The importance of top-tier combat power went without saying.
Even though the Marines controlled the vast majority of military forces across the Four Seas and the entire globe, the outcome of large-scale wars was almost always decided by the absolute strongest fighters.
So within the Marines, what level of strength truly qualified someone to be a pillar of the organization?
Lieutenants generally mastered one or two of the Six Powers, specialized in a single technique, or honed a specific style of swordsmanship. Their physical abilities had usually reached, or at least touched, superhuman levels.
Officers at the commodore level and above built upon that foundation, mastering Observation Haki or Armament Haki, gaining extensive combat experience, or wielding powerful Devil Fruit abilities.
In Sengoku's eyes, anyone who had mastered both forms of Haki while also awakening their Devil Fruit had already reached the level of an Admiral candidate. All they lacked was time and proven achievements to earn the position officially.
"If Rosinante and the others really are as strong as you say..."
Sengoku took a deep breath, unable to hide his excitement.
"...then promoting them to Vice Admiral is perfectly reasonable."
At the same time, he couldn't help but marvel at the sheer concentration of talent gathered under Kojin.
The roster surrounding him was practically a second Marine Headquarters in its own right. After twenty years of continuous development, the West Blue's military strength had grown to a point where the world could no longer ignore it.
Combined with so many formidable fighters, it was honestly terrifying.
"There's another matter," Sengoku said, his brow furrowing. "The upcoming Warlord meeting. Do you have any suggestions regarding a candidate to replace Crocodile?"
After Crocodile's removal, filling the vacant Warlord position had become an urgent priority.
The Seven Warlords system existed specifically to help balance the power of the New World's Emperors, so leaving a seat empty for too long wasn't an option. It was also a matter of maintaining the World Government's prestige.
"The Seven Warlords?" Kojin chuckled softly. "That system is destined to be abolished sooner or later. It benefits neither the world nor the Marines."
"As for a replacement... you need someone with sufficient strength, reputation, and influence. Looking at things objectively, I don't see a suitable candidate right now."
Sengoku's frown deepened. The problem truly had no easy answer.
"If possible, leave the Warlord matter to me," Kojin added.
"To you?" Sengoku's eyes lit up immediately. "That's actually not a bad idea."
Lately, he had been completely buried in paperwork, so any reduction in pressure was a welcome relief. Given Kojin's status, reputation, and strength, there was no issue with him presiding over the Warlord meeting. It could also serve as part of a gradual transfer of authority.
"Very well. The upcoming Warlord meeting is yours," Sengoku said with a smile. "And regarding those Vice Admiral positions, I'll make sure there are enough vacancies left open for your people."
Kojin nodded, returning the smile. Since he had returned to Marineford, it was only natural to secure some benefits for his own crew while laying the groundwork for the future.
Having been apart for years, the two men quickly wrapped up the important business at hand.
As he watched Kojin walk out, a relaxed expression settled onto Sengoku's face. Talking with Kojin felt completely different from dealing with the other three Admirals; from start to finish, the conversation left him feeling refreshed rather than stressed.
More importantly, he never doubted Kojin's capabilities. After serving for years as the Commander-in-Chief of the West Blue, Kojin already possessed the experience and vision needed to oversee an entire military force and view matters from the highest level.
---
Living arrangements for Kojin and his group were quickly settled under the guidance of a young female officer. As an Admiral, his accommodations were naturally far grander than before, a massive villa accompanied by several surrounding streets had effectively been cordoned off as his private domain.
It wasn't just a villa; it was practically a small residential district, complete with training grounds, housing quarters, and all necessary amenities.
After surveying the area, Crocodile and the others selected their respective quarters and settled in. Kojin himself wasn't particularly picky about living conditions. As long as a place was spacious, clean, and comfortable, he was satisfied.
Besides, most residential areas in Marineford were built alongside training facilities, making it convenient for Marines to work out and sharpen their skills.
By the second day, the members of CP9 and Baroque Works were already putting themselves through special training on the grounds.
Kojin received word that preparations for the Warlord meeting were still underway and would take another day or two. With some free time on his hands, he decided to personally step in and guide them.
Unlike ordinary Marine recruits, both CP9 and the members of Baroque Works already possessed solid foundations.
Naturally, Kojin tailored his approach accordingly. The rank-and-file Baroque Works members could be instructed by others, but the ones he truly valued were the members of CP9, their talent and potential were simply too exceptional to ignore.
Meanwhile, Daz Bones was still focusing on his swordsmanship. Whenever he ran into simple questions, he could consult Kuina for guidance without needing to bother Kojin. That was one of the perks of commanding a large organization: plenty of matters no longer required his personal touch.
"Armament Haki is the physical manifestation of your own spiritual energy and willpower," Kojin instructed, standing before them with his arms crossed and a relaxed smile. "It can drastically enhance both your offensive power and defensive capability. It also allows you to strike the true bodies of Logia users, bolsters the destructive force of your attacks, and can be used to block incoming strikes."
"And most importantly... it can be learned through hard work. Given your current physical condition, every one of you is already qualified to begin practicing it."
The members of CP9 listened intently, their faces filled with excitement and anticipation. Over the past few days, they had already picked up the basic concepts of Armament Haki from the others. As one of the core forms of Haki, Armament was relatively common among top-tier fighters, but its practical value in combat was unmatched.
"Starting today, I'll personally teach you how to train your Armament Haki," Kojin said, his eyes scanning the group. "And at the same time, I'll instruct you in Observation Haki, the power to sense the world around you."
He paused, adding, "That said, while anyone can eventually awaken Haki through effort, natural talent still plays a massive role. Some people grasp it much faster than others."
A slight trace of awkwardness flashed across Kojin's face as he said this. After all, he himself had been one of those rare individuals who were exceptionally dense when it came to Observation Haki, taking a full twenty years to finally awaken it. Fortunately, his persistence had paid off in the end, which proved to be the ultimate pleasant surprise.
"Admiral Kojin, how exactly are we supposed to train and unlock these two powers?" Blueno asked curiously.
"Simple," Kojin grinned. "My teaching methods are a bit different from most people's. They might seem a little harsh to an outsider, but for a group like you, they should be just right."
A dangerous glint flickered in his eyes as his gaze swept across the team. "Before we begin, remember one thing: Haki grows fastest through life-and-death combat and adversity. Because of that..."
He leaned in slightly. "...your only mission from this point forward is to survive my attacks."
The entire CP9 squad froze.
"What?"
"Admiral Kojin is going to spar with us personally?!"
"I don't think he means 'spar'..."
"So Haki really can only be forged in actual combat?"
The atmosphere instantly grew tense.
"Well then... let's begin," Kojin chuckled.
The moment the words left his mouth, he vanished. Where he had been standing, only a few specks of dust slowly drifted through the air.
"Soru?!"
"No way... Soru can reach a speed like that?!"
The CP9 agents were caught off guard right from the start.
'Whoosh!'
In the span of a single breath, Kojin materialized directly behind Lucci. His towering frame cast a massive shadow over the younger man, accompanied by a sudden gust of wind.
He wasn't attempting to hide his presence, nor was he unleashing his full strength; the goal of this exercise was to push them under immense pressure, not obliterate them on the spot.
Slowly, Kojin raised his right leg. "Pay close attention. Feel the flow of Haki through battle, my students."
As his voice trailed off, an invisible force coated his leg, and he brought it sweeping down.
Lucci's instincts kicked in immediately. He spun around, raising his own leg to block the strike with a 'Tempest Kick'. But the instant their shins collided, his expression transformed.
'BOOM!'
A violent wave of force exploded through him. Lucci was blasted backward like a cannonball, tumbling across the dirt for nearly seventy meters before slamming his feet down to force a halt. Crouched low and panting heavily, he stared back at the towering figure with absolute disbelief.
"How is that possible?!" Lucci gasped. "It was the exact same strength... the exact same speed... but the destructive power wasn't even on the same level!"
He had realized it the instant they clashed. Originally, he expected Kojin to crush him with raw, overwhelming force. Instead, Kojin had deliberately restricted his physical output to match Lucci's own speed and strength.
"There's nothing impossible about it, Lucci," Kojin smiled. "This is Armament Haki. Your job is to feel it, understand it, and master it."
Lucci's heart stirred. He understood now.
The life-threatening pressure of battle was meant to force out their hidden potential, allowing them to experience an unfamiliar power firsthand. Kojin had intentionally restricted his baseline stats just to lay the secrets of Haki bare right in front of them, making it easier for them to comprehend.
Before anyone could process it, Kojin moved again, launching a flurry of attacks at the rest of the group.
Not a single person could withstand a hit, yet every one of them clearly felt the invisible, razor-sharp force woven into his blows.
"So this is Armament Haki..." Kaku muttered, gritting his teeth.
Realizing the gap, the CP9 squad instantly shifted tactics and launched a coordinated assault. But what happened next shocked them even further.
"Not a single hit is connecting!"
"It's like an advanced version of Paper Art!"
"He's reading every move before we even make it!"
"How are we even supposed to fight that?!"
Lucci was stunned. At the same time, he recalled his earlier bout with Buggy, the clown seemed to possess a very similar, unsettling ability.
"Observation Haki allows you to strongly sense the presence of everything around you," Kojin explained calmly as he dodged. "It lets you read an opponent's intent, and at higher levels, you can even glimpse a sliver of the immediate future."
With his arms casually folded across his chest, he barely had to shift his posture. Yet every strike the squad threw slipped harmlessly past him, brushing against empty air.
It was complete, absolute domination through pure combat skill, as if they were fighting someone operating in an entirely different dimension.
(End of Chapter)
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