The next morning, outside Marineford.
The salty sea breeze slapped Gern's face as he squatted at the bow of the warship, yawning while watching the gradually appearing outline of the Deserted Island in the distance.
“So…” He turned his head to look at Zephyr, whose cloak was flapping behind him.
“The Headquarters really listed all training grounds as ‘high-risk facilities’ because of my ability? Teacher Zephyr.”
“What else?” Zephyr snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping over from behind his sunglasses.
“Your Devil Fruit ability demolishes things faster than Garp eats snacks. The finance department has already jointly petitioned for you to pay compensation.”
Gern shrank his neck and muttered, “You were the one who started it…”
“Hmm?”
“I mean, you taught me well!” Gern immediately straightened his back, then looked curiously at the increasingly closer island.
“So what’s the special training content this time?”
Zephyr didn't answer directly, but suddenly threw a pair of Sea Stone handcuffs at him.
Gern instinctively tried to catch them, but his expression instantly changed when he saw them, letting them fall onto the deck.
“Wait, isn’t this thing a bit too advanced?! I haven’t even learned Haki yet…”
“Oh! Wrong one! These were for a pirate last time.” Zephyr’s mouth curved into a dangerous arc.
Gern: “…”
“You complained that the Headquarters’ training ground was too small, didn’t you? This island is enough for you to mess around with.” Saying that, he pointed to the abrupt circular mountain in the center of the island.
“See that pit? In a month, I want it to become a ‘basin’.”
Gern followed his finger, suddenly realizing something, his voice trembling: “You’re not trying to make me use my fists to…”
“Haki is an extension of will.” Zephyr grabbed Gern by the back of his collar and directly threw him onto the beach the moment the warship docked.
“First learn to feel power with your body, then think about those flashy vibrations!”
“Bang!” Gern fell face down into the sand, getting a mouthful of it.
A moment later, as he struggled to get up, he saw Zephyr descending from the sky with Moonwalk, his dark fists gleaming with a metallic luster under the morning sun.
“Remember, kid.” Zephyr’s landing kicked up a circle of sand waves, “In the New World, people who can destroy islands are as numerous as cattle…”
His fist suddenly tore through the air, rapidly enlarging in Gern’s pupils.
“But those who can protect everything are the true strong ones!
And the first step to becoming strong is Haki!!!”
“Haki…” When these two words came out of Zephyr’s mouth, Gern felt all the blood in his body boil, and he involuntarily held his breath, his pupils slightly contracting.
This long-awaited moment had finally arrived.
Zephyr looked at Gern’s expression and reaction in that instant, a meaningful smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Then he slowly raised his right arm, which was wrapped in dark Armament Haki, “Do you remember what I told you two months ago at the training ground?”
“I remember!” Gern almost reflexively shouted, “You said Haki originates from aura, will, and spiritual power!”
“Of course, it’s also the materialization of conviction!”
“Very good.” Zephyr nodded in satisfaction, the dark Armament Haki flowing like water on his arm.
“Haki is divided into three types: Haoshoku, Armament Haki, and Observation Haki, corresponding to these three powers respectively.”
“The essence of Haki is the physicalization of conviction!” Saying that, Zephyr raised his Armament Haki-covered arm and clenched his fist fiercely, the air being squeezed out with a bang.
“Gern, you’ve never been exposed to Haki, which is why that scene at the training ground happened.
Haoshoku, you’ve already seen it on Whitebeard. Armament Haki and Observation Haki, you also experienced them two months ago!”
Hearing Zephyr’s words, Gern silently nodded.
After all, only by witnessing the pinnacle of what one desires can the prototype of a longing for power arise within one’s heart.
“I understand, Teacher Zephyr!”
“Since you understand…” Zephyr suddenly showed a mysterious smile.
Just then…
“Bang!” With a loud bang, the rock wall dozens of meters high behind them exploded!
Amidst the flying debris, a burly figure wearing a Marine coat leaped out with a loud laugh, the ground cracking the moment he landed.
“Then get ready to start properly! Gern, kid!!!”
“Vi… Vice Admiral Garp?!” Gern’s pupils suddenly contracted, and his body instinctively took half a step back.
Watching Garp appear before him without any warning, still holding half a popsicle in his mouth, Gern was genuinely speechless for a moment.
Zephyr patted the debris off his body and shook his head helplessly.
“Although my Haki isn’t weak, for your future potential, I lean more towards theory!”
Saying that, Zephyr looked at Garp and continued, “But if you incorporate Garp’s physical training, he will abandon theory and use near-death experiences to stimulate your true potential!
This will fundamentally forge you into a purely powerful Haki user, so…”
(Simply put—Zephyr’s theoretical training + Garp-style life-threatening!)
“It’s Zephyr’s theory plus my ‘Iron Fist’ special training!” Garp laughed and interjected, suddenly punching a giant rock three times his height next to him.
Under Gern’s horrified gaze, the giant rock instantly turned to dust.
“Only by experiencing near-death can you truly realize how powerful you are.”
“Wait, wait!” Cold sweat seeped from Gern’s forehead, “What does ‘near-death experience’ mean?”
This was the “Marine Hero” Iron Fist Garp, who was at his peak, chasing Pirate King Roger everywhere, and not yet 40 years old!
This guy would genuinely train him to death.
“Hehe, Gern, kid, Zephyr has asked me for help for the first time since he knew me!
So…” Garp’s smile suddenly turned dangerous, and he cracked his knuckles with a “crack” sound.
“I don’t have any theories. I only know that the end of hell is a fist!
True Armament Haki will only be born in the roaring sound of shattered bones!!!”
“Gern.” Zephyr stepped forward at the right moment, forming a stark contrast with Garp.
“Garp and I are diametrically opposite. I only know that the end of Armament Haki is not an invincible fist.
But when those you protect stand behind you, your back is ‘Absolute Defense’!”
Gern looked at the two legendary instructors with their distinct styles and suddenly realized that what he was about to experience would likely be a hellish special training.
But for some reason, the corners of his mouth uncontrollably turned up.
After all, wasn’t this what he had been looking forward to?!
“Interesting… too interesting!” Gern suddenly burst into loud laughter, with an unprecedented madness in his voice.
Zephyr and Garp both raised an eyebrow simultaneously; Gern’s reaction was clearly beyond their expectations.
“Teacher Zephyr’s Absolute Defense…”
“Vice Admiral Garp’s Iron Fist…”
Under the gaze of the two legends, Gern suddenly spread his arms, “I will devour everything you have! And then…”
“Create a path of Haki unique to me, Gern!”
Garp was stunned for a moment, then burst into earth-shattering laughter: “Hahaha! Good kid!”
“This arrogance is really to my liking!” He slapped Gern’s back hard, almost knocking the young man into the ground.
Zephyr, however, showed a thoughtful expression: “Fusing two completely opposite concepts, huh…” His gaze deepened, “This is also the you I hoped to teach!”
“But…” Garp suddenly dropped his smile, Armament Haki instantly covering his entire right arm, “First, let me see if your bones are as hard as your mouth!”
Before Gern could react, that legendary future “Fist of Love” had already whistled towards him.
In the last moment before his consciousness faded, he vaguely heard Zephyr’s reprimand:
“Garp, why did you suddenly attack?! And with Armament Haki?!”
“Haha, I just did it instinctively, oh, I didn’t expect him to be so fragile…”