Hakugan Port - Morning
The storm had passed, leaving the port blanketed in mist and the scent of wet earth. Inside Kai's cottage, Ren and Ryu sat cross-legged on the wooden floor, their bodies aching from the night's battle. Nadia stood by the door, her expression grim as she adjusted her cloak.
"Are you sure you're okay to go alone?" Ren asked, glancing at the two bounty posters in her hand.
"I can handle it," Nadia said, her eyes hard. "The Marines stationed here are corrupt, but they're still bound by protocol. Farren and Kato's heads will fetch a decent sum."
"Just be careful," Ryu said, sheathing his katana. "They might try to cheat you."
Nadia's lips quirked up in a smirk. "Let them try."
With that, she stepped out into the misty morning, the posters rolled up tightly in her grip. Ren watched her go, jaw clenched. There was something fierce and untamed about Nadia, a determination that reminded him of Luffy in the middle of a fight. But there was no time to dwell on it.
"Eyes forward, kid," Kai's gravelly voice snapped Ren's attention back to the old man. Kai stood with his arms crossed, his sharp gaze fixed on the two young men. "Last night, you fought like wild dogs. Lots of spirit. Little control."
"Ryu," Kai said, his tone firm, "You're starting from scratch. You'll train in both Observation and Armament Haki."
Ryu nodded, determination flashing in his eyes. "Understood."
Kai's eyes shifted to Ren. "You already have a foot in the door with Observation Haki. You'll need to keep practicing on your own to advance it."
Ren's fists tightened. "Got it."
Ren frowned. "We won, didn't we?"
"Barely," Kai said, stepping forward. "You moved before Farren even swung at you. Tell me, what did it feel like?"
Ren's brow furrowed. "I... I don't know. It's like... like the air was telling me where he'd strike."
Kai nodded, a gleam in his eye. "That's Observation Haki."
"Haki?" Ryu repeated, eyes narrowing.
Kai crossed his arms. "There are three kinds of Haki. Observation Haki lets you sense the presence, emotions, and intentions of others. Advanced users can even glimpse brief flashes of the future. Armament Haki creates invisible armor around your body or weapon, enhancing your attacks and defense. Masters can emit it as a shockwave or attack from within. Conqueror's Haki is the rarest — it lets you overpower the will of others and knock them unconscious. But only a few are born with it."
He fixed his eyes on Ren. "You, Ren, have already started with Observation Haki. Now, it's time to train."
Ryu leaned forward, eyes intense. "Can we learn it?"
Kai's grin was sharp as a blade. "If you're ready to bleed."
---
Hakugan Marine Outpost - Noon
Nadia pushed open the creaking door of the Marine outpost, the scent of stale tobacco and sweat hitting her like a wave. A pair of lazy-eyed Marines sat behind the counter, one of them snoring with his hat tipped over his eyes.
"I've got two bounties to claim," Nadia said, tossing the posters onto the counter.
The awake Marine lifted his hat, his eyes narrowing as he looked her up and down. "You? You're the one who took down Farren and Kato?"
Nadia crossed her arms, unflinching. "I'm the one collecting."
The Marine grunted, flicking a toothpick between his teeth. "Wait here."
He shuffled into the back room, leaving Nadia alone with the other Marine, who continued to snore. Her eyes scanned the room, noting the grime on the walls and the stack of wanted posters pinned to a nearby board.
The Marine returned, a burlap sack heavy with coins in his hand. "Thirty-five million berries. Take it and go."
Nadia grabbed the sack, her fingers tightening around the rough fabric. "Pleasure doing business."
---
Kai's Cottage - Afternoon
Sweat poured down Ren's brow as he struggled to keep his eyes closed. Around him, Kai's voice echoed like a thunderclap.
"Feel the air. Sense the movement. Don't just hear me — feel me."
Ryu stood a few feet away, his katana drawn and held out in front of him. "Ready?"
Ren nodded, breathing deeply. "Yeah."
Ryu charged forward, his blade slicing through the air. Ren's fists clenched as he focused, trying to feel the air shift, to predict the attack. At the last second, he leaned back, narrowly avoiding the strike.
"Too slow!" Kai barked. "Again!"
Ren grimaced, frustration mounting. "I can't... It's like the air's gone quiet."
Kai smirked. "That's because you're trying too hard. Haki isn't about thinking. It's about feeling."
Ryu sheathed his katana, his eyes on Ren. "We'll keep going until you get it."
Ren clenched his fists, his jaw tight. "Fine."
From the doorway, Nadia stepped inside, tossing the sack of berries at Ren's feet. "Thirty-five million berries. Farren and Kato were worth more than I thought."
Ren looked up, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Thanks, Nadia."
She crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe. "You two training to be more than talk?"
Kai's eyes glinted. "Oh, they're gonna be more than talk, all right."
Nadia's gaze lingered on Ren, a slight smirk on her lips. "Good. Because the Grand Line's waiting."
Outside, the wind howled, carrying the scent of the sea and the promise of even greater challenges ahead.