A pale blue system panel materialized once again before Gawain's eyes:
[Host – Gawain]
[Age – 24]
[Identity – Captain of the Gawain Pirates]
[Skills:
Swordsmanship – LV 5: 1021 / 1600 (Super Speed)
Physical – LV 5: 280 / 1600 (Balance)
Navigation – LV 1: 12 / 100
Death Walk – LV 1: 3 / 200
]
[Badges:
Captain's Fury – Subordinates' Physical Recovery Speed +20%
Rising Fame – Check Potential Ability
]
[Rating – Bronze: Among the seas of the world and even in the Grand Line, you're already a notable figure. But in the New World—keep your head down.]
With the awakening of the Death Walk skill, Gawain's personal rating had finally risen to Bronze.
"Finally shook off the title of 'trash.' That took some doing."
Gawain smiled faintly to himself.
In the next instant, a torrent of information related to the Death Walk skill flooded into his mind.
A warm sensation surged through his legs.
As tingling and itching followed, it felt like swarms of mice were scurrying beneath the skin of his calves. Spasms of pain pulsed through him as the skill restructured and refined the muscles in his legs—remodeling them into the ideal form for executing Death Walk.
Minutes passed.
The transformation ceased.
Gawain's legs appeared leaner and lighter. He instinctively took a step—and vanished, reappearing several meters away in a blink.
"It'll take time to master this move."
Determined, Gawain walked straight into the training room to familiarize himself with the new ability. As he stepped forward again, his body flickered and disappeared into thin air.
The next moment—
Bang!
He slammed into the wall in a full-body sprawl. Even with his reinforced physique, the impact stung sharply. Luckily, his endurance prevented any serious injury.
Flat on the floor, Gawain didn't show a trace of discouragement.
"Even at just Level 1, this skill's faster than Kuro's... and harder to control."
"But perception during high-speed movement is intact. I just need more practice."
"Let's go."
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The familiar sound of collisions echoed through the training room—eerily reminiscent of Kuro's practice sessions from a few days prior.
In the infirmary...
Ship's doctor Kaka had just finished tending to the crew's injuries when he heard the now-familiar crash.
He frowned.
"The deputy captain again?"
"I told him: broken bones won't heal in less than half a month. He just won't listen."
"Sigh..."
"Only someone that desperate can obtain such monster-like strength. Aeso, don't you—?"
Turning to speak to the nurse, Kaka paused—his eyes widened.
Because Kuro was lying silently on the bed.
Stunned, Kaka muttered:
"Wait... it's not the vice-captain in there? Then who is?"
"I'd like to know too," Kuro replied darkly.
Gawain's image flashed through his mind.
"It couldn't be... Could it?"
"To pick up a move I spent years developing... just by watching it?"
He glanced around the infirmary.
"Maybe it's one of the cat-brothers... or Jango?"
He pushed himself up, limping out toward the training room despite his injuries.
Outside the training room, a small crowd had gathered.
Kuro shoved past one of the men blocking the doorway and looked in, his eyes trembling with disbelief.
"Huh? That's not the vice-captain in there? But who else could possibly use Death Walk?"
Jango squinted at the blur of movement inside.
"It's the same technique Kuro uses. I've seen it enough to recognize it... If it's not him, then who?!"
The cat-brothers, Sham and Buchi, also turned to stare at Kuro who appeared in confusion. Wrapped head to toe in bandages, Kuro could barely stand—let alone train.
"What's going on in there...?"
Sham muttered.
They looked at each other, then at Kuro, their expressions puzzled.
"I'd like to know too..." Kuro growled through clenched teeth.
Most of the people gathered here were his own followers. Those not present were either too injured or not qualified to learn Death Walk.
Which left only one possibility.
It had to be Gawain.
"He learned my secret technique... from a few glances?" Kuro's voice trembled. "That's fucking insane!"
Inside the training room, the afterimages grew faster and more fluid.
Though the speed was clearly difficult to control, the number of collisions with the walls rapidly decreased.
Half an hour passed.
Now, only a single flickering afterimage moved gracefully throughout the room.
It was clear—whoever was inside had achieved near-complete control over Death Walk, even surpassing its original creator, Kuro.
The afterimage slowed and finally stopped.
Everyone outside could now see the figure clearly.
Tall but not bulky. Lean, defined muscle. A strikingly handsome face.
Captain Gawain.
The moment his eyes swept over the gathering crowd, he frowned slightly.
"What are you all doing here? Skipping practice?"
"Or do I need to beat you all into shape before you find your motivation?"
The crowd instantly dispersed, but four figures remained frozen in place, staring at Gawain.
"Captain... you've already mastered Death Walk? You didn't even lose control like Kuro?"
Jango's jaw hung open.
"And... you've been guiding our training this whole time..."
Sam added in awe. "You barely even practiced yourself!"
Fear began to replace their earlier surprise.
To master Kuro's signature technique in such a short time—and perform it better?
That was no ordinary talent. It was something... otherworldly!
The surrounding crew glanced at Kuro with sympathy.
His expression turned ghostly pale.
Any final slivers of hope he held onto crumbled.
Now he understood why Gawain had offered to teach him.
Because Gawain had already mastered the move—even before Kuro had awakened his Observation Haki.
If he's at this level now... how terrifying will he be once he fully awakens?
Kuro didn't even notice his glasses sliding off the bridge of his nose.
"When... when did you learn it?" he whispered.
"Just now," Gawain replied casually.
"You've never practiced it before?"
"No."
Silence.
Kuro's eyes went vacant.
Gawain gave him a light pat on the shoulder and walked off.
The cat-brothers exchanged glances and silently followed him to the deck. A heavy pressure settled over their shoulders.
If they fell too far behind, they'd become useless.
And in the world of pirates, losing your worth... often meant being discarded.
Kuro stood at the doorway of the training room, grinding his teeth.
A few minutes later, his face darkened with determination. He adjusted his glasses and limped back toward the infirmary.
"I don't care what it takes. I'll be ready to train in three days!"
"That's impossible!" Kaka protested. "You'll tear yourself apart!"
"I don't care!" Kuro snapped. "You have three days—or I'm feeding you to the sea!"