Chapter 23: Introduction to Haki Training
The early morning sun filled the Marineford courtyard, and a cool sea breeze carried the familiar sharp scent of salt.
Roy stood in the center of the yard, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the two people in front of him: Belle-mère and Ace.
Not far away, Luffy was chasing a butterfly, shouting "Waaah!" and occasionally tumbling onto the grass.
"Haki is just a general term for a specific kind of power," Roy began. He raised his right hand, and like flowing liquid, jet-black Armament Haki coated his entire arm, gleaming with a metallic luster in the sun.
Belle-mère, a cigarette hanging from her lips, felt her pupils contract. "So this is... Armament Haki?"
Ace's eyes lit up, his fists clenching. "So cool! I wanna learn!"
Roy nodded. "Haki is divided into three types: Armament, Observation, and Conqueror's."
As he spoke, he casually picked up a small stone, tossed it into the air, and then smashed it with his Haki-coated arm.
KACHA!
The stone shattered like a cookie, but his black arm was completely unfazed.
"Armament Hardening is the most basic application," Roy explained, "but at its peak, you can even catch cannonballs with your bare hands. More importantly, on the Grand Line, Armament is the single most important weapon for fighting Devil Fruit users."
Belle-mère's eyes flashed. "You mean... it can even bypass the powers of a Devil Fruit user?"
Roy smiled. "On the Grand Line, that's common knowledge."
(He thought to himself: Information in the East Blue really is too isolated...)
"Observation Haki," he continued, "allows you to sense the presence and auras of others, and even predict their attacks."
He closed his eyes, as if meditating.
"Try it. Close your eyes. Don't rely on your sight or hearing. Instead, try to sense the 'presence' of everything around you. Concentrate. Feel the flow of the wind, the breath of the people near you, the pulse of every living thing."
A few seconds passed.
"Grrr..." Ace's face was scrunched in frustration. "Damn it! Why can't I feel anything?!"
Roy walked over and tapped him on the forehead. "Because your heart is too impatient. Once your mind is calm, you'll be able to sense it."
Ace froze, then slowly closed his eyes, his breathing gradually steadying.
Just then, the sound of footsteps came from the back door.
Thump.
Ace's eyes snapped open, locking onto the doorway. "Someone's here!"
The door opened, and Nojiko poked her head in, looking for them.
Roy smiled and nodded. "Not bad, Ace. Observation Haki doesn't require strength. It requires a calm heart."
Belle-mère watched, deep in thought. "So, training Haki isn't just about physical power, it's also about inner discipline?"
Roy's expression turned serious. "Exactly. To become truly strong, your heart must be calm, and your fist must be steady."
At that moment, Luffy came flying over. "I wanna learn how to sense auras, too!"
Ace just shoved his head down. "You can learn after you stop chasing butterflies!"
Nami and Nojiko had climbed up on the nearby windowsill, watching the training with envy.
Ace suddenly raised his hand. "What about Conqueror's Haki?"
Roy glanced at him. "That's a rare talent. Only one in a million people are born with it."
Ace's expression became thoughtful, and his fists clenched even tighter.
"For now," Roy said, "just try to feel the power inside your own bodies. Imagine your blood is boiling, that your muscles are contracting. That power... it's always been there, deep inside you. You've just never truly called on it."
Belle-mère sat cross-legged in a corner, the cigarette in her mouth unlit, her brow furrowed.
"The power inside..." she muttered. She closed her eyes, trying to guide, compress, and awaken that feeling.
After a moment, a faint, mist-like shadow seemed to flicker across the skin of her arms, as if some new power was stirring.
"Ugh..."
But the feeling suddenly became chaotic and dissipated, like a reflection on water being scattered by the wind.
Belle-mère's eyes snapped open, a look of frustration and disbelief on her face. "What was that?!"
"You've already got a feel for it on your first try," Roy said, walking over. He nodded, impressed. "Even though you couldn't solidify it, you're on the right path. Many people take a week just to feel anything at all. You're already doing great."
Belle-mère gritted her teeth, her voice low. "That feeling... it was like something roaring in my bones. I almost had it, and then it just slipped away."
Roy smiled. "You've found the door, Belle-mère. The only question now is whether you can tame what's on the other side."
She shot him a sharp look, a stubborn smirk on her face. "There's nothing this woman can't tame."
Ace, who had been watching with wide eyes, rushed over. "Me too! I want to learn Armament Haki!"
"Not yet," Roy said, ruffling his hair. "First, learn to control the power in your body. Then, we can talk about applying it."
Belle-mère stood up, tossing the unlit cigarette aside, her gaze fixed on her own fists. "If I can learn this... I won't need a gun to smash a pirate's head like a watermelon."
Roy nodded. "A wise choice. I'll let my fists do the talking."
"Alright, that's it for today," Roy said, relaxing. "Belle-mère, this afternoon I'm taking you to the main HQ training grounds. With the Marine's systematic training, I'm sure you'll go far."
Belle-mère rolled her shoulders and grinned. "Good. Let's show them what an East Blue woman is made of."
Before she could finish, a small body launched itself onto Roy's back.
"I wanna learn too!" Luffy yelled, his eyes sparkling.
Roy sighed, grabbing him and lifting him off. "When you're older, Luffy."
Luffy pouted. "No fair! Ace gets to learn!"
Ace crossed his arms, looking smug. "That's 'cause I'm older than you!"
Thud. Nami hopped down from the windowsill. "I want to learn, too!"
Nojiko ran over, her expression serious. "M-me too!"
Roy, now completely surrounded by the brats, buried his face in his hand. "Old Man Garp... you really stuck me with a great job, didn't you..."
That afternoon. Belle-mère was in a sharp, clean Marine uniform.
Roy handed her a file. "The HQ boot camp has a systematic Haki course. It's the elite camp, taught by Head Instructor Zephyr himself."
Belle-mère took the file, but looked at him, confused. "Roy... why me?"
Roy looked past her, into the yard where the kids were now chasing each other. His voice was low and firm. "Because we need more... people like you."
He turned and walked toward the door. "Let's go. We'll let 'Black Arm' Zephyr see what an East Blue fist is really made of."
Belle-mère stared at his back for a second, then a confident grin spread across her face. She followed him. "Alright. Let's show him."
Just as they were about to leave, a familiar little head popped over the garden wall. Ace was clinging to the top, his eyes shining. "Wait for me! I'm going too!"
Roy turned, a tired but fond smile on his face. He thought to himself, Since I've been given this chance, I'm going to try and change this world...
Maybe... maybe they're the ones who can actually carry the banner of Justice.
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