Chapter 21: What is Haki?
What is Haki?
Evan knows that Haki is a latent power possessed by people in the world of pirates, similar to internal energy and the aura of the human body from his previous life.
Those who can use Haki are on a different level compared to those who only know martial arts.
At sixteen, Luffy has yet to use Haki and cannot counter the elemental transformations of Logia Devil Fruit users. His strength is approximately at the level of a mid-level Vice Admiral. However, after the “War of the Best” incident, he trained Haki under Rayleigh, the former first mate of the Pirate King. In just two years, his combat power skyrocketed, reaching a level that could rival high-ranking Shichibukai!
Haki is like a watershed, a threshold on the path from weakness to strength.
How to train Haki? Evan had no idea.
His body, trained in ancient martial arts to achieve a level of impenetrability, could rival CP9 members who have developed their physical potential from a young age. Despite his superior physique, he couldn’t find a single clue on how to train Haki.
“Young friend, are you thinking about how to train Haki?” The elder in the opposite cage spoke, startling Evan from his thoughts.
“Training Haki? You’re in Impel Down’s Infinite Hell, and you’re still thinking about training? Your brain must be damaged.”
“Hehe, it’s normal for a young man to desire power, haha,” joked other prisoners.
Evan ignored the taunts and looked at the elder prisoner in the opposite cage for the first time.
The elder’s limbs were also chained, his body thin but undoubtedly once a martial arts master. His face was old, his hair and beard white, long and coiled on the ground, having been imprisoned in this Infinite Hell for countless years.
“Does the senior have any guidance?” Evan changed his address, humbly seeking advice.
“Let me explain it to you,” the elder nodded, stroking his beard. “First, haki is divided into three types.”
“The first type is Observation Haki, which predicts the opponent’s next move and position.
The second type is Armament Haki, which can form an armor to increase defense and attack power.
The last type is Conqueror’s Haki, a power that only one in a million possesses, which can overwhelm or knock out enemies with one’s spirit!”
At this point, the elder’s eyes shone like stars, and his decaying body suddenly moved, an indescribable momentum about to burst forth! But soon, that momentum receded as if it had never existed.
Seeing this, Evan’s heart stirred. If he guessed correctly, this elder also possessed the rare Conqueror’s Haki.
“Senior, could you explain how to train Haki?” Evan asked.
The elder seemed to anticipate this question and gently shook his head.
Evan felt discontent, thinking the elder was being stingy and unwilling to share the training methods.
Seeing his expression, the elder smiled, “Young friend, Haki is not some world-class secret. Many people know its training methods. It’s not that I don’t want to teach you, but I don’t want to harm you.”
“Harm me? Training Haki can be harmful?” Evan asked, confused.
“Of course not. Training Haki and combining it with one’s martial arts can break limits and lead to the pinnacle of strength.”
“Then why…” Evan was even more puzzled.
“I say it’s harmful, specifically for you,” the elder sighed.
“Me? Why do you say that?” Evan was baffled. Did the elder see through his identity as a transmigrator? Or did he think Evan was unsuitable for Haki’s training?
“Let me explain. Conqueror’s Haki is an innate power that awakens naturally. It’s a person’s spirit and cannot be trained. Training Haki mainly involves Observation Haki and Armament Haki.”
“Observation Haki replaces hearing and sight, using the power of the mind to sense the surroundings and assist in combat or control the battlefield. Do you understand this?” The elder explained, and Evan nodded. From the original story, he knew that Conqueror’s Haki awakened naturally, not through training. Observation Haki called ‘Mantra’ on Skypiea, used the heart to sense.
“The harmful part for you is Armament Haki! Armament Haki derives from physical strength, forming armor or wrapping weapons for added power. Because it relies on physical muscles, it requires a strong physique…”
“Does my physique not meet the requirements?” Evan interrupted, questioning.
“Of course not.” The elder smiled bitterly, looking at him with helpless eyes. “From the moment you killed that Vice Admiral, I knew your physique was excellent, even beyond imagination. But you’re too young…”
“Young?!” Evan was stunned.
“Yes.” The elder smiled bitterly again. “You are too young, and your body is still growing rapidly. Training Armament Haki now could severely affect your development, leading to physical defects or aftereffects!”
Evan was speechless. He hadn’t thought of this reason.
But thinking about it, he agreed. After all, Luffy and Ace were taught by Marine hero Garp when they were still kids. They would have been taught long ago if they could learn Haki early.
“The suitable stage to start training Haki is after sixteen. Young friend, you can wait.” The elder concluded.
Evan smiled bitterly. It seemed he had to escape from this Infinite Hell first and then learn Haki later.
“Young friend, would you be willing to take me as your master?”
The elder’s unexpected words made Evan’s heart tremble. He looked up to meet those murky eyes.
Apprenticeship? Evan had never considered this. After hesitating, he asked, “I want to be someone who the heavens cannot obscure. Can you teach me?”
“Kid, think again. Just being in this Infinite Hell can trap you for life!”
“Can you two stop joking? I…”
Before the other prisoners could finish, a firm and powerful voice echoed.
“Of course I can!”
The elder’s murky eyes suddenly shone like stars, and an overwhelming aura spread like waves, with a kingly presence crushing the entire Infinite Hell!
The air in the Infinite Hell paused!
“Conqueror’s Haki?!”
Other prisoners were shocked, not expecting the old man, imprisoned for so long and unknown, to possess Conqueror’s Haki.
Feeling the overwhelming aura like a heavy stone pressing on their chests, Evan smiled slightly, and an equally terrifying aura surged from his body. Though his Haki was still in its infancy, his indomitable spirit was overwhelming, challenging the elder’s aura!
Boom!!!
In the prisoners’ minds, two overwhelming forces clashed! Unseen, the forces collided like thunder, exploding in the Infinite Hell!
“That kid has Conqueror’s Haki too!” The other prisoners were stunned.
The elder, equally surprised, retracted his Conqueror’s Haki. Evan’s Haki, induced from within, also receded, the two forces subsiding.
Evan smiled, confirming that the momentum he accidentally unleashed in his final battle with Sakazuki was indeed Conqueror’s Haki.
He knelt on the ground, bowing to the elder in the opposite cage, “Disciple Evan, pays respect to the master!”
Having Conqueror’s Haki, he could barely qualify as his master.
The elder was stunned, then laughed heartily, feeling gratified, “I didn’t expect to receive such a satisfactory disciple in Infinite Hell!”
“You’re the Night Emperor?!” An informed prisoner was surprised.
“The Black Blade Night Emperor? The world’s strongest swordsman from decades ago!”
“Rumor had it you died decades ago. Didn’t expect you to be here.”
Other prisoners were equally amazed.
The Night Emperor, the first owner of the world’s strongest Black Blade, dominated the seas with his Black Blade style and was recognized as the world’s greatest swordsman decades ago!
A legend!
No one expected such a figure, like the Golden Lion, to remain in Infinite Hell, unknown for decades.
“The world’s strongest swordsman? Just a reputation. That person deserves it more…” The Night Emperor sighed, not explaining why he entered Infinite Hell.
“From now on, you are my disciple!” The Night Emperor smiled.
Evan nodded.
Apart from his space fruit ability, he indeed lacked offensive means.
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