Chapter 29 – The Tiers of Haoshoku Haki
Rairyūken spun lazily in Kyūjō's hand, the long, heavy blade drawing a graceful arc before stopping, its tip aimed straight at Stevenson.
On the surface, he looked calm. But inside his mind, Infinity was already running countless battle simulations, mapping every possible outcome.
Kyūjō's interest in this man stemmed from only one thing—Stevenson's Haoshoku Haki. But after reviewing thousands of simulated scenarios, he reached a conclusion.
—His Haoshoku is still in its infancy.
Weak. Even compared to one of the weakest users in the manga's history, "Chinjao the Drill," Stevenson fell short.
The mental pressure from Stevenson's Haoshoku? Nothing. Not a single ripple reached Kyūjō's mind. Perhaps it was simply because Kyūjō's spiritual strength was already immense by nature.
Still, if someone truly possessed the soul of a "king," their will should at least graze his own.
Stevenson… didn't even come close.
Haoshoku Haki—Haki born only in one out of a million people. The spirit of a ruler.
Unlike Kenbunshoku and Busoshoku, Haoshoku couldn't be honed through simple training. It only grew as its wielder did.
From his own combat experience, and from what he knew in his previous life as a manga reader, Kyūjō divided Haoshoku into five tiers:
1. Instinctive Release – Uncontrolled bursts triggered by raw emotion. Those born strong can still rival veterans even here. (Example: Luffy in his early days.)
2. Conscious Control – Able to activate and suppress Haoshoku at will. (Examples: Don Chinjao, Doflamingo.)
3. Selective Suppression – Directing Haoshoku toward enemies without harming allies in the same area.
4. Infusion – Coating attacks and weapons with Haoshoku, producing destructive effects without physical contact. Known as Infused Haoshoku—an advanced mastery.
5. Reality Penetration – The highest level, never fully explained in the manga. Kyūjō believed "Red-Haired" Shanks had reached it. Without a Devil Fruit, relying solely on Haoshoku, Shanks could influence and distort physical reality itself.
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Kyūjō once thought Shanks was just a supporting character propped up by elite crewmates like Beckman, Yasopp, and Lucky Roux. But after witnessing the man's might on Elbaf… he could only acknowledge it.
Shanks—one of the old Four Emperors—still stood tall with one arm, without any Devil Fruit, yet commanded the seas with the dignity of a Yonko.
He was proof that Haki, not any other power, was the true essence of this ocean.
Kyūjō shook his head, brushing the thoughts aside. Stevenson's Haoshoku swept over him like a faint breeze—utterly meaningless.
In a blink, Kyūjō moved. His steps skimmed the surface of the sea as if it were solid ground. One breath later, he was already at Stevenson's side.
Rairyūken, blackened with Busoshoku, fell in a clean vertical slash.
One stroke. One kill.
Emison Stevenson, wanted for 380 million Belly—cut down instantly.
And with him, the Uma Uma no Mi: Mythical Zoan Model—Unicorn, safely secured before it could be eaten.
"Hina, you can come down now!"
Kyūjō's voice carried across the water to the pink-haired Marine officer watching from above on Geppō.
Without Hina, he might have had to slaughter every pirate floundering in the water. Her Ori Ori no Mi made her the perfect solution for dealing with the small fry without unnecessary bloodshed.
Once she landed, the two of them quickly went to work—rounding up the scattered pirates and binding them to the floating wreckage.
Just as Kyūjō was about to have Hina contact HQ for retrieval, he felt it—another Marine warship, closing in fast.
His expression turned slightly awkward.
It didn't take long before the warship arrived. On its deck stood a broad-shouldered, bearded man with a stern face, a "Justice" coat on his back, and a cigar in hand.
Vice Admiral Fire Mountain, commanding officer of G7.
Their eyes met. Kyūjō raised a hand in greeting, wearing an expression as if nothing was wrong.
"Good afternoon, Vice Admiral Fire Mountain!"
The older man nodded, his face still firm. "Good afternoon, Vice Admiral Seiryu. May I ask what mission brings you across the G2 border into my waters?"
Kyūjō scratched his head. "My apologies. This was… a personal action. The pirate I just captured plundered a small kingdom in my jurisdiction. I chased him for days and happened to catch up today."
Fire Mountain's expression finally eased. Though one of the five officers involved in the Ohara Buster Call, he was actually a soft-hearted man—a dove among hawks.
He understood the plight of small nations. He had been born in one himself.
"In that case, come aboard. We can talk on my ship."
Once aboard, Kyūjō handed over the prisoners. Fire Mountain offered him a fine cigar, but Kyūjō accepted it with an awkward smile. "I'm not much of a smoker, actually."
That didn't stop Fire Mountain from giving him a detailed lesson on proper cigar smoking.
Kyūjō tried. The sharp, rich taste filled his throat. He didn't like it. In his past life, he'd preferred regular cigarettes—not something you 'savored,' just lit and smoked.
Hina, nearby, sighed. She pulled out a slim cigarette, lit it with practiced grace, and took a slow drag before exhaling a thin stream of smoke.
Here, smoking wasn't taboo, even for women. Many Marine officers smoked, including Hina.
She glanced at Kyūjō, her eyes clearly challenging him: "Think you can do this?"
Kyūjō smirked. He plucked a cigarette from her pack, lit it with hers, and took a deep inhale. The entire stick burned away in three seconds. He exhaled slowly, looking smug.
Fire Mountain could only sigh. "These kids just wasted a perfectly good cigar," he thought, staring at what remained of his own.
Half a day later, the warship neared the G2–G7 border.
Suddenly, Kyūjō sensed something through Kenbunshoku—a strangely shaped island.
He looked ahead. The island resembled two rows of human teeth, facing each other.
"Vice Admiral Fire Mountain," Kyūjō said, pointing forward. "That island… looks like a pair of teeth, doesn't it?"
Fire Mountain thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. That's Jaya Island—it really does look like human teeth."
Then he added, with a hint of admiration, "But your Kenbunshoku's impressive. To notice it from this far…"
Kyūjō only smiled politely.
The name Jaya echoed in his mind—and he remembered. Jaya Island… with Skypiea floating above it.
He tilted his head back. The blue sky stretched endlessly overhead.
And then, he focused—Kenbunshoku and Infinity pushing upward, piercing the very atmosphere, reaching for…
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