Chapter 29
Facing Garp, Kai unleashed everything he had. He had removed his weights the very day after meeting Garp—he had no intention of letting the Marines learn the principle and application of weighted training!
"Heh heh! Come on!"
Garp saw the sharp sword energy condense along Kai's blade. A brilliant light flashed in his eyes, then he laughed heartily!
Even though Garp stood there seemingly carefree, full of openings, Kai didn't dare underestimate him in the slightest. An invisible pressure emanated from Garp's body. Before Kai even advanced, the air around him already felt heavy—this was Garp's sheer presence!
But even against such overwhelming pressure, Kai showed no sign of fear. Faltering before the fight even began was the mark of the weak. When there was no retreat, the strong only grew bolder against stronger opponents!
Rustle~
Kai stepped on the sand and exploded forward, slashing at Garp with powerful strikes!
"Sandstorm Phantom!"
Whoosh whoosh~
Kai's motion remained a straightforward overhead slash toward Garp. But around his body, countless grains of sand spiraled upward in a violent storm—completely enveloping his figure. No one could tell exactly where Kai was anymore!
Screech~
Then a single sword shadow broke through the storm, stabbing straight toward Garp. The blade carried ferocious intent, tearing through the air with a sharp whistle!
"Hmph!"
Seeing Kai's ingenious strike, Garp let out a soft snort. His body shifted—and only an afterimage remained in his original spot!
Screech~
Kai's sword strike shattered nothing but the afterimage!
"Kai, kid! Your movements can't fool me at all! That sword technique is impressive, but it can only work against opponents on your level!"
Garp's voice suddenly came from behind Kai. Then Garp raised his fist and smashed it down toward the back of Kai's head!
"Not good…"
Feeling the crushing pressure from behind, Kai's heart screamed danger. A year of real combat experience kept him from panicking. He leaned forward while swinging Wado Ichimonji backward at lightning speed!
"Fangs Bloodlust!"
The blade instantly transformed under condensing sword energy—forming the shape of fangs that tore toward Garp, filled with murderous intent!
"Hm?"
Seeing Kai react so quickly and unleash an even sharper, more ferocious technique than before, Garp finally became slightly serious. Kai's reaction speed surprised him. He had originally thought one punch would be enough to send the kid flying!
"Hah!"
Garp let out a light shout. Bare-handed, he turned his fist into a blade and chopped toward Kai's fierce attack!
Clang!
A resounding collision echoed. Kai's sword trembled, then returned to normal. The sword energy scattered completely. His slash struck Garp's hand—and left not a single mark!
"Armament Haki!"
Kai's mind jolted. Though he couldn't see it, the clash made it crystal clear: an invisible energy had coated Garp's hand. That was definitely Haki!
"Oh? You felt it already?"
Seeing the change in Kai's eyes, Garp was stunned. He hadn't expected Kai to sense Haki so early in the fight—this wasn't simple at all!
"Hahaha! Good! Let's go again!"
Garp laughed heartily. With a casual wave of his right hand, Kai was immediately blasted backward. The fact that Kai could sense Haki so quickly meant awakening was certain. Helping such a talented rookie grasp Haki filled Garp with a sense of accomplishment!
"Fangs Bloodlust!"
Knowing that Sandstorm Phantom was useless against Garp, Kai slashed again. Sword energy condensed into fangs once more—biting toward Garp. The more times he clashed with Haki, the more Kai believed he could awaken his own!
Boom! Boom!
Kai and Garp collided repeatedly. Every time Garp swung his fist, Armament Haki coated it—allowing Kai to feel Haki's presence up close with every strike!
Bang! Bang!
But in the following exchanges, Kai suffered. Garp's strength was far beyond what he could handle now. He was blasted back again and again!
Yet Kai's face showed no discouragement—only growing excitement. Each collision let him feel Haki more clearly!
As the fight continued—no, as Garp continued pummeling him with fist after fist—Kai clearly sensed a mysterious energy inside his body slowly awakening. It was still very faint!
"Almost… almost there! What's missing? I can already feel my Haki exists—why can't I grasp it?!"
Kai thought urgently while continuing to clash with Garp!
"Kai, kid! You need to understand—what it is you're trying to awaken inside yourself!"
Just as Kai grew anxious and confused, Garp blasted him back once more. But this time, Garp spoke seriously in a low shout!
"Ah…!"
Kai's body froze instantly. He stopped charging. Garp's words struck something deep inside him!
"Haki… Haki… What I need to grasp is Haki…"
Kai suddenly realized. Looking back at the original story, Haki was a power only the truly strong could master. So what did the strong all have in common? The spirit and will worthy of Haki!
"Luffy awakened his through anger. Me? I have the Emotion Fruit—I should have an easier time awakening Haki than anyone else!"
Kai thought excitedly. Luffy used rage. Kai didn't need to—he had something better!
"Awaken for me! The Haki that belongs to me—Kai!"
Kai thrust Wado Ichimonji into the sand, then roared at the top of his lungs!
In that roar, Kai fully activated his Emotion Fruit—furiously amplifying his own confidence and domineering will. From this single shout, anyone could hear Kai's overflowing confidence and absolute authority. He refused to believe these two emotions couldn't awaken his Haki!
BOOM!
As Kai's words echoed, he clearly felt it: the mysterious energy inside him exploded outward, surging through his entire body. He could now distinctly sense a strange new power flowing through him—that was Haki!
"What strong confidence and presence!"
Seeing Kai's roar and the invisible wave rippling outward like a shockwave—scattering the sand beneath his feet—Garp thought in awe. He was shocked once again by Kai's comprehension ability!
"Conqueror's Haki!"
When that wave of Haki crashed into him, Garp was stunned all over again. He had only planned to help Kai awaken basic Armament or Observation Haki. He never expected Kai to possess the same ultra-rare Conqueror's Haki—one in a million, the mark of a true emperor!
Kai's body trembled again. Joy exploded in his heart. He hadn't expected to awaken Conqueror's Haki—hadn't even dreamed he might have it!
Thanks for sticking with the story until the end of this chapter! Seeing readers enjoy the translation and leave comments/motivation keeps me energized to translate more.
Want to help support the translation and get early access to upcoming chapters? Feel free to drop by my Patreon: Patreon.com/arthursink