Three days after setting sail again, Kyle was still sulking over his bounty.
He sat on deck polishing his crude naginata with a piece of deerskin, muttering to himself,
"One point five million… one point five million… I'm worth less than a coastal Sea King. Do the Marines think my Phoenix Cry was just rented special effects? Zero taste, zero vision!"
"Still hung up on that?" Rayleigh asked, leaning against the mast with a book in hand.
"I'm not!" Kyle shot back, then slumped. "I just think my price and my face don't match."
"Kuahahaha! So what number would satisfy you?" Roger asked, strolling over with a giant fish bone.
Kyle held up three fingers. "Starting price. Thirty million."
Roger and Rayleigh exchanged a look—and laughed.
"Ambitious," Rayleigh said, then grew serious. "But bounty only measures how much of a threat you are. Your attack was impressive, but against real monsters, you'd be knocked out before you ever swung."
Kyle frowned. "What kind of power could stop my shockwaves?"
Rayleigh raised a finger.
"Haki. Every human has it. Most never awaken it. There are three types."
"One—Observation Haki. You're already touching it. Those crazy dodges during training? That was you sensing intent."
Kyle felt a chill.
"Two—Armament Haki. What Roger showed. It hardens your body and weapons. It lets you hit Devil Fruit users even if they turn intangible."
"And three—Conqueror's Haki. That's Roger's problem."
Roger grinned.
"Now," he said, grabbing a blindfold, "time for hands-on lessons!"
Kyle was blindfolded.
"Hey—!"
"Use your heart, not your eyes!"
The attacks began.
Boards. Bottles. Anchors.
Kyle dodged blindly, following only the murderous intent he felt in the air.
When the barrage stopped, he was panting—but smiling.
In the afternoon, Armament training began.
"Hit me," Roger said, his arm black with Haki.
Kyle swung—
And was sent flying through a wall.
Blood in his mouth, Kyle dragged himself up.
"Again."
Later, Rayleigh stabbed.
Kyle poured everything he had into his blade.
Clang.
It held.
For just a moment.
Rayleigh nodded. "You did it."
Kyle trembled in pain—but he was grinning.
This… was real power.
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