The Next Morning — Offshore of Marineford
The salty sea wind lashed against his face as Gern crouched at the bow of the warship, yawning while staring at the desolate island gradually taking shape on the horizon.
"So…" He turned his head toward the man standing behind him, cloak fluttering sharply in the wind. "The Headquarters really classified all training grounds as 'high-risk facilities' because of my ability, Instructor Zephyr?"
"Hmph. What else did you expect?" Zephyr snorted, his gaze sweeping over from behind his sunglasses."Your Devil Fruit demolishes terrain faster than Garp can demolish snacks. The finance department already filed a joint complaint demanding compensation."
Gern shrank slightly and muttered under his breath, "You're the one who struck first…"
"Hm?"
"I—I mean, your teaching was excellent!" Gern immediately straightened up, then glanced curiously toward the island drawing closer. "So… what exactly is today's special training?"
Instead of answering, Zephyr suddenly tossed something at him.
Gern reflexively reached out—then froze when he saw what it was. His face paled, and he let it clatter onto the deck.
"Wait—aren't these a bit too early for that?! I haven't even learned Haki yet—!"
"Oh! Wrong pair," Zephyr said casually, a dangerous curve forming at the corner of his mouth. "Those were for pirates last time."
"..."
"You said the training grounds at HQ were too small, didn't you?" Zephyr pointed toward the island's center, where a massive, unnatural crater yawned open."See that pit? In one month, I want it turned into a basin."
Gern followed his finger, realization hitting him like a hammer. His voice trembled."Y-You're not saying you want me to… use my fists…?"
"Haki is the extension of one's will." Zephyr grabbed Gern by the back of the collar and hurled him toward the shore the moment the ship docked."Learn to feel power through your body first—then we'll talk about fancy vibrations!"
Bam!Gern face-planted into the sand, mouth instantly full of grit.
Moments later, as he struggled to push himself up, he saw Zephyr descending from the sky using Geppo, his blackened fists gleaming with a metallic sheen under the rising sun.
"Remember this, kid." Zephyr landed, the impact sending a ring of sand erupting outward."In the New World, there are countless people who can destroy islands…"
His fist tore through the air, swelling rapidly in Gern's vision.
"But those who can protect everything—those are the true strong!""And the first step toward that strength… is Haki!"
"Haki…"As the word left Zephyr's lips, Gern felt his blood boil. His breath hitched, pupils contracting.
This… this was the moment he had been waiting for.
Seeing the look on Gern's face, Zephyr's lips curved slightly.
Slowly, he raised his right arm, jet-black Armament Haki coiling around it."Do you remember what I told you two months ago, at the training grounds?"
"I do!" Gern shouted instinctively. "You said Haki comes from presence, willpower, and spiritual strength!"
"And," he added fiercely, "it's the embodiment of belief!"
"Good." Zephyr nodded in approval as the black coating surged like flowing steel."Haki comes in three forms: Conqueror's, Armament, and Observation—each corresponding to those three forces."
"Haki is the physical manifestation of conviction."As he spoke, Zephyr clenched his fist, compressing the air until it detonated with a thunderous crack.
"Gern, you've never truly touched Haki before—that's why the training ground ended up like that.You've already seen Conqueror's Haki from Whitebeard. And two months ago, you experienced Armament and Observation firsthand."
Gern nodded silently.
Only by witnessing the summit of power could one begin to yearn for it.
"I understand, Instructor Zephyr!"
"Since you understand…" Zephyr's lips curled into a cryptic smile.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion erupted behind them as a towering rock wall dozens of meters high shattered apart. Amid the flying debris, a massive figure wearing a Marine coat burst forward, laughing wildly as he landed, cracking the ground beneath his feet.
"Then let's get started properly, Gern boy!!!"
"V–Vice Admiral Garp?!"Gern's pupils shrank as he stumbled back instinctively.
Seeing Garp appear out of nowhere—ice pop still in his mouth—left his mind completely blank.
Zephyr brushed stone dust off his coat and sighed."My Haki may be strong, but for your potential, theory alone isn't enough."He turned toward Garp. "With him, training becomes life-or-death. He'll force out your true potential through near-death experiences."
"This will forge your Haki into something truly powerful—so…"
(In simple terms: Zephyr handles theory, Garp handles beating you half to death.)
"Hah! Exactly!" Garp laughed loudly, suddenly punching a boulder three times Gern's height.
It disintegrated instantly.
"Only by standing on the edge of death do you realize how strong you truly are!"
"W-Wait!" Sweat poured down Gern's forehead. "What do you mean by 'near-death'?!"
This was Monkey D. Garp—the Marine Hero who once chased the Pirate King across the seas, still in his prime!
This man… would absolutely beat someone to death during training.
"Hehehe… Gern boy, Zephyr asking me for help is a first!"Garp's grin turned dangerous as his knuckles cracked loudly."I don't do theory. I only know one thing—the end of hell is a fist!"
"True Armament Haki is born from the sound of bones shattering!!!"
"Gern." Zephyr stepped forward, standing in stark contrast to Garp."My path is the opposite of his. I believe Armament's end is not an invincible fist—but a back that stands firm when others stand behind you."
Gern stared at the two legendary instructors with completely different philosophies.
What awaited him was undoubtedly hellish training.
And yet… his lips curled upward.
Wasn't this exactly what he'd been waiting for?
"Hah… hahaha… this is amazing—absolutely amazing!"His laughter rang with wild exhilaration.
Both Zephyr and Garp raised their brows in surprise.
"Instructor Zephyr's absolute defense…""Vice Admiral Garp's iron fist…"
Gern spread his arms wide, eyes burning."I'll devour everything you have—then…"
"I'll create a path of Haki that belongs to me alone!"
Garp froze for a moment—then burst into earth-shaking laughter."HAHAHA! That's the spirit, brat!"
He slapped Gern on the back so hard he nearly slammed into the ground.
Zephyr, however, looked thoughtful."Fusing two opposing philosophies…" he murmured. "That is the kind of man I want to shape."
"But—"Garp's smile vanished as black Armament instantly coated his right arm."First, let's see if your bones are as tough as that mouth of yours!"
Before Gern could react, the legendary Fist of Love came roaring toward him.
In the final instant before consciousness faded, he vaguely heard Zephyr shout—
"Garp! Why did you suddenly attack?! And with Armament?!"
"Hahaha—reflex! Didn't mean to! Huh… he's flimsier than I thought…"