Aaron still didn't realize just how much of a stir his acquisition of the Snow-Snow Fruit had caused.
At the moment, there was only one thing on his mind — learning how to quickly master Armament Haki.
After his battle against Donquixote Doflamingo, he now understood more than ever how crucial Armament Haki truly was.
For that reason, Aaron once again sought guidance from his mentor, Reggie, hoping to obtain more useful insight from him.
Things like pride or saving face didn't matter to Aaron anymore.
After he'd grown close enough to Reggie, he'd chosen the right moment to ask him directly about Armament Haki.
But back then, Reggie had refused, saying simply that Aaron was still too green.
Today, however, Aaron believed he would finally get a satisfactory answer.
Since the Akio Gang had already entrusted him with a treasure as valuable as a Logia-type Devil Fruit, it stood to reason they wouldn't mind teaching him how to cultivate Haki as well.
"Since you've already awakened Observation Haki, and your mastery isn't low, let me ask you something."
"What kind of power do you think Haki really is? Have you ever thought about that?"
Inside the dojo, when Reggie heard Aaron once again bring up the topic of Armament Haki, he didn't answer directly — instead, he countered with a question of his own.
What kind of power is Haki…?
Aaron fell silent, his expression turning thoughtful.
From what he'd learned before — from both the anime and written sources — his understanding was that Haki was a latent ability possessed by all living things.
A power innate to life itself, though most beings would never realize it existed and thus would live their entire lives without ever awakening it.
As someone who had already developed Observation Haki to a decent degree, Aaron knew firsthand that Haki truly was one of life's inherent potential powers.
But now, he also understood that each type of Haki stemmed from a different aspect of that potential — requiring a different kind of awakening and cultivation.
Observation Haki, for instance, was clearly a spiritual potential.
To improve it, one had to continually stimulate the mind — especially through intense, life-or-death combat.
The looming presence of death provided the most powerful kind of stimulus.
This ability allowed the user to sense the presence of others, even those beyond their line of sight — their number, position, and even their movements in the next instant.
Observation Haki was deeply tied to mental focus.
To use it effectively, one had to remain calm; it couldn't be used in a state of panic, rage, or emotional instability.
It also had several secondary applications: sensing attacks, gauging a person's strength, detecting emotional states or intent — all basic functions of Observation Haki, varying in range and accuracy depending on the individual.
In rare cases, Observation Haki could even glimpse the future — a level so advanced that even Silvers Rayleigh once described it as "something extraordinary."
Within Big Mom's crew, Charlotte Katakuri possessed that very gift, able to see moments ahead.
Even Luffy, during their fight, had managed to push his Observation Haki to that same threshold — glimpsing fragments of the future.
But those feats were far beyond the basics.
Dodging attacks or predicting movements were merely fundamental uses of Observation Haki, not future sight.
Based on his understanding, Aaron boldly hypothesized that Armament Haki was instead tied to one's physical potential — and that awakening it required the activation of the body's dormant strength.
As for Conqueror's Haki, he had no clear understanding — only that it must stem from some deep, innate quality unique to the individual.
After gathering his thoughts, Aaron explained all of this in detail to Reggie.
"Innate potential… spirit and flesh, huh?"
Reggie nodded slowly. "That's a very solid understanding. Observation and Armament Haki are indeed just as you said — the latent powers of the spirit and the body. Then tell me this: can you recall how you awakened your Observation Haki? And why you think you've been unable to awaken Armament Haki so far?"
Aaron's expression darkened instantly.
Reggie's question struck straight at an unpleasant memory.
That moment had been terrifying beyond words.
The sensation of death drawing near — so vivid and overwhelming it still haunted him.
He remembered how, in that instant, his brain felt like it was about to burst.
And yet, as that pressure peaked, time itself seemed to slow.
His instincts took over — his body moved on its own, narrowly avoiding the bullet that should have pierced his forehead.
He counterattacked and killed his opponent in return.
"That's enough," Reggie said gently, cutting into his thoughts. "Don't force yourself to remember more."
"You felt death clearly in that moment, didn't you? Most people who awaken Observation Haki have come face-to-face with death — close enough to touch it. That's why it's so rare. Even in the New World, few have truly mastered it."
Seeing Aaron's expression pale and distant, Reggie instantly knew what memory he'd stirred.
Aaron said nothing — he only lowered his head in silent acknowledgment.
A moment later, he looked up again and asked quietly:
"So, teacher… are you saying I need to go through another brush with death to awaken Armament Haki?"
"Yes and no," Reggie replied with a small shake of his head.
Then, smiling faintly at Aaron's confused look, he added,
"I'd guess that since awakening your Observation Haki, you haven't really been hurt much, have you? And with your terrifying regeneration, it's probably been a long time since you've truly felt pain. Am I right?"
"I can't speak for others," Reggie continued, "but I can tell you how I awakened my Armament Haki — through a fatal injury."
He paused for a moment, giving Aaron time to absorb his words, then slowly unbuttoned his shirt.
A long, savage scar ran diagonally from Reggie's chest to his right abdomen — so deep and brutal that Aaron felt a chill run down his spine just looking at it.
"I got this back when I was young," Reggie said calmly. "I was dueling a powerful swordsman. My body was at its limit, on the verge of collapse. The pain was… unimaginable. But I refused to die. I wanted to live. I fought against that agony, trying desperately to stop the bleeding. And just when I thought I was finished — when death was about to take me — a force erupted from deep within my body. It stopped the bleeding and kept me alive."
"That was the first time I felt Armament Haki."
"So yes — you're right to say it's the body's latent power. But to truly awaken it, you must do more than face death. You must possess the unyielding will to resist the pain and the fear that come with it."
Reggie pulled his shirt back on, his expression solemn as his words sank in.
And then—
A flash of red light flickered in Aaron's eyes.
Before he could react, his face twisted in shock — a blade coated in Armament Haki pierced straight through his chest.
"T-Teacher… you—!"
Aaron stared at Reggie in disbelief, blood spilling from his lips.
"Fight it," Reggie said coldly.
"Resist it. Face death. Feel the agony in your flesh. If you can't awaken it… then die."
His tone was utterly devoid of emotion — calm, merciless, and chilling as winter itself.
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