In the days that followed, Ryuuto dedicated himself to his training. He relentlessly used his Rain Calling ability in Erumalu, simultaneously honing his spiritual power and nourishing the parched land.
Ryuuto had already designated ten thousand hectares of land in Erumalu, all of which were now planted with Super Rice. Due to his frequent use of the Rain Calling skill, his mastery had reached the [Proficient] level. The range of his rainfall had expanded to an area of 5000 by 5000 meters, meaning he now only needed to cast the spell twice to water the entire ten thousand hectares.
Of course, during this time, Ryuuto also successfully claimed the reward for the system's first side quest.
[Congratulations, Host, for completing Side Quest 1! Reward: 10,000 Reputation Points, Bean Soldiers ×10.]
Ryuuto accepted the rewards, though he had nothing he particularly needed to exchange them for at the moment. His daily regimen consisted of summoning rain to temper his will, followed by closing his eyes to sense the wind in the air.
Lately, however, Ryuuto felt his progress begin to slow.
It seems I've hit a bottleneck, he thought to himself.
With his hands clasped around his sword, Ryuuto focused his will, trying to perceive everything around him. His ears picked up the sound of the wind and every other subtle noise in his vicinity. His powerful spiritual energy extended far into the distance, allowing him to sense his surroundings. Yet, something was still missing. In his mind's eye, his surroundings were reconstructed as a blurry image.
This isn't right! I still can't see!
Ryuuto shook his head, feeling he was just one step away from success. He had been stuck at this stage for the past two days, his progress having come to a near standstill.
Zing!
Suddenly, Ryuuto drew Yubashiri and slashed at the empty air!
Hmm? At the moment of the slash, Ryuuto felt the flow of the wind, the subtle disturbance as the tip of his blade cut through the air.
I understand now!
Ryuuto suddenly shouted. He then imagined his consciousness as the wind itself, no longer deliberately controlling its direction but allowing it to roam freely.
The towering cacti...
The distinctive desert architecture...
The people chatting nearby...
And! The wind blowing toward him!
I can see it! I can see the wind!
In that instant, it was as if Ryuuto could truly see, his surroundings becoming unbelievably clear.
It worked!
Ryuuto couldn't help but think.
"Old Crocus, try attacking me!" Ryuuto said, opening his eyes and addressing Crocus, who was lying down reading a newspaper.
"Captain, it seems you've finally succeeded in your Haki training!" Crocus chuckled, setting his newspaper aside. He slipped on his mighty slippers and stood up.
"What? The captain learned Haki?!"
Nami stared at Ryuuto in disbelief. As far as she could remember, the captain had just been summoning rain this whole time. Could summoning rain also be a form of training?
Nami felt the pressure mount. How could her captain's strength improve so quickly?
I've decided. Starting tomorrow, I'm going to practice summoning rain, too! Nami resolved internally.
Crocus instantly appeared by Ryuuto's side, kicking one of his mighty slippers toward him.
It really is different! Ryuuto marveled.
Previously, faced with such an attack, he could only rely on his combat instincts to dodge ahead of time or use his superior speed to overwhelm his opponent. But things were different now. The moment Crocus launched his attack, Ryuuto sensed exactly where it would land, allowing him to predict the move in advance.
So this is Observation Haki?
Ryuuto thought, his heart filled with joy.
Just as Crocus's kick was about to land, Ryuuto vanished from his spot.
Bang!
A cloud of dust erupted where Ryuuto had been standing, but he was nowhere to be seen. Crocus smiled and launched himself toward Ryuuto, who had reappeared on the roof.
The instant Crocus appeared before him, he aimed a kick at Ryuuto's position, then immediately vanished again. When the two reappeared, Crocus was hovering in mid-air, directly above Ryuuto.
Thwack!
His mighty slipper descended, striking Ryuuto squarely in the back. A kick with sixty years of power behind it was more than Ryuuto could handle. He was sent crashing to the ground.
"You're too slow, kid!" Crocus said with a laugh as he landed in front of Ryuuto.
"As expected of a great pirate!"
Ryuuto had to admit that his newly awakened Observation Haki was still raw and unrefined compared to Crocus's. Still, he had taken the first step. Overall, his strength had increased tremendously, but he was still a long way from the top-tier fighters. His next priority... was to learn Armament Haki as soon as possible.
Nami, watching from the side, couldn't even follow their movements. Before she could blink, the fight was already over.
Is this what a battle between masters looks like? So amazing! But it looks like the captain can't beat Old Crocus!
Several thoughts raced through Nami's mind.
...
"This is terrible! A man calling himself Mr. 1 from Baroque Works is outside the town, destroying the Super Rice!"
"We tried to stop him, but several of our people are already injured!"
Just then, a resident of Erumalu, his face covered in blood, ran up to the trio and shouted.
"Damn it! Let's go take a look!"
Hearing this, Ryuuto could no longer contain himself. He leaped forward, rocketing toward the outskirts of town.
"Bastard!"
Nami was also seething with rage. She clenched her fists, gritted her teeth, and ran after Ryuuto. Crocus's expression turned grim as he, too, sped toward the fields.
"Where did these peasants get this water?!"
"And where did these green crops come from?!"
"Sprawl!"
Outside the town, Mr. 1, Daz Bonez, had transformed his arms into two sharp blades, unleashing a flurry of slashes across the rice paddy.
Boom!
As the slashes landed, the tall stalks of rice were instantly severed, dying before they could even bear fruit.
"Mr. 1, sir, show them what's what!"
"The boss is so strong!"
"Boss, hurry up and destroy all this rice!"
"..."
Nearby, a group of lackeys was attacking the residents who were trying to intervene, shouting encouragement to Daz Bonez all the while.
"No, please!"
"That's our food!"
The residents charged forward desperately, screaming in fury. But the difference in strength was too great. Those at the front had already been cut down.
"Hahahahahaha, destruction is an art!" Daz Bonez reveled in the chaos.
"Spiral Hollow!"
Daz Bonez's sharp arms gleamed. He became a spinning top, tearing through the field with brutal efficiency. Wherever he went, the Super Rice fell.
...