"Reid, you're doing great. I can feel your sensitivity to presence becoming clearer and more precise."
Reid took off the blindfold, feeling excited inside. Although he knew all of this was thanks to the system, he was just an ordinary guy and wouldn't know Haki otherwise, the sensation was becoming increasingly tangible and strange, like a kind of energy flowing through his body that he couldn't quite describe.
"Hehe, I really have to thank you, Brother Rayleigh, for your patient teaching. I've learned so much over the past few days."
Reid couldn't help but grin widely, baring his teeth in delight.
"I merely pushed you to sense it. In the end, it depends on yourself, others can't help you awaken it."
Rayleigh was impressed, though he also had his doubts. Haki wasn't something so easily mastered. It seemed clear now that Reid had indeed grasped Haki.
Thinking about it, Rayleigh asked, "Reid, you mentioned you're still not very proficient with Haki. When exactly did you first awaken it?"
"Huh? The first time I awakened Haki?"
"Yes, I'm curious."
"Ugh… how should I answer this? Do I just say it was the day I saved Roger...? It was all the system's doing, I didn't actually know anything."
Reid tried to suppress his nerves as his mind scrambled.
"I'm not too sure. I once accidentally ate a Devil Fruit while eating regular fruit. Ever since then, when I get emotional or extremely agitated, it just sort of bursts out on its own. I don't really understand it myself."
"Oh? I see."
Rayleigh nodded.
"That kind of situation is actually common. Many people awaken Haki unconsciously—especially Conqueror's Haki. Reid, this means you have the qualities of a king. You mustn't slack off. Haki is a power that lies dormant within people. Being able to wield it already puts you above many others."
"I see. I understand now. If only I could unleash Conqueror's Haki at will, then I'd be able to intimidate a lot of people and boost my own presence."
Reid thought of Shanks from the future, whose Haki was always emanating around him.
Rayleigh's eyes lit up at this comment.
"Reid, did you just say you want to be able to release Conqueror's Haki constantly?"
"So Reid has ambitions like that… Seems he's had this idea for a while. Hmph, no wonder Roger took a liking to him," Rayleigh said with a grin.
"Yeah, I want to become strong. Everyone in the Roger Pirates is excellent. Since I've joined, I can't afford to drag them down. I have to master Haki and even achieve the level of Conqueror's Coating, so I can one day defeat… uh… the Celestial Dragon government controlled by the Five Elders."
Reid clenched his fists, brimming with bold ambition and heroic resolve.
"Whew, that was close, I almost said Imu. If Rayleigh doesn't know who Imu is, saying it early could mess with history. That'd be a disaster if things went wrong."
Reid quietly let out a sigh. He had gotten a bit too excited just now and let his mouth run ahead.
Rayleigh nodded slightly, a smile at the corner of his lips.
"Reid, your medical skills are already extraordinary, among the very best in this world."
"Oh… uhh… really? Hahaha, I'm flattered! Yahahaha!"
Reid scratched his head, looking both pleased and a bit embarrassed, returning to his usual flashy self, someone who enjoys showing off and saving face.
"You still need to train your Observation Haki more. You're just at the starting point. Only after reaching the advanced stages can you be considered truly accomplished."
"Got it. Brother Rayleigh, please teach me Armament Haki over the next few months."
"Haha, of course. You'll definitely need Armament Haki in battle."
"Hehe, I want to master all three types of Haki."
Reid clenched his fingers into a fist one by one, making a gesture that said: I want them all.
"Hahaha! Reid, you really are something else. Keep at it, don't slack off even a single day!"
BOOM!
"Huh? What was that?!"
Reid was startled by the sudden, massive noise, it nearly scared the life out of him.
"Someone's fighting on the main island. A powerful Haki is being released."
Rayleigh looked toward Baterilla's main island. A large storm cloud had formed on the horizon, and the air currents were intense.
"Brother Rayleigh, could it be the Navy coming to cause trouble again?"
"Not sure. Let's go check it out. Hey! Shanks, Buggy, gather up!"
Rayleigh shouted loudly.
"Squeak! Screech!"
The monkeys chasing Buggy scattered in panic.
Buggy was also startled.
"Ah… that's terrifying! What's going on? So scary…"
"Hey, Shanks! Buggy! Get over here and regroup!"
"Rayleigh-sensei is calling us!"
Buggy, panic written all over his face, ran toward Rayleigh and Reid. His legs were even trembling.
Shanks heard the call too and turned back quickly. Even the tiger with him ran off like the monkeys.
"Rayleigh-sensei, what's happening? That was a huge shockwave!"
"It came from the main island," Shanks added.
Just then, Rayleigh's Den Den Mushi started ringing.
purupuru puru
He pulled it out, it transformed into Erio's face.
"This is Rayleigh. Erio, what's going on?"
"Rayleigh, get back here quick, Whitebeard is here!"
"So it was Whitebeard… Didn't we agree to contact him in a few months? Is he here to pick a fight?"
"Right now he and Captain Roger are clashing blades. Just in case, you'd better come back."
"Understood. We're coming now."
After hanging up, Rayleigh said to the three: "Let's head back. Be cautious, Oden's situation is still uncertain, and we can't rule out the possibility that Whitebeard might go berserk."
"So it's Whitebeard... I really want to see what he looks like."
Reid actually seemed a little excited, after all, Whitebeard's crew was one of the few top-tier pirate groups that could rival the Roger Pirates.
The three nodded and followed Rayleigh back toward the main island.
The people on the island hadn't enjoyed many days of peace before sudden fear once again spread through the air.
"What's happening now?! Why again?!"
"Mom, I'm scared! Something terrifying is coming…"
"Don't be scared, sweetie. It'll be over soon…"
"Help! Demon, go away!!"
"Why is my luck so bad?! I never should've listened to those people and come back!"
Panic spread once again among the townsfolk, some huddled in corners, others clung to loved ones, full of anxiety.
Even the CP9 kids felt the intense tremor.
"Someone's coming… but who?"
Foz Foz gripped the handle of his sword. His current strength was nowhere near the level of such terrifying pressure. Cold sweat trickled down his face, he felt a crushing sense of threat.
The other five children were also deeply shaken. They were still young and had never experienced such a powerful display.
"So this is what top-tier combat feels like? One day, I will reach this level too."
Rob Lucci's eyes glinted with determination. In his small heart, a burning will to become strong was quietly born.
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