At The Peak of One Piece

Victor's life had returned to peace. No one came looking for trouble, and there were no rumors swirling around—as if nothing had happened at all. 

These past few days, Victor had been deep in training, refining his Tekkai. He was now on the right path—no longer needing to dedicate massive chunks of time to practice. A bit of meditation each day was enough. 

During his morning run, Andrew informed him of his exam results—all excellent, ranking near the top. 

Andrew: "Your grades are great, but don't get cocky. You're not first in everything yet! Keep it up. And, uh… try not to pick fights with vice admirals next time. You nearly gave me a heart attack!" 

Victor was surprised. 'I didn't get first place?' It seemed the recruit camp still had some hidden talents—at least in academics. 'Maybe I can recruit one as a secretary for my future crew.' 

--- 

After the run, Victor returned to the shore for breakfast, then took Rebecca to the elite training grounds. Today, he wanted to spar with Zephyr to test his progress—and give Rebecca a glimpse of high-level combat. 

As he walked, people greeted him constantly—even in the elite camp. After all, Victor had restored their pride. To them, he was practically a savior. 

When he arrived, he spotted Zephyr—his signature purple hair unmistakable—instructing students on Geppo (Moon Walk). Victor waited quietly, not interrupting. 

Once the lesson ended, Zephyr approached with a grin. 

Zephyr: "Finally decided to show up, huh? Haven't seen you in days. Here for another spar?" 

Victor: "Not just that. Last time, I grasped Tekkai mid-battle. I've been refining it since—now I can use it as well as that Onigumo guy." 

Zephyr: "I could tell from your first day. Your physique is exceptional—Tekkai comes naturally to you. Onigumo was my student too, back in the elite camp. But after becoming a vice admiral, he grew arrogant. Too cocky. You taught him a good lesson—showed him there's always someone stronger." 

He paused, then asked: 

"So, what do you think of a vice admiral's strength?" 

Victor: "Well-rounded. Martial arts, Rokushiki, Haki, swordsmanship—they've got it all." 

Zephyr: "Exactly. Rokushiki and Haki are standard for vice admirals. Swordsmanship is more of a personal choice. Onigumo's blade work is mediocre at best. Yours, though? On par with Yamakaji's. I'll arrange a spar between you two later." 

He crossed his arms. 

"Right now, the only thing keeping you from vice admiral level is Armament Haki. Master that, and with your speed, you'll rank among the strongest. Push your Haki further, and you'll even qualify as a candidate for admiral." 

Victor: "Since I've learned Tekkai, I'm closer to Armament Haki. But… is there a faster way to master it? I need it ASAP." 

The fight with Onigumo had driven home just how crippling it was to lack Haki. 

Zephyr: "Victor, your progress is already insane. You've learned all six Rokushiki techniques. If you unlock Armament Haki now, you won't even need elite training. A shame—I'd have loved to call you my student when you become an admiral." 

His gaze burned with intensity, making Victor shiver. 

Victor: "You're already teaching me, Zephyr. That makes me your student." 

He glanced at Rebecca. 

"Besides, I'll keep coming with her. She'll need elite training, and even if I master Haki, I can still improve its potency here. Plus, I'll get to spar with you regularly." 

His plans were set. He wouldn't rush off on missions—not until Rebecca could hold her own. 

Zephyr: "Good. Since you've got it figured out, I'll tell you." 

He smirked at the two. Victor remained calm; Rebecca blushed. 

"There are two ways to accelerate Armament Haki training. First—combat. Intense battles stimulate Haki, making it easier to control. Forces dormant Haki to awaken." 

"Second—master Life Return first. The Rokushiki ultimate technique lets you manipulate your body down to organ functions and fluid circulation. Fine-tuning your physiology sharpens your mind, which in turn refines Haki control." 

Victor considered it. Both methods suited him. He'd already learned all six techniques—Life Return was the next step. And fighting? Easy. Just spar with Zephyr. 

Victor: "I can do both. That'll speed things up, right?" 

Zephyr: "For a talent like you? Sure. Anyone else saying that would get a kick from me. Focus is key—but you? Do whatever. Ready to fight?" 

Rebecca shrank under his glance. 

Victor didn't answer—just fell into stance. Zephyr grinned. He loved training the young. Kept him feeling alive. 

Their clash began. At first, Zephyr held back, using only Tekkai. Victor's blades couldn't pierce it. 

Eventually, Zephyr unleashed Armament Haki. 

When foreign Haki invades, the body's own retaliates—making it easier to grasp control. The trade-off? Pain. The fiercer the fight, the faster the growth. 

Victor felt it. As Zephyr's black energy surged into him, his own particles fought back. Now, unlike before, he could 'direct' them. 

The stronger Zephyr's strikes, the worse Victor's injuries—but the more fiercely his Haki resisted. 

'So this is how Luffy grew so fast under Kaido's beatdowns.' 

By immersing himself in his body's inner workings, those with supreme talent could seize those fleeting moments of evolution. 

The battle ended only when Victor could no longer stand. 

Zephyr, panting, left without another word. Even 'he' was exhausted. Victor's endurance was monstrous. 

Rebecca hauled Victor back to their seaside cabin (his weights left behind—no way she could carry those). 

Back home, she grilled the Sea King meat Victor had prepared earlier. She knew protein sped up recovery. 

Victor never used medicine—just ate. A habit eerily similar to a certain rubber idiot. 

Even now, as he lay motionless, his mind wasn't idle. 

It danced in that microscopic realm, conducting his black particles like a general leading an army. 

A rare epiphany—one many never experience in a lifetime. 

Only those with unparalleled physical gifts could savor such moments. 

Right now, Victor's mastery existed on a macro level. 

But he was inching closer to the micro.