Observation Haki!
Wilder's Observation Haki had fully awakened after a month of intense training. His powerful soul not only granted him near-perfect control over his body and Devil Fruit abilities, but it also endowed him with unparalleled talent in Observation Haki.
Moreover… this talent gave his Observation Haki certain characteristics that most people lacked, though they were still quite weak at the moment.
Closing his eyes, he radiated an intangible wave, sensing the fluctuations around him.
"Then, let's try this." Wilder murmured, his brow furrowing slightly. Instantly, as if he were seeing it with his own eyes, his surroundings, movements, and even breaths were projected into his mind, like a three-dimensional map. Everything – distance, angle, living beings – was instantly and clearly perceived by his mind, incredibly detailed.
Within Observation Haki, there existed unique variations, granting abilities beyond mere sensing, such as the Voice of All Things, mind-reading, precognition, and so on. Others excelled in specific areas, like range, intensity, precision, or vivid, realistic imagery.
"This should be one of those special cases… Then let's call it 'Scan'." Wilder opened his eyes, a hint of fatigue flickering within them.
"It seems Observation Haki isn't something you can use endlessly. Stamina, mental energy, and focus seem to decrease with use, and 'Scan' consumes even more."
The month had only served to awaken his Observation Haki. Mastering it would require extensive practice.
Wilder pondered for a moment, then turned and headed towards his office.
The red wall rippled, turning into swamp, and Wilder stepped through. After traversing a corridor, he entered a vast space.
A massive viewing platform and floor constructed from solid mud and swamp, with tiered seating, and the stench of blood permeated the air.
Creak…
The iron gate swung open. Wilder stood on the highest platform. Clang, a large bronze bell on the cage shook, releasing a melodious chime.
From the corridor entrances, prisoners emerged one by one. Wilder looked down at them, a smile on his face.
"Nyehehehe… Long time no see, everyone…"
The prisoners stared at Wilder impassively, no one responding.
Wilder showed no sign of displeasure at their reaction, his smile unchanging. "Well then, let's change the rules a bit. From now on, I'll be the one controlling the cage."
His calm voice reached the prisoners' ears, causing a ripple of unease among them. They turned to look at him.
"Nyehehehe… That is to say, I'll be the challenger. You'll attack me. One at a time, of course… Nyehehehe… I wouldn't dare face all of you monsters at once."
With that, Wilder stepped down from the platform.
Under the cold gazes of the numerous prisoners, Wilder's face maintained its unwavering smile. He brushed past them, entering the iron cage without a word.
"So… who's first?" Wilder stood in the center of the cage, his gaze sweeping over the prisoners outside, his lips parting to reveal a flash of white teeth. He added, "I can even wear a blindfold."
"I'll go!" A burly, V-shaped man with thick fur stepped forward, a sinister grin directed at Wilder.
Wilder nodded, letting out a soft "nyehehehe" chuckle, and pulled out a blindfold he'd prepared beforehand.
"Begin."
Die!
The instant Wilder covered his eyes, the prisoner's face twisted into a ferocious grimace. His slender legs pushed off the ground, causing it to cave in, and he charged forward with explosive speed.
"Whoosh!" Before he even reached Wilder, his massive fist was already drawn back, the sound of rushing wind accompanying its movement. The fist, carrying immense force, swept through the air. In an instant, it arrived before Wilder's face.
"Buzz…" Time seemed to freeze. Wilder's eyelids, hidden beneath the blindfold, trembled slightly. He tilted his head, as if listening intently.
The wind, at that moment, became utterly silent, clear. The trajectory of the fist appeared in his mind, the sound of it tearing through the air stretched to its limit, until… boom!
"Thwack!" The wind from the punch exploded. Wilder tilted his head slightly, raising his hand to block near his ear.
"Smack!" The fist slammed into his palm, and Wilder firmly gripped it. He twisted his wrist, shifted his waist, leaned forward, and used his foot to leverage a throw!
"Thud!" The prisoner, caught off guard, was flung high into the air. He flipped mid-air, pushing off the cage bars with his feet, and pounced down!
The attack continued. Wilder stood his ground, his expression grave, alert to every rustle of the wind.
"Thud!" A kick descended from above. Wilder's hairs stood on end, and he took a small step, instantly vanishing from his original position.
"Boom!" The fist slammed into the ground, causing it to crack and collapse. A massive crater formed.
"First! Die! Grrrraaaah!!" The furry prisoner spun around, his enormous fist continuing its relentless assault. Explosions of sound emanated from between his fists, the terrifying force brimming with lethal danger. Wilder's brow furrowed slightly, his body swaying amidst the dense barrage of punches.
Thump-thump-thump!
The sound of his heartbeat amplified in his ears, growing louder… louder…
Until, with a particular beat, it exploded!
"Thwack!" Before the fist could connect, Wilder had already sidestepped, sweeping his leg out and striking the prisoner's waist.
Through constant dodging, being attacked, and counterattacking, a sense of familiarity began to blossom.
Eventually, responding to unforeseen attacks became effortless.
Time flowed within the iron cage. Besides his work, Wilder dedicated all his remaining time to training his Observation Haki.
Each day, in the secret space, the cage would contain a few more fresh corpses.
To fully experience the sensation of an incoming attack, Wilder restricted his Logia transformation, and his body gradually accumulated wounds.
In the Freezing Hell, not a single prisoner had a bounty below 100 million berries. Even with heightened vigilance, Wilder couldn't completely avoid getting injured.
"Bam-bam-bam…" A flurry of fists and feet rained down, a relentless storm. Wilder dodged and weaved through the attacks, like a leaf floating on the ocean, enduring the wind and rain, the crashing waves, yet remaining steadfast.
His feet seemed rooted to the ground, moving only slightly, leaving his upper body to twist and turn, evading the onslaught.
Fists flew, and Wilder's figure moved with agility. Even when he was grazed, it was only a glancing blow. To better master his Observation Haki, he didn't even use movement-based techniques like Shave.
Time flew by with each day of dodging practice. Gradually, the six-month mark drew closer. In the blink of an eye, over five months had passed.
One day, Wilder awoke and opened the door, finding Claire already waiting in his office.
She handed him a rolled-up newspaper. Upon unfolding it, he saw a bold headline accompanied by an image, taking up the entire front page. The content was enough to shock the entire world!
Wilder's pupils constricted to pinpoints, his eyes fixed on the newspaper. There, in large, handwritten letters, was the message:
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