Swordsmanship Lessons / The Three Types of Haki ...

Shuzo stood opposite Atlas with a helpless look on his face. As the one sparring with her every day, he was probably the only person who truly understood how terrifying her current strength was. Her rate of improvement, in particular, had completely overturned his understanding of what a monster could be.

At first, Shuzo had been able to gain a slight upper hand by using Haki. Now, though, every fight grew harder. It felt as if Atlas's physique was growing stronger with every passing second.

Atlas was astonished herself. She wondered whether all the beatings she had taken since coming to Marine Headquarters had sped up her assimilation of the Ox Talisman. She had a feeling it would not be long before she absorbed it completely. Her physique was developing at a truly terrifying pace.

The most obvious sign was her weight. Despite standing 2.8 meters tall, Atlas now weighed an astonishing 300 kilograms. If she knew Life Return, she would have discovered that the number and density of her bones and muscles far exceeded those of an ordinary person!

Bam!

They clashed again. Atlas stood unharmed, her feet not shifting so much as an inch, even though Shuzo's fist had clearly been coated in Armament Haki!

"Seriously, how have you still not awakened Armament Haki, you little brat?"

Shuzo sounded rather helpless.

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

Atlas spread her hands, sounding just as exasperated. She knew a little about the three types of Haki, but that was only a rough understanding from watching the anime in her previous life. Nobody had explained it to her since she joined the Recruit Camp!

"Huh! Really? Maybe... we forgot."

An embarrassed look crept onto Shuzo's broad, dark face.

Fortunately, an assistant walked over just then and saved him from his embarrassment.

"Reporting, Instructor Shuzo. Rear Admiral Gion has gone to Chief Instructor Zephyr's office."

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

Atlas had heard the assistant perfectly clearly and knew Gion had arrived at the Recruit Camp.

She did not know much about this future admiral candidate, who would become known as Momousagi. All she knew was that Gion should eventually become a master swordsman. Even if she fell a little short of an admiral, she would still be tremendously powerful.

Given the current timeline, Gion should soon be promoted to vice admiral. Her strength undoubtedly qualified her for the rank, even if she had not yet reached the level of an elite vice admiral. There was no question, however, that her swordsmanship surpassed Atlas's.

In Zephyr's office, Gion sat with her legs crossed, exposing the spider tattoo on one of her long, fair legs. Her famous sword, Konpira, rested casually beside her. Her delicate face was full of smiles, her full red lips moving as she chatted and laughed with Zephyr.

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

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

"Oh? Then I'll have to see just what sort of monster could earn such high praise from you."

Gion's eyes lit up. Her interest in Atlas, whom she had yet to meet, immediately soared. She knew Zephyr was not the sort to make baseless claims.

"Actually, speaking of Atlas, I'd like to ask you a favor."

A sly note crept into Zephyr's voice.

"That child isn't just a genius at hand-to-hand combat. She has considerable talent with a sword, too. I'd like you to find some time to teach her swordsmanship."

Seeing no objection from Gion, Zephyr continued.

"No problem. I'm quite interested in that girl myself. Besides, another high-level fighter at Marine Headquarters would take a lot of pressure off us. I could relax a little, and perhaps even find time for a vacation."

As she spoke, Gion stretched sleepily, putting the perfect curves of her body on full display...

Swordsmanship lessons

Knock, knock, knock... knock, knock, knock...

"Come in!"

Shuzo and Atlas entered Zephyr's office, one after the other.

"Teacher Zephyr." Shuzo greeted Zephyr first, then turned to Gion, who had risen to her feet. "It's been a while, Rear Admiral Gion. You're as beautiful as ever! Hahaha!"

"Thank you for the compliment, Shuzo," Gion replied politely. She had not actually interacted with him much. They were merely acquaintances who exchanged greetings, connected by having studied under Zephyr.

"Oh, right. I'd like to introduce a swordsmanship prodigy. Sorry for the trouble, but could you help teach her?" Shuzo pulled Atlas out from behind him to make the introduction.

Gion looked momentarily stunned, then exchanged a knowing glance with Zephyr. Covering her mouth, she laughed. "You must mean the monstrous prodigy Teacher Zephyr mentioned—Atlas."

"I was just telling Gion about Atlas, and now you..." Zephyr sounded both helpless and proud.

Clearly intrigued, Gion began looking Atlas up and down.

The young woman before her looked about eighteen and was roughly her height. Her muscles were well developed without appearing bulky, giving her a powerful beauty instead. Her slightly torn clothes suggested she had just been in a fight. She had probably come straight from sparring with Shuzo. Gion's gaze then moved to the Sandai Kitetsu at Atlas's waist...

"A cursed sword?" Gion looked at the composed Atlas in surprise. Very few swordsmen chose a cursed sword as their personal weapon. Many avoided them like the plague.

"That's right. Sandai Kitetsu!" Atlas spoke for the first time since entering the office, then slowly drew the sword from her waist. Its eerie temper pattern shimmered with a cold gleam, almost seeming to light up the room.

"What a fine blade!" Gion could not help exclaiming. Even among skillful grade swords, this blade's quality would place it near the top.

"All right, stop showing off your sword. Gion, since you have some free time these next few days, come over to the Recruit Camp and teach them swordsmanship," Zephyr said seriously.

The Recruit Camp already had swordsmanship instructors, but they could only teach relatively basic skills. Atlas had already become a swordsman capable of Iron Cutting, a realm even those instructors had yet to reach. As a result, her swordsmanship had been making little progress.

"Don't worry, Teacher Zephyr. I'll be staying at Marine Headquarters for a while after this mission anyway. I'll be imposing on you for a bit, then."

Gion had no objections. She and the others had come from the Recruit Camp themselves, and its graduates were the Marines' future and lifeblood. Helping the recruits grow was one of their duties. After all, that was how the Marines had carried on through the generations.

The next day, at the Recruit Training Camp's Training Ground, the recruits quickly formed neat rows and columns after finishing their physical conditioning.

The original swordsmanship instructors stood obediently to one side. Atlas barely knew any of them, since she had not attended a single swordsmanship class since arriving at the camp. Rear Admiral Gion stood at the front of the Training Ground.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Gion, your new swordsmanship instructor. My current rank is Headquarters Rear Admiral." Gion smiled at the solemn recruits.

"Now, anyone interested in studying swordsmanship, step forward."

Recruits quickly stepped out of formation. There were not many, only forty-odd people. Some others were tempted by the beautiful instructor, but they did not dare gamble with their futures. Their choice of weapon would be crucial to their development.

"Very good! Those with a foundation in swordsmanship, stand to my left. Those without one, stand to my right." Gion nodded in satisfaction. With her proficiency in Observation Haki, she could easily tell who had stepped forward merely to coast along. To her satisfaction, she had yet to spot anyone like that.

"My time teaching you swordsmanship is limited. To make the most of it, those without a foundation will first study under your previous instructors." Gion's arrangement was perfectly reasonable. Someone of her skill could hardly come to the Recruit Camp just to teach the basics. That would be a complete waste of her talents.

"Good. Those with some training, 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 from the side." Gion paused, then added, "Use real swords!"

An uproar broke out!

The recruits were plainly surprised. They normally sparred with bamboo swords. Using real blades meant their safety could no longer be guaranteed.

"What? Do you have a problem with that?" Hearing their reaction, Gion's smile vanished, and her eyes narrowed. She was no mere pretty face. She had earned her rank through genuine military achievements, backed by enough pirate corpses to form a mountain!

"Yes, ma'am!" Seeing her expression change, the recruits hurriedly answered.

Bang!... Clang!... Clink!...

After a brief flurry of clashing steel, the recruits' fights came to a rather unceremonious end. Atlas stood alone where she had started. It was not that she did not want to fight. Nobody would be her opponent!

"From what I just saw, first, you need to work on your basic swordsmanship again. Second, your blades have no killing intent, no fighting spirit! I honed my swordsmanship on the battlefield. Mine is a sword meant to kill!" Gion delivered her assessment as she surveyed the recruits, who had stopped fighting.

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

"Yes, ma'am!" Atlas quickly stepped forward.

"This is the famous sword Konpira, one of the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords (I couldn't find what grade Gion's sword was, but an admiral candidate's weapon shouldn't be too shabby)." Gion gently stroked the blade as she introduced it to Atlas.

Atlas answered by slowly drawing Sandai Kitetsu.

One Sword Style: Starfall!

A flying slash shot straight toward Gion. Starfall imitated the momentum of a falling meteor, combining raw strength with explosive power.

"Well struck!" Gion's eyes lit up. Armament Haki instantly spread from her wrist and wrapped around Konpira.

"One Sword Style: Steel-Cutting Flash!"

The three types of Haki

December, Sea Circle Calendar year 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 a Rabbit Talisman. Just as she had expected, the Rabbit Talisman primarily strengthened her lower body. Her strength now rivaled that of a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, and it was still increasing at a terrifying pace.

In the world of pirates, powerhouses like Garp and Zephyr generally had comparatively stronger upper bodies. It was not that their lower bodies were weak, but rather that their internal organs were exceptionally powerful. Atlas had begun developing along similar lines, but the Rabbit Talisman balanced her physical strength nicely.

As for her swordsmanship, Gion described her style as broad and forceful, lacking fine control. She was suited to overwhelming opponents with raw power.

For now, Atlas focused mainly on tempering her body. She had no immediate plans to eat a Devil Fruit. Unless she found an exceptionally powerful one, she did not want to give herself a weakness.

Besides, she had a feeling she was only a hair's breadth away from awakening Armament Haki.

On the beach behind the Recruit Camp.

Zephyr stood ramrod straight, facing the sea. Even in retirement, the former Marine Admiral continued to devote himself to the cause of justice. That was why, when the "justice" he believed in later abandoned him, his temperament changed drastically and his thinking became extreme. Seen that way, the World Government's decisions were truly mind-numbingly stupid. Politicians simply did not think like normal people.

Even if Atlas disagreed with his ideals of justice, she could not help admiring him as a person. Whether out of affection or principle, she would never let his later years end that way.

"Teacher Zephyr, I heard you wanted to see me?" Shuzo had relayed the summons while Atlas was training, and she was still completely in the dark.

"Ah, today I intend to explain some aspects of Haki training. Normally, this would be third-year material, but your physique has long since met the requirements for awakening Haki." Hearing her approach, Zephyr turned around.

"Oh? Sorry for the trouble, Teacher Zephyr!" Understanding dawned on Atlas, and her expression turned serious. Haki was now the last gap in her abilities.

Simply put, even though her physical toughness and strength had reached the level of a Headquarters Vice Admiral, she still could not defeat one. Against a Logia user, she would have no choice but to take a beating. Any hope of victory would depend on using her stamina to wear the opponent down.

"Haki is a power latent within every person. It comes in three types: Observation, Armament, and Conqueror's Haki!" Zephyr paused before continuing. "You've already awakened Observation Haki, so I don't believe I need to explain that at length."

"As for Armament Haki, it boosts your defense, as though you were wearing an invisible suit of armor. It can also be turned into offensive power, and it allows you to touch the substantial bodies of Logia Devil Fruit users. Training can continuously improve both its quality and your total reserves."

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

"To be specific, there are three levels of Armament Haki training. These levels are really just techniques for using it. What matters most is still its quality and quantity."

"The first level is hardening and coating. At first, you can only harden your body, then learn to coat weapons through training. The second level is Armament Haki Emission. Unlike the first level, it doesn't require direct contact with the target. The principle behind the third level is to make your Armament Haki 'flow,' producing the effect of Internal Destruction."

Atlas knew a little about this. Sentomaru's Sky Walk, for example, used second-level Armament Haki. No wonder he constantly called himself "the man with the world's strongest defense." That was an exaggeration, but his proficiency in Armament Haki was undeniable.

"In fact, the vast majority of people in the world never take their Armament Haki beyond the first level. But the truly strong are certain to master it," Zephyr added, looking at the thoughtful Atlas.

"Don't worry, Teacher Zephyr. I understand how important Armament Haki is." Atlas smiled. She knew he had deliberately reminded her out of concern that she might neglect its training.

"Good. As long as you understand." Zephyr looked pleased, then continued, "Conqueror's Haki is the most unreasonable of the three types, because not everyone possesses it. Its requirements for innate aptitude are extremely strict. Only one person in a million awakens it."

"Among the Marines, only that fellow Sengoku has it, yet among pirates, users are a dime a dozen." Resentment crossed Zephyr's face as he spoke. Clearly, he felt helpless about the situation.

"Conqueror's Haki can also be used for infusion, much like Armament Haki. However, that's a technique only the strongest can grasp. Ordinary pirates merely bask in the glory of possessing Conqueror's Haki."

Atlas nodded in agreement. In the original story, she had only seen Kaido use Conqueror's Haki Infusion to give Luffy a blow that knocked his kingly ambitions down a peg. The others probably had not even touched that realm.

"In my view, the three types of Haki boil down to mind, body, and will, corresponding to Observation, Armament, and Conqueror's Haki respectively."

"Observation Haki uses a seventh sense beyond your six senses—mental perception—and consumes mental energy. Armament Haki is intimately connected to your flesh. You need a sufficiently strong physique to awaken it, and your total reserves are also linked to your physique to some degree. Conqueror's Haki is a manifestation of will that can intimidate your enemies."

Zephyr continued sharing his hard-earned knowledge, and Atlas listened with rapt attention. These were the insights of someone at the very pinnacle of strength. Nowhere else would anyone break things down so thoroughly for her. She naturally treasured the opportunity and wished she could memorize every word.

"If you don't have the aptitude for Conqueror's Haki, you could ask that old fellow Garp for advice." Looking at Atlas's attentive expression, Zephyr nodded in satisfaction.

"Huh? Doesn't Vice Admiral Garp lack Conqueror's Haki?" Atlas was puzzled. At any rate, she had never heard in her previous life that Garp possessed it.

"Heh. You've experienced Garp's so-called Fist of Love, haven't you?" Zephyr teased. Naturally, he had read Atlas's file when she enrolled and knew she had arrived at Marine Headquarters aboard Garp's flagship.

The year-end assessment

"Garp's Fist of Love is actually another form of will infusion. According to him, those fists contain all his love. That lets him produce a similar effect even without Conqueror's Haki." Zephyr did not keep her guessing and explained it directly.

In fact, every top-tier fighter on the seas had more than just world-class physiques and Haki. They also possessed unique techniques of their own. Black Arm Zephyr's Armament Haki stood among the very best on the seas, while Iron Fist Garp specialized in infusing his will.

"As for drawing out your Armament Haki, add another exercise to your daily training for a while. Have Shuzo hit you with Armament Haki. That's the most direct way for you to experience it." In the calmest tone, Zephyr proposed the most terrifying method.

He had chosen the most suitable method based on Atlas's physical condition. Only her monstrous recovery could withstand it. If Smoker or the others tried it, they might end up crippled.

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

This was arguably the most nerve-racking time for them. Before joining, everyone had been told they would have only one chance to repeat a year. For those who wanted to coast along, or lacked talent, this was a daunting challenge.