BANG!
Luffy's stretched arm slammed into Lucius's chest with incredible force, sending him flying backward a good ten meters. He skidded across the dojo floor, coming to rest against the far wall.
But strangely, Lucius felt nothing. No pain, no discomfort - it was as if he'd been hit with a pillow instead of a super-powered punch.
[Iron Body demonstration successful. Students' interest increased]
"Huh?" Luffy tilted his head in confusion. "That's weird. You should be really hurt right now. My Gum-Gum Pistol can break through stone walls!"
Nami and Vivi rushed over to check on him, but Lucius was already standing up, brushing off his clothes as if nothing had happened. Even he was surprised by how easily he'd taken the hit.
"Are you okay?" Vivi asked, concerned.
"That was incredible!" Usopp exclaimed. "You're not even bruised! Is this some kind of trick?"
"No trick," Lucius said, though he was just as amazed as they were. "This is one of the Six Powers techniques - Iron Body."
"How does it work?" Nami asked, her skepticism giving way to genuine curiosity.
[Teaching Knowledge Activated]
Suddenly, knowledge began flowing into Lucius's mind, as if he'd studied these techniques for decades. "By hardening your body through specific muscle contractions and mental focus, you can become as tough as steel. It's similar to how some martial artists can take powerful blows without injury, but taken to a superhuman level."
"So cool!" Luffy bounced excitedly. "What else can you teach us?"
"The Six Powers consist of six distinct techniques," Lucius continued, the information appearing in his mind with perfect clarity. "Each one pushes the human body beyond its natural limits in a different way."
He walked to the center of the dojo. "First, there's Paper Art." His body seemed to sway like a leaf in the wind. "This technique allows you to make your body as light as paper, letting you float and dodge attacks effortlessly. It's perfect for avoiding damage when Iron Body isn't an option."
"That would be useful for someone who's not very strong," Nami mused.
"Then there's Moon Walk." Lucius focused, and to everyone's amazement, he kicked off the air itself, jumping several meters high without touching the ground. "By kicking the air with enough force, you can essentially create footholds in mid-air."
"Just like CP9!" Vivi gasped, then quickly covered her mouth.
"CP9?" Lucius asked.
"Just... something I heard about," Vivi said evasively. "Please continue."
[System Alert: Host cannot access certain background knowledge about techniques' origins]
"Well, next is Finger Pistol," Lucius demonstrated by pointing his finger, though he didn't actually perform the attack. "This turns your finger into a weapon as powerful as a gun, able to pierce through enemies at close range."
"Like a real pistol?" Usopp leaned forward with interest.
"Exactly. Then there's Tempest Kick." Lucius moved his leg in a sweeping motion. "By kicking with enough force and precision, you can send a cutting wave through the air itself. It turns a leg sweep into a long-range attack."
Karoo quacked excitedly at this demonstration.
"Finally, there's Shave," Lucius explained. "By kicking the ground ten times in an instant, you can move so quickly it appears like teleportation. It's the ultimate technique for both combat and mobility."
"These are all amazing!" Nami exclaimed. "But they also sound really difficult to master..."
[System Message: Host may only teach one technique per student initially. Additional techniques require higher loyalty levels]
"You're right," Lucius nodded. "These techniques require intense training and concentration. It would be best if each of you focused on mastering one technique first. Which would you prefer to learn?"
The group discussed among themselves for a moment.
"I'll take Paper Art," Nami decided. "With all the crazy strong people we keep running into, being able to dodge better would really help me stay alive."
"If you don't mind, I would like to learn Shave," Vivi said politely. "Speed could be very useful in my... current situation."
"The Great Captain Usopp, master of 8,000 followers, chooses Finger Pistol!" Usopp declared, trying to sound confident despite his shaking. "Combined with my already amazing shooting skills, I'll be twice as deadly! From a safe distance, of course."
"Iron Body! I want Iron Body!" Luffy jumped up and down.
"Actually, Luffy," Lucius said thoughtfully, "given your rubber abilities, I think Moon Walk might complement your powers better. You could-"
"Nah," Luffy shook his head firmly. "I'm not good with my feet. That's Sanji's thing! He's our cook, but he fights with kicks. He'd be way better at Moon Walk than me. Besides, even though I'm rubber, sometimes really strong guys can still hurt me. Iron Body would help with that!"
Lucius had to admit the boy's logic made sense, despite his usual carefree attitude.
Karoo let out a determined "QUACK!" and spread his wings, performing a practice kick that showed surprising power.
"I believe Karoo is choosing Tempest Kick," Vivi translated with a smile. "He already has strong legs from running across the deserts of Alabasta. This would give him a way to fight at range."
[Student Technique Selection Confirmed] [Beginning Individual Training Sessions] [Warning: Results depend on student dedication and natural aptitude]
"Perfect choices, all of you," Lucius said, feeling like a proper teacher again. "Each technique can complement your existing abilities. Nami, Paper Art will help you avoid damage while you use your weather skills. Vivi, Shave will let you strike quickly and retreat to safety. Usopp, Finger Pistol gives you a close-range option when enemies get too near. Luffy, Iron Body will make you even harder to hurt than you already are. And Karoo, Tempest Kick turns your powerful legs into ranged weapons."
"When do we start?" Luffy asked eagerly.
"How long will it take to learn?" Nami added.
"That depends entirely on you," Lucius explained. "These techniques require not just physical training, but mental focus and understanding of how your body moves. Some may master them quickly, others might take longer. But I promise you this - if you're dedicated to learning, I'm dedicated to teaching."
He looked at each of them in turn - the rubber boy who could already take incredible damage, the nimble navigator who needed better defenses, the princess learning to move like an assassin, the sniper gaining a close-combat option, and a duck who could potentially slice through the air itself. What a strange group of students he'd found himself teaching.
Maybe he couldn't use these powers himself in real combat, but watching his students' excited faces, Lucius felt that familiar teacher's pride swelling in his chest. This might not be his Iowa classroom, but these pirates were about to learn something even more incredible than crop rotation.
"First," he said with a smile, "let me show you exactly what each of these techniques can do when mastered. Then we'll begin your individual training..."