"Now," Luffy said, his voice calm but carrying weight,
"back to Haki."
Every conversation on the deck stopped.
The sea was quiet. The wind steady. Even the clouds seemed to hang lower, as if listening.
"Haki," Luffy continued, "is not magic. It's not something special granted to a few chosen people."
He slowly scanned his crew.
"It exists in everyone."
Johnny blinked.
"…Everyone?"
"Yes," Luffy replied. "Every living being has it. Just like instincts. Like fear. Like intent."
He tapped his chest once.
"But most people never realize it's there. Others sense it—but never learn how to awaken it."
Johnny's eyes sparkled.
"So anyone can learn it?"
Luffy nodded.
"That's why pirates who survive the Grand Line are different from pirates who die in it."
That sobered them immediately.
"There are three types of Haki," Luffy said. "Two that anyone can learn… and one that can't be taught."
He raised one finger.
"First—Observation Haki."
He stepped forward.
"This is awareness beyond your senses. Not just sight or sound—presence. Intent. Motion before motion."
He looked directly at Sanji.
"It lets you feel attacks before they land."
Then at Usopp.
"It lets you aim before your target even knows they're exposed."
Usopp's mouth slowly fell open.
"There are people," Luffy continued, "who've refined it so far they can see a few seconds into the future."
Silence.
"…That's real?" Sanji asked carefully.
Luffy nodded.
"I've fought one."
That was all he said.
"I'm not there yet," Luffy added. "But I can predict movements, sense killing intent, and feel living auras across a battlefield."
He turned to Usopp again.
"For a sniper, Observation Haki isn't optional. It's survival."
Usopp swallowed hard—then grinned like a madman.
"Second," Luffy said, raising his hand,
"Armament Haki."
His skin darkened instantly.
Not glowing.
Not dramatic.
Just solid.
The air around his arm felt heavier.
"This is will made tangible," Luffy said. "Armor. Impact. Authority."
He clenched his fist.
"It strengthens attacks. Hardens defense. And it lets you hit what shouldn't be hittable."
The black faded.
"If two people use Armament," Luffy continued, "the one with the stronger will wins. Not skill. Not strength."
He looked straight at Zoro.
"And yes—you can coat your blades with it."
Zoro smiled without realizing it.
"There are two things you must understand about Armament," Luffy said.
"One—overuse drains you. Empty will means empty body."
"And two…"
He paused.
"It bypasses Devil Fruit defenses."
Nojiko frowned.
"How?"
Luffy didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he stepped forward and lightly touched his own chest.
"I'm a Logia. Lightning. Without Haki, hitting me is useless—or fatal for you."
He met their eyes.
"With Armament, you hit me. Not the element."
The deck felt colder.
"That's why Devil Fruit users don't rule the world," Luffy said.
"And why Haki decides who survives."
Nami exhaled slowly.
"So those are the two everyone can learn."
"Yes."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Which means there's a third."
Luffy smiled.
"Conqueror's Haki."
The air shifted.
"This one can't be trained. You're born with it—or you're not."
"One in several million."
Johnny stiffened.
"…What does it do?"
"It crushes will," Luffy replied. "Dominates presence. Weak minds collapse just by standing near it."
Zoro, Nami, and Usopp exchanged looks.
"…Oh," Usopp muttered. "That thing."
Luffy nodded.
"Those who can stand against it… are kings in their own right."
He turned and walked toward the captain's quarters.
When he returned, he carried several strips of thick black cloth.
"Training starts with Observation," he said, tossing blindfolds into their hands—Johnny, Usopp, Sanji, then Nami.
Zoro received none.
"Why Observation first?" Zoro asked.
"Because predicting death is better than hitting harder," Luffy replied.
He stepped back.
"And because watching you panic is educational."
The blindfolds went on.
The sea rolled.
Thunder rumbled faintly in the distance.
Luffy smiled.
"Welcome to the real training."