"Haki is a power hidden within everyone. There are three types: Observation, Armament, and Conqueror's Haki!" Zephyr paused. "You've already awakened Observation Haki, so I needn't explain that at length."

"Armament Haki improves your defense, like an invisible suit of armor. It can also strengthen your attacks and let you touch the true bodies of Logia Devil Fruit users. Training increases both its quality and the amount you possess."

"In Wano, Armament Haki is also called Ryuo, just as Observation Haki is called Mantra on Sky Island."

"Broadly speaking, training Armament Haki has three levels. They're really techniques for using it, though. What matters most is still its quality and quantity."

"The first level is hardening and coating. At first, you can only harden your body; with training, you can coat a weapon. The second level is projecting Armament Haki outward. Unlike the first, it lets you strike without directly touching your target. At the third level, you make your Haki 'flow,' allowing it to destroy a target from within."

Atlas knew a little about this. Sentomaru's Sky Walk used second-level Armament Haki. No wonder he kept calling himself "the man with the strongest defense in the world." It was an exaggeration, but his mastery of Armament Haki was undeniable.

"In fact, most people never get past the first level. The truly strong, however, master it," Zephyr added, watching Atlas think.

"Don't worry, Teacher Zephyr. I understand how important Armament Haki is." Atlas smiled. She knew he was warning her not to neglect its training.

"Good. Conqueror's Haki is the least reasonable of the Three Types of Haki. Not everyone has the potential for it. The requirements are so strict that only one person in a million awakens it."

"Among the Marines, only Sengoku has it, while pirates with Conqueror's Haki seem to be everywhere." Frustration showed on Zephyr's face. He was clearly unhappy with the imbalance.

"Conqueror's Haki can also be used to coat attacks, just like Armament Haki. But only the very strongest grasp that technique. Ordinary pirates merely bask in the glory of possessing it."

Atlas nodded in agreement. In the original story, she had only seen Kaido coat an attack with Conqueror's Haki to knock some sense into Luffy. As for the others, she doubted they had even reached that realm.

"As I see it, the Three Types of Haki come down to spirit, body, and will, corresponding to Observation, Armament, and Conqueror's Haki."

"Observation Haki uses a seventh sense beyond your usual six: spiritual perception. It draws on your mental energy. Armament Haki is closely tied to your body. You need a strong enough physique to awaken it, and the amount you can wield is related to that physique. Conqueror's Haki manifests your will and can intimidate your enemies."

Zephyr continued sharing the hard-won insights of a fighter at the pinnacle of strength. Atlas listened intently. Nowhere else would someone break it all down for her so carefully. She treasured the opportunity and wished she could memorize every word.

"If you don't have the potential for Conqueror's Haki, you might ask that old fellow Garp for advice." Zephyr nodded approvingly at her attentive expression.

"Huh? Doesn't Vice Admiral Garp lack Conqueror's Haki?" Atlas was puzzled. In her previous life, she had never heard of Garp possessing it.

"Heh. You've felt Garp's so-called 'Fist of Love,' haven't you?" Zephyr teased. He had read Atlas's file when she entered the camp and knew she had come to Headquarters aboard Garp's ship.

Year-End Assessment ### "Garp's 'Fist of Love' is also a way of coating an attack with will. According to him, he pours all his love into those punches. That lets him produce a similar effect without Conqueror's Haki," Zephyr explained plainly.

Every top-tier fighter on the seas excelled not only in physique and Haki but also had techniques uniquely their own. "Black Arm" Zephyr's Armament Haki stood among the finest in the world, while "Iron Fist" Garp excelled at coating his attacks with will.

"As for how to draw out your Armament Haki, you'll add an exercise to your training from now on. Have Shuzo hit you with his Armament Haki every day. That's the most direct way for you to feel it." Zephyr proposed the terrifying method in the calmest of tones.

He had chosen it to suit Atlas's physique. Only her monstrous ability to recover could withstand it. If Smoker or the others tried it, they might be crippled.

Today was the Recruit Camp's annual assessment, and all the recruits had been assembled.

For the recruits, it was a nerve-racking day. They had all been told before entering the camp that they would have only one chance to repeat a year. For those hoping to coast along, and for those with little talent, this was a daunting test.