The Six Powers (Rokushiki) of the Marines consist of six techniques: Finger Pistol (Shigan), Iron Body (Tekkai), Shave (Soru), Moonwalk (Geppo), Tempest Kick (Rankyaku), and Paper Arts (Kami-e). These techniques combine offense, defense, and movement into a versatile combat system. Though seemingly simple on the surface, their practicality is immense, making them suitable for widespread use among lower-ranked Marines while also offering significant potential for advanced development.
William wasn't so naturally gifted as to master all six techniques in a single year. However, his progress wasn't negligible either. At the very least, he had already managed to incorporate some of the Six Powers' principles into his own techniques.
For example, the kick William used earlier against Kuroobi had drawn upon some of the principles of Rankyaku (Tempest Kick).
Rankyaku is an offensive leg technique within the Six Powers, capable of creating a slicing vacuum blade through high-speed kicks once mastered.
While William hadn't yet reached the level of creating vacuum blades, he could already utilize some of Rankyaku's principles to control the steam he could manipulate, forming razor-sharp slashes to wound his enemies.
Kuroobi dangled like a lifeless fish in William's grip, his body drenched in blood and his appearance utterly miserable. Unfortunately for him, his opponent was a ruthless adversary. Seeing that Kuroobi still hadn't responded, William shook him violently by the hair and coldly commanded, "Speak!"
Kuroobi coughed up two more mouthfuls of blood before finally forcing out a hoarse reply, "It's Fish-Man Karate."
"'Fish-Man Karate'?" William repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Can only Fish-Men learn it?"
William was not someone who underestimated the importance of martial prowess. On the contrary, from the moment he had crossed into this world, he had planned to learn swordsmanship. Once his influence began to take shape, he had even gone so far as to bribe Marine officers to acquire manuals on their combat techniques. His dedication to martial strength—and to any knowledge or resources that could enhance it—was far greater than that of many natives of this world.
Unlike those who blindly waited for opportunities to fall into their laps or naïvely treated gaining strength like grinding levels in a game, William actively sought out every possible method to improve his combat abilities. Techniques like Life Return (Seimei Kikan) and the Six Powers were things he had obtained through his influence and the expenditure of a fortune in gold, achieved only after painstaking effort.
So, upon discovering that Kuroobi possessed a unique martial art, William's interest was immediately piqued. However, hearing the name "Fish-Man Karate" made him worry that it might be exclusive to Fish-Men.
Kuroobi weakly lifted his head, casting a glance at William with a smile that was more pitiful than mocking. Despite his miserable state, his disdain and scorn were evident in his tone. "Only Fish-Men can truly grasp the essence of Fish-Man Karate. For a weak and inferior race like humans, learning it would be twice the effort for half the results."
"So humans can learn it?" William caught onto the key detail in Kuroobi's words. For him, even if humans could only learn it with diminished effectiveness, it didn't matter. At the very least, it could serve as a foundation to develop other techniques. In this chaotic world of constant conflict, any martial art that had survived and spread was bound to have its merits, regardless of how widely it was practiced.
Gripping Kuroobi's neck, William lifted him higher, about to continue his questioning. But suddenly, a thunderous explosion echoed through the underground passage. At the same time, the ground shook violently, and even the sturdy walls of the tunnel trembled. William's expression shifted as he turned sharply toward the entrance of the passage. In the next moment, the entire ceiling of the tunnel was blown apart by the force of the explosion.
...
Outside the Flash Gold Bank, Buggy the Clown, clad in a cloak and wearing his signature captain's hat, stood triumphantly beside a massive cannon. With his hands on his hips, he laughed maniacally. "Tremble before the might of my special Buggy Ball!"
In the original story, the completed version of the Buggy Ball was powerful enough to destroy half a town with a single shot. Although the current version was still experimental, it was more than sufficient to level a bank.
Before the eyes of the Buggy Pirates, the once-grand and opulent bank had been reduced to rubble—a chaotic heap of shattered wood, stone, and steel. The sky was filled with swirling dust and scattered scraps of paper.
"Captain," one of Buggy's crewmates said, glancing at the ruins, "the collapsed building has buried the entrance to the vault!"
"Then fire another Buggy Ball to blast away the debris!" Buggy commanded with a wave of his hand.
Amidst the wreckage, books and documents scattered by the explosion floated down from the sky. A few blueprints landed near Buggy's feet. He glanced at them casually at first, but within moments, his previously indifferent expression vanished.
"Wait!" Buggy shouted, waving his hands to stop his crew, who were preparing to reload the cannon.
Bending down, Buggy picked up the partially charred blueprints, practically pressing his nose against them to examine them closely.
"Is this a design for a new type of ship?" Buggy muttered to himself.
The blueprints in Buggy's hands had floated out from William's office. While they were more of a conceptual sketch than a finalized design, they represented an idea jointly proposed by William, refined by Dampier, and further developed by the shipwrights of Maple Leaf Village—a new type of vessel powered by steam.
Buggy, being well-traveled and experienced, wasn't particularly amazed by the concept of steam power itself, as it wasn't entirely unheard of in this world. What truly impressed him was the innovative and practical application of current technology shown in the blueprints—a vision that combined existing knowledge in a way no one had attempted before.
"Captain? What are you looking at? Aren't we here to rob the bank?" one of Buggy's pirates asked as he approached.
Before he could say another word, Buggy stabbed him with a dagger, sending him sprawling.
"Get lost!" Buggy barked, then turned his attention back to the blueprints, his excitement evident. "If I have this, combined with my special Buggy Ball, and most importantly, my unparalleled genius, I can conquer the entire world! With this, I can claim the treasures of every sea!"
Though Buggy lacked the strength and charisma of his former crewmate Shanks, and was often seen as greedy and petty, he had a keen eye for opportunities. In the original story, he was known for leveraging external resources to bolster his power. From the moment he laid eyes on the blueprints, Buggy was determined to find more related documents.
"Hold your fire!" Buggy commanded.
He then held up the blueprints and ordered his crew, "Search the ruins! Find more documents like this!"
The pirates, who had initially come to rob the vault, exchanged bewildered glances. However, after seeing what had happened to their unlucky crewmate, they reluctantly began sifting through the rubble.
Suddenly, with a loud crash, a section of the debris was violently flung aside. A strange, irregularly shaped cloud of steam emerged from the ruins, its unnatural form clearly not a product of nature.
"What is that?" one of the pirates exclaimed, stepping back in alarm.
Buggy's pupils contracted as he stared at the steam, which gradually began to take on a humanoid shape. His face twisted in shock.
"A Logia user!?"
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