In the afternoon, the summer breeze was blowing. It was nap time, and since morning, many recruits had overachieved their tasks, thanks to Nokiyoru’s lead. Zephyr had granted them an extra two hours of rest as a reward.
Zephyr understood well that training required a balance of work and rest. Not everyone could be as crazy as Nokiyoru.
Standing under a green tree, Zephyr watched the boy tirelessly sweating under the scorching sun. Even though Nokiyoru’s muscles were twitching from fatigue, his sheer willpower had kept him going for two hours straight.
“What drives you to push yourself so hard? How much willpower does your family give you?” Zephyr muttered to himself. Though Nokiyoru’s current strength was ordinary, Zephyr believed he would make a mark on the world.
“If you have such courage, I will teach you everything I know. Perhaps taking on a disciple isn’t a bad idea.” Zephyr was deeply moved watching the boy and decided to take Nokiyoru under his wing.
Walking closer, he could hear Nokiyoru’s laboured breathing. “Nine hundred seventy… nine hundred eighty… one thousand…”
Nokiyoru was doing push-ups with a massive iron weight on his back, sweat pouring like rain.
“Bang…” Nokiyoru collapsed, unable to support himself anymore, his chest heaving violently.
Exhausted and in pain, Nokiyoru’s body twitched slightly from relentless training.
“No, it’s not enough. To become stronger, I must work harder. For Nokishio, for the future, I must speed up my training.”
Trembling, Nokiyoru tried to get up to continue training.
At that moment, a large hand gently grabbed him.
Turning his head with difficulty, Nokiyoru looked at Zephyr in confusion.
“Rest for a bit. I need to talk to you.” Meeting Nokiyoru’s gaze, Zephyr smiled.
Under the green tree, Nokiyoru and Zephyr sat cross-legged, facing each other.
“Teacher Zephyr, what can I do for you?” Nokiyoru’s face was flushed, likely from training, and his entire body was still pumping with adrenaline.
“What drives you to train so hard?” Zephyr exuded a peaceful aura, like a kind uncle, making it hard to dislike him.
“To become stronger,” Nokiyoru replied calmly, brushing his hair back.
“To become stronger, huh? That’s a good reason,” Zephyr nodded approvingly but then spoke seriously, “I may not know you well, but I can tell you’re not someone who settles for mediocrity.”
“I don’t know if you’ll turn out good or bad, but I want to tell you one thing: whatever you do in the future, always stay true to your conscience. As for loyalty to the Marines and the government, I doubt that’s your style.”
Nokiyoru opened his mouth to speak, but Zephyr cut him off.
“You don’t need to be so wary. I know a lot about the World Government, but that’s not your concern right now. I just want to know, if you gain great power, what will you do? Will you become a Marine, a pirate, or something else?” Zephyr sat up straight, his expression serious.
Nokiyoru pondered momentarily, then looked up, his eyes shining with determination like stars. “If I gain power, I want to save Nokishio and protect those I love. Any force, whether pirate or Marine, that harms the ones I care about, I will destroy without hesitation.”
“As for being a pirate, Marine, or anything else, I’m not interested. I just want to live a peaceful life with my loved ones. In short, if people don’t provoke me, I won’t provoke them. If I have any ambition, it’s that I want my loved ones to live worry-free in this world.”
“That’s why I want to become stronger. As a Marine Admiral, you might not agree, but that’s what I believe.
Nokiyoru looked at Zephyr earnestly, gambling on the fact that Zephyr hadn’t always been fully loyal to the Marines. After all, he would later defect from the Marines.
“Hahaha… What a surprising answer. In your worldview, it seems only your loved ones matter. I didn’t expect power to be something that could be rejected. So, would you like to become my disciple?”
Nokiyoru was stunned and then filled with excitement. Zephyr’s words echoed in his mind: “Would you like to become my disciple?”
“Thud…” Without hesitation, Nokiyoru knelt and kowtowed three times, his body trembling with emotion.
Zephyr quickly helped him up, smiling. “No need for such formality. Just promise me you won’t harm innocent people without cause.”
“Once a teacher, always a father. In my homeland, a mentor is like a father. Moreover, I’m honored that you accept me as your disciple. I, Nokiyoru, swear I won’t harm those who don’t harm me.”
Nokiyoru’s voice was firm, his oath sincere. He was a man of honour, and his word was his bond.
“Good, very good. With me backing you, as long as you stay true to your conscience, I will support you unconditionally. From now on, I’ll call you ‘Ye’.” Zephyr was filled with pride, having truly accepted Nokiyoru as his disciple.
“Yes, Master.”
“Then, come to my place after dinner. I’ll share my training insights with you. The rest will be up to you. I can only help you avoid some pitfalls.”
“Yes, Master,” Nokiyoru said respectfully. “I’ll continue training now.”
“Go ahead,” Zephyr smiled warmly, waving him off.
So, while others rested in the afternoon, Nokiyoru trained. When others trained, Nokiyoru also trained. The other recruits always saw that “madman” training relentlessly.
As the sun set and night fell, Nokiyoru, filled with excitement, ran towards Zephyr’s residence after finishing his day’s training.
“Come in,” Zephyr’s voice called out as Nokiyoru entered the garden.
Without hesitation, Nokiyoru pushed the door open and walked into the hall.
“Master.”
“Sit down,” Zephyr smiled, seeing Nokiyoru slightly out of breath—Nokiyoru’s eager desire to become stronger pleased Zephyr.
“Ye, what do you think is the key to becoming strong?” Zephyr asked directly.
“It’s the body. After all, the body is the foundation of everything,” Nokiyoru replied after a brief thought.
“That’s right. To become strong, the first thing is physical fitness. Don’t think that just because you have a Devil Fruit, you can neglect physical training.”
“Any power, without a strong enough body to wield it, is just an illusion, a fleeting moment.”
“…”
Time passed as Zephyr spoke, and Nokiyoru listened attentively. Even things he already knew took on new meaning when explained by Zephyr.
“Master, can I start training in the Six Powers now?” Nokiyoru asked eagerly, his eyes burning with anticipation.
“With your physical condition and your Devil Fruit’s incredible recovery ability, you can start training,” Zephyr smiled, pleased with Nokiyoru’s enthusiasm.
“The Six Powers are the Marines’ most important physical techniques. Only those who have made significant contributions to the Marines or are of high rank can train in them. But as my disciple, you have that privilege.”
“Thank you, Master. But I have another question,” Nokiyoru said, trying to contain his excitement as he looked at Zephyr.
“Go ahead,” Zephyr encouraged, appreciating Nokiyoru’s thirst for knowledge and drive.
“What is Haki? I know there are three types: Conqueror’s Haki, Observation Haki, and Armament Haki. But I don’t understand how to perceive and train them.”
“Ah, you know quite a bit. Let me explain.”
“Conqueror’s Haki is said to be possessed only by those with the qualities of a king. It’s a manifestation of will and spirit, one in a million. It can only be awakened naturally; there’s no training method for it…”
“Observation Haki is an extension of one’s spirit and perception. Once awakened, it allows you to predict your opponent’s next move in battle…”
“Armament Haki is an energy within the body that can form an invisible armor, increasing defense and attack power. Most importantly, it can touch the real body of Logia users, making them unable to become intangible. It’s an essential ability…”
Nokiyoru absorbed Zephyr’s explanations like a sponge, taking in the knowledge.
“Alright, digest this information and we’ll put it into practice tomorrow night. Only through battle can you truly understand it.”
“Thank you, Master. I’ll take my leave now,” Nokiyoru said, bowing before leaving to digest the new knowledge.
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