"Thank you, Chief Instructor Zephyr."
Lucas adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses.
"I believe your teaching can make up for what Mr. Garp’s instruction was lacking."
Over the past year, Lucas had frequently sought Garp’s guidance on awakening the two standard forms of Haki and had accumulated plenty of practical experience.
However, compared with Zephyr—who had spent decades training Marine recruits day after day—Garp’s teaching methods were far less systematic.
To avoid wasting the Beginner Insight Talisman and embarrassing himself in front of everyone...
Lucas decided it was safer to learn from Zephyr.
Besides...
If he could become an Admiral sooner, why would he choose to wait?
After all, an Admiral’s salary started at five million Berries a month.
At that rate, his goal of earning one hundred million Berries would only take a little over a year.
"Brat!"
Garp glared at him before tossing another rice cracker into his mouth.
"Even so, I admit Zephyr’s teaching is better than mine."
"Maybe listening to him will give you the inspiration you need."
"But don’t forget—if you really awaken Haki today, it’ll only be because I laid the foundation first!"
"Hahaha!"
Sakazuki’s expression grew even colder.
He stopped walking away and turned back.
"Rookie."
"I thought you were a sensible man."
"It seems I overestimated you."
"If you’re determined to make a fool of yourself..."
"I’ll stay and watch."
"Let’s see what you’re really capable of."
His deep voice carried an even greater chill.
An invisible pressure spread across the plaza.
Every eye immediately turned toward Lucas.
Many of the older officers couldn’t help shaking their heads.
They had all experienced firsthand how difficult it was to master Haki.
Lucas’s request struck them as nothing more than an attempt to show off.
Sengoku let out a long sigh.
As Fleet Admiral, the last thing he wanted was to see a promising future Admiral suffer such a humiliating setback.
Yet seeing Lucas’s determination, he simply nodded toward Zephyr.
Zephyr sighed as well.
"Watch carefully, Lucas."
"Every person possesses an invisible energy within."
"When you become aware of that energy, you can begin drawing upon it."
"The Six Powers can be regarded as simplified techniques derived from the principles of Haki."
"Once you’ve mastered the Six Powers and can sense the energy within your body, you’ll find it much easier to touch the threshold of Haki."
"Observation Haki works by projecting that energy outward to perceive the ’voices’ and presences around you."
"Armament Haki, on the other hand, gathers and condenses that energy around the body, creating hardened defenses and greatly enhancing offensive power."
As he spoke, Zephyr demonstrated each concept with smooth, practiced movements.
His decades of experience as Chief Instructor were on full display.
Even the tens of thousands of Marines gathered in the plaza listened with rapt attention.
Lucas also felt several long-standing doubts begin to unravel.
Compared with Garp’s "learn by getting punched" teaching style...
Zephyr’s theoretical explanations perfectly filled in the missing pieces.
Unfortunately...
Lucas had overestimated himself.
Even after Zephyr’s detailed explanation—from the basics all the way to advanced applications—
He still felt as though he was one step away from understanding.
Just one final barrier remained.
So frustrating.
Without a cheat...
Being an ordinary person really was ridiculously difficult.
"System."
"Use the Beginner Insight Talisman immediately."
Ding! Congratulations, Host! Beginner Insight Talisman activated successfully.
The system notification sounded.
A loud buzz echoed through Lucas’s mind.
The mental fog that had clouded his thoughts instantly disappeared.
His mind became clearer than ever before.
The final obstacle that had prevented him from understanding...
Collapsed in an instant.
Everything suddenly became simple.
Everything made perfect sense.
"Lucas."
Zephyr looked at the silent young man and continued kindly,
"I’ve already finished explaining the fundamentals of Haki."
"You really don’t need to force yourself."
"Your mastery of the Six Powers has already reached an extraordinary level."
"You’re simply waiting for the right opportunity..."
The tens of thousands of Marines also gradually snapped out of their own contemplation.
Zephyr’s explanation had been exceptional.
Every time they listened to his lectures, they learned something new.
But...
To awaken both forms of Haki after hearing a single explanation?
Among the tens of thousands of Marines present...
No one believed such a person existed.
"Chief Instructor Zephyr."
Lucas adjusted his glasses once more.
"Thank you for your instruction."
"But..."
"I think I’ve already mastered the two standard forms of Haki."
Lucas wasn’t actually nearsighted.
He simply wore glasses to remind himself that he was still just a salaryman.
A working man needed to keep making money.
After wearing them long enough, it had simply become a habit.
The enormous plaza fell completely silent.
Everyone stood frozen.
Just moments ago, they had all been thinking that no one could possibly awaken Haki after hearing a lecture only once.
Yet Lucas had calmly declared...
That he’d already learned it.
Was he serious?
Or did he think everyone present was a fool?
"Lucas."
Zephyr quickly recovered and hurriedly tried to smooth things over.
"This isn’t the time for jokes."
"Even if you haven’t awakened Haki yet, there’s no shame in that."
"Hmph."
Sakazuki let out a cold snort.
"There’s no need to defend him, Instructor Zephyr."
"I originally intended only to make this brat recognize reality."
"But since he refuses a toast only to drink the forfeit..."
"Then I’ll personally verify whether he’s truly awakened Haki."
Boom!
The ground beneath Sakazuki exploded.
A terrifying wave of heat erupted outward.
Molten magma flowed across his body, instantly melting the earth beneath his feet.
The sudden attack caused everyone’s expressions to change dramatically.
"Lucas, be careful!"
Zephyr and Garp shouted almost simultaneously.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Columns of blazing magma erupted beneath Lucas’s feet one after another.
Each eruption came with astonishing speed.
Yet...
The instant each pillar burst from the ground...
Lucas seemed to know exactly where it would appear.
With only slight shifts of his body...
He effortlessly brushed past every eruption.
The sight made everyone’s pupils contract.
Avoiding one attack could be dismissed as luck.
Avoiding a second...
A third...
A fourth...
Then dozens more in succession...
There was no such thing as that much coincidence.
Watching Lucas calmly stroll through the dense forest of erupting magma as though taking a leisurely walk...
An absurd thought surfaced in everyone’s minds.
Could he...
Have really mastered Haki after hearing it only once?
If that were true...
It would be nothing short of unbelievable.
Had they not witnessed it with their own eyes...
No one would ever have believed such a thing.