Chapter 6: Ability Training
"BAM—!"
In the center of the training field, two figures blurred, colliding at incredible speeds. The explosive sound of their fists and kicks echoed, rattling the nearby fences.
Smoker's hands were coated in Armament Haki. He was no longer just erupting in smoke; he was precisely compressing it around his arms and legs, forming high-pressure, swirling cyclones that gave him astonishing explosive power.
"Warp!"
Roy's figure vanished, reappearing an instant later behind Smoker. His fist, blackened with Armament, shot out like a thunderbolt at his back.
"Saw that coming!"
Smoker sneered. His body instantly scattered into his Logia form, the smoke swirling in the air before re-materializing. He countered with a sweeping Rankyaku (Tempest Kick)!
Roy warped, dodging the slice-like kick, and took a deep breath—
"Life Return: Giant's Breath!"
In an instant, his muscles swelled dramatically, his height shooting up to nearly four meters. His skin took on a metallic sheen as dark Armament Haki coated his fists. His fighting spirit flared!
"What?!"
Smoker's pupils shrank, but his combat instincts made him charge forward without hesitation.
"BOOM—!!!"
The violent collision of their fists sent out a massive shockwave, kicking up a cloud of dust and knocking over all the fences surrounding the ring.
In the stands, Hina chewed on her straw, her pink hair fluttering. "Hina is surprised Smoker can keep up with Roy's rhythm now..."
Garp, munching on his bag of rice crackers, laughed. "Bwahahaha, that brat's been training like his life depends on it ever since Roy lit a fire under him!"
Zephyr stood silently at the edge of the field, his gaze sharp and gratified. "Smoker's progress is astounding, but Roy..."
His eyes landed on Roy's blackened fists, and he marveled internally.
A year ago, Zephyr had worried that Roy would rely too much on his Warp-Warp Fruit and neglect his basic Marine martial arts.
But to his surprise, the boy hadn't slacked off at all. If anything, he trained harder than anyone.
Under Zephyr's high-pressure training, Roy had hammered away at the Rokushiki (Six Powers):
He combined Soru (Shave) with his warp, creating an even more unpredictable and disorienting flash-step.
Geppo (Moonwalk) and his warp allowed him to change direction multiple times in mid-air, making him almost impossible to track.
Rankyaku (Tempest Kick) was combined with his "Warp-Assaults" for devastating surprise attacks.
Tekkai (Iron Body) and Life Return were modified to an almost monstrous degree, allowing him to harden his body to the level of steel while in his "Giant's Breath" state.
He could even use Shigan (Finger Pistol), warping instantly in front of an enemy to deliver an unexpected, piercing blow.
All of this made Zephyr admire him.
"The Warp-Warp Fruit is just his tool. His real weapons are that indomitable will and his talent for combining all his powers into one."
The dust settled. Smoker was kneeling on one knee, a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were still as sharp as a blade. "It's not... over..."
Roy's body returned to its normal size, but the deep black of his Armament Haki remained on his fists. He looked at Smoker with a hint of pride. "Smoker, you've gotten stronger."
"Less talk!"
Smoker gritted his teeth and stood up. The swirling smoke and Haki around his arms nearly solidified. "Last shot!"
"White Impact!"
With a roar, his fist exploded forward with all his power, the smoke punching a hole in the air.
Roy took a deep breath, crossing his arms in front of his chest, his gaze unwavering.
"Tekkai: Steel Frame!"
"BOOM—!!!"
Smoker's giant smoke-fist slammed squarely into Roy's defense, but it was like hitting a mountain. He didn't budge an inch.
"What?!"
Smoker's eyes widened as Roy slowly raised his head, a small smile on his face. "Smoker, your Haki isn't strong enough yet."
The next second, Roy countered with a "Warp: Shigan," his finger flashing and stopping a millimeter from Smoker's throat.
"...I lose."
Smoker admitted it through gritted teeth, but there was no defeat in his eyes, only a burning desire to fight. "Next time, I'll win."
Roy slowly retracted his hand and clapped Smoker on the shoulder. "Your progress was amazing, though."
Zephyr walked up, arms crossed, his eyes showing a new level of approval. "Well done, Roy."
His tone shifted, becoming strict but full of expectation. "Remember, no matter how strong your fruit is, it's just a tool!"
"Your fundamentals, your martial arts, and your Haki—that is your true foundation! Don't disappoint me!"
Roy snapped to attention and saluted. "Sir, yes, sir!"
Smoker wiped the blood from his mouth and smirked. "Warping, Rokushiki, whatever... Just wait, Roy. Next time, I'm definitely surpassing you!"
"Bwahahaha!"
Garp was laughing his head off. "That's the spirit, kids! This is what makes it fun!"
The wind blew across the training field, clearing the dust and stirring the fighting spirit of a new generation.
"Good. You've both grown," Zephyr said, satisfied. He looked at Roy, a rare note of praise in his voice. "Roy, you mastered 'Life Return' faster than I expected."
Roy scratched his head, grinning. "It's all thanks to Old Man Garp's 'Fist of Love' training..."
Garp laughed. "That's right! My training is super effective!"
Zephyr shook his head in exasperation, but he was clearly pleased.
Late that night, Roy sat cross-legged on his bed, his eyes closed.
His Observation Haki spread out like an invisible radar, sweeping across the entire Marine base, and even reaching out over the sea.
"1,000 meters... 1,500 meters... 2,000 meters..."
A year ago, his warp range was barely a hundred meters, limited to what he could see.
Now, by locking on with his Haki, he could target locations kilometers away.
...
On the training field, Zephyr held up a pair of binoculars, pointing to a distant lighthouse. "Roy. Warp there."
The first time he tried, he only made it 500 meters before falling into the sea.
The second time, he barely reached the base of the lighthouse, collapsing in a dizzy heap.
But now—
FWOOSH!
Roy's figure vanished, reappearing an instant later on the very top of the Marine watchtower, two kilometers away.
He stood steadily in the howling wind, a smile on his face.
"Success!"
The next morning, Roy was eating in the mess hall when a golden flash appeared—
"Ooh~ Little Roy~"
Borsalino (Kizaru) was standing in front of him, holding a steaming cup of coffee. "How about~ you help your superior out?"
Roy looked up. "What is it, Vice Admiral?"
Kizaru pushed up his sunglasses. "Take this coffee~ to the Marine hospital five kilometers away. My adjutant is sick~ It needs to stay warm~"
Roy: "Vice Admiral, as I recall, you're also light-speed..."
The surrounding Marines were turning red trying not to laugh.
Looking at Kizaru's lazy expression, Roy sighed, took the cup, and expanded his Observation Haki to its limit. The outline of the hospital, five kilometers away, slowly formed in his mind.
FWOOSH!
His figure vanished. The next second, he appeared at the hospital entrance, not a single drop of coffee spilled.
The nurses were dumbfounded. "R-Roy?!"
Roy smiled. "A gift from Vice Admiral Borsalino. Please see that he gets it."
When he warped back to the mess hall, Kizaru was leaning back in his chair, eating rice crackers. "Not bad~ Next time, you can deliver my lunch~"
Garp slammed the table, roaring with laughter. "Bwahahaha! Borsalino, you bastard, are you using him as an errand boy?!"
Afternoon. Training field.
Zephyr stood with his arms crossed. "Today, we test warping with passengers."
Hina immediately had a bad feeling. "Hina refuses..."
"Refusal denied."
Zephyr pointed. "Roy, take her to that mountain and back."
Roy scratched his head and held out his hand to Hina. "Sorry about this."
Hina sighed, reluctantly grabbing his arm. "Hina feels like you're all picking on her..."
FWOOSH!
They both vanished, reappearing a second later on the mountaintop, a kilometer away.
The sea breeze whipped Hina's pink hair across her face. She paused. "...That was... pretty fast."
Roy smiled. "Hold on, we're going back."
On the way back, Hina instinctively held his arm tighter. The second they landed, she let go, her ears a little red. "Hina was just afraid of falling!"
Smoker snorted from the sidelines. "Boring."
Garp suddenly popped up. "Roy! Take me to the mess hall! I'm hungry!"
Roy: "...Yes, sir!"
FWOOSH!
They vanished. The next second—
BAM!
Garp landed perfectly in a chair in the mess hall, his fist raised high. "MEAT!!!"
The chefs burst into tears. "Vice Admiral Garp! It's not dinner time yet!"