"Thank you, Chief Instructor Zephyr. I believe your teaching will make up for what Mr. Garp lacked," Luoyu replied, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses.
Over the past year, Luoyu had indeed consulted Garp many times about awakening the dual Haki. He had accumulated plenty of experience.
However, compared to Zephyr—who had spent decades instructing new recruits—Garp's teaching methods lacked structure and detail.
Luoyu decided to err on the side of caution. He didn't want to embarrass himself by misusing the Beginner's Insight Talisman and suffering a spectacular failure.
Besides, if he could secure the position of Admiral sooner rather than later, he had no intention of waiting.
After all, an Admiral's base salary started at five million Beli per month!
If everything went smoothly, reaching his "small goal" of one hundred million could be done in just over a year!
"Luoyu, you damned brat!" Garp glared at him, then swallowed the last of his rice crackers and admitted,
"But honestly, compared to Zephyr, my teaching is a bit rough."
"Maybe it's a good thing if you find inspiration through Zephyr."
"Still, even if you awaken Haki, remember—I was the one who laid your foundation! Hahaha!"
Akainu's expression turned cold. He halted in his tracks and growled,"Rookie, I thought you were smart. Clearly, I gave you too much credit."
"But if you insist on humiliating yourself in public, I'll stay and watch just how big of a mess you make."
His voice, low and chilling, brought with it an oppressive aura that swept over the plaza like a wave of ice.
All eyes immediately fell on Luoyu.
Some veteran officers couldn't help but shake their heads.
They knew better than anyone how difficult it was to master both types of Haki.
To request such a feat now… it reeked of reckless bravado.
"Sigh…" Sengoku let out a long breath. As Fleet Admiral, he didn't want to see this promising future Admiral crushed so early.
But seeing that Luoyu's mind was made up, he gave Zephyr a small nod.
Zephyr sighed as well. "Luoyu, watch closely."
"Every person possesses a kind of internal energy—'Qi.' When you become aware of its existence, you can begin to manipulate it."
"The Six Styles (Rokushiki) were developed as a simplified foundation for Haki. Once you master the Six Styles and begin to sense your inner Qi, it becomes easier to grasp Haki itself."
"Observation Haki (Kenbunshoku Haki) is the external projection of Qi, used to perceive the 'breath' of everything around you. Armament Haki (Busoshoku Haki) is the internal concentration of Qi, used to form hardening defenses and enhanced attacks…"
A seamless lecture followed, with Zephyr demonstrating each point in flawless execution.
As the chief instructor of Marine Headquarters for decades, Zephyr truly lived up to his title.
Even the tens of thousands of Marines and officers assembled at the plaza were utterly enthralled.
Luoyu listened closely—and many of the questions that had plagued him for months suddenly became clear.
Compared to Garp's hands-on, punch-first teaching, Zephyr's theory provided the exact complement he needed.
But… Luoyu had clearly overestimated himself.
Despite the detailed lecture, he still felt like he was missing a single, crucial key.
He was stuck.
So this is what it's like… to struggle without cheats.
"System—use the Beginner's Insight Talisman. Immediately."
Ding! Congratulations, Host. Beginner's Insight Talisman successfully activated.
A loud hum roared in Luoyu's mind. The foggy, sluggish confusion was swept away in an instant.
His mind grew sharper than it had ever been.
That last elusive piece he'd been chasing…
Now fell perfectly into place.
Everything—so simple, so clear.
"Luoyu, I've finished explaining the basics of dual Haki," Zephyr said, noticing the thoughtful look on Luoyu's face.
"You really don't need to rush. Your mastery of the Six Styles is already at the level of secret techniques. You're only missing a trigger…"
The thousands of Marines in attendance were also coming back to their senses.
Zephyr's lecture was brilliant—it brought insight even to veterans. But to awaken both types of Haki from just a single explanation?
Among the ten thousand present—not a single one had done it.
"Chief Instructor Zephyr, thank you for your instruction. But… I believe I've already awakened dual Haki." Luoyu lifted his glasses again.
He wasn't actually near-sighted. Wearing glasses simply reminded him he was a working man—a cog in the system—and to always focus on earning his paycheck.
Over time, it had become a habit.
The entire plaza fell into dead silence.
Everyone was stunned.
Just moments ago, they'd all been thinking that no one could awaken dual Haki after a single lecture.
Now Luoyu claimed he had?
Had he really done it?
Or was he mocking them all with a bold, impossible joke?
"Luoyu, now's not the time for jokes. Even if you haven't awakened Haki, it's okay!" Zephyr said urgently.
"Hmph! No need to defend him, Zephyr-sensei," Akainu growled. "I only wanted this brat to see how impossible it is and back down. But since he insists on drinking the penalty wine, don't blame me for testing him myself!"
A low rumble erupted beneath Akainu's feet.
BOOM!
A wave of blistering heat burst from him, molten magma spreading outward as his entire body radiated danger.
The ground beneath Luoyu cracked—and pillars of molten magma shot up toward him like the wrath of a volcano.
"Luoyu, be careful!" Zephyr and Garp shouted at the same time.
BOOM!
Column after column of magma exploded from the ground beneath Luoyu's feet.
The speed was so fast, it was impossible to react to with normal senses.
And yet—Luoyu did not flinch.
He moved ever so slightly, and each magma strike just missed him, as if he already knew where they would land.
The watching crowd's pupils contracted sharply.
If he dodged one—maybe it was luck.
But two, three, four—dozens?
There's no way that's a coincidence.
They watched, jaws agape, as Luoyu strolled casually through the dense array of magma pillars, weaving through them like a phantom playing a game of whack-a-mole.
A wild, unbelievable thought began to form in their minds:
Did he… really master dual Haki from just one lecture?
If this was real…
Then it was simply too outrageous.
If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, who would believe it?