Ban was filled with surprise.
Because at that exact moment, a new entry had appeared on his status panel.
[Observation Haki (Basic Mastery): You possess a preliminary perception of the energy flowing within all things.]
Just like that?
He mastered it?
It was so easy that Ban found it almost unbelievable—and that was exactly why he was so shocked.
“Energy…” Ban whispered softly, catching onto the specific wording used in the system description.
“Energy?
That is quite an interesting way to put it,” Koushirou paused for a moment, looking thoughtful, then smiled.
“It is just how you describe what you feel.
Whether you call it ‘breath’ or ‘energy’, they are simply names for what you understand it to be.
It seems you truly grasped the essence of it.”
Koushirou sounded quite emotional.
He and Shimotsuki Kouzaburou had suspected for a while that Ban had already awakened Observation Haki, but now it was proven.
Not only that, but Ban had understood and mastered it in mere moments.
The speed at which he learned was truly humbling.
Even Koushirou himself had taken years, starting from basic swordsmanship, slowly learning to sense the breathing of all things, before finally awakening his Observation Haki.
“Thank you,” Ban said sincerely.
He closed his eyes again, and that strange, all-seeing feeling returned instantly.
He opened his eyes and expressed his gratitude.
“Since you have mastered Observation Haki, Armament Haki shouldn’t be too difficult for you.”
Koushirou wasted no time and immediately moved on to the next topic.
“In my homeland, we call Armament Haki Ryuo.
It is a power born from deep within one’s own body.
If your physical constitution isn’t strong enough, you won’t be able to wield it properly.
“It is a flowing energy that you can control and direct.
Once mastered, it grants you immense defensive power, tremendous striking strength, and most importantly…
it allows you to strike against those with seemingly invincible Devil Fruit abilities.”
As he spoke, Koushirou looked meaningfully at Ban.
He had occasionally felt intense waves of heat coming from Ban’s room, and with his Observation Haki, he knew exactly what was causing it.
“So,” Ban quickly caught on, “if Observation Haki is the ability to sense the energy in everything outside of myself…
then Armament Haki is essentially the art of utilizing the energy that exists within my own body?”
Koushirou fell silent, pondering Ban’s interpretation.
“Perhaps…
you are right,” he finally nodded.
“My own strength is limited, and I can only explain things based on my own understanding.
There are many people stronger than me out on the seas, and perhaps the way I explain Haki isn’t entirely accurate or complete.”
“Take this seriously,” Koushirou warned.
“You are too modest, Master. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
Your strength is truly extraordinary,” Ban replied, shaking his head slightly.
From what he remembered of the original story, Luffy encountered many powerful figures on his journey, most of whom pushed him to the brink of defeat.
However, Ban also knew that those powerful individuals represented only a tiny fraction of the entire world.
And a top-tier master swordsman was already considered one of the highest echelons of power across the seas.
“Everyone has their own strengths and limitations.
I know exactly where my ceiling lies.
But you…
Ban, I cannot see where your path leads or how far you will go.”
“Is that your way of praising me?” Ban asked with a smile.
“No.
I am simply stating a fact.
This world is far from peaceful.
I believe you understand this world better than most, so you must know exactly what kind of place it really is.”
Hearing the direction the conversation was taking, Ban felt a sense of unease and quickly raised his hand to interrupt.
“I heard that Armament Haki is a power drawn from within.
Is it like imagining an invisible armor covering your entire body?”
He awkwardly changed the subject.
Koushirou noticed this attempt to steer the conversation away, and realized he had perhaps spoken a bit too freely just now.
He had a strong intuition that Ban was destined to become a major figure in the future—someone capable of shaking the very foundations of the world.
And for a person like that, every action and decision they made could ripple across the entire globe.
“You are absolutely correct,” Koushirou said, raising his hand and holding it horizontally in front of him.
Ban narrowed his eyes.
Through the perception granted by his Observation Haki, he could clearly sense a layer of energy enveloping Koushirou’s arm.
“This is the most basic application of Armament Haki.
When you have gathered enough energy within yourself, you can manifest it like this.”
As Koushirou spoke, a dark purple coating visibly appeared over his arm, making it look as though he was truly wearing a suit of indestructible armor.
“And like this!”
Koushirou reached out and picked up the teacup sitting on the table before him.
Instantly, the same dark purple aura flowed from his hand and covered the entire cup.
“Infusing objects…
or as they call it in my homeland, Ryuo.
These are the different ways to utilize Armament Haki.”
Ban nodded gently in understanding.
“I see now.”
“Good.
Once you fully understand the concept, you can try to draw out your own Armament Haki.
But do not be mistaken—it is no simple task.
There are many people in this world who spend their entire lives trying, yet never succeed in awakening this power.
Though…
for you, I imagine it won’t be too difficult.” This story is hosted at g.com.
Ban looked down at his own hands and gave it a try right away.
Nothing happened.
It seemed he would need to put in quite a bit of practice and effort before he could successfully manifest it.
“There is one more thing I must remind you of,” Koushirou added seriously.
“The amount of Haki a person possesses is not infinite; it is a limited resource.
If you exhaust your reserves completely, it will take time for your body to replenish it.
The recovery speed and the total amount vary greatly from person to person.
But one thing remains true for everyone—it is directly connected to your physical constitution and vitality.”
“I understand.
I will remember that,” Ban nodded.
“Very well.
You may return to your room now.
Try practicing on your own.
Starting tomorrow, I will spar with you personally.
If you truly want to understand how to integrate your swordsmanship and Haki effectively, there is no better teacher than actual combat.”
Koushirou smiled, but there was a hint of mischief and ill-intent hidden in that expression.
However, Ban wasn’t afraid in the slightest.
He stood up, said his goodbyes, and left the room.
Stepping outside, Ban took out a silk cloth and tied it around his eyes, covering his vision completely.
He activated his newly acquired Observation Haki—still clumsy and unrefined—and let it spread outwards.
No matter the skill, constant practice was the only way to master it.
While overusing Haki usually caused fatigue or damage to the body, Ban didn’t have to worry about such side effects at all.
His unique constitution and system completely negated those drawbacks.
In the training ground, Kuina was practicing her sword swings alone.
In the woods behind the dojo, Zoro was vigorously swinging his wooden swords, which were now weighed down with heavy stones tied to the hilts.
Meanwhile, Ban returned to his room to continue trying to summon his own Armament Haki.
…
As dusk fell.
An ordinary-looking merchant ship slowly approached the shores of Shimotsuki Village and docked quietly at the pier.
Several figures disembarked, their faces completely hidden beneath grey cloaks and hoods.
One of them, however, stood out—literally—because of his incredibly large, distinctive head.
“Hurry up.
Collect the supplies and we shall depart immediately.
Our identities are quite sensitive, and we cannot afford to linger,” a deep, low voice commanded.
The others nodded in unison and moved quickly.
The group traveled silently through the village and soon arrived right outside the gates of Isshin Dojo.
Koushirou was already standing there, waiting for them.
“The food and supplies are all prepared,” Koushirou said in his usual calm, unhurried tone.
Clearly, this meeting had been arranged long ago.
“Monday to Friday – Update 3 Chapters a Day”
“Saturday and Sunday – Off”