Luffy gritted his teeth as he struggled to his feet from the sand, his eyes revealing a stubborn refusal to admit defeat.
His rubber arms began to gather strength.
He shut his eyes tightly, striving to sense the mysterious energy within his body. He felt the power flowing through him like a rushing river.
A faint black gloss shimmered over his fist. Though subtle, it contained an immense force that couldn't be underestimated.
"Oh?" Garp raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "Finally starting to look the part."
Just as Luffy thought he'd made a breakthrough, Garp's figure vanished like a ghost.
Luffy's eyes snapped open. In that critical moment, his Observation Haki activated.
A clear image formed in his mind—he foresaw the trajectory of his grandfather's attack.
"Left side!"
Luffy twisted his body, barely evading Garp's iron fist. The punch whistled past his clothes, stirring up a sharp gust of wind.
"Hahaha!" Garp burst into laughter, the sound echoing across the sea surface. "You brat, your Observation Haki has improved at a terrifying speed!"
Luffy grinned, revealing a row of white teeth.
"Because it really hurts if you don't dodge!" He rubbed the spot where he'd been hit earlier.
During these few short days of intensive training, Luffy's Observation Haki had improved by leaps and bounds.
Each of Garp's iron-fisted attacks brought bone-deep pain. It was this pain that ignited his survival instincts, allowing his Haki to advance like a rocket.
"Don't get cocky!" Garp threw another punch, his fist tearing through the air. "Keep up with your Armament Haki too!"
"Wah! Again?!" Luffy cried out in panic, focusing his mind to prepare for his grandfather's next round of attacks.
On the other side of Foosha Village, the coastal cliff stood like a towering giant.
At the foot of its steep precipice, a training ground filled with sweat unfolded.
Zoro and Sanji were immersed in a rigorous training session. Their instructor was Marine Bogard.
This renowned Marine officer was not only Garp's capable deputy but also famous for his meticulous teaching style.
Usually, he remained taciturn, making it difficult to discern his thoughts.
Once he began teaching, however, he transformed—every movement and instruction precise and strict, leaving no room for ambiguity.
Zoro stood bare-chested, his scar-covered, solid upper body glistening.
Three razor-sharp swords gleamed under the sun. The veins on his arms bulged like thick vines, a sign of power surging through his muscles.
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, trickling down his resolute face, yet they didn't affect his focused expression.
Bogard held a bamboo sword, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, closely watching Zoro's every move.
He overlooked no flaw, each strike landing on the weak points of Zoro's defense.
"Too slow!" Bogard's voice was low and stern, cutting through the sea breeze into Zoro's ears.
"Armament Haki isn't for decoration—make it flow!"
Zoro clenched the hilt of Wado Ichimonji between his teeth, his eyes burning with an unyielding flame—a roar from the depths of his heart, an endless thirst for greater power.
His figure flashed, and the blades of all three swords took on a deep, jet-black hue, as if night had fallen.
"Santoryu: Oni Giri—Armament!" Zoro roared, his voice echoing along the coast.
Three slashes entwined with Armament Haki shot out in a triangular formation, charging toward Bogard with unstoppable momentum.
A flicker of approval passed through Bogard's eyes; he understood the power and progress in Zoro's move.
He coated his bamboo sword with Armament Haki, transforming it into an unbreakable blade.
He blocked the attack, his feet sinking into the ground, yet he remained unmoved, displaying formidable strength and profound skill.
"Not bad," Bogard nodded with rare approval, "but still not condensed enough."
Meanwhile, on the nearby cliffside, Sanji was practicing his Geppo, or Moon Walk.
His figure darted between the steep cliffs, his legs stomping through the air at a high frequency.
Each step landed with precision, his body tracing graceful arcs through the sky.
Unlike his previous crude techniques learned through trial and error, under Bogard's guidance, Sanji's Moon Walk had become fluid, every movement embodying the perfect fusion of power and technique.
"Moon Walk!"
"Remember, it isn't just about stomping the air," Bogard's voice came from below, steady and powerful.
"You must create footholds to move rapidly step by step!"
Sanji's blond hair fluttered in the sea breeze, his black suit flapping.
He accelerated, his figure moving like lightning as he traced a beautiful arc through the air, appearing hundreds of meters away above the sea.
"Diable Jambe!" Sanji shouted.
Armament Haki covered his right leg, and his spinning kick slammed into the sea surface.
With a thunderous boom, the sea seemed to have been struck by a massive cannonball, splitting open into a vacuum trench.
Seawater surged to both sides, sending waves several meters high in a spectacular display.
The power of this strike had advanced tremendously compared to before, clear evidence of Sanji's progress under Bogard's guidance.
Zoro had finished his training and came over.
"Hmph, the curly brow's finally making some progress." Zoro sheathed his swords, the corners of his mouth lifting.
That faint smile contained both acknowledgment of Sanji's improvement and a sense of quiet rivalry.
Sanji landed lightly on the shore, lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled a cloud of smoke.
He glanced sideways at Zoro and challenged, "Marimo-head, want to compete with me? Let's see who masters Observation Haki first."
"Suits me just fine!" Zoro retorted, confidence shining in his eyes.