Chapter 61: Lessons and Crazy Training

Authors Note: 

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The next morning, the training field at Marineford was quieter than usual. The heat of the sun was already bearing down, but the training wasn't slowing. Garp, standing tall with his arms crossed, watched as Vulcan continued pounding away at a massive boulder with his fists. Despite Vulcan's best efforts, the boulder barely had a crack in it.

"Come on, brat! You think pirates are gonna wait while you get stronger?" Garp roared with his usual enthusiasm.

Vulcan, drenched in sweat, grimaced as his knuckles throbbed from the constant impact. "You're the one telling me to punch rocks all morning, old man!"

"Gahahaha! You're not wrong!" Garp bellowed, slapping his knee in amusement. "But punching rocks isn't about brute strength, kid. You've gotta learn to use your Haki properly."

Vulcan panted, his fists aching as he stood up straight, looking at Garp with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah, you mentioned that Haki stuff before. I still don't get what it is."

Garp's grin turned a bit more serious as he uncrossed his arms and strolled over. "It's time you learned, brat. Haki is the invisible power inside everyone, but only the strong can tap into it. It's what separates the top fighters from the rest."

Vulcan wiped the sweat from his brow, listening closely. "And what makes it so special?"

"There are three types of Haki, kid," Garp said, his tone shifting to something more informative. "The first is Observation Haki. It lets you sense people's presence, predict movements, and feel their emotions. You'll be able to dodge attacks before they even hit you if you master it."

Vulcan's eyes widened. "So it's like… a sixth sense?"

"Exactly," Garp nodded. "You've got it, brat. But the one you're gonna focus on right now is Armament Haki. This lets you coat your body or weapon in an invisible armor, making your attacks stronger and letting you hit Logia users who would otherwise be untouchable."

Vulcan blinked. "Wait, untouchable?"

"Yeah," Garp continued, nodding. "Logia users can turn into elements like fire, smoke, or lightning. You can't hit 'em unless you're using Armament Haki to solidify their bodies. And the stronger your Armament, the harder you hit. It's like giving your punches an extra layer of power."

Vulcan's interest piqued as he stared down at his fists. "So it's like an invisible armor… How do I use it?"

Garp grinned, clapping a hand on Vulcan's shoulder. "You'll have to feel it. Armament Haki is all about channeling your willpower into your body or weapon. Imagine that you're coating your fists with your spirit, making them harder, tougher. But it's not just about brute force—it's about control."

Vulcan nodded slowly, staring at the massive boulder in front of him. "Alright. I'll give it a try."

"That's the spirit!" Garp laughed, stepping back to give him space. "Now, focus, brat! You're not just punching the rock—you're coating your fist in Haki!"

Vulcan took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to focus on the energy inside him. His muscles tensed as he visualized his fists being covered in a powerful, invisible force. He could feel something—a faint sensation of power, but it was hard to grasp.

With a shout, Vulcan threw his punch. His fist collided with the boulder, and to his surprise, there was a small crack in the rock. It wasn't much, but it was something.

"Not bad!" Garp bellowed, clearly pleased. "You're getting the hang of it! But don't get cocky—you've got a long way to go before you can master Armament Haki."

Vulcan flexed his fist, surprised by the small crack. "So, I just keep doing this?"

"That's right!" Garp grinned. "But it's not just for offense. Armament Haki can also be used for defense. When someone hits you, you use your willpower to create a shield, so the attack doesn't hurt as much. You're tough, brat, but with Armament Haki, you'll be tougher."

Vulcan wiped more sweat from his face. "This is gonna take a while, isn't it?"

"Gahahaha!" Garp laughed heartily. "You bet! But that's what training's for! Now keep punching!"

Vulcan continued to strike the boulder, each punch trying to tap into that invisible energy Garp talked about. It wasn't easy—the sensation was fleeting, and every time he thought he was getting closer, it slipped away. But with each attempt, the cracks in the boulder grew a little larger.

As the morning turned into midday, Garp called for a break. Vulcan collapsed onto the grass, panting heavily, his arms shaking from the effort.

"You've made some progress," Garp said, sitting down beside him. "But you're still not ready to take on the big boys of the New World."

Vulcan stared up at the sky, catching his breath. "I'll get there, old man."

"You better," Garp replied, his tone still lighthearted but with a touch of seriousness. "Because the New World is full of people who will tear you apart if you're not prepared."

Vulcan remained silent, processing Garp's words. The New World sounded like a whole different level of danger—he wasn't sure if he was ready for that yet.

After a moment, Vulcan glanced over at his bag, where the strange devil fruit he found was still tucked away. His curiosity got the better of him. "Garp, about the devil fruit I found… how can I figure out what it does? You said some fruits are useless, right?"

Garp nodded, wiping crumbs from his chin after munching on some crackers. "Yeah, some devil fruits are more trouble than they're worth. But there's a way to figure out what you've got without eating it. There's an encyclopedia of known devil fruits in Marineford's library. It lists most of the fruits we've encountered over the years."

Vulcan's eyes lit up. "So I can just check it out in the library?"

"Exactly," Garp replied. "Smart move. No need to risk turning into something dumb like a chicken just to find out."

Vulcan smirked. "Thanks, old man. I'll take a look."

Garp grinned back. "Now, enough talking. Time for more training!"

Vulcan groaned as he pulled himself up off the ground. "Do you ever take a break, old man?"

"Gahahaha! Breaks are for when you're dead!" Garp laughed, tossing a large boulder toward Vulcan. "Come on, brat! Let's see if you've got what it takes to awaken Armament Haki!"

For the rest of the day, Vulcan was put through his paces in what felt like Garp's own version of hellish training. The Vice Admiral threw boulders, forced Vulcan to dodge cannonballs, and made him defend against wild punches, all while Vulcan struggled to tap into his newly discovered Haki.

By the time the sun began to set, Vulcan's body was covered in bruises, his muscles screaming from the intensity of the training. But despite the exhaustion, Vulcan felt a strange sense of accomplishment. He could feel the faintest touch of Haki now—just enough to know that he was on the right path.

As they finished for the day, Garp clapped him on the back again, laughing loudly. "You did good today, brat. But don't get cocky. You're still a long way from mastering Armament Haki."

Vulcan, lying flat on the ground and too tired to speak, simply gave a thumbs up. He had survived another round of training with Garp, and that was an achievement in itself.

"Tomorrow, we'll work on it again!" Garp called as he strolled off. "But don't forget to check that devil fruit in the library!"

Vulcan sighed, staring up at the darkening sky. "Yeah, yeah…"

But as exhausted as he was, Vulcan knew that today's progress was a step toward becoming something greater. With Garp's brutal training, the power of Haki, and the mystery of the devil fruit still lingering in the back of his mind, Vulcan felt like he was on the verge of unlocking something new.