Chapter 22: "Military Boxing" – Advanced Version
Uncle Kate smiled, then continued his explanation.
"The so-called 'sensation' refers to the full-body vibration you feel when practicing the nameless boxing style. You must learn to control the intensity and direct that vibration throughout your body."
"Like this."
Luo Han and Cole turned to look as Uncle Kate extended his arm.
His arm looked as if it were pixelated—fuzzy and distorted. Staring at it for too long even made them dizzy.
"Watch closely. I'm channeling all the body's vibrations into my arm, focusing the force there. When that's done—just strike."
Then Uncle Kate threw a punch out toward the ocean.
A cylindrical shockwave blasted into the sky, disappearing only after traveling several hundred meters. While not as strong as the "Hakoku " technique he'd used before, it was still far more powerful than a regular punch.
The key was that this attack wasn't fueled by extended willpower—it was pure physical force. It resembled the "Rankyaku" (Tempest Kick) from the Six Powers.
Luo Han remembered: in the One Piece world, only a few techniques could produce such a shockwave without relying on Haki—Fish-Man Karate, Eight-Impact Fist, and the World Government's Six Powers.
Maybe there were others, but those were the three he remembered—testament to their power.
Anyone who mastered them was basically a superhuman.
Who would've thought such a technique existed on a remote island in the second half of the Grand Line? No wonder it was later called the "New World."
"Amazing! That's the same energy I've always felt during my punches. I thought I was the only one who knew about it. Haha!" Cole cheered.
He'd always generated power by rapidly flexing his muscles, gathering force in his fists, and combining that with a projection of his will to release shockwave punches—similar to what Uncle Kate just demonstrated.
But Cole's technique was crude. He couldn't localize the vibration like Uncle Kate, who kept his body flexible even while concentrating the force.
"I want to learn it, Uncle Kate! Teach me!" Cole insisted eagerly.
"Sure. I'll show you how to channel that vibrating force through the boxing form."
"As for you, Luo Han—you'll assist Cole during training. Help him refine that sensation," Uncle Kate added.
"Okay, Uncle Kate," Luo Han replied weakly, watching as Cole and Kate moved off to begin their one-on-one training.
He felt a little jealous. No one ever taught him anything…
Guess I'm just here to "study alongside" Cole. Sigh. My body just isn't up to par yet.
Still, Luo Han couldn't help but smile.
Because even just sparring with Cole would help him grow stronger.
Their battle yesterday had already proven something: his Mind Fruit could guide physical evolution—even without an aura to follow. It was just slower.
Before, Luo Han had let go of his physical growth goals, demoralized by his limited natural talent. Once that desire faded, the fruit's guidance weakened as well.
He only realized this after reflecting on the first time he'd used the Mind Fruit to guide his body. Back then, after finally getting to eat the Fish Scale Fruit, his longing for strength had peaked while training the nameless form.
That intense desire triggered a powerful psychic response, pushing his body into rapid evolution—so intense that it consumed life energy just to complete the change.
That was the Mind Fruit's most terrifying ability: strong mental activity could directly guide limitless physical evolution, as long as the desire remained.
That morning's training passed with Luo Han reflecting on the fruit's true nature.
By noon, training ended.
Uncle Kate instructed Luo Han and Cole to rest. He'd be taking them out to hunt Sea Kings in the afternoon.
They went home.
After a one-hour break post-lunch, the hunting team gathered atop the island. Luo Han and Cole joined them.
Uncle Kate stood at the front. Once everyone had arrived:
"Ten of you will come with me to hunt Sea Kings today," he said.
"Cole, transform into your full form and fly above us. Luo Han, you'll float nearby. If anyone's injured, your job is to pull them out and guide them onto Cole's back."
After selecting the ten members, Uncle Kate addressed the duo.
"For now, just watch how we hunt. Haha!"
"Captain, we've brought the arks!" Ryan reported.
Luo Han turned to look at these so-called arks and froze.
"Brother Ryan, are you sure that's an ark and not a toy raft?" he pointed at the tiny vessel that could barely fit two people.
I'd always thought the hunting team had a big ship or something… This looks like it's for catching fish under a meter long!
"Haha! Let's go. I'll explain on the way," Uncle Kate laughed, grabbing two of the 'arks' and sliding down to the sea along a rope.
"Surprised, aren't you? Haha! I reacted the same way my first time. You'll understand soon," Ryan said, smiling as he grabbed an ark and followed.
He was one of the ten hunters chosen.
The other hunters exchanged amused looks with Luo Han, making him feel a little embarrassed.
"Cole! Transform—we're going down!"
Cole showed no curiosity about any of it. If it wasn't about food or fighting, he wasn't interested.
Luo Han was the only one shocked by all this.
Cole transformed and flew overhead. Luo Han floated beside Uncle Kate's little raft.
"Uncle Kate, why such tiny boats for hunting Sea Kings? What if a wave hits us and flips the boat?" Luo Han asked. He genuinely couldn't figure it out.
No wonder the hunting team never brought back Sea Kings—maybe it was because they didn't have a proper boat!
"Don't overthink it, little Luo Han. Do you know the origin of Ring Tree Island?" Uncle Kate asked, clearly seeing Luo Han's confusion.
"The origin? You mean the name?" Luo Han asked.
"Haha, no! Look around—Ring Tree Island is huge, right?"
"Yes! But what does that have to do with this?"
"It's very relevant! When I was young, the island wasn't this big. The change isn't drastic, but over twenty years, I've felt it. The older folks might sense the growth even more," Uncle Kate said with a hint of emotion.
At that moment, the small boat drifted beyond Ring Tree Island's seabed.
"Use your Observation Haki, Luo Han. Do you sense any Sea Kings nearby?"
Uncle Kate seemed confident as he asked.
Luo Han scanned the surroundings—he was surprised.
Nothing. For several kilometers around, there were no Sea Kings.
Only some Salt-Eating Sharks—deep, about a thousand meters down.
Strange… Luo Han thought, confused.
(END CHAPTER)
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