Flashback to last evening after Garling hand Ronan his sword:
Ronan; tell me; during your fight with that filthy pirate, The force you awaken, do you've any clue what it is? Ronan lowered his head and replied "No father; everything happened too fast to register anything; the only thing left is a lingering feeling of that force which burst out while clashing with that pirate.
"Hmm!! That force you talk about is called Haki son," Ronan raised his eyes & looked at his father with curious eyes. Garling continued " it is not just a power; it is the force of one's spirit made manifest. It lies dormant in people everywhere. The power to sense the world in a new perceptive and the power to overwhelm others, though only fewer can master it . To do so, Ronan, it requires far more than strength; it demands unwavering resolve."
Go and rest for now; from tomorrow we'll advance your training to the next step.
Back to present day
The early morning mist clung to the arena as Ronan arrived, his breath visible in the crisp air. He felt a shiver not from the cold but from anticipation. Garling stood at the center, calm and unreadable, exuding the quiet, indomitable presence of a true master.
The silence between them was unbroken for several heartbeats, each one intensifying Ronan's focus. Garling finally spoke, his voice low and steady.
Before we begin your training, I feel; I owe you an explanation about what haki truly is. As I mentioned yesterday, It is the force of one's spirit made manifest. It lies dormant in people everywhere but most people around the world are too ignorant to even learn about the existence of Haki, let alone how to utilize it. Now listen closely it can only be awakened through proper instruction and intense training.. The power to sense the world in a new perceptive and the power to overwhelm others, it is a transcendental force that can even surpass devil fruit powers and the only force besides a seastone to counter a devil fruit ability, regardless their type. It's especially very handy while dealing against a Logia user, as only it gives you the ability to bypass the user's intangible body and actually land a hit on them.
Ronan was amazed after learning this, he was excited and yet at the same time he found the answer to one of the most pressing questions he had following his struggle with Captain Drake.. looking at Ronan amused face; a smirk appeared on Garling's face while he continued;
"Haki have three distinct types, each tied to a different ability:
First comes the Observation haki, the ability to sense others' spiritual energy to anticipate their movements. The ability to perceive more than sight or sound can reveal.
The second haki it's called Arnament haki; just like its name it gives the user the ability to reinforce their body or weapon by coating their body haki, it increases the user's strength, speed, durability depending on how you use it. Moreover it also gives the user the ability to nullify devil fuit ability and bypass their defense.
And the last one, it is a superior and different form of force compared to the other two as it can't be achieved regardless how much you train and only exists in a certain group of "chosen ones"— the ability to overwhelm the willpower of others. This is the very power that you awakened that day while clashing against that pirate vermin; It's called the Conqueror's Haki.
Garling's statement made Ronan realised how small he was in the vast sea and how much more he needed to grow to be even considered powerful.
After a brief explanation session, he brought Ronan to a sealed chamber filled with advanced, unpredictable obstacles. It was a unique training environment designed to heighten his awareness—a labyrinthine room filled with subtle noises and shifting shadows. His first exercise involved awakening & honing his senses to detect presences within the room, relying entirely on his spiritual senses rather than his eyes. Ronan's goal was to learn to sense the movements and intentions of those around him without using his eyes.
Today, you'll start with Observation Haki -----he began, "It is not about force. It is about presence, awareness, and control. It is the ability to perceive more than sight or sound can reveal. To sense without seeing, to know without knowing. It gives the user a sixth sense of the world around them, allowing them to sense the presence, strength, and emotions of other people, even if they are out of sight or far away, mastered with dedication, it might even give you the ability to foresee the future before it even happens."
Hearing that, Ronan began to wonder if he had observed Haki that day, would he have been able to save Lila from her unfortunate fate? No, he could have; if he was strong enough to foresee what was about to happen, he could have changed the outcome, and Lila would have been here with him today and for something similar to not repeat again he has to get stronger and get back to listen to his father's explanation again.
So your first task is to awaken your observation haki, open your third sight.
"Close your eyes, Ronan and try to feel the environment around you."
With his eyes shut, Ronan struggled to quiet his mind, the unfamiliar darkness amplifying every rustle and distant sound. His body tensed as his focus drifted from one sound to another, his mind cluttered with distractions.
Garling's voice came, calm but with an edge of steel. "If you cannot silence yourself, Ronan, you will only hear the noise, never the message, as a swordsman I've trained you to read the environment yourself before also, it's the same but in a wider concept ."
Ronan took a deep breath, letting the stillness of the sealed chamber wash over him. He tried to push away the noise in his mind—the hum of memories, the lingering ache of loss, and the relentless drive to become stronger. Slowly, he started to tune into the subtler sensations around him: the cool draft slipping through the walls, the faintest creaks as the room settled, the pulse of his own heartbeat.
Time passed. Days went on, though he could not tell how long, as he wavered between calm and frustration. Each day he came and repeated the same exercise and each time he grew close to perceiving something, a stray thought would pull him back. He clenched his fists, feeling the urge to open his eyes, but Garling's words echoed in his mind: "Silence yourself, or you will only hear the noise."
Finally, he let his breath fall into a steady rhythm. With each exhale, he let a bit of tension slip away until his mind was a blank slate, open and unburdened. And then—something changed. A faint, almost imperceptible awareness tingled at the edge of his senses. He didn't see anything with his eyes closed, but he felt a presence—a shift in the air, a subtle intent moving around him.
A low hum sounded, and Garling's voice pierced the quiet. "Now, you are beginning to see."
Ronan's eyes flew open, but Garling was already nodding approvingly. "Remember this feeling. Observation Haki is about extending your awareness beyond yourself. You will learn to anticipate danger, sense intent, and, in time, perhaps even glimpse what lies moments ahead.
The rest of the session pushed Ronan deeper into honing this skill inside the Labyrinth-like chamber filled with various obstacles and automated machines designed to move unpredictably. Each machine emitted faint signals, barely noticeable to the untrained senses, requiring Ronan to rely solely on Observation Haki to detect them. Here his eyes were useless.
Garling moved silently around the room, varying his steps and creating unpredictable disturbances. Each time, Ronan was instructed to sense his father's movements, no matter how subtle or elusive they became. It was taxing, mentally and physically, yet exhilarating; for the first time, Ronan felt he was truly grasping the vastness of Haki and just like this 3 months passed away."
Although before that, I suppose I should explain to you Armament Haki's subtypes and its applications.
"Sure; I'm all ears." Ronan said, getting serious.
Garling started " Armament haki is a very flexible force and you can use it in many different ways, yet we still are not aware of its full potential. Its basic use is to augment one's body via their own spiritual energy, greatly increasing their power and resilience.
It has two subtypes, Garling began,"Watch closely."
Garling extended his fist, and a dark, gleaming layer began to envelop his knuckles, spreading out across his hand and forearm like liquid steel. The effect was mesmerizing, transforming his hand into something both imposing and indestructible.
"This," he said, flexing his fingers as the black sheen pulsed with restrained power, "is Hardening. With Hardening, you reinforce your body—making your attacks stronger, your defenses tougher. It also allows you to bypass a Logia user's intangibility, letting you land a hit where others would fail."
Then he took out his sword, its blade catching the light as he held it steady before him. With practiced ease, he let the dark energy spread from his hand to the blade, cloaking it in the same ominous black aura. The weapon seemed to hum with power, its edge taking on an even more menacing glint.
The second type," Garling continued, "is Imbuement. Imbuing your Haki into an object—like this sword—enhances its offensive power. With enough practice, the weapon becomes an extension of yourself, carrying the weight of your will. In some rare cases, a weapon can even begin to develop its own will, one that aligns with yours."
This piece of information astonished Ronan and wondered if his sword was also used by someone else in the past, then the will present in the sword most likely would be the essence of its past user which would explain a lot.
Meanwhile, Garling continued; there are also two advanced techniques, but we would discuss them later. For now we would focus on the first two techniques, especially imbuement. As a swordsman, your sword is your main weapon and a part of you. So the more refinement you get in imbuing, the more powerful you would be in your battle after all, between a clash within two Haki users, only the one with superior Haki would come out victorious.
Now let's start today's session
"Go ahead, now it's your turn," Garling encouraged. "I want to tap into that energy that awakens and try to channel your Haki into your hand. Imagine it flowing from deep within, coating your arms, binding to your will , giving it a shape."
Ronan closed his eyes, focusing inward, trying to feel for the power that had always felt just out of reach. He clenched his fist, envisioning the energy within him seeping outward, flowing into his hand, strengthening it.
After several attempts, a faint black sheen began to form over his knuckles, not yet solid, but unmistakably there. Garling nodded, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Good," he said. "You're beginning to grasp the essence of Hardening. But there's more"
Taking a deep breath, Ronan loosened him, and focused, reaching inward to feel the Haki within him, and then let it spread down to his arms. Slowly, his arms began to take on the same dark hue, though the layer was thin, wavering, as if it might fade at any moment. Still, it was a start.
Garling observed, his gaze calculating. "Keep practicing. It takes time. Remember, Ronan Haki is not just a technique. It's an expression of your spirit, of your will to shape the world around you. Strengthen that resolve, channel it from within, let it pass through it like a flow of water, wear it like a pair of gloves, try to remember what I told you before, Haki has limitless potential, think of it as a clay and give it a shape you desire.
Following his father's suggestion, he tried again. Ronan's grip tightened and his determination flared. He directed the energy to flow like a river through his inner channels and wore it as a glove, his arms began coating themselves with a black layer like liquid steel, making his arm more intimidating and impenetrable.
"Great; you did it", Garling's voice came now pointing to a big stone block made of sea stone, "I want you to punch that stone block with your haki infused punches until you burn out. I'll see you later and he left Ronan all by himself in the training chamber.
Determined to push through, Ronan took a deep breath and focused on his arms, summoning his willpower and trying to reignite the dark sheen of Haki along his skin. His hands shook slightly as he envisioned the strength he had seen in Garling's effortless control. Hardening. Just one simple step, he clenched his fists, watching as the faint black layer appeared and covered his arms. He started punching the stone block but soon his haki flickered out, leaving only his own hands. Looking at this, he started again and each time his haki coats flicker out after a few punches .
"Come on…" he muttered to himself, jaw tightening with frustration. "If I can't even keep this up, I'll never be able to fight at his level."
He tried once more, channeling his Haki through his arms. This time, the dark layer seemed more stable, covering his forearms as he concentrated and started punching again. The training chamber was filled with the banging sound made by the clash of Ronan's Haki coated punches against the sea-stone block now. It had been a couple of minutes now and as he was about to break his previous limit, he started feeling the tension and strain as his arms trembled, each second like lifting a heavy weight without rest and after a few seconds he went cold and guards waiting outside rushed in lifting him from the floor and took him to his room while the other called the family doctor.
Time skipped to a few hours; Ronan woke up surrounded by his mother and his former teacher Master Aleron. "What happened I was — you lost your consciousness; probably because of overusing your haki." Master Aleron interrupted him.
"Incase you don't know; Haki is not limitless, and how much you carry depends on you as a vessel; so I would advise not to rush. You are already ahead compared to children your age, young lord."
Nevertheless, if you're awake; it means you've already recovered your haki.
Ronan sat up slowly, rubbing his temples as he absorbed Master Aleron's words. His mother placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, her expression a mixture of concern and pride.
"Ronan, you must remember that progress takes time," she said softly. "Pushing yourself is important, but not at the cost of your own well-being."
He nodded, determination flickering in his eyes despite the fatigue still weighing him down. "I know, Mother. I just… I need to be strong enough," he said, voice steady but laced with resolve. The memory of Garling's demonstrations and words resonated within him. The path to mastering Haki wasn't just physical; it was a battle of will and spirit.
Master Aleron's stern expression softened slightly. "Strength comes from discipline, not reckless exertion. You're doing well, young lord. Remember to pace yourself."
Ronan's mother stood, her elegant figure casting a protective shadow over him. "Rest now. Tomorrow is another day for you to train." With a final nod, she left the room, her presence lingering like a warm embrace.
After a moment of silence, Master Aleron cleared his throat, drawing Ronan's attention. "Your father has prepared a revised training regimen for you," he said. "You will focus on maintaining your Haki for longer periods without pushing to the point of exhaustion. We'll introduce controlled sparring exercises where you must hold your Hardening while avoiding strikes."
Ronan's brow furrowed. "Sparring without attacking? That sounds difficult."
Master Aleron's lips curved into a faint smile. "Precisely. It's about maintaining focus under pressure. You need to train not only your body but your mind. The more you hone your spirit, the longer you'll be able to sustain your Haki without wavering."
The next day, Ronan found himself back in the training chamber, refreshed and more determined than ever. The chamber was equipped with various obstacles, dummies, and reinforced barriers that gleamed under the sunlight streaming through the high windows. Garling stood in the center, his posture commanding but eyes holding a glint of approval.
"Ready to continue?" Garling asked, his voice even.
"Yes, Father," Ronan replied, a spark of determination lighting up his expression.
"Good," Garling said, gesturing to a masked CP0 agent who stepped forward. "This sparring session will test your endurance. Your task is to maintain your Haki Hardening while evading attacks. You won't fight back; just focus on control."
The agent raised his weapon — a blunt training staff wrapped in layers of padding to ensure it wasn't lethal, yet still formidable. Ronan took a deep breath, summoning the flow of his Haki and coating his arms. The familiar dark sheen spread across his skin, steadier this time, bolstered by the experience and knowledge he gained from the previous day.
"Begin," Garling commanded.
The CP0 agent lunged forward, and Ronan's reflexes kicked in. He ducked, sidestepped, and weaved through the onslaught, his eyes never leaving the staff. The strain of maintaining the Hardening settled in his muscles as the minutes dragged on, sweat trickling down his brow. Each thud of the staff against the ground echoed in the chamber, a rhythmic reminder of the challenge he faced.
The real test came as his arms began to feel heavy, the dark coating flickering as exhaustion set in. Ronan clenched his jaw, refusing to let his will falter. He called on every ounce of discipline, remembering Garling's words: Haki is an expression of your spirit, of your will to shape the world around you.
The staff whistled through the air, and Ronan pivoted, barely evading the strike. His muscles burned, his Haki wavering under the pressure. The CP agent pressed on, each strike faster and more precise than the last. Ronan blocked and parried, each deflection sapping his strength, sweat blurring his vision. His breath came in ragged gasps as he struggled to maintain his Haki, the weight of exhaustion dragging him down.
Focus," came the agent's clipped voice, devoid of any sympathy. The pressure on his shoulder increased, a reminder of just how close he was to being completely subdued.
Ronan grit his teeth, his arms shaking as he summoned whatever was left within him, forcing the Haki to surge one last time. He lashed out with a swift elbow strike, aiming for the agent's exposed side. The move was reckless, born out of desperation, and it showed. The agent anticipated it, and then A sudden, sharp thrust broke his guard, the staff striking his side and sending a jolt of pain through him. His Haki faltered, shattered as he fell to one knee. The agent's final blow came swiftly, the staff stopping just shy of his chest, marking his defeat. Panting, Ronan met the agent's cold stare, the sting of failure heavy in the air.
Time blurred, weeks passed as the spar continued after his daily exercise, and while it pushed him beyond his limits, he gradually progressed from being able to successfully maintain his haki in an efficient manner to having a proper haki-infused spar, and then the training came to an end.
Ronan stood, chest heaving, the black sheen finally fading from his arms as the session concluded. He glanced up at his father, expecting critique, but saw a rare nod of approval.
"Well done," Garling said. "You're beginning to understand what it means to wield true power. Keep honing it, and soon you'll find that your spirit is more resilient than you ever thought possible."
A tired smile broke across Ronan's face. His journey was far from over, but he felt the first glimmer of true progress.
Ronan slumped down onto one of the training chamber benches, the cool stone surface a relief against his overheated body. His limbs trembled slightly, the aftereffects of maintaining Haki for so long evident in the subtle twitching of his fingers. The CP0 agent bowed respectfully before stepping back into the shadows, their role complete for the day.
Garling approached, his boots echoing in the quiet chamber. He paused in front of Ronan, folding his arms as he regarded his son with a critical eye. "Endurance is your greatest ally in battle, but so is knowing when to withdraw and conserve your strength. Today you pushed yourself further, and that's commendable. But remember, victory is not always in relentless pursuit but in strategic choices."
Ronan nodded, still catching his breath. The exhaustion was profound, but so was the satisfaction of having earned even a small amount of his father's praise. He felt a renewed sense of purpose, each aching muscle a reminder of his progress.
Garling's eyes softened for a moment, a rare break in his otherwise stern demeanor. "Go rest, Ronan. Tomorrow, we'll move on to Imbuement training. You'll learn to channel Haki through your sword. It will test your control and deepen your bond with your weapon."
Ronan's eyes lit up despite the fatigue. The idea of advancing to the next stage filled him with excitement. "Yes, Father. Thank you."
A hint of a smile touched Garling's lips before he turned on his heel, signaling the end of their session. The chamber's echoes followed him out, leaving Ronan alone with his thoughts.
After taking a few moments to steady himself, Ronan pushed off the bench and headed for the hallway leading to his quarters. The corridors of the training wing were lined with portraits of past Figarland warriors, their eyes fierce and proud, seeming to watch him as he walked by. He paused in front of one—a man holding a sword cloaked in black flames of Haki. The intensity of the figure's gaze resonated with him, sparking a fire of determination within his chest.
"I'll reach that level," Ronan whispered to himself, clenching his fist.
He entered his room, its familiar warmth and simplicity a stark contrast to the cold, hard training chamber. His bed called to him, but he resisted, opting instead for a simple meditation routine Master Aleron had taught him. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he closed his eyes and focused on his breathing, feeling the pulse of his Haki deep within him like a smoldering ember. The meditation steadied his spirit, reinforcing the bond he was forging between will and body.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the room, Ronan opened his eyes. His resolve had hardened alongside his growing mastery of Haki. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but he felt ready to face them, armed with both newfound strength and a fierce determination.
The next morning came quickly. The soft knock at his door woke him, and a servant entered with a tray of food. "Good morning, young lord. Master Aleron asked that you eat well today; today's training session will be more rigorous."
Ronan nodded gratefully and took the tray, the aroma of fresh bread and fruit rejuvenating him. He ate quickly, knowing that in just a short while, he would be back in the chamber, facing the challenge of Imbuement training. The thought made his heart race—not with fear, but with anticipation.
Today, he would take another step toward becoming the swordsman he knew he could be.
At the training chamber; Ronan's Haki imbuing training began under the watchful eyes of his father and his former Master Aleron. The task was simple in theory but complex in practice: to reinforce his sword by channeling his haki into his weapon, fusing it with the essence of his sword.
He stood in the training hall, as he was going to take out his Shinryoku Arashi, Garling interrupted " Ronan do not; even though I've given it to you, you are still not its owner to use it. For that you have to make the sword's will totally submit to you, and you are not strong enough." Then Aleron stepped forward and handed him a saber; "until you master the basics of all the three haki, you would be using this saber as your sword to train.
Then the training began.
Garling's voice cut through the silence. "Focus, Ronan. For a swordsman his sword is an extension of your will, it's a part of you. Let your haki flow like a river through your body to your sword, just like how you did it while coating your body "
Ronan closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. He reached within, searching for that burning core of resolve that had seen him through countless grueling sessions. Slowly, he let that energy flow down his arm, willing it to seep into the blade. A faint shimmer appeared, black veins crawling across the wood like cracks in stone, but just as quickly, it sputtered and died. The sword remained stubbornly ordinary.
A flash of frustration darkened his gaze. Again, he tried, his hands tightening around the hilt until his knuckles turned white. This time, he pushed harder, but the harder he forced it, the more the energy slipped away like sand between fingers.
"Imbuing is not a matter of brute force, boy," Garling said, his voice measured. "It's about control, intent, and harmony."
Ronan's jaw clenched as he nodded. He tried again, slowing down, feeling the weight of each breath, the pulse of his heartbeat. The warmth of his Haki moved like a trickle, connecting with the sword, and a faint, steady gleam began to take hold. But the moment he pushed for more power, the glow faltered. The sword reverted to its dull state, and fatigue crept into his muscles.
Ronan inhaled deeply, steadying his breath and centering his mind. He let the familiar pulse of Haki gather in his core, then willed it outward, letting it course down his arm. The energy reached his fingers, sparking against his skin before flickering down to the wooden sword. For a moment, the blade shone with a thin, darkened sheen, evidence that his will had reached it.
But the connection wavered, the energy stuttering like a faltering flame. Ronan gritted his teeth, pushing harder, trying to force the Haki to stay. The black sheen faltered, then splintered away as the energy dissipated. The sword's surface returned to dull wood.
"Don't force it," Garling said, his voice cutting through the silence. "Let the Haki flow. As I mentioned It's an extension of you, not a tool to be manipulated."
Ronan exhaled, frustration creeping into his chest, but he nodded. He closed his eyes again, drawing on his reserves and releasing the tension in his body. This time, he visualized the energy as a steady river, not a wave to be forced but a current to be directed. The warmth traveled down his arm once more, smoother this time, and the black sheen returned to the blade, dark and even.
He held it, eyes opening to see the Haki clinging to the sword, strong and unwavering. A brief smile flickered on his face before he released the energy with controlled ease.
Garling's expression softened just slightly, but then a predator-like intensity took over. "Better. Now, hold it like that." With that, he picked up an ordinary training sword and leaped forward, striking with the ferocity of a lion pouncing on its prey. The battle was one-sided; within less than two minutes, Ronan found himself depleted of Haki, his body succumbing to the relentless barrage of his father's merciless strikes. Darkness enveloped him as he lost consciousness, the world around him fading away.
The next morning, Ronan awoke with the recollection of yesterday's brutal encounter still vivid in his mind. He realized that the harsh lessons were part of a new schedule designed to hone his skills further. Just like that, another three months passed in a blur of training and discipline. Each day left him utterly exhausted by nightfall, but he pushed through, steadily making progress in mastering his Haki. The sense of growth fueled his determination, transforming fatigue into a source of pride and purpose bringing us to the present time.
Ronan was sparring with multiple soldiers together, in the past three months during his brutal sparring matches with his father; Garling made him a beast hiding in a human skin.
Ronan found himself surrounded by multiple soldiers, each eager to test their mettle against him. After three grueling months of relentless training under his father, Garling had transformed him into a beast hidden beneath a veneer of humanity. With unwavering focus, he moved through the throng, his sword a blur of steel as he deftly dispatched each opponent with calculated precision. One by one, they fell, unable to withstand the ferocity and skill he had honed through countless brutal sparring matches.
As the last soldier hit the ground, silence enveloped the training yard. Ronan stood amidst the remnants of the fight, breathing heavily, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He had emerged victorious, not just in this battle, but over the limitations that once held him back. In that moment, he felt an undeniable surge of power and confidence, a culmination of his hard work and sacrifice. The current him was not the same Ronan who couldn't keep his hollow promise and let his friend die in front of him. He now had the strength to back his words. And this was only the beginning of his journey, and the horizon ahead was ripe with possibility. With a determined gaze, he move towards the future, ready to embrace whatever challenges awaited him.
____________
End Of Chapter
Next Chapter:- Mastering The Will Part II