Smoker's finger pistol sliced through the air like a bullet.
Liam shifted his body with a graceful sidestep and let the strike pass cleanly beside him.
The sharp clap of displaced air echoed in the training hall.
Smoker skidded past him with disbelief written across his young face.
Around them, the gathered recruits murmured in shock.
For their class, Smoker was one of the elite. His speed, his precision, his aggression were in a league far above the average student. A finger pistol executed at full power was not something just anyone could evade.
Yet this new guy, a boy recommended by Vice Admiral Kuzan himself, had slipped past it without breaking a sweat.
People exchanged glances.
Their conclusion was obvious.
Liam Ross was stronger.
Smoker gritted his teeth, spun on his heel and launched another attack, only for Liam to casually avoid it once again, his movements relaxed and natural as if he had seen it coming three seconds before it happened.
Two clean evasions in a row were enough to ignite Smoker's temper.
White smoke burst from his body like a storm as he activated his Devil Fruit powers.
The spectators straightened their backs.
This was his trump card.
Smoker did not use this ability unless he was serious.
"White Fist!"
With a thunderous shout, a massive fist formed of swirling smoke shot forward, dragging a long tail of mist behind it. The sheer size and speed were enough to intimidate any recruit.
Liam widened his eyes in exaggerated terror and threw himself into a clumsy roll just before the white fist reached him. It grazed the spot where he had been standing a heartbeat earlier.
Smoker scoffed loudly.
"You learned how to dodge in Marineford and decided that was enough? All you can do is run?"
Liam dusted himself off and put on his most pitiful expression.
"I cannot help it. I am not good at fighting head on."
"You liar. If you are a man, fight me properly instead of playing tag."
Smoker's challenge rang with youthful pride.
"I want to, but I am afraid I cannot beat you."
His tone was so meek that several people snorted. They were not buying it.
Smoker definitely was not buying it.
His expression hardened as more smoke burst from his arms, condensing into two spiraling columns.
"Let us see how long you can dodge this."
The two smoke pillars shot forward, twisting violently through the air and cutting off Liam's escape routes on both sides. Smoker's lower body dissolved into smoke as he propelled himself forward, fist cocked and ready.
Liam counted silently.
Fifty-six seconds.
Fifty-seven.
Fifty-eight.
He had to lose after one full minute.
The system demanded it.
He braced himself, putting on an act of frantic panic as he dodged one smoke pillar, then leapt aside to avoid the second. When he looked up, Smoker was already in front of him, a fist the size of a cannonball filling his vision.
Perfect.
"Do not hesitate. Right in the face!"
Liam mentally encouraged.
The punch connected with a satisfying crack.
Liam flew backward, spinning three full rotations before crashing to the ground in an overly dramatic heap.
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Just seconds ago he had looked effortlessly untouchable.
Now he had been knocked out of the air like a ragdoll.
It was suspicious.
It was comical.
It was… oddly entertaining.
Several recruits exchanged confused looks.
Is he messing with us?
Smoker was not finished. He strode forward, ready to attack again.
"That is enough. Stop."
Instructor Zephyr's voice boomed across the hall.
Smoker froze mid-step.
Liam pushed himself up, pretending to wince as he glared at the smug young Smoker.
Enjoy it while you can.
I will pay you back eventually.
Zephyr finally spoke to Liam.
"Liam Ross, your Observation Haki has already reached a foundational level. Not bad at all."
A wave of realization rippled through the recruits.
No wonder he dodged so easily.
Observation Haki was notoriously difficult to awaken.
Most recruits spent years without the slightest progress.
Their admiration was immediate and sincere.
Smoker stood off to the side, arms crossed, scowling in jealousy. He had won the match, yet Zephyr praised Liam instead.
"Tch. It is only Observation Haki. I will awaken mine too."
Zephyr officially added Liam to Smoker's training batch.
Just like that, Liam became a Marine student.
As he walked toward the exit, a soft voice called from behind him.
"How did you awaken your Observation Haki?"
Liam turned and saw a girl about his age jogging toward him.
Delicate features. Smooth skin like polished jade. Soft pink hair that shimmered under the sunlight. Her eyes were bright and curious.
"Want to know?"
She nodded eagerly.
"One hundred push-ups. One hundred sit-ups. One hundred squats. And most importantly, listen carefully to everything around you. Feel the world. Pay attention to every subtle sound."
Her brows furrowed.
"That actually works?"
Liam nodded solemnly.
"Of course. That is exactly how I awakened mine."
She bowed in gratitude.
"Thank you."
Then she ran off, pink hair fluttering like a ribbon.
Liam watched her leave, then sighed softly.
If she ends up bald, that is not my fault.
He returned to his newly assigned dorm, focused his mind and opened the system inventory.
A treasure chest pulsed with purple light.
"Open."
Cracks spread across the chest and with a soft click, the lid burst open. A golden card floated out, gleaming brilliantly.
"Congratulations. You have obtained the Conqueror's Haki Training Card. Would you like to use it?"
Liam's breath hitched.
Finally.
He had been waiting for this.
"What does it do?" he asked quickly.
"During the designated training period, the card will greatly enhance your learning efficiency and comprehension of Conqueror's Haki."
Liam grinned.
This was the good stuff.
…
Meanwhile, in the New World, chaos was escalating.
Whitebeard.
Kaido.
Big Mom.
The three titans dominated the latter half of the Grand Line. Their territories clashed, and battles erupted almost weekly, drawing the attention of the entire world.
Just last month, Kaido and Big Mom destroyed an island during one of their territorial disputes.
Aboard the massive Moby Dick, Whitebeard drank from a bowl as large as a barrel. With a tilt of his head, the entire serving of sake disappeared down his throat.
"Gu ra ra ra. Excellent drink."
After a satisfied sigh, he turned toward Marco, the phoenix-haired first division commander.
"How is that rookie pirate, what was his name, Emperor Skytalon?"
Marco lazily rubbed his eyes.
"Forgot to tell you, Pops. Skytalon has already been captured and thrown into Impel Down."
Whitebeard shrugged.
"Unlucky kid."
He raised the bowl to drink again.
The skies darkened.
A colossal shadow blocked out the sun.
The Whitebeard Pirates looked up instantly, weapons ready, expressions tense.
Only Whitebeard continued drinking without worry.
He finished the entire bowl before finally raising his gaze to the massive figure above.
"Kaido. Get out of my territory."
Kaido's booming voice crashed down from the sky.
"Whitebeard. Fight me. Winner claims Alavi Island."