Chapter 21 Armament Haki
The training resumed in earnest as the morning sun climbed higher into the sky. Namor stood before a fresh set of stone pillars, each one larger and denser than the last. Boa Hancock watched him critically from a distance, her arms crossed, as she gave a curt instruction.
"Focus your willpower into the surface of your hand," she said. "Armament Haki isn't about brute strength. It's about channeling your spirit into a weapon that can break even the strongest defenses."
Namor clenched his fist tightly, his frustration bubbling just under the surface. Despite his natural prowess, mastering this subtle skill wasn't coming as easily as he had hoped. He inhaled deeply, his gaze fixed on the largest boulder in the clearing.
'Focus... willpower... not strength,' he reminded himself.
He stepped forward and swung his fist, but the blow merely cracked the surface of the stone without breaking it apart.
"You're still thinking too much about your physical power," Boa said sharply. "Raw strength will only get you so far. If you don't refine your Haki, you'll lose to anyone with better control."
Namor straightened, his face hardening. "This feels like fighting with one hand tied behind my back. I can already destroy this with my strength."
"Then prove you're more than just a brute," she snapped. "Armament Haki is about discipline, not mindless power."
Namor closed his eyes and steadied his breathing. He visualized the flow of his will, channeling it into his hands. This time, as he swung at the boulder, a faint turquoise outline shimmered over his knuckles. The punch landed with a thunderous crack, splitting the stone cleanly in half.
Boa gave a small nod of approval. "Better. Now do it again. And again."
---
Nearby, Enel was going through his own struggles. His usual cocky smirk was gone, replaced by a rare expression of concentration. Sparks of lightning danced along his arms as he worked to suppress his natural powers, focusing instead on the intangible strength of his will.
"You're relying too much on your devil fruit powers," Boa scolded, pacing behind him. "Armament Haki isn't your power itself. It's the manifestation of your spirit. If you don't separate the two, you'll never master it."
Enel growled under his breath but bit back a retort. Clenching his fists, he focused entirely on the training dummy in front of him. He took a steady step forward and punched, the faintest trace of black energy coating his hand.
The dummy shook but didn't break.
"You're hesitating," Boa said sharply. "Stop holding back."
Enel sneered. "I'm trying not to fry the stupid thing with my lightning."
"That's your problem," she replied coolly. "You're still relying on your devil fruit as a crutch. If you can't separate it from your Haki, you'll never progress."
Namor smirked as he glanced over. "Looks like you're not the only one who has to learn restraint."
"Shut up," Enel muttered, turning back to the dummy. This time, his punch landed with more force, leaving a faint dent in the wood.
---
By the end of the session, both men were drenched in sweat. Namor's fists were battered but steady, the turquoise-black hue of his willpower now faintly visible with every strike. Enel, meanwhile, was still struggling to separate his powers, but even he had started to land strikes imbued with Armament Haki.
Boa stepped forward, observing their progress. "You're both far from mastery, but this is a good start. Keep this up, and you might actually stand a chance in breaking your friend out."
Namor's lips curled into a small grin. "This is only the beginning."
Enel glanced at him, his usual cocky demeanor returning. "Just don't slow me down, King"
Namor rolled his eyes but said nothing, focusing instead on the next set of stones Boa had lined up. He wasn't satisfied yet—not until he could break them all with a single strike.
…
…
The following month on Amazon Lily became a relentless cycle of training, exhaustion, and improvement for Namor and Enel. Despite their initial struggles, both men quickly began to adapt to the demands of Boa's rigorous Haki regimen, each progressing in their own way.
---
Day 1:
Namor stood in front of a row of massive stone pillars, his fists clenched tightly as he focused on channeling his willpower. The faint turquoise aura of his developing Armament Haki shimmered as he struck, shattering each pillar with increasing precision.
Boa observed him from a shaded alcove, her arms crossed. "Good. You're beginning to refine the energy rather than letting it leak everywhere like a broken pipe. Keep that up."
Nearby, Enel was sparring with one of the island's strongest warriors. His strikes, coated in basic black Armament Haki, were beginning to leave visible dents in the woman's steel-reinforced staff. Though he still struggled to separate his lightning powers from his Haki, he was making steady progress.
---
Day 6:
The humid jungle air buzzed with the sound of Enel's laughter as he launched a flurry of Haki-coated punches at his training dummy. The once-sturdy wooden post now lay in splinters.
"Finally getting the hang of this," he said, smirking as he inspected his hands. The black sheen of his Armament Haki glinted faintly in the sunlight.
Namor, meanwhile, had moved on to sparring against multiple warriors at once. His strikes were sharper and more controlled, each blow resonating with the weight of his willpower. The faint turquoise glow around his fists gave him an almost regal presence.
"Good," Boa said, watching from the sidelines. "But don't get cocky. You're not ready to face true masters yet."
Namor gave her a sidelong glance. "Not yet. But I will be."
---
Day 14:
After solidifying their Armament Haki techniques, Boa introduced the concept of Observation Haki. "This isn't about brute strength or willpower," she explained. "It's about sensing the world around you—feeling your opponent's intent before they even act."
Enel leaned back against a tree, looking unimpressed. "I already know how to sense things. My lightning does that for me."
"Prove it," Boa challenged, tossing a handful of small, sharpened arrows into the air. They shot toward Enel at blistering speed, but he didn't flinch. Each arrow was struck out of trajectory by a small bolt of lightning.
"Too slow," he said, smirking.
Boa's eyes narrowed. "You're good. Better than I expected."
Namor, on the other hand, approached the task with a more methodical focus. Though he wasn't as naturally gifted as Enel, his progress was still remarkable. By the end of the day, he could sense incoming attacks from several directions at once, dodging them with fluid precision.
---
Day 26:
The two men stood side by side in the training grounds, their sweat-soaked bodies glowing faintly in the morning light. Namor's fists were now coated in a sleek, black Armament Haki with a faint turquoise aura that radiated outward. His strikes carried a newfound weight, each one leaving deep cracks in the reinforced stone pillars.
Enel's Armament Haki, while lacking the visual flair of Namor's, was just as effective. He'd stopped relying on his devil fruit entirely during combat training, his punches and kicks now infused with raw willpower alone.
When it came to Observation Haki, however, Enel was on a completely different level. He demonstrated his mastery by closing his eyes and dodging every single attack from a group of warriors, predicting their movements with eerie accuracy.
Boa watched with a mix of pride and unease. "I've never seen Observation Haki like that before," she admitted.
Namor crossed his arms, his turquoise-lined trident resting against his shoulder. "He's annoying, but I'll admit—he's good."
"Better than you," Enel said, grinning.
Namor scowled but didn't rise to the bait. Instead, he turned back to Boa. "What's next?"
Boa smirked. "Well... I think you're just about ready to leave."
Namor's lips curled into a confident grin. "We're more than ready."
…
The morning sun rose over Amazon Lily, casting a golden glow over the dense jungle and vibrant village. Namor and Enel stood near the edge of the training grounds, their lean, powerful forms reflecting the results of a week's worth of intense training. Namor wore a light blue skirt, tied loosely at the waist, his upper body bare and gleaming in the sunlight. Enel stood beside him, dressed in a pristine white skirt and simple sandals, his golden gauntlets tucked away as a rare display of modesty but the shime-daiko drums in his back remained.
Boa Hancock and a small group of warriors gathered nearby to see them off. The Empress stood tall, her usual air of superiority softened slightly as she approached Namor and Enel. "I'm pretty sure you've both grown stronger," she admitted, though her gaze lingered on Namor with a mixture of pride and irritation.
Namor gave her a nod, his expression calm. "You've been a good teacher. Your techniques will serve me well."
Enel, standing a step behind, smirked and stretched lazily. "And me, of course. I'd say I've mastered everything here, though the company was... tolerable."
Boa's eyes narrowed briefly at the comment, but she quickly composed herself. "If you've truly gained strength, it's because of your effort. Not mine." She hesitated for a moment, then took a step closer. "I could accompany you. As Empress of Amazon Lily, my strength could be an asset to your cause."
Namor shrugged, turning away casually. "Your place is here, protecting your people. Besides, I don't need more distractions." His tone was indifferent, but there was a flicker of acknowledgment in his eyes.
Boa stiffened, hiding her disappointment behind her usual haughty demeanor. "Very well. Then consider this island open to you, should you ever return." She gestured to her warriors. "Let us honor their departure."
The warriors bowed respectfully as Namor and Enel stepped forward. Namor paused, glancing over his shoulder. "Thank you—for the training and the hospitality."
Enel gave a small wave, his usual arrogance softened for a rare moment. "Yeah, thanks. It wasn't... terrible here."
As they walked toward the edge of the island, Namor spoke, his voice low and thoughtful. "The training here was just the beginning. We're heading back into dangerous waters now, and we'll need to be ready for anything."
Enel raised an eyebrow, his steps light and confident. "So what's the grand plan, oh fearless leader? Swim around aimlessly until we find Arlong, or are we actually going to focus on building your so-called empire?"
Namor smirked faintly, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "I feel like we need some reputation… that way we could defeat and recruit some pirates. The sea is vast, and there are people out there with power that rivals ours—or surpasses it. I'll need them to stand with me when the time comes."
Enel's grin widened. "Allies, huh? You're lucky you've got me already. Most wouldn't put up with your mood swings."
Namor chuckled under his breath, the sound rare and brief. "You're here because you're useful, Enel. Don't forget that."
The two walked in silence for a moment, the edge of the island now in sight. The sea sparkled in the distance, calm and inviting. Enel broke the quiet with a curious tone. "You think Arlong's still alive?"
Namor's expression hardened. "If he is, I'll find him. And if he's not... whoever's responsible will answer to me."
They reached the edge of the island, where the sea stretched out endlessly before them. Namor stepped to the edge and called out with a low, commanding tone. Within moments, the water began to ripple, and several enormous Sea Kings emerged from the depths, their massive eyes watching him with a mix of awe and obedience.
Enel leaned casually against a nearby tree, watching with mild amusement. "You've got them wrapped around your finger. Must be nice to have an army of sea monsters at your beck and call."
Namor glanced back at him, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "One day, you might have an army of your own. But until then, you'll just have to rely on me."
Enel snorted, stepping forward. "I'll pass. Let's just get moving. The longer we wait, the more time we waste."
The Sea Kings lowered themselves into the water, creating a path for Namor and Enel to climb aboard. As they prepared to leave, Namor cast one last glance at Amazon Lily, his gaze thoughtful.
"This was a great stop," he said quietly, more to himself than anyone else. "But the real journey starts now."
With that, the two leapt onto the backs of the Sea Kings, their sights set on the horizon and the challenges that awaited them in the vast and unpredictable seas.