Sparring with Shakky

The Kuja Pirates sailed north, killing and plundering along the way. It was how they survived.

Hades and the others did not take part, but they saw the Kuja Tribe's cruelty firsthand.

The Kuja Pirates' crew were handpicked warriors. Along the way, they encountered almost no one who could stand against them.

In the first half of the Grand Line, a crew where nearly everyone could use Armament Haki could sweep aside almost any opponent.

Of course, a few members of the Kuja Pirates were good-natured and easy to talk to.

His fantasy had not been shattered. Hadn't he been prepared for this all along?

Besides, he was no saint himself.

He had spent his life in Kronos Kingdom. Only now was he truly becoming part of this world.

Life aboard the ship was packed, and Hades and Titan both grew busy.

Starting the next day, Hades and Titan began training under Nyx and Boa Shakky.

There was only one thing to do: fight, then keep fighting.

"Little Hades! Let me see what you can do!" Shakky smiled. Before Hades could answer, she flashed forward and charged straight at him.

Her long leg swept through the air with a sharp whoosh, aimed at his head.

Hades instinctively raised an arm to block. A tremendous force struck him, but the muscles in his arm swelled as he answered with strength no weaker than Shakky's.

Shakky's expression did not change. She planted a foot on his shoulder and used the leverage to escape his grasping hand.

She flew seven or eight meters back, flipped in midair, and landed steadily.

The instant she landed, Shakky crouched slightly. Then she shot toward Hades like an arrow from a bow, even faster than before.

At the same time, a dazzling black sheen flashed across her foot.

Shakky's explosive speed was astonishing. Hades crossed his arms in front of him.

But her kick changed direction midway, slipped beneath his arms, and slammed into his abdomen.

By the time Hades reacted, it was too late.

He flew back dozens of meters. Just before he went overboard, he struck a fishing net the Kuja Pirates had prepared in advance.

The net was sturdy enough to hold him without tearing.

Hades's main opponent was Shakky. She was powerful and, despite her young age, proficient in Armament and Observation Haki. She even possessed Conqueror's Haki.

Hades was no match for her, especially when she used Armament Haki. Every blow she landed hurt terribly.

Hades had formidable natural advantages, but Shakky was already nineteen. The seven years between them were like a chasm.

He also lagged behind her in experience fighting for his life, and he paid for it throughout their bouts.

His powerful physique let him take punishment and recover at an astonishing rate. Eating the meat of sea beasts and Sea Kings quickly replenished his strength.

If he was injured, Ananke could heal him with her ability, though there was little need.

Hades did not use his Devil Fruit ability or Body Techniques. He needed enough pressure to awaken his Armament Haki.

Things began to change the next day. After enduring Shakky's Haki-infused attacks again and again, Hades awakened his Armament Haki and mastered it before long.

"Incredible, little Hades!"

After one bout, Shakky caught her breath and looked at Hades in amazement.

She had thought herself exceptionally gifted. Meeting Hades showed her what a true monster looked like.

Besides, when he fought her, Hades did not use the Body Techniques he had demonstrated in training. He relied on his instincts alone.

His physique had not improved much. Most of his progress lay in his Body Techniques and fighting ability.

His combat instincts were frightening. In very little time, he had adapted to her rhythm.

Once his Armament Haki awakened, her advantage vanished.

And at such a young age, he already possessed remarkably powerful Observation Haki.

If Shakky knew that Hades had awakened his Observation Haki from birth, she would have been even more shocked.

He awakened Armament Haki in a single day, became proficient in Hardening the next, and mastered Coating by the tenth day.

His ability to learn was terrifying. After awakening Armament Haki, he had only kept growing stronger.

Or perhaps Hades had always had exceptional control over his strength—the result of years of relentless training.

As he kept fighting, his control over Haki improved, and its quality rose with it.

As Hades's opponent, Shakky felt his progress every day. She was beginning to understand what kind of monster her older sister's child was.

She had only heard about the Grim Reaper, Jaeger, before. Now she had gone out of her way to read up on him, and what she learned was frightening.

Hades's progress put pressure on Shakky, too. She had no intention of letting him surpass her so easily. It seemed she had grown a little lax lately.