Chapter 20: Dominance is the Only Force That Transcends All Else!

Chapter 20: Haki is the existence that transcends all!

What truly made Cui Ze ecstatic was not the training bonus that "Beast Breathing" provided for the "Iron Body" technique.

What kind of sane person uses Iron Body?

Cui Ze would rather be beaten to death! Die outside! Jump off the warship! He would absolutely never use "Iron Body" to tank an enemy's damage!

To be honest, Cui Ze did not value Iron Body at all. What he cared about was the "Armament Haki" that the technique symbolized! That was the key!

Teacher Kaido once taught a great lesson: "Haki is the existence that transcends all!"

Cui Ze agreed with this wholeheartedly. Although... he was still a weakling who hadn't even unlocked the "Haki" attribute yet.

After practicing "Iron Body" in his room for a while, testing all the small tips Instructor Xiu Zuo had mentioned, Cui Ze stopped his practice of the new ability. Standing in the center of the room, he gathered his focus for a moment and let out a sharp shout.

"Iron Body!"

A large amount of air was inhaled into his body. Immediately, his blood flow accelerated sharply, surging through his vessels like a rushing river. His muscle contraction speed increased, tightening and reddening, and a cloud of steaming sweat vapor rose from his body.

With the foundation laid by "Beast Breathing," in less than half an hour, Cui Ze had already reached the threshold of "Iron Body"!

Iron Body, minor achievement unlocked!

However, the "Iron Body" state only lasted for a few seconds before Cui Ze was forced to deactivate it. At this moment, his skin was flushed completely red, looking like a boiled shrimp.

"Hoo... hoo..."

Cui Ze bent over, bracing himself against his knees, breathing heavily. Entering the "Iron Body" state was still too much of a burden for him right now. On one hand, his D-rank "Durability" attribute barely reached the training threshold for the technique; on the other, "Iron Body" required the use of "Beast Breathing" at full concentration, which consumed an immense amount of energy.

In short, he still needed to continue training his body!

After catching his breath for a while, Cui Ze recovered. He ended his practice for the day, planning to ask a professional for advice tomorrow. Checking the time, he realized it wasn't noon yet. Recalling his original schedule, he decided to leave the room.

The moment he stepped out, he suddenly changed direction and headed toward the infirmary. He had forgotten to check on his "defeated opponent."

...

Inside the infirmary of the naval warship, Smoker lay listlessly on the bed, his eyes staring blankly at the white ceiling. The bloody fist mark on his face had not yet faded, giving him the look of someone who had been completely broken.

Cui Ze’s physical blow to Smoker hadn't been that severe; it was the psychological blow that was devastating! Combined with Instructor Xiu Zuo’s recent visit to relay Admiral Zephyr’s "punishment arrangements," Smoker’s mood hit rock bottom.

How did he lose? How did he get hit? Why does the loser have to undergo extra physical punishment? Smoker was deeply confused. He could accept the fact of losing to the "Emperor's defeated general," but he could not accept that he had lost in such a way!

Being knocked down by a fist... Is my Smoke-Smoke Fruit not a "Logia," but a "special Paramecia"? Smoker began to doubt his own existence.

Hina sat by Smoker’s bedside, whispering words of comfort, trying to lift her fellow trainee’s spirits. However, no matter what Hina said, Smoker remained silent.

Just then, Cui Ze walked into the infirmary. Hina stood up abruptly, her expression brightening. "Cui Ze, you're here! Come and take a look at Smoker; Hina thinks his brain might have been broken by you!"

Cui Ze’s movement to inspect the patient came to an abrupt halt. Smoker, who had just started to get up from the bed, almost fell off.

"Hina! I’m fine!" Smoker said to Hina with a stern face, though the uncleaned bloodstain on his face made him look inexplicably comical.

Having undergone strict training, Cui Ze did not laugh. The young female marine, however, couldn't help but lower her head, her shoulders shaking with stifled laughter.

Smoker: "..."

Ignoring the atmosphere-disrupting Hina, Smoker looked directly at Cui Ze, his expression incredibly serious. "Let's fight again!"

"Cough!" Cui Ze cleared his throat to hide the laugh he almost let out.

There’s such a good thing? A D-rank leek delivering itself to my door!

"I don't have a problem with that, but Mr. Smoker, are you truly prepared?" Cui Ze said, keeping a straight face.

Smoker replied with dissatisfaction, "I have made all the preparations! I will absolutely not be careless like I was today!"

*But I’m not prepared! If we fight now, I might flip the car!* Cui Ze thought to himself.

He wasn't planning to reject Smoker’s challenge, but definitely not right now. With his entry into the training camp imminent, and having acquired "Wild Body" and learned "Iron Body," Cui Ze was about to enter a period of rapid development. He planned to stabilize his strength before beating Smoker up again—well, before accepting Smoker’s challenge again.

"Before today's battle ended, your thoughts must have been exactly like that," Cui Ze said solemnly. "I'm fully prepared! I won't be even the slightest bit careless in battle! I won't despise any opponent just because I ate the Smoke-Smoke Fruit... These thoughts must have flashed through your mind more than once."

Smoker was left dazed by Cui Ze’s sudden lecture. Hina, sitting on the side, looked at Cui Ze with glowing eyes. A man who speaks seriously... is the coolest!

Cui Ze didn't notice the pink-haired girl's expression. He looked at Smoker and said earnestly, "Reflect thoroughly on the entire process of today's battle! When the day comes that you are truly fully prepared, come and challenge me again."

Smoker’s lips moved, seemingly wanting to say something more.

"I will officially join the training camp tomorrow," Cui Ze interrupted him. "At the latest, during the weekly combat assessment in one week! By then, even if you don't come to challenge me, I will take the initiative to invite you to a fight!"

Smoker nodded seriously, engraving the "one week later" promise into his heart.

One week later!

Cui Ze also kept this timeframe in mind. By then, to what extent would his strength be able to improve?

...

After leaving the infirmary, Cui Ze followed his original plan and headed to the naval warship’s shooting range. This was his intended destination all along.

Firearms and weapons were not highly valued in the world of One Piece. Cui Ze was very clear about this. On this sea where monsters frequently appeared, the threat posed by mere firearms was pitifully small. Those who could truly make firearms effective were basically masters of Haki! Observation Haki for locking on, Armament Haki for enhancement. This didn't have much to do with the guns themselves.

Again, Haki is the existence that transcends all!

The reason Cui Ze came to the shooting range, besides a man's innate pursuit of guns and gunpowder, was because he felt that firearms could still be quite helpful in the early stages! At the very least, he couldn't be someone who knew nothing about them!

With this thought in mind, Cui Ze entered the shooting range. Due to the awkward status of firearms, low-level marines might like these projectile weapons, but members of the elite training camp rarely invested their energy here. The shooting range was fully equipped with complete facilities, but there were very few people practicing, making it look quite empty.

Cui Ze didn't pay much attention; he just wanted to play with guns today. Shoot to his heart's content! If he could happen to acquire a "Shooting" skill... that would be even better.