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Training in Kami-e was… rough for Kyle.
It felt like he was born without any sensitivity to perception-based techniques.Of the Rokushiki, he'd already mastered the other five. Shave, Tekkai, Shigan—he'd even pushed them to Level 2 through his own training alone.But this last move? He couldn't feel a thing.
"Kyle, you really don't need to master all six," Kuzan said, offering advice.
"Knowing them is enough. Specializing in one or two is totally fine."
Because Kyle kept asking, the two often sparred. Kuzan would throw techniques at him while Kyle tried to grasp the feeling behind them.
"In the future, if you make enough achievements, you might get the chance to eat a Devil Fruit. That'd boost your strength too."
Kyle shook his head."The body is the foundation of a real powerhouse. A fruit might help, but you can't rely on it."
"You've got a point," Kuzan laughed.
The two continued crossing blows in quick flashes of movement—clang after clang echoing across the deck.
Kyle's mastery of Tekkai, Shigan, and Shave was now truly solid. No stat points added—just pure training carrying them to Level 2.
By noon, after lunch, Garp began giving Kyle targeted instruction.
"Not bad. You've got real talent for physical arts."
"Next, we can start working on Armament and Observation Haki."
He was genuinely pleased with his disciple's progress.To grasp five parts of the Rokushiki in such a short time already put Kyle above countless so-called geniuses.
"Once you finish Kami-e, I'll teach you a technique beyond the Rokushiki—Life Return."
Garp grinned.
Kyle's eyes lit up. Life Return was extremely useful—complete control over one's body, and the ability to recover quickly from injuries through food.
Then Garp began Kami-e special training.
It did not go well.
"How can you be this dense?""No! Not like that!""Relax! Drop all your strength! Is that how you do Kami-e? You idiot!"
His furious shouting shook the entire battleship, drawing curious glances from all directions.
Kyle clutched his head, teeth bared in pain.
He realized it—he really had no talent for this final Rokushiki technique. No matter how Garp explained it, he couldn't touch that point of understanding.
"What's the use of strength if you can't control it? If you can't retract or release it freely?"
Garp's scolding was merciless.His strict teaching made Kyle's heart tremble every time.
"Three thousand push-ups!""Three thousand squats!""Ten thousand sword swings!""Wake yourself up!"
Garp roared.
Kyle pressed his lips together and obeyed.
He glanced to the side only to find Kuzan, Sakazuki, and the others had fled far, far away. Koby noticed his stare and immediately whistled, pretending he saw nothing.
Days passed. Still no sign of Roger's crew.
But Garp remained confident, steering the ship with Bogard, certain they would cross paths eventually.
Meanwhile, Kyle suffered the biggest setback of his life, doubting himself more than ever.
He still couldn't feel anything about Kami-e—and got yelled at every single day for it.
"You hit a talent wall. Happens to everyone," Kuzan whispered one night when he snuck over."No doubt about it—you're just not suited for this move."
Kyle wordlessly punched him in the head.
"OW!" Kuzan yelped, shocked that Kyle's fist felt just as hard as Garp's.
"I'll master it," Kyle growled.
Along the way, they ran into pirates and fought several battles.
Garp, being Garp—carefree to a terrifying degree—liked to stand on the ship and let the recruits fight for their lives. Live combat, in his opinion, was the best training.
After each battle, Kyle's improvement was obvious.His mentality, his instincts—everything was rapidly catching up to Kuzan, Sakazuki, and the others.
It genuinely made him happy. Fighting really did help him grow fast.
Stronger enemies brought greater rewards.
"A 580-million bounty guy… really was something," Kyle sighed.
"With his whole crew, the total was around 1.5 billion."
"And I took down the entire pirate group alone."
"And earned system points from it."
After maxing his Conqueror's Haki, he chose to invest in Shave next.
If he maxed Shave, the speed would be close to teleportation—and paired with a Conqueror-infused punch, he could probably kill almost anyone instantly.
A near-perfect combo.
"Kyle! Keep training!"
Garp's shout echoed across the deck.
Kyle's expression twitched.He still had zero sense for Kami-e and felt he might be stuck on it for a long time.
And according to Garp, if he couldn't master all six, there'd be no Life Return.And forget training Haki.
Nearly ten days passed since the Edd War.
Then one afternoon—
The lookout suddenly blew the alarm.
"Pirate ship spotted ahead!"
Too far to see the jolly roger clearly for now.
But Garp burst into laughter.
"Bogard, see that?"
"That's Roger's ship!"
Bogard blinked, lifted his telescope, and saw… a tiny black dot.He had no idea how his superior had identified anything at all.
"It's the resonance between the strong!""I bet he felt my presence too!"
Garp laughed loudly.
The whole crew turned to look ahead.
"Roger?""No way—we're really about to face one of the three legendary pirates?"
Kuzan rushed over and slung an arm around Kyle, excited.
Kyle shot him a look.He really believed Garp 100%.
As the ships drew closer, the lookout finally confirmed the identity in a shocked shout—
"It's the Oro Jackson!""It's the Roger Pirates—one of the three great pirate crews!"
Garp laughed, cracking his fists together.
"It's finally getting exciting!"
"All hands—prepare for battle!"
"We're going to capture Roger!"
The crew responded as one. Kyle quietly took the saber Bogard handed him, strapped it to his waist, and stared ahead.
Moments later, the ship came into view.
"Garp!"
"You really put me on the spot, you know!"
"Of all the places in this vast sea, you just had to run into me again!"
A booming laugh rolled over the waves.
Kyle focused his gaze.
A man stood there with a captain's hat, smiling with unshakable confidence.
Gol D. Roger—before becoming the Pirate King.
"..."
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