The sensation of growing stronger day by day coursed through his body, an intoxicating addiction he couldn't shake.
When his Armament Haki could cover half of his forearm, Rojen's heart suddenly stirred.
"This is it! This is the feeling!"
In that instant, he could hear the breathing of the prison beasts a hundred meters away and see the dust swirling on the ground. Within the cage, he could fully perceive everything within a three-hundred-meter radius.
It was as if his five senses had suddenly been amplified tenfold, allowing him to "see" anything he desired.
His eyes darted around, and despite the darkness, he could see everything with perfect clarity.
"Boy, did you succeed?"
A cold, crisp voice echoed through the darkness, the voice of the one who had taught him Observation Haki.
"Looks like I did it!"
A smile tugged at Rojen's lips as he shifted his gaze. He saw a middle-aged man with black hair and striking red eyes sitting cross-legged in the cell diagonally across from him, staring intently at him.
Having awakened Kenbunshoku Haki, this vision wasn't the kind transmitted by light and projected onto the retina. Instead, it was a deeper, more profound perception, an indescribable sensation that slowed time, sharpened focus, and heightened clarity. It was a perfect, immersive experience, almost intoxicating.
Now, Rojen finally understood how those who had awakened their Kenbunshoku Haki could perceive Kizaru's lightspeed attacks. Against such blinding velocity, even the strongest eyes couldn't keep up.
Only perception, the keen perception of battle, only Observation Haki could achieve this.
In that moment, he too had awakened it, filling him with joy.
"I've grown stronger again!"
"Then our transaction is complete!" the black-haired, crimson-eyed middle-aged man said calmly.
Rojen didn't respond. He sat cross-legged, carefully sensing his newly acquired power.
Over the following period, he rapidly honed his newfound abilities. Mastering Observation Haki required training, and Armament Haki demanded even more.
As his training progressed, Rojen's understanding of Armament Haki deepened. He gradually noticed the similarities between this Pirate King-exclusive power and the magic power within his own body.
"Magic power... originates from the absorption and conversion of external spirit power."
"Armament Haki is a new energy born at the point where internal and external energies collide within the body. It is precisely this origin that allows it to interact with energy itself!"
With this realization, Rojen's training in Armament Haki progressed even faster.
Though these two powers were fundamentally different, they shared a crucial commonality. It was this connection that sparked Rojen's contemplation.
Four days after discovering this crucial link, an aged voice echoed once more through the pitch-black prison cell.
"Fine. I possess a secret sword technique. If you give me the key to my shackles, allowing me a sliver of freedom, I'll give it to you!"
Rojen recognized the voice. The key to his own shackles was No. 8, so he mentally referred to the speaker as No. 8.
"Oh? Tell me more."
Rojen's tone remained flat. Having languished in this place for an immeasurable time, he had become a seasoned veteran of these exchanges.
These old-timers were loaded with treasures, offering a dazzling array of exchanges, from the Dragon-Slaying Blade Technique and Sea-Splitting Swordsmanship to martial arts specifically designed to subdue Sea Kings. It all sounded dazzling, wildly impressive, and ridiculously cool. But unfortunately, none of it was useful to him.
Slaying dragons, splitting seas, subduing Sea Kings, his Sword Immortal path, even as it progressed, would inevitably allow him to achieve all these feats as well.
"This sword technique of mine is called One Energy Channel," he declared, "symbolizing that all the myriad paths of the world are ultimately just one energy!"
"Oh? Tell me more," Rojen said, genuinely curious.
"The training method for One Energy Channel is a closely guarded secret, passed down only between master and disciple," No. 8 stated coolly. "I can't share it with you."
"However, there is one secret technique within it, a technique I personally developed over fifty-eight years of painstaking research, that I can share."
Rojen's interest piqued.
Fifty-eight years of painstaking research? That sounds pretty impressive. It must be useful, right?
"It's called One energy, Three Revolutions. It lacks offensive capabilities, but it's the only merit method in the world capable of converting internal energy! Most of us who train the sword technique, in our youth, travel far and wide. After witnessing the formidable sword technique of others, we feel both admiration and profound regret, knowing we can no longer pursue those paths."
"When I was young, I witnessed an elder's sword technique. He could compress his energy to an astonishing density, allowing each strike to possess mountain-splitting force. I was utterly amazed, but alas, each dao is unique, making conversion exceedingly difficult."
No. 8 shook his head with regret.
"Bullshit! How have I never seen such a sword technique? If that realm truly existed, he'd have claimed the title of world's greatest swordsman long ago! How come I've never heard of such an elder?" a mocking voice called out from the other side.
"That's just your ignorance," No. 8 retorted coldly.
"Ha ha! More like you're the one spouting nonsense," the man scoffed again.
"Shut up! That old man once injured the world's top great sword hero from three generations ago. He's old enough to be your grandfather! What he says must be true!"
A cold shout cut through the air, silencing the mocker.
Rojen was startled, never imagining No. 8 had such a history.
"One energy, Three Revolutions, I also classify it within the One Energy Channel. It's a secret technique unique to me. I originally intended to seek out that old man again to learn more about his sword technique, but when I finally found him, all that remained was a solitary grave. His sword technique was lost with him."
No. 8 shook his head and sighed.
"Our One Energy Channel represents the sword technique with the deepest understanding of the world's energies. It was this very characteristic that allowed me to develop One Energy, Three Revolutions. It serves no other purpose than to purify your body, leaving only one energy within you!"
"One energy?" Rojen asked, puzzled.
"Exactly. He can convert various energies, the energy from different paths, such as the Armament Haki you're currently training in!"
No. 8's words caused Rojen's pupils to constrict sharply.
"When you train in Armament Haki, your body spontaneously stores this energy internally. At that moment, one energy can transform the Armament Haki, breaking it down into one energy itself!"
"Similarly, any other energy can be converted into one energy!" No. 8 continued to explain.
"When you wish to use any energy from the different paths you've mastered, the One Energy Channel activates, rapidly converting it to generate the specific energy you need!"
"This is One energy, Three Revolutions. You can think of it as a converter between different energies!"
"one energy, only one energy exists in the world, that's the underlying principle. The One Energy Channel condenses this universal one energy, but it cannot generate it anew. This is the fundamental flaw I spent my entire life to comprehend."
Though the words were spoken calmly, they sent a shockwave through Rojen's heart, filling him with profound excitement.
(End Of This Chapter)
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