After some time, everyone followed Kai to an open clearing just outside the town.
Kai turned to face them, pausing briefly before speaking, "Alright, first things first, I'm going to teach you the Six Powers—moves used by the Marines. I'll demonstrate each one."
"The Six Powers? Marines use those, right?" Zoro asked, confused.
"Exactly," Kai replied.
Usopp, trembling, asked, "But if we learn Marine moves, won't they come after us?"
The rest of the crew gave him a collective look, like they were staring at a fool.
"What are we?" Kai asked.
"Pirates!" they all replied.
"Isn't it normal for the Marines to come after pirates? Do you think they'll stop chasing you just because you didn't learn their moves?" Kai was exasperated.
Usopp swallowed hard, clearly scared out of his wits.
"But why do you know Marine techniques?" Sanji inquired, raising an eyebrow.
Kai shot him a sharp look. "That's none of your business!"
"Anyway, enough chatter. Pay close attention to my demonstrations. First up is Soru!" Kai announced. "It's the most versatile move in the Six Powers. It allows you to move at superhuman speeds by stepping on the ground more than ten times in the blink of an eye!"
Without warning, Kai vanished from his spot, only to reappear in front of them.
"Wooow! Is this the same trick you used to disappear before?!" Luffy asked, eyes wide with excitement.
"Exactly!" Kai nodded. "Luffy, Zoro, Sanji—you three can definitely learn this technique. As for Usopp and Nami, just watch for now. You two don't have the physical requirements yet."
Kai had brought Usopp and Nami here not for the Six Powers, but to teach them something different: Haki. Haki doesn't require intense physical strength, making it suitable for them.
"Next up is Geppo, or as I call it, Skywalk. It's an advanced version of Soru. By kicking the air before you fall, you can change your trajectory and essentially 'fly'!"
Kai demonstrated the technique, bouncing through the air as if walking on invisible platforms.
"Now, moving on to Rankyaku..."
"Kami-e..."
"I won't bother demonstrating Tekkai or Shigan. They won't be of much use to you right now." Kai waved dismissively. "What you decide to learn is up to you. You're free to ignore it if you want. Training takes effort, and I can't guarantee the results."
The group paused, their initial excitement dimming, but Zoro remained indifferent, his focus solely on swordsmanship.
Kai smirked. "The Six Powers are just a bonus. What I'm really here to teach you is far more important."
His tone became serious, drawing everyone's attention. "Listen carefully. In this world, there's a power that every strong person possesses. No exceptions."
Everyone inhaled sharply, hanging on his every word.
"This power is called Haki."
"Haki?" Luffy asked, tilting his head, trying to recall the term. "Wait! Is this the same thing that Uncle Crocus mentioned last time? The Conqueror's Haki?"
"You're half right, Luffy. Haki is the general term. Conqueror's Haki is just one type—and only a rare few possess it. It depends entirely on their potential."
"Do you think I have it?!" Luffy asked excitedly, eyes wide with anticipation.
Kai smirked. "Maybe... a little."
"A little?!" Luffy was visibly deflated.
Kai chuckled to himself. Of course, Luffy had great potential, but it wouldn't hurt to humble him a bit. He didn't want Luffy getting cocky too soon.
"Conqueror's Haki is a special case. But what I'm going to teach you now is even more crucial." Kai scanned the group before continuing, his tone intense, "And all of you need to master this."
"There are three types of Haki. In addition to Conqueror's Haki, there's Armament Haki and Observation Haki."
"These are the ones I need you all to learn!"
"Armament Haki is like a suit of armor. When it's hardened enough, it can also be used offensively." As Kai spoke, his right fist turned jet black, coated with Armament Haki.
"This... this is what you used to block my attack last night, isn't it?" Zoro asked, intrigued.
"Exactly. Armament Haki boosts both defense and attack power. That's how I stopped your blade with my bare hand," Kai explained. "Not only that, but you can coat your sword with it too. If your Armament Haki is strong enough, your blade won't get damaged, no matter what."
Zoro's eyes gleamed with excitement. The thought of protecting his swords was an irresistible temptation.
"By the way, Hawkeye—your target—has mastered this power. And he's leagues beyond where you are now." Kai added, throwing Zoro an intense look.
Zoro's expression hardened, and an unspoken resolve formed in his mind. The first step to defeating Hawkeye is mastering Armament Haki.
"Moving on... Armament Haki has another important function. It allows you to strike Logia Devil Fruit users."
"Logia? What's that?" Luffy asked, looking confused.
Kai slapped his forehead. "You're hopeless. I guess I need to explain Devil Fruits to you all."
After a brief explanation of Devil Fruits and their types~
"Got it now?" Kai asked.
Luffy nodded rapidly. "So the smoke guy we met last time—he's a Logia user! If I had Armament Haki, I could've punched him!"
"Exactly! But keep in mind, top-tier Logia users can still evade attacks using their Observation Haki by sensing the attack beforehand," Kai explained.
"Observation Haki," Kai continued, "allows you to predict your opponent's movements."
To demonstrate, Kai closed his eyes. "Luffy, hit me."
Without hesitation, Luffy swung his fist at Kai. But just before it landed, Kai effortlessly dodged with a slight tilt of his head.
"Whoa! So cool!" Vivi and the others watched in awe, jaws dropping. The sheer power of Haki left them wondering, Could even Crocodile stand up to this?
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Power Stones would be appreciated if you liked the story