"Hey, System, what's the deal with these experience points?" Drake muttered, staring at the status panel in confusion.
[Host]: Vale D. Drake [Cultivation]: Swordsman Master [Skills]: Basic Armament Haki (1100/1000) [Items]: Senzu Bean, Rainbow's Remnant (Sword) [Vehicle]: The Protector
The sudden jump in experience points felt almost too good to be true.
[Ding! The system grants experience points based on mission completion and the difficulty of the individuals involved. There are various types of experience; the host must manually choose how to redeem them.] [Note: Unlocking any new skill requires 1,000 points. Ascending to a higher tier depends on specific conditions.]
A wave of excitement washed over him. "So you're saying these 1,100 points can either evolve my Armament Haki or unlock Observation Haki? Is that right?"
If his theory held true, he could significantly boost his combat power before they even smelled the salt air of Marineford.
[The host has a modicum of insight. You aren't entirely hopeless...] The system's flippant tone made Drake's teeth itch, but his joy was too great to let the "dog system" get under his skin.
"System, upgrade Armament Haki!" In his current situation, pure offensive and defensive power was the priority. If he could reach the stage of "Ryuo"—the flow of Haki—his strength would leap to an entirely different dimension.
[Ding! Armament Haki upgraded! Ascending to Mid-Level Armament Haki! Status: Ryuo unlocked!]
It really is Ryuo! Drake's heart soared. He checked the panel again. The skill line had changed:
[Skill]: Mid-Level Armament Haki (100/10,000)
It seemed the jump to the high-level tier would require a staggering 10,000 points. Drake couldn't help but wonder: if Ryuo was only "Mid-Level," what did "High-Level" Armament look like? If he mastered that, he might truly be able to trade blows with an Admiral on equal footing.
"System, what exactly is the High-Level state of Armament Haki?"
[The host currently lacks the clearance to access this information.]
Drake's lip twitched. He should have known the system wouldn't make it that easy. Still, he wasn't too disappointed. Ten thousand points was just a number; he'd get there.
[Host, if you...] The system started to say something else, but Drake wasn't in the mood for a lecture. He exited the mental space immediately.
[...] went the system.
Back in reality, Drake checked the Protector's main monitor. Seeing nothing unusual, he made his way toward the training quarters at the rear of the vessel. Through the reinforced glass of the training room doors, he saw a world of swirling fire and crashing lightning.
"Fire Fist!"
Sabo leaped along the walls, seizing a momentary opening to launch a blast of scorching flames at Kenshin.
Shortly after they had set sail, Drake had handed the Mera Mera no Mi to Sabo. Despite Sabo's initial confusion and Drake's cryptic silence, Sabo had eventually eaten the fruit. With a war on the horizon, the power of a Logia was a massive tactical advantage. Sabo trusted Drake implicitly; if Drake said it was the right move, it was.
Though Sabo was puzzled as to how a second Mera Mera no Mi existed while Ace was still alive, the Protector had already shattered his understanding of common sense. A duplicate fruit seemed minor by comparison.
Zip—! Kenshin moved like a bolt of lightning, his speed so great he left only afterimages and the sharp crack of displaced air. However, the room's dimensions were limited; even lightning couldn't outrun the sheer scale of Sabo's fire.
BOOM!
The flames engulfed him, forcing Kenshin to manifest. His face flickered with raw electricity as he tanked the impact with his elemental body.
"Dragon Claw!" Sabo's arm turned a polished, obsidian black. His hand contorted into a three-fingered claw, lunging toward Kenshin with crushing force.
Kenshin transformed fully into lightning and swung his blade. Clang! Sabo caught the edge of the sword with his bare hand.
How is that possible!? Kenshin's pupils shrank. He didn't know about Haki yet, and the sight of a man catching a live blade with his fingers left him reeling.
"Discharge: 20 Million Volts!" A violent surge of electricity erupted from Kenshin, lashing out at Sabo.
Whirr! Sabo dissolved into embers, leaping back to gain distance. Kenshin stepped forward, his blade humming with high-voltage energy.
"60 Million Volt Slash!" A massive crescent of lightning tore through the room, occupying nearly half the training space.
"Fire Fist!!" Sabo pulled his hands back, funneling the entirety of his thermal energy into his right fist before punching forward.
KABOOM!!
The lightning and the flame collided in a deafening roar, filling the room with thick, gray smoke.
Drake pushed the door open and walked in as the haze began to clear, revealing the two fighters.
"Sabo, what was that move?" Kenshin asked as he sheathed his sword, his voice laced with confusion. "How can your hand be that hard?"
"Haki. Armament Haki," Drake cut in before Sabo could answer.
"Haki?"
Drake nodded, handing out three bento boxes provided by the Protector's automated galley. He sat down and began to eat while explaining. "There are two common types. Armament Haki, which allows you to harden your body and hit Logia users, and Observation Haki, which lets you predict an opponent's movements."
"And then there's the third—Conqueror's Haki. It's the ability to overwhelm others with your sheer willpower. Only one in several million people possesses the quality of a King required to use it."
RUMBLE!!
Just as Drake was finishing the explanation, the Protector lurched violently.
"What now!?" Kenshin cried out.
They rushed to the bridge only to find the external monitors pitch black.
"Protector, status report! What's the problem?" Drake shouted.
[Ding! Warning! Warning! Detection indicates the Protector is currently inside the digestive tract of an unidentified biological entity. Automatic defense systems engaged. Captain Vale D. Drake, please resolve the crisis immediately...]
Looking at the darkened screens, Drake realized they had been swallowed whole by a massive Sea King. A row of black lines appeared on his forehead. Of course we were.