Zephyr exhaled heavily.
He tossed aside the wooden branch in his hand and stared at the four-year-old standing before him, eyes narrowing in a complicated mix of shock and disbelief.
The way he looked at Kai now—
Was no longer the gaze of a teacher examining a promising student.
It was the gaze of a man staring at a monster.
After a long silence, Zephyr finally spoke.
"That's enough. You don't need to continue Observation Haki training."
Kai opened his eyes.
The moment he did, he was greeted by Zephyr's stunned expression.
"…You've already mastered it?" Zephyr asked slowly.
Even now, he found the words hard to say out loud.
Less than half an hour.
From complete novice…
To fully grasping Observation Haki.
If news of this ever spread, it would rock the entire sea.
Unprecedented. Unheard of.
"Didn't you already see the result, Zephyr-sensei?" Kai replied with a faint smile.
Zephyr let out a low, helpless chuckle.
"You really are a monster."
In his life, he had trained more prodigies than he could count.
But none—
Not a single one—
Could be compared to the child in front of him.
After forcibly pressing down the shock in his chest, Zephyr drew in a deep breath.
"Since you've already grasped Observation Haki," he said, "then it's time I officially teach you Armament Haki."
"I originally thought…"
"That this would be something you'd only touch months from now."
"But I underestimated you."
"Half an hour. Observation Haki…"
His voice still carried disbelief.
He had assumed that even with Kai's terrifying talent, mastery would require at least three months.
Reality had shattered that assumption completely.
Next, Zephyr began his explanation.
"Armament Haki is one of the most terrifying powers in the world," he said slowly.
"It's also one of the true keys to standing among the strong."
"Compared to Observation Haki, its importance is even greater."
"It is the only power—aside from seastone—that can directly damage Logia users."
"Once you master Armament Haki, Logia intangibility will no longer protect your enemies."
"In addition, Armament Haki strengthens attack power, defense, impact force, and destructive capability."
"In simple terms—"
"An Armament-coated strike far surpasses sheer physical strength alone."
Kai listened quietly, not missing a single word.
Then—
Zephyr raised his arm.
"This… is Armament Haki."
His forearm instantly darkened, turning pitch-black as if encased in obsidian steel.
Cold. Dense. Unshakable.
That jet-black luster—
Was unmistakable.
Armament Haki.
The power that ignored Logia intangibility.
"Did you see clearly?" Zephyr asked.
"Yes," Kai nodded.
"Do you need me to demonstrate again?"
Kai shook his head.
"I don't think that's necessary."
Zephyr paused, then continued in a low voice:
"Under normal circumstances, even the most gifted talents need at least six months to touch the threshold of Armament Haki."
He stopped mid-sentence and looked straight at Kai, expression complicated.
"But you…"
"I honestly don't dare measure you by 'normal' anymore."
After what he'd witnessed today, he no longer had the courage to judge Kai using common sense.
"How much did you grasp?" Zephyr asked suddenly.
Kai thought for a moment.
"…All of it."
At that moment—
A familiar system prompt echoed in Kai's mind:
[Training Result: Armament Haki Proficiency +0.05]
[100x Training Amplification Applied]
[Host gains: Armament Haki Proficiency +5]
Boom.
A torrent of unfamiliar yet instinctively clear knowledge surged into his consciousness.
Just like every other time.
His mind absorbed it without resistance.
In the span of a few breaths—
Armament Haki became second nature.
He had completely mastered it.
At this instant—
All three colors of Haki were complete.
From now on, even Logia ability users no longer possessed any inherent advantage over him.
Rokushiki. Advanced Rokushiki techniques. Life Return.
And now—
Three types of Haki.
This was the standard kit of a true powerhouse.
And Kai had achieved it at four years old.
He calmly assessed himself.
"With Armament Haki…"
"My combat strength just took another big leap."
"Right now, pirates with bounties around eighty million shouldn't be a problem."
"Even those above one hundred million…"
"I won't necessarily be helpless."
"If I want to retreat, I'll always have a way."
Strictly speaking—
His power had stepped beyond ordinary Vice Admiral standards.
At the very least—
He now possessed solid Rear Admiral-class combat power.
Zephyr, meanwhile—
Was completely frozen.
"…You mastered it?"
"Armament Haki… already?"
"Yes," Kai replied, as if it were nothing at all.
Zephyr's throat went dry.
"Show me."
Kai nodded.
He focused.
In the next second—
His right arm darkened, turning jet-black from fist to elbow.
Armament Haki.
Thick. Dense. Perfectly formed.
Zephyr stared at that small, pitch-black arm, utterly stunned.
"…So it's true."
In that instant, Garp's words back in the Fleet Admiral's office resurfaced in his mind.
Everything.
From "half an hour for Rokushiki" to "natural talent beyond reason."
Zephyr finally believed it.
"Garp…"
"Your grandson really is a monster."
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