Bajiquan

In the face of absolute strength, all of that was meaningless. Techniques for redirecting force were only meant to help him use his strength better in battle.

The irony was that Hades had studied Taijiquan because he feared his own strength.

For a time after his father Jaeger died, Hades had realized how important strength was and begun training relentlessly.

He had access to the finest resources in the Kingdom: meat from wild beasts and Sea Kings, and precious medicinal herbs.

As his potential emerged, Hades's strength had grown by leaps and bounds.

It had grown so quickly that he could no longer fully control it. No one could tell from the outside, but he felt it clearly.

So he began training in Body Techniques and learning every skill he could. His efforts to master his strength covered not only the Six Powers but also the many Body Techniques collected by the Kingdom.

He built his foundation on Bajiquan and Taijiquan, both of which he had studied for a while in his previous life.

Through constant sparring, Hades's talent for combat gradually emerged, and he developed a style of Body Techniques all his own.

As his strength increased, so did his command of his power and his body.

Hades naturally mastered Life Return, the technique known as the ultimate secret of the Six Powers.

He also mastered Bajiquan's Inch Power along the way. Similar techniques existed in this world, such as the Happo Navy's Hasshoken.

But Bajiquan had qualities all its own.

Hasshoken combined offense and defense.

Bajiquan focused on sheer destructive power.

Hasshoken could unleash powerful shock waves that spread outward.

Bajiquan concentrated force at a single point, delivering a devastating burst of Inch Power. Not only was it difficult to detect, it could penetrate an enemy's body and cause internal damage.

In that respect, it resembled the Internal Destruction technique of Armament Haki.

That meant mastering Internal Destruction would not be difficult for Hades.

Once Hades awakened Armament Haki and it reached a certain level, he would naturally be able to master the technique.

And it was not just Internal Destruction. Given Hades's current mastery of Body Techniques and control over his body, the other applications would be within his reach.

Hardening, Coating, and Emission would pose no difficulty for him.

These were not levels of Haki, merely techniques for using it. Some people found such techniques as impossible to cross as a chasm, while others found them simple.

Plenty of people at sea had mastered advanced Haki techniques in a short time.

Some major powers even had established methods for helping people master advanced Haki techniques quickly.

That was why some people could undergo an astonishing transformation in a short time, their strength rising dramatically.

After his grueling training, Hades's body had reached its limit.

As he finished his last Taijiquan routine, Hades exhaled, sending a visible column of breath into the air. His breathing had already steadied, and his heartbeat had returned to normal.

The extreme tension throughout his body seemed to ease.

His mind went blank. His emotions settled, his thoughts grew quiet, and his spent mental energy began to recover.

At some point, Hades had made a habit of practicing a Taijiquan routine after every training session.

Each time, he felt more comfortable than ever and sensed a subtle improvement in his strength.

He could clearly sense his body—his organs, the flow of his blood, his muscles and tendons. His control over it improved.

More importantly, the practice tempered his mind. The Observation Haki he had awakened at birth improved day by day.

His command of its special ability deepened. His "God's-eye view" grew clearer and covered a wider area.

Hades also grew proficient with Conqueror's Haki through the process.

His own talent played a part, of course, but Taijiquan had undeniably benefited him enormously. That was why he had kept at it.

Hades had no intention of removing the rings from his body. He was beginning to adjust to their weight.

He left the training ground and returned to his Palace.

As soon as he was gone, workers arrived to repair the training ground.

After washing up, Hades went to a medical pod. With a specialist operating it, he put on a mask connected to an air tube and lay down inside.

Once the machine started, shimmering mid-grade Nutrient Solution quickly surrounded his entire body.

An invisible magnetic field enveloped Hades and penetrated his body, producing a special effect within it.

Under a peculiar pressure, his body floated in the center of the medical pod.

He closed his eyes and fell asleep. The magnetic field relaxed his entire body, as though countless massagers were working on every cell.

His spent mental energy slowly recovered as he relaxed.

It was as comforting as lying in his mother's arms.

Hades's body greedily absorbed the Nutrient Solution, replenishing the energy it lacked, restoring him, and repairing any damage his extreme training might have caused.

Such damage was virtually nonexistent, though. Hades had a monster-like physique and formidable powers of recovery.

Training to his limit simply developed his potential more effectively.

After every training session, Hades had to spend time in the medical pod. Each dose of mid-grade Nutrient Solution alone was worth two million.

And the solution Hades used was no ordinary mid-grade Nutrient Solution. It was specially made, with rare medicinal herbs added to strengthen his tendons, bones, and physique without compromising its original effects.

It even contained vital organs taken from wild beasts, such as snake gallbladders and bear hearts.

The vast Zhaoyao Mountains and Ferocious Beast Forest were the treasures of Kronos Kingdom.

The Ferocious Beast Forest was rich in medicinal herbs and wild beasts. Yes, to Kronos Kingdom, those so-called wild beasts were merely another resource.

The Zhaoyao Mountains bordered the Ferocious Beast Forest, but Kronos Kingdom controlled them entirely. Five hundred thousand troops were stationed there to protect the Kingdom's interests and hold back any wild beasts that might emerge from the forest.

There were abundant mineral resources: gold, iron, and even rare gemstones.

The most famous was Silver Mountain, home to the world's largest silver deposit.

Kronos Kingdom was rich enough to spend without a second thought.