The morning sun stretched over the treetops, painting the training grounds in gold. Dew clung to the grass, and the forest air was crisp, charged with the quiet tension of what was about to begin. Hunnt stood at the center, fists wrapped in fresh bandages, weighted gear still strapped to his body. His gaze swept over his companions — Corwin standing tall with hammer in hand, Elara straightening her bowstring with steady fingers, and Pyro twitching his tail eagerly, golden eyes wide with anticipation.
"Today," Hunnt began, voice steady but carrying weight, "we step into something beyond training drills. Haki. Observation and Armament will shape how we fight from now on. This isn't about strength alone — it's about awareness, will, and endurance. Be ready."
Pyro grinned wide, ears perking up. "Nyahaha! Finally, nyaah! Let's do this, Master!"
Elara swallowed, her heart beating faster. She had seen Hunnt move blindfolded yesterday, weaving through attacks like he could see the future. The thought of touching even a fraction of that ability sent a thrill down her spine. Corwin, ever calm, only nodded and planted the base of his hammer into the dirt.
Hunnt reached into his pouch, pulling out two strips of cloth. "We'll split. Pyro and Elara will start Observation. Corwin, you're with me for Armament. Everyone, remember — this is only the first step. It won't be easy."
---
Observation Haki — Pyro and Elara
Hunnt knelt slightly, holding a sturdy wooden stick. He handed one of the blindfolds to Pyro. "You first. Cover your eyes."
Pyro wrinkled his nose, tying the cloth around his head. His whiskers twitched nervously. "Nyaah… can't see a thing…"
"That's the point," Hunnt said firmly. He motioned for Elara to take the stick. "You'll strike. Start light, vary the angles. Pyro, don't just react to the sound. I want you to feel her intent before she moves."
Elara nodded and raised the stick. She struck gently at first, aiming for Pyro's shoulder. The small felyne squeaked, stumbling clumsily out of the way, tail puffing. The second strike came faster — Pyro ducked late, the stick grazing his ear.
Hunnt's voice cut through. "Too slow. You're waiting for the attack. Watch her stance. Even blind, you can sense when someone prepares to move — the shift of weight, the sound of breath. Focus, Pyro."
Pyro bristled, frustrated, but he crouched lower, ears twitching at every sound. Elara swung again, this time feinting before striking low. Pyro nearly tripped over a training post, but his paws barely carried him out of reach. Sweat matted his fur, but a grin split his face. "Nyaah! That one I felt!"
Hunnt's lips curved faintly. "Good. Again."
Minutes passed. Elara varied her strikes — high, low, fast, slow. At first, Pyro dodged erratically, relying on luck. But gradually, something shifted. His tail flicked a moment before each strike. His paws twitched just before the stick came close. He wasn't seeing, but he was anticipating.
Hunnt nodded to himself. "Better. Don't force it. Let instinct guide you."
Finally, Pyro crouched, panting, the blindfold damp with sweat. He pulled it off, chest heaving but eyes shining. "Master… I sensed it. Not always, but sometimes. Like I knew where it was coming from before it came."
Hunnt smiled faintly. "That's the spark."
Now it was Elara's turn. She tied the cloth over her eyes, breath steady but shoulders tense. Pyro took the stick eagerly, tail swishing.
"Remember," Hunnt said gently. "Don't focus on where the strike is. Focus on the feeling of it coming."
The first strike whistled toward her shoulder. Too late — the stick tapped her arm. She hissed, frowning. The next strike came low; she stumbled, stick grazing her leg.
Frustration welled up in her chest. She wanted to scream. But then Hunnt's calm voice reached her: "Elara. You've felt this before — the stillness before a monster leaps. The breath of the forest when something moves. Trust that memory."
Elara inhaled sharply. The next strike came high. This time, she bent at the waist, letting the stick pass inches above her head. The next strike came low, and her foot shifted aside before Pyro even swung fully.
A thrill rushed through her veins. "I… I felt it. Just for a moment."
Hunnt's eyes softened. "That's all you need. Sparks grow into flame."
By the time she pulled off her blindfold, sweat dripped down her temples, but her eyes gleamed with new determination. Pyro bounced happily beside her, chirping. "Nyahaha! You did it, nyaah! You felt me coming!"
Elara laughed softly, embarrassed but proud. "Just barely. But… I want to feel more."
---
Armament Haki — Corwin
While Pyro and Elara collapsed in the grass to rest, Hunnt turned to Corwin. The tall hunter stood ready, hammer gripped firmly.
"Armament Haki," Hunnt began, "is about willpower. You reinforce your body, your weapon, and your strikes with your spirit. It's slow to grasp at first, but once you touch it, your growth will accelerate. You've always been steady, Corwin. That's your strength. Now channel that steadiness into your weapon."
Corwin nodded, silent as ever. Hunnt picked up a thick log and planted it upright in the dirt. "Start here. Swing. Don't think about breaking it with muscle. Focus on the intent behind your strike. Imagine your hammer coated with your will — unyielding, unbreakable."
The first swings were heavy but ordinary. The log shook, bark cracking, but nothing more. Hunnt crossed his arms. "You're still using strength alone. Slow down. Feel it."
Corwin paused, closed his eyes, and inhaled. He lifted the hammer again, slower this time, every muscle deliberate. When he swung, the impact reverberated differently. Not stronger — denser. More focused. The log split slightly at the base.
Hunnt's eyes sharpened. "That's it. You felt it, didn't you?"
Corwin opened his eyes, faint surprise flickering there. "It was… different. Like the weight of the hammer wasn't mine alone."
Hunnt grinned. "Exactly. Armament is slow to come, but once it clicks, your growth will skyrocket. You've always been patient. That patience is your weapon."
They repeated the swings. Each strike grew more deliberate, more centered. Corwin's pace was slow, but when the connection came, his progression leapt forward in bounds.
By the time they paused, sweat ran down his jaw, but the hammer in his grip seemed heavier, steadier — not in burden, but in presence.
---
Hours passed. The sun climbed high, heat baking the clearing. Hunnt finally called them together, all four collapsing onto the grass. Their bodies ached, lungs burned, but their eyes carried a spark brighter than fatigue.
Elara leaned back, breathless but smiling faintly. "I can… feel it. The intent. Like the world whispers before it moves."
Pyro rolled onto his back, paws twitching, tail flicking lazily. "Nyahaha… me too, nyaah! At first it was clumsy… but then… it was like I knew the strike before it happened!"
Corwin rested his hammer across his knees, exhaling slowly. "Slow at first. But when it clicked… it felt like each swing was coated in steel. Denser. More solid."
Hunnt nodded, gaze sweeping across them. His chest swelled with pride, though his voice remained steady. "This is just the beginning. Observation and Armament take time, patience, and stamina. But today, you felt the spark. You touched the edges of what Haki can do. That's enough. The rest will come with practice."
The forest was quiet around them, but Hunnt felt the air itself hum faintly with possibility. Something vast stirred beyond the horizon — challenges that would test them in ways even Ravagerak hadn't. But with Observation to anticipate, and Armament to endure, they would never be caught unprepared again.
Hunnt clenched his fists, the bandages tightening around his bloodied knuckles. "From today onward… no monster, no threat, will ever take us by surprise."
The team sat in silence, letting his words sink in, their shared exhaustion binding them tighter than any vow.
Above them, the canopy swayed gently, as if the forest itself acknowledged the awakening of four hunters who had begun to tap into powers far beyond their years.