The Thousand Sunny sailed steadily through the New World. The sea was unusually calm.
Below deck, in the gravity-controlled training room Ben had constructed, the air felt heavy.
Ben stood in the center of the reinforced floor. He wore loose training pants and a white tank top. He wrapped his hands in white bandages.
Luffy stood opposite him, cracking his knuckles. Sanji, Zoro, and Brook sat on a bench near the wall, watching intently. Trafalgar Law leaned against the doorframe, his spotted hat pulled low, observing out of curiosity.
"Alright, Luffy," Ben said, adjusting his hand wraps. "Come at me. Don't hold back. I want to test something."
Luffy grinned. He didn't ask questions. He loved fighting.
"You got it, Ben!" Luffy cheered.
Luffy kicked the steel floor. Soru. He vanished.
He reappeared instantly in front of Ben, throwing a heavy, Haki-coated right hook aimed directly at Ben's jaw.
Ben shifted his weight. He slid his left foot back a fraction of an inch. He tilted his head. The punch missed his jaw by a millimeter. The wind from the strike ruffled his hair.
As Luffy's momentum carried him forward, Ben pivoted on his right heel. He brought his left leg up in a tight, fluid arc.
Ssamsu Taekkyon: Low Sweep.
Ben's shin struck the back of Luffy's knee. It wasn't a powerful strike, but the precision was absolute. It hit the exact nerve cluster at the exact moment Luffy's weight shifted.
Luffy's leg buckled. He stumbled forward, losing his balance entirely.
Luffy caught himself on his hands. He spun, launching a barrage of rapid kicks from the floor. "Gomu Gomu no... Stamp Gatling!"
Hundreds of rubber feet flew at Ben.
Ben remained perfectly calm. He did not retreat. He stepped into the barrage.
He moved his hands and feet in a rhythmic, swaying motion. He looked like he was dancing. He parried the heavy rubber kicks with open palms, redirecting the force rather than absorbing it. Every time a foot came close, Ben stepped slightly to the side, allowing the attack to glance off him.
Ssamsu Taekkyon: Flowing Water Defense.
Luffy grew frustrated. He stopped kicking and sprang back to his feet. He pulled both arms back, inflating his muscles.
"Gomu Gomu no... Grizzly Magnum!"
Luffy threw two giant, Haki-coated fists forward.
Ben didn't dodge this time. He stepped forward again. He raised his right leg high above his head, keeping it perfectly straight.
As the giant fists closed in, Ben brought his heel down like an axe.
Ssamsu Taekkyon: Baekdu.
Ben's heel struck the space between Luffy's incoming fists. The downward force of the kick, combined with flawless leverage, forced Luffy's arms apart. The giant fists sailed past Ben on either side, slamming into the steel wall behind him with a deafening crash.
With Luffy's chest wide open, Ben didn't pause. He planted his right foot, spun 360 degrees, and delivered a devastating back kick directly to Luffy's sternum.
Ssamsu Taekkyon: Boomerang Kick.
The kick sent Luffy flying backward. He bounced off the far wall and landed on his feet, skidding across the steel floor.
Luffy panted. He looked at Ben with wide eyes.
On the bench, Zoro sat up straighter. Sanji took the cigarette out of his mouth.
"What was that?" Sanji muttered, staring at Ben's legs. "His balance... it's perfect."
"He didn't use magic," Zoro noted, his eye narrowing. "He just deflected everything through positioning."
Law watched silently from the door. He analyzed Ben's movements. The strikes were not designed for brute force; they were designed for anatomical disruption.
Luffy stood up. He grinned wider.
"That's cool, Ben!" Luffy laughed. He bit his thumb. "My turn to go all out! Gear Fourth!"
Luffy blew air into his muscles. He coated his arms and legs in dense Armament Haki. He bounced on the steel floor, the steam rolling off his massive, inflated torso.
"Boundman," Luffy declared.
He kicked the air. He shot toward Ben like a cannonball. He pulled his fist into his arm, compressing it like a spring.
"Kong Gun!"
Luffy threw the punch. The sheer air pressure preceding the strike cracked the steel floor.
Ben exhaled. He lowered his stance.
He didn't try to parry the Kong Gun. He knew the force would shatter his arms.
Instead, Ben used Ssamsu Taekkyon: Seamless Evasion.
He dropped entirely to the floor, sliding under the massive Haki-coated fist. As the Kong Gun sailed over him, Ben planted his hands on the steel. He kicked both feet straight up, striking the underside of Luffy's extended arm.
The double kick didn't damage the Haki, but it altered the trajectory of the punch just enough.
Luffy's momentum carried him over Ben.
Ben sprang to his feet instantly. He spun, chambering his leg.
Luffy turned mid-air, preparing another strike.
Ben unleashed a barrage. He didn't aim for the heavily armored chest or arms. He aimed for the joints.
Ssamsu Taekkyon: Nirvana Kick.
Ben kicked Luffy's elbow. He kicked the back of Luffy's knee. He kicked Luffy's ankle. He delivered six kicks in the span of a single second. Every strike hit a nerve cluster or a joint articulation point.
Luffy grunted. His Boundman form wavered slightly as his nerves misfired. He landed heavily, his left leg buckling slightly.
"Stop," Ben called out, lowering his leg.
Luffy deactivated Gear Fourth. Steam poured off him as he shrank back to his normal size. He panted, rubbing his knee.
Ben looked at the group on the bench. "Well? Did you notice anything different?"
Sanji stood up. He walked onto the training floor. "Your footwork. It's completely different from our usual spars. You don't chamber your kicks from the hip. You whip them from the knee."
"And you never stop moving," Zoro added, crossing his arms. "You use the momentum of the previous strike to fuel the next one. It's a continuous chain."
Brook nodded. "Yohoho. Very fluid. Like music without rests."
Law adjusted his hat. "You targeted his nervous system. You struck the ulnar nerve and the popliteal fossa. You bypassed his rubber defense by attacking the electrical signals in his body."
Ben nodded. "Exactly. It's a martial art based on flow and anatomical precision. It doesn't rely on raw power. It relies on leverage."
Ben raised his right hand. He reached into his core. He used the Creation quirk he had from Momo's template.
A dark grey glow emanated from his palm.
The metal extruded from his skin. It formed a hilt, a crossguard, and a long, curved blade. In seconds, Ben held a flawless, grey Uru katana.
He tossed the sword into the air, caught it by the hilt, and looked at Zoro.
"Your turn, Zoro," Ben said. "Spar with me. I want to try something else."
Zoro grinned. He stood up and drew Wado Ichimonji and Sandai Kitetsu. He didn't draw Shusui. He walked onto the floor.
"You aren't a swordsman, Ben," Zoro warned. "Don't expect me to go easy."
"I don't," Ben replied.
Zoro charged.
"Oni Giri!"
Zoro crossed his swords. He swung them forward in a devastating, high-speed X-slash.
Ben didn't dodge. He recalled the memories. He recalled the fight with Yoo Mira.
Moon Light Sword Style: 1st Stance - Wood Cutter.
Ben gripped the Uru katana with both hands. He swung the blade straight down with immense, focused weight. He struck the center where Zoro's two blades crossed. The heavy downward strike broke the crossing point. Zoro's blades pushed outward, missing Ben entirely.
Zoro's eye widened in surprise. He didn't stop. He used the outward momentum to spin his body.
"Tiger Hunt!"
Zoro swung both swords downward, aiming to trap Ben between the blades.
Ben let go of the sword with his left hand. He stepped into the attack.
Moon Light Sword Style: 3rd Stance - Swallow Return.
Ben flicked his wrist. He brought his sword up in a blindingly fast, ascending slice. He struck the flat side of Sandai Kitetsu, knocking it upward. He ducked under Wado Ichimonji.
Zoro grunted. He stepped back. He realized Ben was using actual sword techniques.
"Not bad," Zoro said. He swung his swords in a tight circle. Wind gathered around the blades.
"Tatsu Maki! Dragon Twister!"
A tornado of sharp wind erupted from Zoro's swords. It tore across the training room, aiming to lift Ben into the air and cut him to ribbons.
Ben did not try to cut the wind. He merged the sword style with his martial arts footwork.
Moon Light Sword Style: 4th Stance - Execution.
Ben dashed forward. He moved through the dead center of the tornado, finding the calm eye of the wind. He thrust his katana straight forward like a spear, aiming directly for Zoro's chest.
Zoro crossed his swords to block. "Rashomon!"
The Uru katana struck the crossed blades. Sparks flew.
Ben didn't try to push through the block. He let go of his sword entirely.
The Uru katana hung in the air for a split second.
Ben spun. He used Ssamsu Taekkyeon. He kicked the hilt of his own hanging sword.
The kick drove the Uru katana forward with sudden, explosive speed. The blade pushed Zoro's crossed swords back, throwing Zoro off balance.
Ben caught his sword as it bounced back. He landed on his feet.
Zoro recovered instantly. He glared at Ben. He raised his swords over his shoulder.
"108 Pound Phoenix!"
Zoro swung. A massive, compressed flying slash shot across the room.
Ben took a deep breath. He held his katana loosely by his side. He visualized the counter. He visualized the exact flaw in a heavy, committed swing.
Ben stepped forward. He did not swing his blade at the flying slash. He dodged it by a hair, stepping perfectly to the side.
He closed the distance to Zoro in a single heartbeat.
Zoro brought his swords back for a defensive block.
Moon Light Sword Style Counter: Formless Draw.
Ben didn't swing the sharp edge of his sword. He stepped past Zoro's guard. He thrust the blunt pommel of his katana forward.
He struck Zoro's right wrist.
The strike hit the nerve. Zoro's hand went numb. Sandai Kitetsu wavered in his grip.
In the same fluid motion, Ben spun his katana. He brought the flat side of the Uru blade down hard on the back of Wado Ichimonji. The strike forced Zoro's left arm down.
Ben stepped behind Zoro. He rested the edge of the Uru katana lightly against the back of Zoro's neck.
The room fell dead silent.
Zoro stood perfectly still. The cold metal touched his skin.
Ben lowered the sword. He stepped back and sent the Uru weapon into his personal dimension.
"Well?" Ben asked.
Zoro sheathed his swords. He turned around. He looked at Ben. His expression looked serious.
"The technique is good," Zoro said slowly. He rubbed his numb right wrist. "It is very good. It focuses entirely on breaking the opponent's rhythm. It disarms and disrupts. The stances are solid. The counter you used at the end is dangerous."
Zoro crossed his arms.
"But," Zoro continued, his eye narrowing. "You cannot replicate it properly."
Ben nodded. "Tell me why."
"Because you are not a swordsman," Zoro stated bluntly. "Your body does not understand the blade. Your grip is too loose when you strike. Your footwork is a brawler's footwork, not a fencer's. You move like a martial artist holding a sharp stick. You lack the intent of a swordsman. A sword is a partner. To you, it is just a tool performing a memorized trick. If I had expected that pommel strike, I would have cut your arm off."
Ben smiled. "I know."
"Then where did you read about that technique?" Zoro asked. "I have never seen a style that flows like that in our previous spars."
Sanji lit a cigarette. "Yeah. The way you mixed the kicks with the swordplay. It looks different from your usual style."
"It is," Ben said calmly. He decided to use his standard excuse. "I was able to look into the past a bit. I saw a few fights. These are the techniques used by warriors long before the Void Century. One style is called the Moon Light Sword Style. The other is its direct counter."
The crew stared at him.
Law stood frozen near the door. His eyes widened. He gripped the hilt of his nodachi tightly.
"What do you mean?" Law demanded. His voice sounded tight. "You can look into the past?"
Ben turned to look at the surgeon. "Didn't I tell you already? I am a seer. I can see into past and future events. Not all of them. Just a glimpse here and there."
Law felt a cold sweat break out on his neck. He thought about Flevance. He thought about the White Lead disease. He thought about Corazon smiling at him in the snow. If Ben could see the past, he could see the World Government's true history. He could see the truth.
Law remained silent, but his mind raced.
Zoro drew Wado Ichimonji again.
"Spar with me again," Zoro commanded. He pointed the white blade at Ben. "I want to get a feel for that technique. I want to see the stances again. I can adapt that pommel strike into my Three-Sword Style. I can use the hilts to break guards when I clash."
"Gladly," Ben said. He took out the Uru katana.
They sparred. They did not go full power. They moved slowly. They analyzed the mechanics of the Moon Light Sword Style. Ben showed Zoro the heavy downward swing of the Wood Cutter. He showed him the quick upward flick of the Swallow Return.
Brook drew his soul-solid cane sword. He joined them on the floor.
"Yohoho! Let me try!" Brook cheered.
Brook tested how the fluid, formless strikes of the counter-style could integrate with his rapid fencing. He practiced deflecting Ben's sword without meeting it edge-to-edge.
After an hour, Zoro and Brook sat down on the bench. They sweated heavily. They closed their eyes, visualizing the new movements, writing notes in their heads.
Ben turned to Sanji.
"Sanji," Ben called out. "I have a technique for you and Luffy. It is called Renewal Taekwondo."
Sanji crushed his cigarette in an ashtray. He walked onto the training floor. He stretched his long legs.
"Let's see it," Sanji said. "Show me the difference."
Luffy jumped up from the floor. "Me too! Teach me the slippery moves!"
Ben stood in the center of the room. He motioned for Sanji and Luffy to stand in front of him.
"Black Leg style relies on heavy, powerful kicks," Ben explained simply. "You plant your standing foot firmly. You swing your leg from the hip. You use the weight of your entire body to crush the target."
Sanji nodded. "That's how Zeff taught me. Plant the root, swing the trunk."
"Renewal Taekwondo is different," Ben said. "You do not plant your foot firmly. You keep your balance centered, but your feet remain light. You do not swing from the hip. You snap from the knee. You treat your leg like a whip."
Ben demonstrated. He threw a slow-motion kick. He showed them how he folded his knee, rotated his hips, and then snapped the lower half of his leg forward.
"It relies on speed and the snapping motion," Ben said. "And it relies on continuous flow."
"Show me," Sanji challenged. He raised his guard.
Ben attacked.
He didn't use named attacks yet. He just moved. He threw a high kick at Sanji's head. Sanji raised his arm to block.
Instead of pulling his leg back after the block, Ben used the bounce of the impact. He spun on his standing foot. He let the momentum carry his body around. He delivered a second, spinning heel kick to Sanji's other side.
Renewal Taekwondo: Hwechook.
Sanji barely blocked the second kick in time. The speed surprised him.
"You use the recoil," Sanji realized, his eyes widening. "You don't fight the bounce. You follow it."
"Exactly," Ben said. "Every strike feeds the next strike. You never stop spinning. You never stop flowing."
Ben stepped back. He looked at their feet.
"The most important part is the footwork," Ben said. "It is called Bo-Bup. It is a way of walking. You do not push off the ground like you do with Soru. You shift your weight instantly."
Ben demonstrated. He stood perfectly still. Then, without bending his knees to jump, he appeared three feet to the left. He didn't look like he ran. He looked like he slid across ice.
Luffy stared. "That looks weird. But it's fast!"
"Try it," Ben said.
For the next two hours, the training room echoed with the sound of snapping kicks.
Ben sparred with Sanji. They traded kicks. Shin clashed against shin. Sanji tried to adapt the whip-like motion into his heavy strikes. He practiced the Hwechook spin, trying to use the recoil of his kicks to launch consecutive attacks without touching the ground.
Luffy practiced the Bo-Bup footwork. He fell over multiple times. His rubber body made it difficult to keep his weight perfectly centered. But he kept trying. He wanted to learn how to dodge without inflating himself.
Law watched from the sidelines. He analyzed the footwork. He analyzed the spinning kicks.
Eventually, Law couldn't resist. He drew Kikoku. He walked onto the training floor.
"Let me test that footwork," Law said calmly.
He didn't use his ROOM. He just used his long sword. He thrust the blade at Ben, testing how quickly Ben could shift his weight to dodge. Ben slid left. Law slashed right. Ben spun, parrying the flat of the blade with a high kick.
They fought in a blur of movement.
The heavy steel door of the training room slid open.
Chopper trotted in. He carried a large tray of water bottles. Vivi walked behind him. She held her silver Vibranium spear.
"We brought water!" Chopper cheered.
He stopped in his tracks. He looked at the intense sparring sessions happening across the room.
Zoro practiced pommel strikes against a steel training dummy. He twisted his wrists in new ways. Brook fenced with his shadow, testing formless parries. Sanji and Luffy traded rapid, spinning kicks in the corner. Law and Ben moved around the center floor, trading sword thrusts and sweeping kicks.
Vivi gripped her spear tightly. The blue and gold flames of the Simurgh flickered on her shoulders.
"Are you teaching new techniques?" Vivi asked. Her eyes shone with competitive spirit. "I want to learn. The Emperor's commanders will be monsters. I need to be stronger."
Chopper nodded furiously. He set the water tray down. "Me too! I need to learn how to fight better when I use Heavy Point! I always lose my balance when I punch too hard!"
Ben smiled. He stopped sparring with Law. He walked over to the water tray and tossed a bottle to Luffy, then one to Sanji.
"Alright," Ben said. He wiped sweat from his forehead. "Everyone on the floor. The Emperor Kaido has an army of beast fighters. They are huge. They are tough. We are going to need every trick in the book to beat them."
Ben turned to Chopper.
"Chopper, transform into Heavy Point," Ben instructed. "You lose your balance because you throw your whole body behind your punches. I will teach you how to strike without moving your center. You will hit harder, and you won't fall over."
Chopper transformed. His muscles bulged as he shifted into his massive human-reindeer form. "Ready!"
Ben turned to Vivi.
"Vivi," Ben said, pointing at her spear. "Your flames heal. Your spear absorbs blows. But your footwork is standard Marine training. I will teach you Practical Taekkyeon. It uses sweeping kicks and tripping motions. You will learn how to knock giant enemies off their feet before you strike them with the spear."
Vivi nodded. She spun her spear and dropped into a ready stance. "Show me."
For the rest of the voyage to Zou, the training room never remained empty.
The crew practically lived below deck. They drank water, ate Sanji's quick meals, and went right back to sparring.
Zoro integrated the formless disarming techniques into his Three-Sword Style. He learned how to use the hilts of his swords to break guards.
Sanji refined the Hwechook. He learned how to throw three kicks in the air before gravity pulled him back down.
Luffy mastered the Bo-Bup footwork. He learned how to slide into an enemy's guard without making a sound.
Chopper learned to throw heavy punches while keeping his feet rooted to the floor.
Vivi learned how to trip opponents twice her size using the fluid sweeps of Practical Taekkyeon.
Law sparred with all of them. He tested his spatial awareness against their new speed and unpredictability.
They bled on the steel floor. They sweat through their clothes. They pushed their bodies to the absolute limit.
The Thousand Sunny sailed ever closer to the giant elephant. Above deck, the sun shone on the calm ocean. Below deck, the Straw Hat Pirates forged themselves into a crew ready to challenge the rulers of the sea.