Chapter 9 Haki Practice!
Swords are meant for killing.
Sword techniques are merely methods developed to kill people more quickly.
Only when the strong clash can one's sword skills truly strengthen.
The approaching massive wave resembled a formidable adversary whose sword skills and strength far surpassed his own.
The storm roars!
The heavy rain falls majestically!
"koroshi-ya!"
A bloody slash condensed into a single line, slicing through half of the enormous wave that swept across the sky.
The remaining waves crashed violently against his body.
Soaked from head to toe, Ron resembled a drenched chicken; his body staggered, yet his feet remained planted on the ground as if rooted.
After being blown away by the waves repeatedly, he finally managed to stand firm under their relentless assault.
He successfully blocked the onslaught of the monstrous waves.
"You seem to be nothing more than that!"
Ron's blade pointed straight at the surface of the sea, his expression wild as he laughed unabashedly.
If he could block the waves once today, he could do it a second and a third time.
One day, he would conquer this sea.
Swish!
The tsunami crashed into his face, and Ron was hurled backward.
He felt weak all over, but soon that sensation gradually faded.
"The Demon Fruit power is hindered by the side effects of seawater; I wonder if there's a way to counter it."
There's no free lunch in the world, and the greatest weakness of those with Demon Fruit powers is their vulnerability to seawater and seastone.
Once you consume a Devil Fruit, you become a landlubber.
Even he is not an exception.
However, with the fruit of evolution, it might not be impossible to eliminate this side effect in the future.
Ron slowly rose from the ground, feeling slightly fatigued, and left the coast.
He had trained enough for today; any more would be too late.
Continuing would affect his training tomorrow.
In the shadows, a tattooed figure quietly observed the scene.
"Ron, another Sakazuki?"
Dragon muttered thoughtfully, his eyes reflecting deep contemplation.
A swordsman who dares to challenge the sea must possess an unruly spirit.
Such a person is destined to be anything but ordinary.
It's a pity he's a hardliner like Sakazuki; otherwise, he could be recruited into his camp.
"World Government, Celestial Dragons?
"This world has suffered under your oppression for far too long!"
However, before leaving, he needed to recruit some like-minded allies from the Marines.
After all, he couldn't overthrow the World Government alone.
...
"The power of Haki comes from one's potential. When the body is strong enough, it can awaken the power hidden within."
Ron examined the Haki practice method in his hand.
This is the Marine Haki training method specially provided by Marshal Kong after he became a Rear Admiral at Headquarters.
To advance from Rear Admiral to Vice Admiral, one must master not only strength and merit but also Haki, which is a fundamental requirement.
As is widely known, there are three types of Haki: Armament Haki, which focuses on attack and defense; Observation Haki, which emphasizes perception; and the innate Conqueror's Haki.
Conqueror's Haki is innate, and only those with the qualities of a king can awaken this type of Haki, making it extremely rare.
Whether he possesses it himself remains uncertain.
However, Armament Haki and Observation Haki can be acquired through dedicated practice.
Armament Haki can enhance both defense and attack, making weapons harder and sharper.
It is also the only known way to damage Logia Demon Fruit users.
In the first half of the Grand Line and the Four Seas, Haki is extremely rare.
But in the second half of the Grand Line, Haki is quite common; even some low-ranking soldiers in powerful pirate crews can awaken Haki.
Ultimately, the difference lies in the methods of Haki practice.
The vast majority of pirates lack the inherited knowledge of Haki training and can only rely on their instincts, often awakening Haki only after a narrow escape from danger.
Powerful nations, such as the Amazon Lily and Wano, possess complete Haki cultivation methods.
As a result, the probability of Haki awakening is extraordinarily high; almost everyone has awakened Haki.
Of course, awakening Haki is one thing, while cultivating Haki to a powerful state is another.
Only a select few can practice Haki to its Ultimate form.
The majority of people, even after awakening Haki, remain stagnant for their entire lives.
To become a top Haki user, 99% hard work and dedication is required, while the remaining 1% is talent.
Effort determines a person's lower limit, while talent defines their upper limit.
Naval Headquarters' Haki practice method is undoubtedly top-tier.
However, this method is strictly controlled by the Headquarters.
Only those promoted to Rear Admiral are granted access, and any form of dissemination is prohibited.
"If this information spreads across the seas, the impact would be no less than that of another Whitebeard."
Ron murmured.
The stability of the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line primarily stems from their weak strength.
If the Haki training methods were widely distributed, these areas would gradually lose the World Government's control.
In terms of interests and stability, weakening the power of the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line is more beneficial for the World Government.
Throughout history, there have been attempts to spread Haki cultivation methods to resist the World Government's rule.
However, these endeavors often ended in tragedy.
Marine's Buster Call is an insurmountable barrier, instilling despair in those who oppose it.
The World Government has stood above the seas for centuries, deeply entrenched in power. How could it be easily overthrown?
The Marines, World Government, military, and CP organization are merely the visible forces of the World Government.
As for the number of hidden cards, even the Five Elders may not know the extent.
"The progress of Haki training is too slow if I rely solely on solitary practice. I must find a strong opponent with similar strength to battle."
Haki, to put it simply, is the potential concealed within the human body.
When the human body reaches its limits, Haki can naturally be awakened.
He now stands before that door; he merely needs one key to unlock this door of infinite potential.
It may prove challenging to stimulate Haki within himself through ordinary training alone.
He needs to hone his body, allowing it and his will to merge perfectly to awaken Haki's power.
While this method is stable and safe—requiring only gradual practice to awaken Haki—it is also time-consuming.
This slow process may take months or even years.
He doesn't have that much time to waste; thus, he must resort to the second method.
Fighting the strong, teetering on the edge of life and death.
If he's fortunate, a life-and-death battle could fully awaken his potential.
However, the critical point for awakening Haki must be grasped at the right level.
If it exceeds that threshold, it's possible he may not awaken Haki and could die instead.
Without reaching that limit, Haki cannot be awakened.
Therefore, it's essential to stimulate his instincts and make him acutely aware of the dangers of life and death without risking fatal injury.
This is a significant test of both his strength and that of his opponent.
There shouldn't be too great a disparity in strength; otherwise, he could be defeated in one blow.
However, he cannot choose an opponent who is too weak; if the opponent is weak, he won't feel any pressure.
It's best if the opponent is stronger than him but not overwhelmingly so.
"Sakazuki, Polusalino, Dragon…"
These three names suddenly sprang to mind for Ron.
Add power stones please.