In the living room of the villa, soft sunlight streamed through the windows, casting warm patches on the floor. The air carried a faint, pleasant mix of herbs and black tea.
Mihawk sat stiffly on the sofa, his upper body wrapped in thick bandages that showed a faint trace of seeping blood. Despite his pale face, his posture remained perfectly straight. His sharp, hawk-like eyes were fixed on the man sitting across from him, who was calmly sipping his tea.
Kyle swirled his teacup, blew gently on the steam, and looked completely relaxed. "Hey, man, don't stare at me like that. I know you're handsome, but I'm not into guys."
The room fell silent until Mihawk finally spoke. His voice was hoarse from his injuries, but it hadn't lost any of its usual sharpness. "That final move you used yesterday..." He paused for a moment, as if searching for the right words. "Was that the 'Divine Departure,' the technique of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger?"
"Oh?" Kyle put down his cup. A brief look of surprise crossed his face before it turned into a knowing smile. "You've got a good eye." He didn't deny it, instead offering his own kind of explanation. "You could say… I 'stole' it."
"Stole it?" Mihawk's brow furrowed slightly.
"Roger never planned on teaching that move to anyone," Kyle explained, leaning back into the soft sofa and gazing out the window. "However, I'm not the only person on this great sea who can use it."
An image of Shanks flashed in his mind, and a small, fond smile touched his lips. That kid should be starting to make a name for himself by now.
Pulling his thoughts back, Kyle turned his gaze back to Mihawk, speaking with the confidence of a senior guiding a junior. "'Divine Departure' isn't really a fixed move. It's more of a swordsmanship technique that uses Conqueror's Haki. You infuse your weapon with your Haoshoku, then release it all at once, driven by your own will and skill with the sword. Everyone's Haki is different, and their will is different, so the 'Divine Departure' they create will naturally be different, too."
He extended a finger and tapped his own chest. "So, my version and Roger's are actually two completely different things."
Mihawk listened quietly, the competitive fire in his eyes burning brighter.
Seeing Mihawk's thoughtful and eager expression, a mischievous smile formed on Kyle's face. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his golden eyes sparkling in the sunlight. "Want to learn?"
Before Mihawk could even reply, Kyle leaned back lazily and spread his hands with a playful look. "Oh, man, I can't help it. I guess I'm just a really considerate boss to my employees." He drew out his words teasingly. "After all, you work for me now, hahaha!"
Perona and the two maids, who were listening from nearby, had to cover their mouths to keep from laughing out loud. Lord Kyle was bullying the new handsome guy again!
Kyle had expected a cold silence in response, or maybe a stubborn refusal like, "I don't need your help." However, Mihawk's reaction completely surprised him.
Ignoring the sharp pain from his wounds, Mihawk stood up from the sofa. He looked at Kyle earnestly and asked for his guidance. "Please, Mr. Kyle, do not hesitate to teach me!"
There was no hesitation in his voice, not even a hint of awkwardness. His frankness and sincerity were so direct that the playful smile on Kyle's face froze for a second. Mihawk, you just completely broke character!
Kyle's desire to tease him vanished instantly, replaced by genuine appreciation. The humility to seek knowledge has always been one of the most important qualities of a truly strong person.
"Alright," Kyle said, his smile gone as he nodded seriously. "I'll teach you once your injuries have healed."
Over the next few days, Kyle became a teacher, traveling between two deserted islands. On one, he sparred with Moriah, and on the other, he taught Mihawk how to control his Haki.
"Relax. Just feel it," Kyle's voice echoed across the empty training ground. "Conqueror's Haki isn't a tool you command. It's an extension of your own will. You don't need to order it around; you need to guide it."
Mihawk stood perfectly still with his eyes closed, holding his black blade, Yoru. He followed Kyle's instructions, focusing his mind inward to feel the kingly disposition that lay deep within his soul. It made sense that the future World's Strongest Swordsman would have Conqueror's Haki.
Buzz—
An invisible aura spread out from his body.
"Very good," Kyle said. "Now, try to let it 'flow' onto your sword."
Mihawk slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint in them. He tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, guiding that powerful will from his arm toward Yoru. At first, the power felt stuck, like a blocked river that wouldn't flow. But after just a few attempts, some kind of invisible barrier inside him quietly broke.
Tch-lah—
A faint, thin bolt of black-and-red lightning flashed across the dark blade for an instant before disappearing. It was faint, but it was definitely there!
Standing to the side, Kyle saw it happen. Even with all his experience, he couldn't help but be impressed. What a monster! This guy's talent with a sword is just unfair!
He knew that for ordinary people, learning to infuse a weapon with Conqueror's Haki took years of training and surviving countless life-or-death battles. But Mihawk had managed to grasp the basics in just three days.
A few more days passed.
Boom!
Mihawk swung his sword. As the blade passed through the air, a deep crack appeared on the giant rock in front of him, as if it had been shattered from the inside by an invisible force. Although it was still nowhere near the overwhelming power of "Divine Departure," he had undoubtedly mastered the fundamentals of infusing his blade with Conqueror's Haki.
Kyle folded his arms and nodded in satisfaction. With the lesson over, Mihawk sheathed his sword and stood silently, getting used to this new power.
Meanwhile, Kyle stroked his chin, observing him with a strange look. He finally understood. Mihawk had awakened his Conqueror's Haki a long time ago but had just never really used it. But that didn't make sense. With his combat intelligence, there was no way he wouldn't know he could use Conqueror's Haki to knock out weaker enemies.
The only other explanation was... he simply thought that knocking out weaklings with Haki was far less satisfying than swinging his sword and cutting through people, ships, and the sea all at once.
Kyle imagined Mihawk, with a perfectly straight face, unleashing a world-ending green slash that vaporized a group of low-level pirates along with the island they were standing on. Good heavens, so you're the type who likes to use a massive attack to clear the whole screen with every swing?!
Hmm? Wait a minute!
Mihawk, you didn't shout out the name of your move just now, did you?!!!
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