"So that's what you mean. But I should warn you I'm from the Oni race. My strength might be a little too much for sparring. Are you sure you want me as your training partner?"
Kaido's tone was lighthearted, his huge frame shaking with a grin. He had always been a carefree kind of man straightforward, honest, and without a hint of hesitation. When Kael Draven made his request, Kaido didn't even think twice before agreeing. He wasn't the strongest on the seas yet, but among the middle ranks of powerful pirates, he stood tall and proud.
"Then let's begin! We'll start with the basics teach me how to use Conqueror's Haki!"
Kael's eyes gleamed with determination. The moment his words fell, he unleashed his own Conqueror's Haki like a crashing wave, his aura surging toward Kaido with explosive force.
Kaido laughed heartily, setting down his half-empty bottle of rum. "Oh? You want to test wills with me? Interesting! Let's see what you've got!"
With a booming laugh that echoed across the sea, Kaido's aura exploded outward. A dark red wave of Haki burst from his body like a storm released from its cage. The very air cracked, and the sea around them began to churn violently.
"Hohohohoho! Don't underestimate me, kid! My Conqueror's Haki is second to none!"
A heavy shockwave burst between them as their auras collided. The sky darkened. The ocean roared. The clash of wills between Kael and Kaido was like a thunderstorm born from pure dominance.
Though their Haki seemed equal in strength, Kaido's was more refined steady and seasoned, like a blade sharpened by countless battles. Kael, in contrast, had only awakened his Conqueror's Haki two days ago. His energy was wild and untamed, yet burning with raw potential.
The collision of their spirits sent black lightning streaking across the sky. Waves towered and crashed, fish floated belly-up from the electric surge, and even the clouds above were split apart, torn by the force of their combined power.
Kael's lips curled into an excited grin as he shouted over the chaos, "As expected of a golden-class teacher! You haven't even officially joined the Rocks Pirates as a trainee, yet your Haki mastery is already this refined!"
His gaze locked on Kaido, admiration and ambition blending in his fiery eyes. He wasn't discouraged by Kaido's superior strength. Quite the opposite he was thrilled.
The stronger Kaido was, the more valuable his energy would be once absorbed.
Kael's system thrummed deep inside his consciousness, and he could feel it reacting. His instincts told him that if he could absorb all of Kaido's base attributes, he might leap to a power level rivaling the infamous Calamities themselves.
As the struggle intensified, Kaido's Haki began pressing Kael's back, forcing his energy inward. At that instant, crimson energy spheres each the size of a clenched fist suddenly formed above Kaido's head and drifted toward Kael.
Ding!
[Congratulations, host! Conqueror's Haki Attribute (Advanced) absorbed: 12.33%!]
[Congratulations, host! Conqueror's Haki Attribute (Advanced) absorbed: 23.96%!]
[Congratulations, host! Conqueror's Haki Attribute (Advanced) absorbed: 36.49%!]
One after another, the notifications echoed in Kael's mind. He could feel it his Haki was growing, layer by layer, like a roaring fire devouring oxygen.
Seconds passed, and Kael's aura suddenly flared, surging to match Kaido's level perfectly.
BOOM!
A blinding burst of black lightning split the air as Kael's newly strengthened Haki collided once more with Kaido's.
The Oni's eyes widened in disbelief. "What… your Conqueror's Haki is increasing? That's impossible!"
Kaido's shock was genuine. Everyone knew that Conqueror's Haki was different from Armament and Observation it couldn't be trained through effort. Only by strengthening one's spirit, by growing one's inner will, could it evolve further.
Yet Kaido's own Observation Haki confirmed it: Kael's aura was getting denser, sharper, more stable with each passing heartbeat.
How could that be?
He had never heard of such a thing. Just a single clash, and the kid's Haki had grown strong enough to rival his own!
For a moment, Kaido was completely thrown off guard. But then, with a grin, he pushed the disbelief aside. He wasn't a man who dwelled on details.
Kael had dragged him up from the sea when he was too drunk to swim, given him a place to sit, and most importantly provided him with endless rum.
To Kaido, that was enough to consider the man a friend.
"Heh, you're an interesting one, Kael Draven," Kaido said with a grin, tightening his grip on his massive kanabo club. "Let's see just how far your willpower can go! I, Kaido, never back down!"
Kael smirked. "That's what I want to hear, Teach. Let's turn this ocean upside down!"
Both men released their full power.
The clash of their Haki roared like a thunderstorm. Waves surged higher, black lightning danced across the heavens, and even the storm clouds above seemed to tremble.
Ding!
[Conqueror's Haki Attribute (Advanced) absorbed: 41.32%!]
[Conqueror's Haki Attribute (Advanced) absorbed: 48.76%!]
[Conqueror's Haki Attribute (Advanced) absorbed: 56.11%!]
Kaido's confident grin began to fade. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he realized the truth Kael's aura was no longer equal. It was surpassing his own.
For the first time, Kaido felt his spirit being pushed back.
He finally stepped away, exhaling deeply. "Hohohoho! That's enough for now. I can't suppress your Haki anymore."
His grin returned, fierce and wild. "Let's move on to the next lesson Armament Haki!"
Kaido slung his massive iron club from his back, the weapon's black surface gleaming in the fading stormlight.
Kael grinned back, cracking his knuckles as his fists hardened with the shine of black Armament Haki. "Perfect. I was hoping you'd say that."
The air between them trembled once more as two monstrous wills prepared to collide again teacher and student, rival and comrade, locked in a storm that would shake the sea itself.
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