In the quiet confines of his lab, Koby paced restlessly, the memories of their brutal encounter with Saturn still fresh in his mind. The hum of machines and the soft glow of screens illuminated the room, but it did little to calm his frustration. His fists clenched at his sides, teeth grinding together as he replayed the events of the battle over and over again. They had trained for years, yet still, it wasn't enough. He couldn't accept being powerless, not again.
Slamming his hand on the table, Koby glared at the half-finished project in front of him. A genetic-modifying machine—his next big idea, something he believed could alter the very DNA of a person, granting them immense physical strength and durability beyond natural limits. If they had this during the fight, maybe they would've stood a chance.
But it wasn't done. No matter how much he pushed, he kept hitting the same wall. The materials he needed weren't here, and no matter how much he scoured his inventory, he was always short of something critical.
Koby let out a sharp exhale, running his fingers through his hair. The machine was so close to being complete, yet the final pieces seemed impossibly far. It wasn't just about the tech; it was about materials that were rare, dangerous, and hard to obtain. And, as much as he hated to admit it, he couldn't do this alone.
"I can't believe I need his help…" Koby muttered under his breath, his mind drifting toward Te. Despite their differences, Te was the one person who could probably help him gather what he needed. But right now? After what happened? Koby wasn't ready to face him, not yet. The frustration, the lingering guilt from the loss, and the heated argument still hung in the air between them.
He stared down at the blueprints scattered across the table, feeling the weight of unfinished business. There was so much riding on this, on them, and he hated feeling like he was dependent on anyone else.
"I'll ask him later," Koby decided, pushing away from the table and leaning back against the wall. His gaze swept over the chaotic arrangement of tools and parts in his lab. "When things calm down… when I'm not this pissed."
He glanced back at the genetic-modifying machine, the dim light from the monitors reflecting off its sleek surface. One way or another, he'd finish it. He had to. If they were going to face opponents like Saturn again, they couldn't afford to be this weak.
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Te sat on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the wall of his room, his mind replaying every moment of the fight with Saturn. His body, though fully healed thanks to the recovery pods and his natural ability to bounce back stronger after every battle, still felt the phantom pain of Saturn's Haki-infused blows. That overwhelming force… the power that had sent him and Koby flying. It wasn't just brute strength; it was something more refined, something he hadn't fully understood at the time.
Haki emission.
Te clenched his fist, trying to recall the sensation of it. When Saturn had struck him, it was as though the air itself had been weaponized, his fists extending their destructive power beyond mere physical contact. He hadn't even touched them directly half the time—his willpower alone had been enough to cause catastrophic damage.
"I have to figure it out," Te muttered, pushing himself off the bed. He knew his body well, better than anyone else. After every fight, especially when pushed to the brink, he could feel his abilities evolve. This Zenkai talent of his—it was more than just healing. It was like his body instinctively adapted after every intense battle, coming back stronger, faster, and more capable. If he could survive a fight, he could learn from it. He could grow.
Te dropped down onto the floor, crossing his legs as he closed his eyes and began to focus. The room fell into silence, save for the rhythmic sound of his own breathing. His mind returned to the moment when Saturn had unleashed that terrifying Haki emission. He could still feel the energy, the pressure of Saturn's will forcing its way through him.
He clenched his fists tighter, recalling the specific moment when Saturn's attack had hit him. He wasn't just attacking with his fists—Saturn's will had extended outward, as if it became a weapon in itself. That was the key. Haki wasn't just about hardening your body or deflecting blows—it was about projecting your intent beyond your own skin.
He reached out with his own aura, trying to push it beyond his body, imagining the energy around him as an extension of himself. Nothing happened at first. His Haki remained stubborn, clinging to his skin, not budging past the surface. Frustration bubbled up, but Te pushed it down. He knew this would take time. He wasn't one to give up easily, especially not when he could feel his body trying to grasp something just out of reach.
He focused harder, trying to sense the movement of his own energy. Sweat began to bead on his forehead as he concentrated, visualizing Saturn's Haki, how it had felt like an invisible fist, hitting him even without direct contact. That's what I need to do, Te thought. He could feel his own Haki swirling within him, waiting to be released.
Project it outward.
He strained, forcing his will to extend beyond his skin, trying to push his aura out like a shockwave. There was a faint pulse, barely noticeable, but it was there. His heart skipped a beat.
"Come on…" he whispered under his breath, focusing harder. He knew his body could do it—it had been adapting, learning, evolving after each fight. All he had to do was push it further.
He thought back to the moment Saturn had hit him, how his attack had felt like a hammer slamming into his very spirit. The raw force of his will—it wasn't just strength, it was the ability to make his Haki act as an invisible extension of his body. He just needed to replicate it.
With a deep breath, Te centered himself again. He tried to remember the feeling, the force that had knocked him down. Then, slowly, deliberately, he started focusing his own Haki, channeling it to his fists. He could feel the familiar sensation of his Haki coating his skin, but this time, instead of hardening it around his body like armor, he pushed it outward, trying to make it extend beyond his physical form.
His muscles tensed, his breath slowed, and his mind narrowed on that single goal: extend the Haki, project it outward. He visualized a barrier around his hand, then expanded it, pushing that barrier out.
And then it happened—suddenly, his Haki surged beyond his skin, a faint, barely-visible force radiating outward from his clenched fists. He could feel it—an invisible wall of energy, a projection of his will. It wasn't perfect, not yet, but it was there.
Te's eyes shot open as he exhaled in astonishment. He lifted his fist and released a slow punch, focusing on sending his Haki out with it. There was a soft pulse, a barely-there ripple in the air in front of him.
"I'm doing it…" Te muttered, his eyes wide. "I'm actually doing it."
He tried again, concentrating harder this time. His Haki surged forward with his punch, and this time, the pulse was stronger—more defined. The air around his fist shimmered slightly as his will extended outward, as if an invisible force had followed the motion of his fist.
It wasn't as strong or as refined as Saturn's, but it was there. He was making progress. His body was adapting, learning. His Zenkai talent was kicking in, helping him absorb the technique and make it his own.
Te couldn't help but smile, feeling a surge of pride mixed with the intense desire to master this technique completely. He wasn't there yet, but he was on the right path.
He stayed in his room for hours, practicing, focusing, and refining the technique. Every punch sent a ripple of Haki emission into the air, growing stronger, sharper with each attempt. His body, as always, adapted quickly, and with each passing minute, he felt the technique becoming more natural, more a part of him.
By the time he was done, Te was drenched in sweat, but his eyes were burning with determination. He could feel the power coursing through him, the same kind of power that Saturn had used against them. He wasn't completely there yet, but he was close.
"Just a little more…" Te muttered to himself, wiping the sweat from his brow. He stood up, stretching his sore muscles, and looked down at his fists, clenching them tightly. "I'll master this. And next time… next time, I'll be ready."