Setsuna's figure vanished again, leaving only a blurry afterimage in the air.
Gaban's pupils contracted sharply. His Observation Haki screamed warnings.
The foreseen images were crystal clear, but his body's reaction was still half a beat too slow.
The defensive counter-attack strategy wasn't wrong, but the damage he took each time was real. Even with Armament Haki defense, internal injuries kept accumulating.
Just as his combat instincts were starting to return, his body couldn't keep up.
Gaban had to concentrate his Armament Haki on his left shoulder, forcibly taking the hit.
A dull impact sound shook the very air. The rock wall under Gaban's feet shattered. The splitting axe in his hand traced a pitch-black arc, nearly gutting Setsuna.
Setsuna, however, seemed oblivious, as if the injured one wasn't himself. His fists poured down like a torrential rain.
Each punch landing on the rock wall erased a section of the Red Line.
Gaban's attacks were equally astonishing. Every swing of the splitting axe that had accompanied him for decades could carve a canyon hundreds of meters deep into the Red Line.
The Red Line trembled ceaselessly under the intensity of this battle. Massive rock slabs fell like rain into the sea below.
Watching, Ace couldn't help but sigh, 'No wonder there was less and less land in this world. Perhaps it was just like this Red Line and the sky island last time, mostly destroyed by these monstrous powerhouses.'
"Axel's Delight!"
After another violent collision, Gaban suddenly leapt high into the air. The Haki on his giant axe condensed to its limit.
The entire sky seemed dyed dark red. Gripping the axe with both hands, a vertical slash carrying the momentum of splitting heaven and earth descended.
Setsuna didn't dodge. His right fist slowly drew back. Armament Haki and bluish-white Ki blended perfectly, forming a small, sun-like orb of light at his knuckles.
Using Haki wrapping techniques, he tried to wrap Ki as well, responding with the hardest stance.
The moment axe and fist collided, the entire space seemed to freeze for an instant.
Then-
Boooooom!
A terrifying shockwave swept across dozens of kilometers. It was like sky collapsing and earth rending. Entire sections of the cliff face collapsed, plunging into the sea below, raising tsunamis hundreds of meters high.
When the dust settled, a massive portion of the Red Line where the two stood had simply vanished.
Gaban knelt on one knee at the crater's edge. The splitting axe in his hand was broken in two. He breathed heavily, sweat and blood dripping from his chin.
"Really can't fight anymore. Keep going and I'll die here," Gaban simply lay down on the ground, giving up.
He was just out to relax, avoiding his daily tasks. Had he known this, he'd rather have stayed in Elbaf paying the 'communal dues'.
Seeing Gaban's undaunted attitude, Setsuna sighed. "Fine. But you have to teach me how to master Observation Haki."
"That's why? You should've said so earlier!" Gaban felt like crying but had no tears, utterly frustrated. "If you'd asked, I'd have told you! Why fight so desperately?"
Setsuna glanced at him. "Fighting is the best teacher."
Gaban stroked his beard, pondering, and somewhat agreed with that point. But then he felt it was unbelievable. "You're this strong, yet you haven't mastered Observation Haki?"
Setsuna fibbed without changing expression. "The East Blue is barren. There aren't any truly powerful fighters there. My Armament and Conqueror's Haki, I learned from Golden Lion."
Gaban's face twitched, finally understanding why Setsuna had called him a mediocre teacher earlier.
He seriously gathered his thoughts and explained, "The essence of Observation Haki is sensing danger, like a sixth sense beyond the five senses. When danger approaches, your heart produces a subtle reaction. The key is capturing and amplifying that feeling."
"As for you…" Gaban fell silent for a moment before saying, "You're too strong. Probably, your subconscious believes you won't encounter danger, so it can't stimulate the awakening of Observation Haki."
Setsuna's expression instantly became complex, 'So being too strong was my fault?'
"Is there any solution?"
Gaban raised three fingers. "First, the simplest and most direct method: force yourself into a desperate situation. Between life and death-"
"Stop. Skip to the next one," Setsuna flatly refused. No way he would do that. He wasn't a Saiyan. How could he actually play with near-death breakthroughs?
Gaban wasn't surprised. He continued, "Second method: try constantly strengthening the perception of your five senses. Dig out the power of the sixth sense."
"Dig out the power of the sixth sense?" Setsuna suddenly thought of Virgo Shaka from the Gold Saints, who trained by sealing one of his five senses… sight.
"Sealing sight isn't a bad method," Setsuna nodded slightly. "And the last method?"
Gaban said, "The last method is using a Devil Fruit's power. For example, the Nagi Nagi no Mi can isolate all external sound, letting a person hear only their inner voice. That might help awaken Observation Haki." (T/N: Calm-Calm Fruit.)
"Nagi Nagi no Mi?" Setsuna raised an eyebrow, 'Wasn't that the famously useless fruit? It actually had such a use?'
Gaban gave another example. "Also, the Giro Giro no Mi enhances eyesight, allows peering into hearts. That might also help with awakening Observation Haki." (T/N: Glare-Glare Fruit.)
Setsuna understood. Devil Fruits related to the five senses might have similar effects.
Setsuna made up his mind: First go to Skypiea to find Enel, see if the Goro Goro no Mi could help him awaken Observation Haki. If not, he'd train by sealing his sight, while having subordinates search for users of abilities related to the five senses.
Having gotten the answer he wanted, Setsuna said no more. He turned and leapt down from the Red Line.
Gaban sighed in relief as if pardoned, and jumped down as well.
However, when he landed on the sea surface, he saw a scene that made him laugh and cry.
Laboon was playing happily with the giant serpent, its massive tail slapping the sea surface, splashing waves everywhere.
"Who exactly was I fighting so desperately for?" Gaban shook his head with a bitter smile, but also let out a long sigh of relief.
Thankfully, the other side didn't truly harbor ill intent. Otherwise, his old bones would have been buried here.
Seeing Setsuna and Gaban jump down one after the other, Crocus couldn't help but step forward. "Gaban, who won?"
Gaban spread his hands. "Can't you see my weapon got destroyed?"
"Even you lost!" Crocus was shocked, then filled with guilt. "Sorry, it's all because of me…"
"Haha, don't mind it. I have another axe at home anyway," Gaban laughed, comforting his old friend. But his gaze towards Setsuna still held awe.
"The era of Rocks, Roger's era, the era of the Four Emperors… Next might be his era."