At The Peak of One Piece

Victor and Zephyr's battle had come to an end. 

Victor lay on the ground, gasping for breath—his Haki completely drained. Zephyr, too, was flushed, his chest heaving. 

Victor's speed had forced Zephyr to push his own limits just to keep up. For a man of his age, with lingering asthma, it had been an exhausting fight. 

Zephyr hadn't used advanced Armament Haki techniques either. It wasn't the right time—Victor's Haki was still too newly awakened. Right now, the focus was on building a solid foundation. 

Victor wasn't seriously injured, but his body ached from head to toe, and his Haki reserves were empty. Still, with his iron will, the pain was nothing. 

"Zephyr-Sensei," Victor sat up, "for someone like me, who just awakened Armament Haki—am I really helpless against those with stronger Haki? That's just letting myself get slaughtered. Isn't there any way to bridge the gap?" 

Zephyr smiled, pleased. Victor's drive to seek solutions immediately was rare. He sat across from him. 

"There is a method, but most can't pull it off. You're different—you have extreme speed, masterful swordsmanship, and Haki. If you avoid direct clashes and focus on attrition, you can wear down an opponent. Like you did with Onigumo." 

Zephyr analyzed, "Stronger Haki defense means greater expenditure. It depends on the enemy." 

"But that's not foolproof. I've heard of people whose Haki reserves are limitless—where recovery outpaces consumption. Against them, stalling is useless." 

"Your Armament reserves are decent for a beginner, but your attacks lack density. That's why you couldn't break Shanks' defense." 

"Here's a method to condense Haki. In battle, you can forcibly gather it for stronger attacks. But it burns through reserves fast—your fighting time becomes limited. Run out, and you're in danger." 

"So, you must train to compress your Haki daily. Refine it. Make your attacks sharper. That's the true path." 

Victor's eyes lit up. Of course Zephyr would have the answer. 

He already knew about attrition tactics, but time wasn't always a luxury. What if lives were on the line? 

As for "limitless Haki," only one monster came to mind—Douglas Bullet. That guy could coat his colossal body entirely in Haki and still crush armies. 

Victor's ambition burned. With his physical gifts, reaching that level wasn't impossible. 

"Teach me, Zephyr. I don't want to be powerless against stronger foes." 

Zephyr nodded. "You're disciplined. I trust you won't neglect fundamentals for shortcuts." 

"Listen—to strengthen Haki attacks or defense, you forcefully gather and layer it. Stack it like armor. Against attacks, it cancels out the enemy's Haki. For defense, it's the same—multiple layers to dissipate their force." 

He explained the method. Victor grasped it instantly. 

It's about willpower. He'd been waiting to learn Ryou, but this was a game-changer. Against all but freaks like Kaido or Big Mom, his current Haki could now hold its own. 

--- 

After bidding Zephyr farewell, Victor returned to his seaside cabin for a Sea King feast. Nothing restored Haki faster than meat, and his stockpile was plentiful. 

Post-meal, he sparred with Rebecca to solidify her newfound Iron-Cutting swordsmanship. 

"Enough for today. Keep practicing." 

"Got it!" 

"Now go train Observation with Wendy. It's crucial." 

Rebecca sighed. "I want to awaken it, but… am I just slow?" 

Victor shook his head. "Some are born with it. Don't compare. Just focus." 

Once Rebecca left, Victor dedicated himself to Haki condensation. By afternoon, he'd mastered the basics. 

That evening, Garp dropped by for dinner—as usual. He mentioned Tsuru's imminent return and requested Victor cook for a gathering. Rebecca was invited too; Tsuru had a soft spot for her. 

Victor agreed. A simple meal would suffice—though he knew Zephyr and Sengoku would likely attend. Networking with top brass never hurt. 

--- 

Two weeks passed in peaceful training. 

Then, Instructor Andrew announced the month's exam: a practical mission at sea. Victor was thrilled—staying cooped up at HQ was stifling. 

But before setting sail, he had one stop—Sabaody, to collect intel on the Eternal Black Gold. If possible, he'd secure it during the trip. 

--- 

"Rebecca, Andrew says Tsuru's arriving today. Go greet her at the port." 

"Ah—ow!" 

Distracted, Rebecca took a solid hit from Wendy's staff. 

"Pfft!" Wendy giggled. 

"…Sorry," Victor coughed. 

"It's fine!" Rebecca rubbed her head, then left with Wendy. 

Victor remained, training alone. 

By afternoon, his Observation Haki detected a group approaching—too distant to identify. At closer range, he recognized them: 

Rebecca, Tsuru, Hina… and unfamiliar women. 

Among them stood a tall, stunning swordswoman—Vice Admiral Tokikake, the future "Pink Rabbit." 

Why's she here? Shouldn't she be on missions? 

He shrugged it off and kept training, unaware of the real reason for their visit. 

--- 

One Week Earlier 

After completing a mission, Tokikake had contacted Tsuru—her "older sister" (their exact relation was unclear)—for a ride back to HQ. 

Detouring to pick her up delayed Tsuru's return by a week. 

Onboard, Tokikake had been reading the papers. 

"Sis, have you seen this? A young swordsman who rivaled Red-Hair in skill! I'd love to meet him." 

Tsuru smirked. "You're in luck. He's at HQ." 

"An officer? I don't recall—" 

"A new recruit. Less than three months in." 

Tokikake's jaw dropped. "What?! That's… monstrous!" 

"Coming from you, that's rich." 

Tokikake struck a geisha's pose. "I'm not a monster—I'm elegance incarnate!" 

--- 

And so, unbeknownst to Victor, he'd become the target of a certain swordswoman's curiosity. 

As the group neared, he remained cross-legged, eyes closed—blissfully unaware. 

---

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