You can read ahead up to 30 chapters on my patreon https://www.patreon.com/marvel6395
In Marco's mind, Giorno was still the young man who had defeated Charlotte Mond at the Swordsman Competition. While defeating Big Mom's daughter was undeniably impressive, even chasing Sand Crocodile across the skies was truly remarkable, it still fell far short of confronting Admiral "Black Arm" Zephyr head-on, the Marine Admiral who had once teamed up with Garp to drive the Four Seaspirates into hiding with nothing but their bare fists.
'I never would have guessed, Marco thought. ' I assumed Rayleigh had shielded Giorno from Zephyr, but it turns out Giorno handled it himself.'
'Such astonishing growth…'
With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Marco arrived at Island 23.
The Sabaody Tree Island appeared to have been struck by some devastating force, with a significant portion of it sheared away.
Six people followed Marco. Three were the Longleg Race, Human, and Fish-Man trio who had once been slaves of the Celestial Dragons. The other three were the bounty hunter Stephen Brothers, though they now looked more wretched than ever.
Old Boss Stephen Gold wore a bitter expression. "Right here... Giorno defeated 'Skullcrusher' and 'Ghost Beard' with just a single finger..."
Stephen Silver, the second brother, trembled with lingering fear. "He unleashed a terrifying shockwave with just a finger. Half of this island was carved away by that attack! That's beyond human power! Only a monster like him could rival a Marine Admiral..."
Stephen Evans, the third brother, seethed with resentment. "Giorno didn't even take us seriously! Otherwise, we wouldn't have survived his attack... Dammit!"
'A Devil Fruit that unleashes concussive force…' Marco surveyed the ravaged island, half of it sheared away, and mused, It's similar to the old man's Tremor-Tremor Fruit, in some ways!
....
Marineford, Marine Headquarters
"Marco?!"
Sengoku spat out a mouthful of hot tea, drenching Garp, who sat across from him, in the face.
Ignoring Garp's bewildered and aggrieved expression, Sengoku roared at the reporting Marine, "Whitebeard's First Division Commander? What's he doing on the Sabaody Archipelago?!"
"And he's been asking around about Rayleigh..." Sengoku sank back into his chair, his face grave as he pondered aloud. "Is Whitebeard planning something? These relics from the old era are all such troublemakers..."
Garp wiped his face, continued munching senbei with loud "kā chā" "kā chā" sounds, and roared with laughter, "Two legends about to clash? Now that's terrifying! Wahahaha..."
"Are you seriously bored out of your mind? You keep barging in here every few days just to steal my senbei!" Sengoku snapped irritably, rubbing his temples wearily as he glared at the reports piled on his desk. "If Whitebeard really is trying to contact Rayleigh, this sea will tremble once more..."
...
Sabaody Archipelago, Island 13, Shakky's Rip-off Bar
Den Den Mushi City Fortress -
B.I.B. demonstrated a full set of Hasshō-ken - Eight Impacts Fist for Rayleigh on the spot.
With its current strength and the original memories inherited from its host body, this "gymnastics" level of Hasshō-ken - Eight Impacts Fist, which it had learned from its "mother" in childhood, came as naturally as breathing.
Moreover, Liam and Stand had both practiced it with B.I.B. over the years.
Even Robin had joined in occasionally. On that desolate island in the Calm Belt, when boredom struck, watching Sister Robin's graceful form dancing under the moonlight as she practiced the fist technique proved to be an exceptionally pleasing way to pass the time, truly a feast for the eyes.
'How could a martial art be related to Conqueror's Haki?'
After completing a practice session, Stand A turned to Rayleigh with a puzzled expression.
It and its original self had once speculated about the "gymnastics" their "mother," Lily, had urged them to practice, the Hasshō-ken, or Eight Impacts Fist.
Even their most extravagant theories had only led them to believe that this Hasshō-ken was a sophisticated Haki training method used by the people of Kano Country to refine or awaken their Haki.
That was already a remarkably generous interpretation!
After all, across the entire pirate world, Kuja Island stood as the only place where Haki was systematically taught and practiced by the general population.
Even Wano Country, renowned for its samurai, lacked a similar system. It seemed that even samurai seeking to master "Ryuo (Flowing Sakura)" had to rely on their individual talent and opportunities.
To everyone's surprise, Rayleigh revealed that Chinjao the Drill's greatest pride stemmed from the secret technique passed down in Kano Country, allowing its practitioners to learn and master Conqueror's Haki. This secret technique was highly likely to be the Hasshō-ken - Eight Impacts Fist, the very skill Chinjao the Drill boasted so proudly.
"You're asking me?" Rayleigh took a swig of his drink and gestured toward the shadowy figure before him. "I'm not from Kano Country, you know."
B.I.B. pondered for a moment, then went to fetch Sister Robin.
"You want me to demonstrate the Hasshō-ken - Eight Impacts Fist?" Robin asked, surprised but not refusing. She glanced at Rayleigh, then at the old man sitting on the ground, drinking wine and chuckling. "A young woman performing martial arts? Today's my lucky day!"
Robinlight smiled, slipped off her shoes, and walked barefoot onto the open ground. She took a deep breath, recalling Liam's personal instruction in the Hasshō-ken, the Eight Impacts Fist. She began practicing the movements slowly, step by step.
B.I.B. and Rayleigh watched her complete the "gymnastics routine" with intense curiosity. "How did it go?" they asked.
"How did what go?" Robin replied, still confused. After they explained, a flicker of understanding dawned on her face, but her surprise and bewilderment only deepened. "This Hasshō-ken is related to Conqueror's Haki? If that's the case, Hancock should have noticed it, right...?"
Hancock only had a rudimentary understanding of Haki and had no interest in observing the Hasshō-ken. Stand A shook his head.
Robin chuckled. "It's not that she only has a rudimentary understanding of Haki," she corrected. "Rather, Haki is as natural to her as breathing, something that requires no explanation."
This was the realm of genius... B.I.B. felt a sense of speechless frustration whenever he thought about it. Due to his unique connection to his original self, this frustration often hit him with double force whenever he witnessed such a dazzling prodigy.
Rayleigh took a sip of wine and chuckled. "Perhaps it's simpler than you think, the Hasshō-ken - Eight Impacts Fist you learned might be incomplete. If you ever get the chance, you should visit Kano Country. Even if you can't master the true Hasshō-ken - Eight Impacts Fist, you can at least ask Chinjao the Drill directly for clarification."
Hearing this, B.I.B.'s narrow eyes flickered with a faint glint.
Robin glanced at Stand A. Liam had already been planning to visit Kano Country someday, spurred by the farewell letter his mother left him…
...
27th -
Dragon Tongue Loon, an incarnation bounty hunter, was thoroughly enjoying his side hustle of capturing pirates for bounties when his eyes suddenly sharpened.
'Such a powerful aura…'
'No! It's an overwhelmingly potent presence…'
Liam casually tossed aside the bloodied pirate he had been holding and followed the trail of the aura he had inadvertently sensed using his Observation Haki.
"Yo, isn't that Doflamingo's little lapdog and the tentacle freak? Those three guys beaten within an inch of their lives also look vaguely familiar..."
With a single leap, Liam landed on the trunk of a mangrove tree, his gaze fixed on the group of people gathered on the distant hillside. Among them were two pirates with varying degrees of injuries, both bearing the mark of the Donquixote Family, the same pair he had encountered earlier.
He had casually ended their initial clash with a shockwave, never expecting them to survive. People in this pirate world sure are tough, he mused. Unless you're aiming for a kill, they just won't die, huh?
Naturally, these grunts were of little consequence. Liam's attention was drawn to the man currently interrogating "Skullcrusher" and "Ghost Beard."
'What a flamboyant Pineapple Head…'
After a moment's thought, Liam decided to reveal himself directly.
'Phoenix-Phoenix Fruit, huh...?'
'Combined with Hypnosis, I wonder if I can recreate the Phoenix Illusionary Demon Fist?!'
(End Of This Chapter)