The next day.
Little Rosa slowly opened her eyes, staring blankly at the familiar ceiling above. Her body ached slightly, a dull throb reminding her of the previous day's torment.
"Am I... still alive?"
Such heartbreaking words, especially from a child.
Kavi — that demon in human skin — had truly broken her.
"You're awake? Good. Come eat. We've been waiting."
Kavi's voice rang out gently as he entered the room, but Rosa didn't respond. She moved like a ghost — washed, dressed, ate — all without a single complaint. Her eyes were vacant, her mind somewhere far away.
She knew resistance was futile. Words wouldn't change anything.
Kavi demanded total development: strength of body, sharpness of mind, and unwavering will. It was exhausting.
He really did worry like an old father, though his methods were... brutal.
Still, in Rosa's heart, a seed of defiance had already been planted.
'One day, I'll defeat that devil Kavi and grind him into the dirt.'
Her eyes flickered with quiet rage as she devoured her breakfast with ferocious intensity, biting into each chunk of meat like it owed her money.
Kavi glanced at her, his brow twitching.
"…Is it that serious?"
After breakfast, Kavi brought her outside and handed her something wrapped in cloth.
"Here. Your reward."
Rosa blinked. Inside was a slender, finely forged blade. It gleamed in the sunlight, sharp and deadly.
"I made this myself, back when I worked at the blacksmith's a year ago."
Her eyes widened. "Thank you, Master!"
She turned the knife over in her hands, eyes sparkling with joy. Not a hint of resentment. Not even a trace of that morning's hatred.
Kavi narrowed his eyes.
'She's grown up... already knows how to say one thing to my face and think another behind my back. Good. That's how you survive in this world.'
"From now on, your training will include sword practice. If one day you become an admiral, I'll give you the Seven Star Sword as a gift."
"Really?!"
"Of course."
"Master's the best!" she chirped, already imagining the blade in her hands... and driving it straight through her teacher's smug smile.
'Just a little gratitude... before revenge.'
"Alright," Kavi said. "Let's begin. Chop wood. Use the knife."
"Huh?! Chop wood? Aren't you going to teach me sword techniques?"
"You questioning me now? Who's the teacher here?"
"…You are," she muttered and stormed off with a pout.
"How much do you want me to chop?"
"Let's start with ten thousand logs."
Rosa: "......…"
And so, half a year passed.
Thwack!
With a single slash, Rosa split another log clean in two. Her form was steady, precise. The knife flashed in her hands like a natural extension of her body.
"Alright. That's enough."
Kavi nodded, watching with arms crossed.
'She's got potential. Maybe not a genius, but she has the heart — and that's what matters.'
"I'll teach you something new today."
"Really?!" Rosa's face lit up. Six months of chopping wood — surely the nightmare was finally over.
"Yes. You may now use any method you want to attack me. I won't fight back."
As he spoke, Kavi took out a black cloth and blindfolded himself.
"Come at me."
Rosa froze.
'What's wrong with this man? Did he hit his head?'
But she wasn't about to question a golden opportunity. She crept behind him, quietly, like a predator stalking prey. Lifting her foot, she took aim at his rear and kicked with all her might, a grin forming on her lips.
'Now suffer, Master'!
Kavi, having sensed her movement with Observation Haki, sighed internally.
'She really hates me that much, huh?'
He tilted his body just slightly — enough to avoid the kick.
Rosa, who had put her full weight into the attack, lost her balance and crashed to the ground.
"Ow ow ow! Damn it!"
She leapt up, fists flying in a fury of jabs and kicks. Left hook, right kick, elbow strike — everything she'd learned, she threw at him in rage.
Kavi dodged them all with ease.
Finally, she even tried activating her Devil Fruit's ability.
Still useless.
"I give up! No more fighting! Master is bullying me!"
Kavi removed the blindfold and smirked. "Me? Bullying you? This is your next lesson."
He stepped forward.
"I'm going to teach you about the most powerful force in this world: Haki."
"Haki? Is that how you avoided my attacks just now?"
"Exactly. There are three types: Observation Haki, Armament Haki, and Conqueror's Haki."
He raised a finger, coating it in pitch-black energy.
"Bang!"
He tapped her forehead gently.
"OW! What the hell?!"
"That was Armament Haki. Strengthens your attacks. And hurts like hell if you're not ready."
"You're insane!"
Kavi ignored her glare.
"Lastly — and most importantly — there's Conqueror's Haki. Only one in a million people can awaken it. But I believe... you're one of them."
Rosa's eyes sparkled.
"You think I can do it?"
"It depends. Conqueror's Haki isn't just about power — it's will. A true King's will. Most people in the navy never awaken it because they don't truly believe in their dreams."
He paused.
"They say Garp doesn't have Conqueror's Haki. Do you believe that? The man who challenged the Pirate King?"
Rosa shook her head.
"Exactly."
He took a step back. "Now... would you like to feel it?"
"I do! If Master has it, then I must have it too! That's the only way I'll beat you someday!"
Kavi smirked. "Try not to faint."
He released his Conqueror's Haki in a sudden burst — raw, overwhelming pressure poured down like a tidal wave. Rosa's breath hitched. Her vision swam. Her knees buckled.
In that moment, it felt like she was standing before an ancient beast, jaws wide, ready to devour her whole.
Her consciousness began to slip. The world dimmed.
'Am I... going to faint again...? No. I won't fall! Not this time! I won't let him see me weak again! I'll defeat him someday — I will!'
Rosa clenched her fists, fighting the darkness with everything she had.