Chapter 261: Life Without Kaido is Actually Pretty Great
For young individuals still in their developmental phase, rigorous physical training was an absolutely indispensable foundation.
Whether it was mastering fundamental combat techniques or learning to manifest Haki, everything was inextricably linked to one's baseline physical stamina and constitution.
Although Yamato was technically still in the foundational development stage, the years of brutal beatings she had endured from Kaido hadn't been entirely for nothing. At the very least, she didn't need to start from absolute zero, allowing her to be directly placed into the more elite, advanced training classes.
"I shouldn't need to repeat what Observation Haki is," Sebastian announced, pacing before the students. "It is a power hidden within the human body—a perceptive ability that completely transcends the standard five senses.
"Once you master this ability, even if you are robbed of your sight, you will be able to clearly read your enemy's intentions and predict impending danger.
"Taken to its absolute pinnacle, Observation Haki can even allow you to catch fleeting glimpses of the future.
"However, reaching that level is still far too early for any of you. For now, simply relinquishing your reliance on your eyesight will be sufficient."
Inside the relatively small, advanced youth class, Sebastian was lecturing on his personal understanding of Observation Haki. Following Nereus's arrangements, he had compiled a specialized training curriculum tailored specifically for children.
Every student present, Yamato included, had been handed a thick cloth ribbon. They were instructed to wrap it tightly around their eyes, completely cutting off their vision, before picking up a rubber club and stepping into the sparring ring for a blind melee.
"Your goal is not to swing wildly in the dark," Sebastian emphasized, laying down the rules. "If you do not have your eyes, use your ears to listen. Use your skin to feel the shifts in the air currents. Once you can accurately lock onto your opponent's position and deflect every incoming attack, you will have passed this stage."
He also handed out earplugs to a select few students. This was a slightly more advanced phase of the curriculum—systematically stripping away both sight and hearing to force the body's latent survival instincts to awaken.
Unlike Conqueror's Haki, which was strictly innate, both Observation and Armament Haki could theoretically be learned by anyone. However, some individuals naturally lacked the aptitude for it, making their cultivation exponentially more difficult. Without the guidance of a master, they could spend their entire lives searching without ever grasping the trick to unlocking it.
Conversely, those blessed with peerless talent might not even know the names of these powers, yet they could intuitively manifest them purely on instinct.
To Yamato, this game-like training method was incredibly enjoyable. Of course, the sheer absence of Kaido looming over her was an immensely crucial factor in her happiness.
While Observation Haki training prioritized evasion and perception, Armament Haki training heavily emphasized brutal physical confrontation. As the ultimate spear and shield born from the human body, taking physical beatings had always been the most efficient catalyst for awakening Armament Haki.
"The condition for victory is simple: put this ball into the opposing team's goal. Any and all physical contact is completely legal," Amphelite declared, standing by a massive court. "You don't need to worry about getting hurt. Even if your muscles tear and your bones snap, I can heal you in an instant."
The advanced Armament Haki class was currently being overseen by Amphelite. Compared to Observation Haki, the risks involved in cultivating Armament Haki were significantly higher.
For absolute beginners, it was easy—simply enduring controlled beatings posed little real danger.
For those who had already grasped the basics of Armament Haki, it was also fine; even a shallow coating provided substantial defense, ensuring they wouldn't suffer lethal injuries during sparring.
The most difficult students to teach were the ones who possessed undeniable talent but hadn't quite managed to manifest the Haki yet. Accidents were highly likely to occur during intense combat drills. Fortunately, the Flames of Rebirth of the Phoenix perfectly mitigated this exact problem.
More accurately, the Flames of Rebirth didn't just cover this specific phase; they exponentially accelerated the training progress across every single stage of cultivation. It merely required a bit more of Amphelite's energy and attention to monitor them.
Over the course of several months, Yamato gradually familiarized herself with the various training "games" of Fish-Man Island, thoroughly enjoying a life utterly devoid of Kaido. According to Chloe, the corners of Yamato's mouth hadn't dropped once in months.
Even when she was beaten until she was covered in dirt and bruises, Yamato would still burst into bright, genuine laughter. One could only imagine what kind of hellish daily life she had endured in the past.
"It looks like you had a lot of fun today too?" Chloe asked, handing Yamato a towel.
"Ever since I stopped having to see that bastard old man's face, I feel like my entire body is lighter!" Yamato grinned brightly. "Oh, and look at this!"
Yamato held out her palm in front of Chloe. She took a deep breath, focusing her concentration as if trying to draw out a specific energy. A moment later, the tips of her fingers were coated in a distinct, metallic black sheen.
"Congratulations! It looks like you've finally grasped the basics of Armament Haki," Chloe cheered.
"Your mom said I learned it pretty fast," Yamato smiled proudly. "How long did it take you to learn it?"
"I don't really remember," Chloe hummed thoughtfully. "My whole family took turns teaching me for a while, but my learning process was a bit different from yours."
Because of her Lunarian bloodline, Chloe possessed an absolutely absurd baseline defense from the moment she was born. What ordinary people considered "lethal damage" was basically just a light tickle to a Lunarian.
Under those circumstances, forcing her latent Armament Haki to awaken required some highly unconventional, extreme methods.
"Did Mr. Nereus personally instruct you? I'm so jealous..." Yamato sighed dreamily.
"The methods are mostly the same! It's just that Daddy has a much finer control over his strength," Chloe assured her. "By the way, my Big Sis's concert is almost fully prepped! Do you want to go watch it together?"
After becoming completely familiar with her, Chloe had dropped the overly formal title of "Royal Sister." She was much more comfortable just calling Nanamo "Sister" or "Big Sis."
"Is Mr. Nereus going to be there?" Yamato asked eagerly.
"Of course he is! This is the first time Big Sis is putting on a massive show like this. There's no way Daddy would miss it!"
Chloe's reasoning was perfectly sound. And she wasn't the only one who thought so—Marine Headquarters had arrived at the exact same conclusion.
A grand concert wasn't a cheap street performance where you could just set up on a corner with high foot traffic and start singing. It required massive, widespread promotional campaigns beforehand. Because the chosen venue was the Sabaody Archipelago, Marine Headquarters naturally paid very close attention to the unfolding news.
It wasn't that the Marines secretly harbored a massive Nanamo fan club; rather, they had to critically assess whether Nereus would personally appear near their jurisdiction, and evaluate the catastrophic risks if any unforeseen accidents occurred during the concert.
Whether it was Nanamo or Nereus, the Marines held zero doubts regarding the overwhelming martial might of that father-daughter duo. That fact had been carved into reality with the blood of countless Marines.
"Objectively speaking, Nereus values his family above all else," Admiral Sengoku said, analyzing the intelligence reports at Headquarters. "According to the classified details leaked from Fleet Admiral Kong, Nereus's treaty with the World Government explicitly included the complete revocation of the Lunarian's—Amphelite's—bounty.
"Although we don't know his true motive for hosting this grand concert, if the event is violently disrupted... it could very well trigger a catastrophic scenario that none of us wish to see."
"Admiral Sengoku, are you suggesting... we should actively help him facilitate this concert?" an aide asked incredulously. "We're supposed to participate in that Vampire's little family game?"
"No," Sengoku replied sternly. "But we will dispatch undercover operatives to infiltrate the venue and observe their true intentions. Furthermore, we will quietly increase the number of patrol warships stationed around the outer perimeter of the Sabaody Archipelago. If we're lucky, we might net some unexpected catches."
The Marines absolutely refused to interfere with the concert itself. It was an event hosted by a recognized World Government affiliated nation on Sabaody; they legally lacked any justification to intervene.
If Nereus had formally gone through the World Government's diplomatic channels to demand Marine security details, the Marines wouldn't have been able to refuse. This current arrangement of "mutual non-interference" was already the best possible outcome.
If a major incident truly broke out during the concert, the Marines would have no choice but to pinch their noses and deal with the fallout.
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