Learning the Six Powers

"Justice means wiping out every evil in the world!

As for what counts as evil, I'll judge that with my own eyes!"

Randall looked Zephyr straight in the eye as he spoke earnestly.

At his words, Zephyr froze for a moment, then clapped Randall on the shoulder and burst out laughing.

"That's a pretty good answer!

A little naive, and a little slippery, but, yes, pretty good!

At least it's not a bunch of empty platitudes!"

Then Zephyr changed the subject.

"But justice isn't something you talk about. You need strength to carry it out!

Next, I'll teach you the Six Powers!"

Though curious that Zephyr had let the matter drop so easily, Randall knew that training and growing stronger came first. He immediately focused.

Zephyr thought for a moment, then asked:

"Randall, that energy of yours can produce an effect similar to Observation Haki, right?"

Though phrased as a question, Zephyr said it as a statement.

Randall wasn't at all surprised that someone of Zephyr's caliber could detect Qi. He simply nodded.

Zephyr immediately said:

"Then let's fight!

Since you've already mastered a power similar to Observation Haki, combat is the best way to learn!

Feel how I use the Six Powers with your own body!"

Randall tensed inwardly.

He had no intention of refusing. After all, he knew Zephyr was right.

So he immediately took a fighting stance and said, "Instructor Zephyr, please show me how it's done!"

"Good!"

A sharp gleam flashed through Zephyr's eyes as he said:

"Then come at me!"

Unlike Randall, who looked as though he faced a formidable enemy, Zephyr simply stood there with his arms folded, leaving himself completely exposed.

"Forgive me, Instructor Zephyr!"

Randall didn't hesitate. He shot toward Zephyr like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Bang—

Randall's right fist struck Zephyr square in the chest.

But it felt less like hitting a person and more like punching a steel plate.

He withdrew his aching fist, only to hear Zephyr's amused voice:

"Accelerate your blood flow to speed up your muscle activity, giving yourself defenses comparable to steel.

That's Iron Body!

The downside is that you can't move freely while using it.

Well? Did you feel it?

The power of Iron Body?"

Randall smiled and said:

"So that's how it works!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Randall accelerated his blood flow, instantly speeding up the muscle activity in his right arm.

A second later, his fist slammed into Zephyr's chest.

Clang—

This time, it was a collision between two pieces of metal!

"Iron Body: Shattered Jade!"

Zephyr's pupils contracted.

Of course, an attack of that strength couldn't hurt him.

But he hadn't expected Randall to master Iron Body instantly after seeing him use it just once.

Not only had he mastered it, he had immediately used a variation.

This kid really is a monster!

A moment later, he grinned.

"Not bad! Now watch this!"

The instant he finished speaking, Zephyr vanished from Randall's sight.

When he reappeared, he was already behind Randall.

"Concentrate all your strength in your index finger, then strike in a flash with that hardened finger. Its attacking power rivals a bullet.

That's Finger Pistol!"

Then Randall heard the sound of air being pierced.

His expression changed, and he moved to dodge.

But at the last moment, he gritted his teeth and chose to stay where he was, activating Iron Body.

He intended to take the hit head-on!

A strange look crossed Zephyr's eyes, but his hand didn't stop. Instead, he quietly increased his power.

Since you want to take it head-on, brace yourself!

With a thunderous bang, Randall was blasted away without even lasting half a second.

He flew dozens of meters before that tremendous force finally spent itself.

Enduring the intense pain, Randall adjusted his posture and landed on the ground.

Feeling the searing pain in his back, he gave Zephyr a horrified look.

How the hell was that comparable to a bullet?

Even a warship's cannonball couldn't hit that hard!

"Heh, kid, don't lose focus!

This is a fight!"

The next instant, Zephyr vanished, and his voice came from above and to the right.

"An extremely fast kick whips up a vacuum, forming a slashing wave that attacks distant enemies. That's Tempest Kick!"

Randall's pupils shrank, and he hurriedly turned.

He saw Zephyr bend his right leg, then kick out a blue slash that tore through the air toward him.

Holy shit! Randall hurriedly used Shave to dodge.

He didn't dare take this one head-on.

The instant he vanished, the slashing wave struck the spot where he had been standing.

In a split second, a gash more than ten meters long opened in the solid steel floor.

Randall stared at the gash with lingering fear. Good thing he hadn't tried to tank it, or he would have been split open too.

Still, he had already learned Tempest Kick and Finger Pistol!

Watching Zephyr in the distance, Randall stamped the ground dozens of times.

Shave!

And... Finger Pistol!

He appeared in front of Zephyr in an instant, extended his right index finger, concentrated all his strength into that single finger, and thrust it at Zephyr.

Rather than getting annoyed, Zephyr exclaimed in delighted surprise:

"Good lad!

Using Finger Pistol at the same time as Shave!

That can significantly increase Finger Pistol's power!

But powerful as it is, it won't do any good if it can't hit!"

Facing the incoming Finger Pistol, Zephyr neither dodged nor retreated.

Randall thought Zephyr intended to withstand it with Iron Body, but instead, Zephyr's body suddenly became as supple as paper.

Following the direction of the Finger Pistol, Zephyr's body twisted into an impossible evasive maneuver.

The Finger Pistol missed!

Then Randall felt a wrenching pain in his abdomen. His body lifted off the ground, and he went flying.

At the same time, he heard Zephyr explain unhurriedly:

"Relax every muscle in your body. By sensing the changes in airflow caused by your opponent's movements, you can make your body as light and pliant as paper, controlling it freely to evade incoming attacks at the last possible moment.

That's Kami-e!

This is the hardest of the Six Powers to master.

But for you, it should be easier than the others!"

Randall steadied himself and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Do you mean like this, Instructor Zephyr?"

As he spoke, Randall deliberately relaxed his body.

His entire body seemed to become supple, swaying with the wind.

Most importantly, while his upper body softened, his legs remained unchanged, and he kicked toward Zephyr.

A blue slashing wave immediately shot out.

Tempest Kick!

Zephyr laughed. "Haha, not bad! You've only just mastered it, yet you're already this proficient. You really are full of surprises, kid!

Now watch closely. Here's the last technique!"

With that, Zephyr stamped down hard with both feet. But rather than using Shave, he launched himself into the air, neatly avoiding the Tempest Kick.

Then, instead of falling as the laws of physics dictated, Zephyr remained suspended in midair.

"Feel the flow of the air, then use Shave's technique to stamp hard against it.

That's Geppo!"

Randall took a deep breath, then copied Zephyr and rose into the air.

Feel the airflow.

Then... stamp!

Watching Randall use Geppo outright, even Zephyr was momentarily dazed.

How much time had even passed?

And he's already mastered all Six Powers?

Nobody would believe this!

If I hadn't witnessed it myself, even I wouldn't believe it!