Gawain paused, startled.
His swordsmanship and physique gains were normal.
With Kuro and Gin heavily injured and barely active, experience came from the crew's lower-potential pirates—ten or so points daily at best, sometimes less, trending downward.
This was expected. What shocked him was Observation Haki.
"Only two in the crew have awakened Observation Haki. Gin's injuries are worse, so it must be Kuro," Gawain mused. "But 33 points in a day?"
"And that's with him injured. Once he's healed, it'll be even more."
He opened his system panel:
[Host: Gawain]
[Age: 24]
[Identity: Captain of the Gawain Pirates]
[Skills:
Swordsmanship LV-5: 1171/1600 (Godspeed)
Physique LV-5: 381/1600 (Balanced)
Navigation LV-1: 13/100
Spoon LV-1: 3/200
Observation Haki LV-0: 33/500
]
[Badges:
Captain's Wrath: Crew stamina recovery +20%
Rising Fame: View potential abilities
]
[Rating: Bronze – Notable in the Four Seas and Paradise, but keep a low profile in the New World.]
His crew hadn't slacked off since returning to Pala Island, adding over a hundred points to swordsmanship and physique.
Expected, but the Observation Haki gains surprised him. "It takes more experience to reach LV-1 than physique took for LV-4?"
"Are abilities ranked by difficulty?"
Gawain frowned, puzzled, but it was the only logical explanation.
Haki became common only in the New World. In the Four Seas and Paradise, many trained swordsmanship, physical techniques, or Devil Fruits, but few mastered Haki.
"Armament and Conqueror's Haki will likely need even more experience," he noted. "But at Kuro's rate, I'll hit LV-1 in under two weeks, ready for combat."
"Once they're healed, physique and Spoon will climb again."
"And Armament Haki is a must. Natural-type Logias are too much of a disadvantage otherwise."
Reflecting on his fight with Smoker, Gawain felt frustrated.
His raw strength surpassed Smoker's, but the Logia's elementalization nullified his slashes.
Only relentless, high-speed thrusts could keep Smoker at bay.
Against a destructive fruit like the Flame-Flame or Magma-Magma, he'd have to flee.
"Haki is the manifestation of the heart. Everyone has it, but not everyone awakens it," he thought. "I've got Observation. Can I extend that to Armament?"
With that in mind, the next day, Gawain entrusted crew affairs to Zango and sent the Cat Brothers with recovered members to clear pirates around Raven Port, honoring his promise.
Then, he tried awakening his Armament Haki.
Easier said than done.
Days passed with no progress, not even a hint.
Blind luck, like stumbling onto a dead mouse, wouldn't happen twice.
Without guidance, his Haki knowledge was limited to vague forum posts from his past life—correct but useless.
Meanwhile, Gin and Kuro were gaining momentum.
…
With Gawain's badge boosting recovery, Gin healed faster than expected.
In seven days, he shed his bandages. Though scabs remained, he could move freely.
Influenced by Gawain and Kuro, Gin began training.
At the port, the sun baked the ground, distorting the air. Cicadas buzzed, fraying nerves.
Most pirates sought shade, but Gin hammered a scrapped ship with his fists.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
…
His bloodied knuckles left dents in the hull.
Pain sharpened his clarity.
As he learned more about the Gawain Pirates, he related to Gawain's past.
"The kindest captain, betrayed by his crew in crisis, forced to wield his sword against them, changing him forever?" Gin thought. "No wonder he saved me, an enemy. We understand each other."
…
Time passed.
Bang!
His final punch landed as the sun set.
Pain reminded him his body was at its limit. Continuing risked lasting damage.
"Phew!" Gin exhaled, turning to leave.
Thinking of Gawain's fried rice, his heart filled with something new.
…
That night, Gawain, frustrated from failing to awaken Haki, returned to his room.
A familiar system prompt sounded:
"Physique EXP +127!"
"Swordsmanship EXP +8!"
"Spoon EXP +22!"
"Observation Haki EXP +44!"
Gawain froze, eyes widening. "127 physique points?!"
"Lately, the crew's been giving me a fraction of that."
"Kuro and Gin alone gave around 120 physique points? Plus Spoon and Observation Haki?"
"Their efficiency matches a massive pirate crew of hundreds, and it'll last longer!"
"At this rate, my physique could jump two levels to LV-7 in a month? Maybe hit LV-10 in half a year, earning a second trait?"
"High-potential crewmates are worth hundreds, even thousands, of small-fry."
"This world's talent gaps are absurd."
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If you want to read more than 20 chapters early feel free to visit pa tre on . com /Archus