Just as Garp had said—
Among Rokushiki, Geppo (Moonwalk) was the most practical combat technique.
It granted short-term aerial suspension…
Against foes who could fly, Geppo was the best answer!
It filled the gap in aerial combat.
Moreover, when clashing with an enemy, the user could use Geppo to suddenly shift direction midair, catching the opponent completely off guard.
Of all Rokushiki moves, this was the one Kai desired most.
Besides Geppo, the other one he burned to master was Soru (Shave).
Only those two truly lingered in his heart.
And now—
He had finally gotten his wish.
As for the other four techniques?
He didn't particularly care whether he mastered them or not.
Of course, if possible…
After Rokushiki, he wanted to push even further. Toward Life Return (Seimei Kikan).
That was another divine skill!
To control every fiber of one's body freely — muscles, organs, even hair. In battle, its applications were endless.
Kai fixed his eyes on Garp's demonstration.
With a stomp—
Garp's body rose into the air, his feet striking nothing but the void itself.
Stepping on air, he ascended, each motion like a thunderclap.
This was the essence of Geppo.
Not offense, not defense—
Just the ability to remain aloft, to extend aerial combat capabilities.
And that alone made Geppo the most practical of all Rokushiki.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Every step detonated the air like a sonic boom.
Garp darted about in midair, changing direction freely, as if he had sprouted wings. His figure soared for a time before descending.
Though it could not grant true flight, even ten minutes of aerial suspension was enough to make this technique priceless.
When Garp landed back before Kai, he asked,
"Did you see clearly? Do you want me to show it again? Geppo isn't like Shigan. Its difficulty is at least three times greater!"
"No need," Kai shook his head.
He had already built a rough outline in his mind.
Only by trying, by failing, by accumulating firsthand experience—
Could he truly make it his own.
Watching alone was useless.
"You brat… Don't tell me you're going to pick it up after just one look again?" Garp muttered with a strange expression.
Not far away, Bogard and dozens of Marines were watching with shining eyes.
"Can he do it?"
"Geppo is known as the hardest of all Rokushiki to master!"
"The most practical too…"
Bogard's gaze narrowed, fixed on Kai. The deck fell into silence as all eyes gathered on him.
Kai followed the method Garp had shown.
He leapt, stomped—
And failed.
His form wobbled, nearly crashing down from half a meter in the air. He barely managed to steady himself.
Garp exhaled in relief. "Geppo isn't so simple, Kai. To grasp it you'll need at least three to five days of practice. Just now you scared the hell out of me—I almost thought you could learn anything instantly without a teacher. Glad to see you're still human and finally failed at something."
But Kai's eyes didn't dim in the slightest.
Because the moment he tried—
The system chimed in.
[Training yielded: Geppo proficiency +0.01!]
[After 100x amplification…]
[Host gains: Geppo proficiency +1!]
Boom—!
Another torrent of unfamiliar memories surged into Kai's mind. Every intricate detail of Geppo's execution flooded his thoughts, fusing seamlessly with his instincts.
As if he had performed it tens of thousands of times before.
As if it had been etched into his bones.
His previous confusion dissolved like fog under the sun.
He understood Geppo completely.
He opened his eyes, sharp and clear.
Now it felt natural, familiar—almost innate.
Under countless stares, Kai stepped forward again.
Bang!
The air cracked beneath his foot.
His body rose—
He had suspended himself!
Garp's eyes widened. Bogard's jaw dropped.
Another step—
Bang!
Air currents burst apart, propelling him higher.
Step after step, he climbed.
Third step. Fourth step.
In mere moments, he was dozens of meters above the ship, standing in the sky itself, body steady in the breeze.
The salty wind whipped his clothes and hair.
His legs tapped rhythmically, keeping him suspended.
"So this… is Geppo," Kai whispered with a satisfied smile. "What an incredibly practical technique."
At last, one of the skills he had long coveted was his.
Now only Soru remained.
He was confident—today, he would master all Rokushiki.
On deck, Garp and Bogard froze.
"He… he succeeded?!"
"After just one look?"
"The hardest Rokushiki of all… mastered instantly?!"
Garp's throat went dry. His mind reeled.
First Shigan, now Geppo…
His grandson was beyond comprehension.
"This brat… he's a monster," he muttered hoarsely.
Bogard and the Marines stared up, dumbfounded.
"Commander Bogard… did we see that right? Vice Admiral Garp demonstrated Geppo once. And then Mr. Kai just… did it? Without a hint of awkwardness?"
"Are we dreaming?"
They rubbed their eyes, unwilling to believe.
Bogard forced down the quake in his chest and whispered, voice trembling with awe:
"Only one look. And even Geppo—the most difficult Rokushiki—he mastered it with ease."
He drew a deep breath, eyes filled with reverence as he gazed skyward at the boy stepping on air.
"I am now absolutely certain… Mr. Kai is no ordinary prodigy."
"He is a genius beyond all measure. A talent unseen in hundreds of years of Navy history. Something outside all common sense—"
"Unparalleled. Unique in past and present. A peerless genius who stands above the world."
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