It had been two years since Victor and Robin had set sail, their journey across the West Blue serving as both a healing process and an unspoken bond between them. But something had changed within Robin during their time together. She had grown more than just a bit. Her quiet sorrow had softened, replaced by a spark of resolve, a desire to never feel helpless again. It was during one of their travels through an island shrouded in mist that Robin finally voiced what had been building inside her for so long.
"I want to learn," Robin said, her tone earnest, her eyes determined. "I want to learn how to defend myself, how to fight. I don't want to rely on you or anyone else ever again. I want to stand on my own two feet."
Victor had been leaning against the rail of the Byakko, watching the horizon as the ship glided through the skies. His sharp eyes turned to Robin, a gentle but calculating expression on his face. He could see the quiet strength she had developed, the spark that had grown from the ashes of her pain.
"If that's what you want, then I'll train you," Victor said, his voice steady, without hesitation. "But be prepared. This will be harder than anything you've ever done."
Robin nodded, her gaze unwavering.
"I'm ready."
The First Step: Physical Training
The first step was always the hardest. Victor knew that no matter how powerful Robin's Devil Fruit abilities were, or how advanced her potential with Haki could become, everything depended on her physical foundation. Strength, endurance, agility—all of it had to be honed. No power could be relied upon if the body was not strong enough to support it.
Victor started her off with basic exercises—stretches, runs, push-ups, and sit-ups. Simple movements, but crucial for building stamina and strength. Robin wasn't used to such rigorous training. Her early years were filled with running, hiding, and escaping from her past rather than fighting. So when Victor made her run miles every morning, swim through rough seas, and carry weights in the heat of the day, it took everything she had to push through.
The first week was the hardest. Every muscle in her body ached, and there were moments she felt like giving up. But each time she faltered, Victor was there—silent, unyielding, always reminding her that strength wasn't just about physicality. It was about endurance, willpower, and the refusal to give in.
As the days passed, Robin's endurance grew. Her strength improved. Her speed, once sluggish and unsure, became more fluid and graceful. She still had a long way to go, but there was a noticeable difference. She was stronger, more confident in her own body.
The Second Step: Armament Haki
Once Victor was satisfied with Robin's physical foundation, he moved on to teaching her Armament Haki. He'd known from the start that she had the potential, but it was all about unlocking it, making her focus her willpower and channel it into her attacks.
"Armament Haki isn't just about brute force," Victor explained one evening, as the two stood on the deck of the Byakko. "It's about turning your spirit into armor, and using that armor to protect yourself and strike at your enemies."
Robin's gaze was fixed on the distant horizon, the wind ruffling her hair. She could sense the weight of the task ahead, but there was no hesitation in her eyes.
"Close your eyes," Victor instructed. "Feel the world around you. The air, the earth beneath your feet. Your body is just a small part of this vast world. But your will, that's something you can control. Focus it."
Robin took a deep breath, closing her eyes, and immediately, she felt the world quiet around her. She felt the rhythm of the wind, the constant flow of the ocean beneath them, and even the pulse of the ship as it sailed. She focused her mind inward, searching for that elusive feeling Victor had described.
At first, nothing happened. But then, a faint sensation began to form in her chest. It was small, like a spark of heat, but it was there. She focused on it, drawing it out, and soon, that small spark became a pulse, a warmth that radiated through her body.
"Good," Victor's voice broke through her concentration. "Now, channel that energy into your limbs."
Robin's fingers twitched, and she extended her hand in front of her, trying to focus the warmth into her palm. The air around her hand seemed to shimmer faintly.
Victor watched her closely, guiding her movements. "Don't rush it. It's not about forcing it. Let your body move with the flow. Let your will shape it."
Robin's brow furrowed as she focused harder. And then, for the first time, she felt the weight of it—an invisible force surrounding her hand, hardening it. She clenched her fist, and the air around her hand seemed to crackle with power.
"Good. Now strike," Victor instructed.
With a deep breath, Robin swung her fist at a nearby post, her arm fully extended. When her fist connected, there was a sharp crack, and the post splintered under the force of her blow. Robin pulled her hand back, surprised by the strength she had felt in the strike.
Victor nodded approvingly. "You're getting the hang of it. Now, remember—this is a weapon and a shield. Use it wisely."
From that day forward, Victor continued to refine Robin's mastery of Armament Haki. She spent hours practicing strikes, defense, and reinforcing her entire body with Haki, learning how to turn her own flesh into a weapon that could pierce even the toughest of defenses.
The Third Step: Observation Haki
With Armament Haki under her belt, Robin moved on to Observation Haki. This was a different challenge altogether. The ability to sense the presence of others, to read the flow of battle—it wasn't something that could be taught with just physical effort. It required intuition, and more than that, it required a calm mind.
Victor led her through the first phase of training one quiet evening on the deck of the Byakko. The stars stretched across the sky, and the waves below were calm.
"Observation Haki isn't just about sensing the people around you," Victor explained. "It's about understanding what they'll do next, reading the flow of their movements before they even make them."
He led her through several exercises, each one designed to sharpen her senses. At first, she struggled to concentrate. Her mind was restless, constantly darting from one thought to another. But Victor remained patient, guiding her through each step, teaching her how to quiet her mind and focus solely on the present.
"Feel the shift in the air," he instructed. "Every movement, no matter how small, sends ripples through the world. You need to learn to read those ripples."
Robin closed her eyes, her focus sharpening. She began to feel the subtle shifts in the air as Victor moved around her. He was swift, but she could sense his presence before he even made a move. With each passing day, her ability to detect the flow of movement grew sharper, more precise.
She began to anticipate his attacks before he made them, dodging and blocking with increasing accuracy. The feeling of having control over her surroundings, the ability to predict and counter—Robin started to gain confidence in herself, a confidence she had never felt before.
The Final Step: Combining Haki with Hana Hana no Mi
By the time they reached their next destination—an island filled with rocky cliffs and winding forests—Victor decided it was time to combine all the elements of Robin's training. Her physical strength, Armament Haki, and Observation Haki had to come together with the full potential of her Hana Hana no Mi.
"You've come a long way, Robin," Victor said as they stood on a cliff, overlooking the sea. "But now it's time to combine it all. You've learned how to strengthen your body with Armament Haki and how to sense danger with Observation Haki. Now, use that to make your Hana Hana no Mi more deadly."
Robin nodded, a determined look on her face. She understood now. Her Devil Fruit ability allowed her to sprout her limbs anywhere she wished, but with the combined power of Haki, she could turn her attacks into devastating strikes from any distance.
"Sprout your hands, but don't just use them mindlessly," Victor instructed. "Use Observation Haki to locate an enemy. Once you have them in your sights, use your Devil Fruit to strike them from a distance, but reinforce your limbs with Armament Haki to make them unbreakable."
Robin concentrated, closing her eyes to focus on the flow of the wind, the movements of the world around her. As soon as she pinpointed the location of an imaginary target, she raised her hand and extended it. Her fingers sprouted from a nearby rock, but this time, she willed them to form around a nearby boulder.
With a focused twist of her will, she transformed the boulder into a target, her hand wrapping around it, covered in a layer of dark, hardened Armament Haki. She squeezed and crushed the boulder with ease, her Observation Haki guiding her aim perfectly.
"That's it," Victor said, nodding. "Now use that to strike at long range, without moving. Feel the air shift, and then let the wind carry your attack."
Robin took a deep breath, focusing all her attention on the boulder. She projected her hands, infused with Haki, and in an instant, the limbs shot out with precision, smashing the boulder to pieces. Her control over both her Devil Fruit powers and Haki had reached a new level.
By the time the two years of training came to an end, Robin was no longer the fragile, helpless child she once was. She was strong—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Her heart was no longer weighed down by her past. She had learned to control her powers, her body, and most importantly, her future.
Victor watched her with a small, knowing smile. "You're ready. You can defend yourself now."
Robin stood tall, her eyes brighter than they had ever been before. She was ready for whatever came next.