Chapter 20: Observation Haki and the Six Powers (Patreon)

Admiral Fujitora could tell that Kratos wasn't holding back or hiding anything. The man hadn't known Armament Haki beforehand, nor had he deliberately feigned ignorance just to show off. A warrior of his caliber wouldn't stoop to such petty tricks; Fujitora could sense that much instantly. Kratos had genuinely just learned it. He watched it once, heard the explanation once, and immediately grasped the concept. Such talent, such a warped combat intuition—it was simply absurd.

"Kratos, did you get all that?" Axis asked.

"It is not difficult. His instructions were detailed," Kratos replied.

In truth, it wasn't just exceptional talent or an abnormal learning speed. Kratos had simply reached a level of power where mastering one concept allowed him to understand them all. Armament Haki relied heavily on physical strength, and physical fortitude was the one thing the Spartan possessed in abundance. His body could withstand a direct strike from a Titan. For him, learning Armament Haki was a trivial matter, especially with Fujitora explaining it so thoroughly.

"Indeed. For a powerhouse like Mr. Kratos, mastering Armament Haki in such a short time is to be expected," Fujitora agreed, nodding.

"Haha! Kratos's talent is truly staggering," Axis chuckled.

'I'm not jealous. I'm not jealous,' Axis repeated like a mantra in his head. 'The guy just got lucky. He has a powerful father and was born a demigod. It's nothing special, just a slightly higher starting point. Meanwhile, I have the backing of a multiversal system!'

After a few more awkward pleasantries, Axis returned to his room, retrieved thirty million Berries, and handed the cash over to Fujitora.

"This is a small token of my appreciation. Admiral Issho, remember to bring these Berries along the next time you hit the casino!"

"Since you insist, I will accept your generosity without reservation. Next, I will explain Observation Haki to you both in detail."

This time, Fujitora didn't politely decline. He pocketed the thirty million Berries without a fuss.

Over the following days, Fujitora instructed the duo on the intricacies of Observation Haki, sharing training techniques and personal insights. Kratos proved his monstrous aptitude once again, mastering the skill in a single day.

Axis was not nearly as fortunate. For the past few days, he had been blindfolded and relentlessly beaten by Marine soldiers, one by one. According to Fujitora, everyone who wanted to train Observation Haki had to endure this exact process.

Axis felt utterly helpless, but he had no choice. In the original story, Luffy had trained the exact same way. To anticipate enemy attacks, to show off, and to eventually exude the calm aura of a true pirate like Shanks, he would endure the beatings.

Seven days later, the fleet crossed into the New World. Following another week of steady sailing, the warships finally approached their destination: Dressrosa.

By now, Axis and Kratos had been in the One Piece world for twenty days.

"This is where we part ways. I wish you both the best," Fujitora said as they stood near the docks of Dressrosa.

"Haha! Admiral Issho, you've gone out of your way for us these past few days. Thank you so much for the Haki lessons," Axis replied warmly.

"There is no need for formalities, Mr. Axis. If you encounter any trouble in Dressrosa, feel free to seek me out. I will assist you," Fujitora offered. "However, I must warn you about one thing. The great pirate who rules this land is Doflamingo. While his strength is insignificant before Mr. Kratos, he remains a Warlord of the Sea recognized by the World Government. Please refrain from attacking him or his subordinates. They currently hold no active bounties."

"Not a problem. The Donquixote Family isn't my target anyway."

'My only goals are snatching the Flame-Flame Fruit and letting Kratos get a good look at Brook from the Straw Hat crew,' Axis thought.

"That is a relief. I can guess what drew you two here. It is either the bounties on the gathering pirates or the upcoming tournament for the Flame-Flame Fruit," Fujitora noted. "Your target is the fruit, correct?"

"Exactly. That shouldn't conflict with your mission, Admiral, right?" Axis asked.

"Indeed. That matter does not concern me. If you aim to claim the Flame-Flame Fruit, then I wish you victory in your coming battles. Farewell."

'Perhaps I may need their help to deal with Doflamingo later,' Fujitora mused silently. 'The possibility of future cooperation remains.'

"Thank you for looking after us, Admiral Issho. Until we meet again," Axis smiled, waving goodbye.

Over the past several days, Axis had been thoroughly beaten in every conceivable manner. Yet, the suffering wasn't entirely in vain. He had gradually begun to grasp the faintest traces of Observation Haki.

As for Armament Haki, he remained completely clueless. His physique simply couldn't handle the strain yet, though the intense training had vastly improved his stamina and strength. There was a very good reason the humans in the One Piece universe possessed such monstrous bodies—the food here was incredibly nutritious. After just over a dozen days in this world, subsisting on Sea King meat and undergoing rigorous training, Axis's physical fitness had multiplied. If he returned to ancient Greece right now, his current physical condition would easily classify him as a minor powerhouse.

As for how much Kratos had improved, Axis refused to even think about it. Comparing himself to the Spartan would only bring frustration. After mastering both forms of Haki, Kratos's combat prowess had skyrocketed. At the very least, his defense was now impenetrable. Offensively, the Haki boost wasn't as wildly exaggerated, considering the Ghost of Sparta already possessed world-shattering attack power.

However, the addition of Observation Haki was a game-changer. Combined with Kratos's beast-like instincts and lightning reflexes, the sensory ability made him an absolute nightmare. Axis couldn't help but wonder just how terrifying the bald man would become if he managed to train his Observation Haki to the advanced stage of briefly seeing the future.

'Wait, am I basically just paving the way for Kratos's future god-killing rampage?' Axis realized with a jolt. His original goal was to stop the man from slaughtering the pantheon. 'No, I have to find a workaround. Letting Kratos kill Zeus might be fine, but I want the rest of the Greek pantheon working for me, acting as a constant supply of divine power. I'll figure it out when the time comes! It's too early to stress over this.'

"Axis. During our time on the ship, I also learned a few techniques from the Marines. They call it the Six Powers," Kratos stated casually, standing beside him.

Axis stared at him.

'So, you managed to leech the Six Powers for free too?' Axis thought. All he really wanted to say was: well done, baldy.

"Good job, Kratos. Teach me when we have some free time back home," Axis said, patting the Spartan on the shoulder.

"I can teach you, but your current physical condition is inadequate," Kratos replied bluntly. "This world is exceptionally well-suited for physical conditioning. You need to train harder. You are currently as weak as a bug."

Axis ground his teeth.

'Damn it! You bald bastard, would it kill you to say something slightly respectful?'