Seeing that Jin was very interested in something like Haki, Rayleigh temporarily set down the tools he had just picked up and returned to his seat.
"Since you want to learn it, I'll explain it to you."
"I'm all ears."
Jin was naturally very interested in this special method that could be used to deal with ability users.
If he could learn it, then the next time he ran into that giant bear, he wouldn't have to fight so hard.
At the very least... he would gain the means to contend against the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi.
"For a strong person, what do you think is the most important thing?" Rayleigh asked.
"What's the most important..."
Jin lowered his head and thought for a moment before answering, "Spirit!"
"Oh?"
"That's what you think?" Rayleigh asked in surprise.
He hadn't expected this kid to hit the key point right away. That truly caught him off guard.
Even Shakky was a little surprised. For someone who had never come into contact with Haki before, being able to think of that so quickly wasn't easy.
"Yes." Jin nodded. "I think spirit is very important for a strong person."
"If a person loses their spirit, then even if they possess great power, they might not be able to bring it out."
After saying that, Jin paused before continuing, "Take Moria, for example. He was beaten until he lost his spirit, which is why he hid in the Florian Triangle and played around with zombies."
"And in the end, we defeated him."
"But after Moria regained his spirit, his strength changed immediately. Even after going through a brutal battle, he was still able to match Kuma!"
When Moria appeared the second time, his entire bearing had clearly changed. In the end, he used an ability he hadn't used before—Haki!!
In other words... whether someone could grasp Haki depended on the condition of their mind and spirit?
"Yes, that's right. Spirit is indeed very important for a strong person." Rayleigh nodded. "That concerns not only whether a person has the will to fight, but also... whether they can draw out the potential within their body!"
"Potential?"
"That's right." Rayleigh said, "Everyone has this kind of potential. In other words... as long as the conditions are met, anyone can master Haki."
Seeing that Jin still looked confused, Rayleigh smiled. "Then tell me—what do you think Haki is?"
Jin thought for a moment, then said, "This thing might be a form of spiritual manifestation?"
Judging from Moria's situation, he had only regained Haki after recovering his spirit.
"Yes and no."
Jin: ...
Jin stared speechlessly at Rayleigh. Why did this guy suddenly feel like some unreliable old uncle?
Was he teasing him?
"Uncle Rayleigh, can't you say it in a simpler way? Why make it sound so mystical?" Jin complained.
As the Pirate King's first mate, he had probably already studied this sort of thing thoroughly. After all... he was a peak powerhouse.
Did a person like that really need to make explaining this universal power so troublesome?
"No need to get so impatient." Rayleigh smiled. "I know you want to master Haki right away, but this isn't something you can learn in a day or two."
If one went through systematic training, it would take quite a long time.
And to use Haki skillfully would take even longer!
But if one regularly fought in life-or-death battles, then the speed of mastering Haki would increase dramatically.
Of course, the death rate with that method was also very high. If you failed to break through in the space between life and death, then you died.
Jin said helplessly, "How long would it take? We're only staying here for three days at most."
Once the coating was done, they would be heading to Fish-Man Island. There was no way they could stay here forever.
"It's fine. I'll teach you the method, and later you can practice it yourself slowly." Rayleigh said. "After that, you can also pass these insights on to your companions."
If he taught them these things, those little brats could grow stronger much faster.
"Alright, then thanks a lot, Uncle Rayleigh." Jin nodded.
There was plenty of time in the future anyway. It wasn't as though he absolutely had to learn it right now.
Still... if Haki really was a kind of spiritual energy application, then he felt he should be able to learn it quickly.
"First of all, there are three types of Haki."
"The first type: Conqueror's Haki!"
"Out of a million people, only one will possess this kind of Haki, and it cannot be acquired through later training."
"Those who have it are natural-born kings, with extremely great potential!"
At this point, Rayleigh paused, then continued, "This kind of Haki grows along with the user's body and mind. You could say that the stronger a person's spirit, the stronger their Conqueror's Haki."
"And when faced with someone who possesses Conqueror's Haki, ordinary people don't even have the资格 to remain standing."
"Why?" Jin asked in surprise.
"Because they can't withstand that kind of spirit." Rayleigh said. "When weak people are hit by Conqueror's Haki, they lose consciousness instantly."
That was also why, when peak powerhouses fought, no cannon fodder dared come near them.
They simply couldn't endure the Conqueror's Haki of the strong!
"Conqueror's Haki, huh..."
Listening to Rayleigh's explanation, Jin began to think.
He felt this so-called Conqueror's Haki was like a method of releasing one's spiritual power outward, using it to exert mental pressure on others.
If the other party's willpower wasn't strong enough, they would be knocked unconscious by that spiritual suppression.
If that was the case, then this really was a superb weapon for clearing out fodder.
Thinking of that, Jin said, "With this kind of Haki, there's absolutely no need to care about numbers."
"This kind of Haki isn't only for clearing out fodder." Rayleigh waved his hand. "Conqueror's Haki can also be used for coating. That's also an ability peak powerhouses must grasp."
You could say that all of them, those who had once stood at the top, had mastered that power.
"Conqueror's... coating..."
"Mm. But that's still too early for you. It's enough that you know it exists."
Rayleigh didn't even know whether Jin could awaken Conqueror's Haki, so there was no need to dig deeply into that right now.
Besides... that sort of advanced technique wasn't something one could learn just by hearing about it. Otherwise, the world would already be filled with people using Conqueror's coating.
All that could be said was that to learn Conqueror's coating, one had to experience it with their own body and come to understand it.
"Maybe little Jin has Conqueror's Haki too~" Shakky said with a smile.
Rayleigh smiled as well and didn't refute her.
After all... before this kind of Haki awakened, no one could know whether someone possessed the qualifications for it.
"Alright, stop fixating on that for now." Rayleigh said. "Once you awaken this kind of Haki, then you can think about coating."
"Mm, got it." Jin nodded.
Just as Rayleigh said, if he didn't have that kind of talent, then no amount of later training would ever allow him to develop this Haki anyway, so there was no point in obsessing over it.
I wonder whether I have that kind of aptitude... Jin muttered inwardly.
At the end of the day, he wasn't even a person of this world.
Still... since even his Sharingan had undergone a beneficial mutation, then... his body should be the same, right?
"Little Jin really doesn't need to worry too much about this." Shakky said. "Even if you truly can't awaken this kind of Haki, it doesn't matter."
"Look at the current three Marine Admirals. None of them possess Conqueror's Haki, yet their strength is still monster-level."
"The Admirals, huh..."
Jin recalled Aokiji from last time. The strength the man had displayed really had been frightening.
In just an instant, and from such a great distance, he had frozen their entire side over.
And both his speed and strength were equally terrifying.
Rayleigh glanced at Shakky, but he didn't say anything. After all... what Shakky said was correct.
Even someone without Conqueror's Haki could still become an extremely powerful being.
The three Admirals... were not to be underestimated.
"Forget it. I won't think about that for now. I'll wait until I awaken Conqueror's Haki first." Jin shook his head.
He casually picked up the tea on the table and took a sip before saying, "Uncle Rayleigh, what about the other two kinds of Haki?"
"Mm. The second type is called Observation Haki." Rayleigh explained. "This kind of Haki is more like an invisible eye. Without relying on your actual eyes, it lets you precisely capture every change happening around you."
"Every change happening... around me?"
Jin looked at Rayleigh in surprise. Wasn't that basically a radar?
No... radar wasn't anywhere near as advanced as this thing.
At most, radar could catch a target's trajectory and location. But... this Haki could perceive every change in the surroundings. That was a little terrifying.
"That's right."
As Rayleigh spoke, he stood up from his stool and walked over to an open area. "Try hitting me."
Jin: ???
Looking at Rayleigh, who had closed his eyes, Jin's mouth twitched. "That really is a brutally simple way to demonstrate it."
After saying that, Jin glanced around, intending to find something a little simpler to use.
"You don't need to look." Rayleigh, having sensed what Jin was doing, said, "Just use the sword at your waist to cut at me."
"What truly wondrous Observation Haki..."
After realizing Rayleigh could "see" what he was doing, Jin didn't waste any more words. He drew the Kusanagi sword from his waist and thrust forward at high speed.
Yet what shocked Jin was that not only did Rayleigh perfectly catch the pattern of his attack, he even casually... smacked him with a hand blade.
"Hiss..."
Clutching the spot on his head where he'd been hit, Jin bared his teeth and said, "Why are you even allowed to counterattack?"
This old man really hit hard. He'd already raised a bump on his head.
"I never said I wasn't allowed to fight back." Rayleigh opened his eyes and said, "This is also to let you experience it firsthand."
"Mm, I definitely experienced it."
The fact that the other party didn't need his eyes to locate him really was impressive.
Thinking of that, Jin fell into thought.
If that's the case, then this is a bit disadvantageous for me... Jin thought to himself.
If enemies in the New World noticed him and the first thing they did was close their eyes, then casting genjutsu really would become difficult.
Forget it. Using raw strength to cut people down works just the same.
After shaking his head, Jin looked at Rayleigh and asked, "How do you learn this kind of Haki?"
"Before I explain this kind of Haki, let me ask you a question."
"Go ahead."
"Jin, do you think all things have a breath?"
"The breath of all things..."
Hearing Rayleigh's words, Jin thought seriously.
Thinking about it carefully, back in Alabasta, Zoro really had mentioned something about the breath of all things. That was also how he had learned to cut steel.
If that was the case, then all things really did have breath.
Thinking of that, Jin nodded. "They do."
"Then this will be easy to explain." Rayleigh said. "You could say that all things in this world have breath."
"And since they have breath, they naturally emit an aura unique to themselves."
"And Observation Haki is the act of sensing those auras!"
At this point, Rayleigh paused, then continued, "It's not about relying on your eyes, but using your heart, using your own will, to perceive everything around you."
"And that... is also the method for cultivating Observation Haki."
As he spoke, Rayleigh pointed at his own eyes and said, "The best way is to blindfold yourself and let others attack you. Through that method, you can slowly begin to sense the surrounding auras."
"Of course, you can also try fighting others directly. Once the time is right, you may also grasp Observation Haki that way. It depends on which method you want to try."
"I see..."
Jin frowned. It seemed Observation Haki truly wasn't something that could be mastered quickly.
In that case, he could only wait until his companions regrouped before trying it.
Still... this ability, so similar to using one's own spiritual power to sense the surroundings... why did it feel so much like a ninja's sensory ninjutsu?
The only difference was that the target of perception had changed from chakra to aura.
Between the two... was there some kind of connection?
Thinking of that, Jin sank into thought.
A moment later, Jin said, "Besides sensing aura, does Observation Haki have any other uses?"
Conqueror's Haki could not only clear out cannon fodder, but also be used for coating. Then... did Observation Haki also have other special effects?
Jin was very curious about that.
"Yes." Rayleigh nodded. "Once Observation Haki is cultivated to its utmost limit, it may produce all kinds of strange and wondrous abilities."
"Wondrous abilities?"
"That's right!" Rayleigh nodded. "For example, the ability to sense other people's emotions, or even briefly foresee the future."
"Foresee the future?!"
Jin looked at Rayleigh in shock. "You can even do something like that?"
If someone really could foresee the future, then wouldn't that person be invincible?
Any attack would be useless against them. They'd be completely undefeated.
"I've only heard of it." Rayleigh waved his hand. "But since such a saying exists, then there should be people like that."
"I see..."
"There really are people like that." Shakky lit herself a cigarette and said, "I've seen one before."
"You've seen one?"
Rayleigh looked at Shakky in surprise. He had never heard her mention something like that before.
"Mm, though that was several decades ago."
Jin gave Shakky a startled look. Several decades ago?
Just how old was this lady, exactly...
After thinking about it, Jin decided not to voice that question. Otherwise, he'd probably get hit.
"What are you thinking about, little Jin?" Shakky narrowed her eyes.
Jin: ...
"I was just wondering whether Sister Shakky had fought that person before."
Rolling her eyes at him, Shakky said, "No. I merely knew of such a person. Later, I heard he was killed by someone."
"Killed?!"
Jin said in disbelief, "Even someone with that kind of Observation Haki could be killed?"
Wasn't it supposed to let someone foresee the future?
"Why couldn't they?" Shakky asked in return. "As long as they're human, they can be killed. No one is an exception."
Even someone as strong as Rocks had died in the end, hadn't he?
"This..."
"Jin, that isn't strange." Rayleigh explained. "To activate Observation Haki, the first requirement is that you remain calm."
"If you can break the other party's composure and make them angry, then naturally, this kind of Haki won't work."
"Of course, if you also master the kind of Haki that allows you to foresee the future, then you can defeat the enemy on that same level."
"It's just that the latter isn't so easy."
To master that kind of Observation Haki that could foresee the future, one first had to cultivate Observation Haki itself to the utmost limit. Only then was it possible to obtain that power.
But cultivating Observation Haki to its utmost limit was no easy matter.
"Oh, right, it's not just in the past." As if suddenly remembering something, Shakky spoke up. "In the crew of the Four Emperor Big Mom, there's a guy named Charlotte Katakuri. He's Charlotte Linlin's second son, with a bounty of 1,057,000,000 Berries!"
"His Observation Haki is extremely powerful. According to the rumors, he can briefly foresee the future."
"Since little Monkey wants to become Pirate King... you'll most likely run into them sooner or later." At this point, Shakky paused, then said, "Little Jin, you should prepare yourself mentally."
To become Pirate King, one had to obtain enough Road Poneglyphs. Those were the signposts that led to Laugh Tale.
And those signposts were basically all in the hands of the Four Emperors, so... if one wanted to sit on that throne, one had to defeat them.
"Alright, I understand." Jin nodded.
The Four Emperors, huh... It seemed that if they wanted to reach the final step, the opponents they encountered would only become stronger and stronger.
But that just made things even more interesting, didn't it!
"That kid?" Rayleigh said in surprise. "He actually mastered the Haki that can foresee the future?"
"What, did you meet him?"
"Mm." Rayleigh nodded. "On my way back just now, I ran into Charlotte Katakuri."
"I just don't know what their purpose is."
"They're probably here looking for someone." Shakky took out a piece of intelligence and slapped it onto the table. "The subordinates of one of the Four Emperors are currently moving all over the island. They're obviously searching for someone."
Even though they hadn't openly said what they were searching for, judging from their movements, their purpose could be inferred.
"Huh?"
Jin looked at Shakky in surprise. When had she managed to get this information?
Perhaps noticing Jin's confusion, Shakky smiled and said, "I have quite a good intelligence network on the Sabaody Archipelago. And when someone on the level of a Four Emperor comes here, it naturally catches my attention."
Even before Jin and the others arrived, she had already received information that a Yonko crew had reached Sabaody.
After all... their appearance had been extremely high-profile. The moment they showed up, they were seen by a large crowd.
And among those people... there just so happened to be one of her informants.
"That's pretty rare." Rayleigh stroked his chin and said, "Usually, Yonko crews seldom appear in Sabaody."
"Why?"
"Because this place is too close to Mariejois and Marine Headquarters." Shakky explained. "To avoid conflict, the Yonko's people rarely come here. You could say it's an unspoken rule."
"And now that they've suddenly appeared... it's most likely because someone has caught their attention."
At that moment, a thought flashed through Shakky's mind, and she instinctively turned to look at Jin. "Don't tell me it's you they've set their sights on, kid."
Jin: ???
"What do you mean?"
"Have you forgotten about your bloodline?"
Jin: ...
In other words, the Yonko crew had taken a liking to his bloodline?
Just like the World Government?
Thinking of that, Jin fell into silence.
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