One Piece: Gawain The Knight Of The Sun

"Here it is!"

Gawain's eyes lit up.

Silent Step's power needed no explanation, especially since he had the reflexes to match its blistering speed.

Mastering it would transform his combat strength.

His rating was already at the peak of Black Iron—one more breakthrough would reach Bronze.

Bronze-level strength made you a force in the first half of the Grand Line. In the East Blue, it was a massacre.

But the skill was only at Level 0, freshly awakened, not yet usable in real combat.

Gawain wasn't impatient.

Kuro was already a training fanatic, and with a new goal, he'd push even harder.

He craved a peaceful life, true, but to achieve it, he was ruthless—not just to others but to himself.

The bruises covering Kuro after each session left Gawain both shocked and pleased.

This was how a crew should train, while he, the reaper, had more to consider.

Gawain smiled knowingly and headed to the warship's training room.

…

It was late at night.

Chill winds blew outside.

Except for the night watch and navigators, the crew slept in their cabins.

Only the training room echoed with violent crashes—Kuro was still at it.

His Bronze potential meant not just a higher ceiling but a body far tougher than most.

Due to Silent Step's uncontrollable nature, the training room was practically his alone.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

…

In Silent Step's high-speed state, Kuro slammed into the walls. Even with padding, bruises marked his body.

Yet he didn't pause, pushing his potential harder, his speed climbing.

But the faster he went, the harder Silent Step was to control, his reflexes limiting his progress.

He grew more curious about how Gawain saw through Silent Step's speed.

Thoughts swirling, Kuro slowed, hands on knees, panting, drenched in sweat like he'd been pulled from the sea.

"Captain?!"

Only then did he notice Gawain standing at the open door, watching calmly.

Without hesitation, Kuro voiced his question. "How did you do it?"

"How did you see through Silent Step's speed?"

If he could solve Silent Step's control issue, his strength would surge, maybe even rivaling Gawain's.

Then who'd be whose first mate? And on the Grand Line, a Warlord title might be his!

Kuro hid his ambitions, feigning earnest curiosity.

Gawain didn't notice—or care. For every step Kuro took, Gawain gained ten. If Kuro could overtake him, he'd deserve the captain's hat.

Heck, Gawain would pin his own photo on the training targets if it spurred the crew to train harder.

Looking at Kuro, he said, "It's innate. But there's a way to improve Silent Step's control."

"Physical enhancement to boost reflexes or a specific Devil Fruit could work instantly."

Kuro shook his head, disappointed. "I've considered those."

"Body modification is risky, and I've never heard of neural enhancements. Devil Fruits are rare, and ones boosting reflexes are even rarer."

"Is Silent Step doomed to be incomplete?"

"Not necessarily."

Seeing the moment was right, Gawain stopped teasing. "Everyone has a latent power called Haki."

"Armament Haki coats the body or weapons, boosting attack and defense. Conqueror's Haki, a one-in-a-million gift, intimidates foes mentally. And…"

"Observation Haki, a sixth sense beyond the five, lets you see behind you, even outside your field of view, and predict opponents' moves."

"Observation Haki could perfectly solve Silent Step's issue!"

"Haki?" Kuro's eyes gleamed. "You used that power to…"

"No, my reflexes are just naturally fast." Gawain shrugged helplessly.

Kuro's lip twitched, his urge to overthrow this man and take the captain's role surging.

Gawain continued, "In the Grand Line, especially the New World, Haki users are common. Without it, you can't survive there."

"Try awakening Observation Haki."

"Shut off your five senses and rely on instinct to sense your surroundings."

"Instinct…" Kuro looked thoughtful.

After a moment, he tied a cloth over his eyes and tried sensing his environment through intuition.

Whoosh!

Kuro activated Pussyfoot Maneuver, immediately crashing into the wall, nearly wrecking the padding, followed by a series of dense impacts.

"Hiss!" Gawain winced. It looked painful.

He turned and left.

…

Late into the night, the training room quieted. Kuro, removing the cloth, gritted his teeth in pain, cursing loudly. "You tricked me?!"

"What sixth sense beyond the five? Nonsense!"

Gawain, already asleep, rolled over and slept deeper.

The next day, Kuro didn't train as usual.

Gawain meant to ask why, but seeing Kuro wrapped in bandages with a murderous glare, he offered an awkward smile. "You know, these things take time."

"Get lost!"

Kuro was livid. If not for his injuries and Gawain's strength, he'd have attacked.

Still, he didn't give up.

He knew Gawain wouldn't lie about this. First, they'd soon head to the Grand Line—any lie would unravel. Second, Gawain's character wouldn't stoop to such deception.

By the third day, with injuries barely healed, Kuro resumed trying to awaken Observation Haki, predictably landing back in the infirmary.

Broken hands, multiple soft tissue injuries.

Even with his physique, he wouldn't train for half a month.

Gawain, eyeing Silent Step at Level 1 on his system panel, grinned ear to ear.

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