Chapter 31 – The Path Beyond Steel
Morning sunlight spilled across the training grounds of Wano, painting the sea-stone courtyard in pale gold. The air carried the scent of sakura blossoms drifting from the distant hills, yet the atmosphere here was anything but gentle. Warriors stood assembled in disciplined silence, their eyes fixed on the man at the center.
Yamato cheered loudly as Ren stretched his arms above his head, loosening his shoulders as if preparing for nothing more than a casual spar. In front of him stood Kaido, King, Shimotsuki Usimaru, and the Red Scabbards, their expressions serious. This was not a simple lesson—it was the forging of monsters.
Ren rolled his neck once before speaking, his tone calm but carrying authority that silenced even the wind.
"Ok, now listen. You guys have learned Ryō. Next is Internal Destruction."
He stepped forward and tapped a sea-stone slab with his knuckles, the sharp sound echoing.
"It's the same as Ryō, but it ignores physical defense—like Kaido's dragon scales and King's Lunarian physique."
Kaido grinned faintly while King's golden eyes narrowed with focus. The samurai straightened instinctively, sensing the weight of what was coming.
"It uses the Ryō technique to go inside the target's body," Ren continued, his gaze sweeping across them, "and destroy it from the inside out."
A ripple of tension passed through the group. Even hardened warriors felt their throats tighten.
"And Observation Haki's advanced technique is Future Sight," Ren added. "Using it, you can see briefly into the future. You should understand what that means."
Silence followed.
Kaido let out a low chuckle. "Worororo… seeing the future, huh? That sounds troublesome."
Usimaru's brows furrowed. "To predict an opponent's strike before it happens… that would turn the tide of any duel."
Kin'emon spoke up carefully. "Ren-dono… how far into the future?"
Ren shrugged lightly. "A few seconds. But in a battle between top tiers, a second is life or death."
King finally spoke, his voice calm. "If mastered, it would render most ambushes meaningless."
Ren smirked. "Exactly."
He clasped his hands behind his back and began pacing slowly before them.
"Now, I know two methods to teach Internal Destruction."
He raised one finger.
"First—you punch a sea-stone wall until you're able to destroy it from the inside out."
A second finger lifted.
"Second—I will beat you until you learn it."
Everyone's mouth twitched.
"Ahem… we will use the first method," Usimaru said quickly.
"Yes, the first method sounds disciplined," Denjiro added smoothly.
"Indeed," Ashura Doji muttered. "Very disciplined."
Kaido glanced sideways at them before looking at Ren. "Which one is faster?"
King remained silent, but the slight tilt of his head showed he was curious.
Ren's grin widened. "For people like you and King, who have strong physiques, the second is the fastest."
He rolled his shoulders once more.
"And don't worry—I can control my Haki. There won't be any lasting damage."
Kaido's eyes gleamed.
"Worororo… then what are we waiting for? Let's get started."
Without another word, Kaido launched himself forward, bare fist cocked back. The air cracked beneath his speed as he hurled a punch straight at Ren's chest.
Ren smirked and met him head-on.
Kaido's arm was coated in flowing black Ryō, energy rippling like dark flames around his fist. Ren's arm, however, carried a deeper intensity—compressed Haki layered with Internal Destruction.
Black lightning flared as their fists stopped inches apart, never touching.
The ground beneath them shattered.
Kaido's grin faltered for a fraction of a second.
He felt it.
A stunning vibration surged into his arm, bypassing his scales entirely. It wasn't blunt force—it was intrusion.
"Worororo… so that's how it is," Kaido laughed, shaking his hand. "It stings."
Ren lowered his fist casually. "You felt it, didn't you? It entered your arm."
Kaido rolled his shoulder once, testing it.
"Looks like this method really is perfect for me."
He lunged again, faster this time.
The courtyard erupted into motion. Kaido and Ren traded blows in a blur, shockwaves ripping across the training grounds. Each strike stopped just short of impact, Ryō colliding midair in bursts of black lightning.
Yamato pumped her fists excitedly from the sidelines.
"Go, Ren! Go, Father!"
King stepped back, observing closely. "He's controlling the output precisely… just enough to injure, not cripple."
Toki stood near the edge, calm yet watchful. "He's guiding Kaido's understanding through pain."
Meanwhile, Usimaru and the Red Scabbards gathered before massive sea-stone plates embedded into the ground.
Kin'emon took a breath. "Internal… destruction."
He punched.
The plate dented inward with a metallic crack—but did not shatter from within.
Ashura Doji growled and struck his own slab. "Tch! It only caves in."
Denjiro adjusted his glasses. "We are pushing from the outside. We are not sending it inward."
Usimaru closed his eyes briefly. "Feel it flow. Don't force it."
Hours passed.
Ren and Kaido continued exchanging blows, the rhythm becoming almost instructional. Each time Kaido missed the proper flow, Ren struck his arm with precise Internal Destruction, sending controlled tremors through his muscles.
"Again," Ren said calmly.
Kaido swung.
"Too shallow."
Another shock surged through Kaido's forearm.
"Again."
Sweat rolled down Kaido's temple, but his grin only widened.
"Worororo! This is fun!"
Across the courtyard, King approached a sea-stone slab.
He drove his fist forward, Ryō flowing smoothly—but the result was the same. A dent. Not internal collapse.
"Tch."
Toki approached him gently. "You're relying on durability. Let go of it."
King glanced at her. "Explain."
"You are protecting yourself even as you attack."
King went silent.
Back in the center, Kaido suddenly paused mid-exchange.
He stared at his fist.
Ren stepped back, giving him space.
"Recall the feeling," Ren instructed. "Not the pain—the flow."
Kaido inhaled deeply. His Ryō flared, then compressed unnaturally.
He turned and punched a sea-stone plate.
For a heartbeat, nothing happened.
Then—
The slab exploded from within.
Fragments scattered outward as if something had detonated inside it.
The Red Scabbards froze.
Kaido stared at his fist before bursting into laughter.
"Wororororo! I see it now!"
Ren nodded approvingly. "Good."
Kaido rolled his neck. "So it's not about hitting harder… it's about entering first."
"Exactly," Ren replied. "Power means nothing if it can't reach."
Inspired, Usimaru stepped forward again. He closed his eyes, recalling Kaido's shift in presence.
He punched.
This time, the sea-stone cracked deeper—but still not fully.
Denjiro exhaled slowly. "We're close."
After another hour, Kaido returned to sparring Ren, their clash smoother now. His blows carried the subtle vibration of Internal Destruction.
"You've got the foundation," Ren said mid-exchange.
Kaido smirked. "Don't hold back too much."
Ren chuckled. "Don't die too quickly."
Yamato ran up to Ren as he finally stepped back.
"Ren! Did Father learn it?"
"He did," Ren replied, lifting her easily onto his shoulder.
Kaido crossed his arms proudly. "Of course I did."
Ren looked toward the others.
"Keep practicing. When you learn that, tell me."
He paused, eyes sharp.
"I will teach you more about Future Sight."
Kin'emon straightened. "There is more?"
Ren's smile turned knowing. "Much more."
Toki tilted her head. "Future Sight requires calmness, doesn't it?"
"Yes," Ren answered. "A turbulent mind sees nothing."
King watched him carefully. "And you?"
Ren adjusted Yamato in his arms.
"I see enough."
Yamato giggled. "Are we training now?"
Ren nodded. "Of course."
He looked back at the group one last time.
"Don't slack off. Internal Destruction is just the beginning."
Kaido laughed loudly. "Worororo! Looks like we've got ourselves a terrifying captain."
Ren waved casually without turning.
"Terrifying? No."
His voice carried lightly across the courtyard.
"Just prepared."
And with that, he carried Yamato toward the distant hill, leaving behind a courtyard filled with cracking sea-stone, determined warriors, and the birth of a force that would one day shake the seas.