Training wasn't something accomplished overnight. Throughout his time at sea, Bellamy had pushed himself relentlessly every single day, rarely allowing himself any slack. Reading and studying, honing his taijutsu, tempering his physique, researching martial techniques, even making time to study medicine… Aside from occasional moments of relaxation on deck while pondering martial arts theory, his schedule was packed.
Bellamy could honestly say he hadn't wasted a single second, a fact he took considerable pride in.
This world undoubtedly had its share of peerless geniuses. Was Bellamy himself a genius? Perhaps. But so what? The things he pursued, the power he craved—these were heights ordinary mortals wouldn't even dare to dream of reaching! That meant his future rivals wouldn't just be strong; they would be those legendary geniuses, those world-shaking heroes, perhaps even those once-in-a-millennium prodigies! Without putting in commensurate effort, how could Bellamy possibly hope to contend with them, to fight them on equal footing?
So, after obtaining the trove of precious data from Sentomaru, Bellamy had immediately secluded himself, entering a state of intensive, closed-door study focused on martial techniques. His crewmates were familiar with these periods of intense focus and knew not to disturb him.
Three days and three nights later, Bellamy emerged from his room, sporting dark circles under his eyes but looking invigorated.
"The Marines' research into the human body... it's already reached such an advanced stage," he murmured, impressed. If he hadn't dabbled in medicine himself, he might not have fully grasped the significance of the data. But, as luck would have it, he did possess some medical knowledge. And it was precisely that knowledge that allowed him to appreciate the depth of insight contained within the documents.
In this unexpected windfall of information, the Marine Science Unit had apparently managed to completely deconstruct the previously conceptual notion of vital energy—the flow linked to life force and physical constitution. This vital energy wasn't just 'qi' or 'energy,' nor was it simply blood. It was described as a tangible manifestation of one's physical constitution, and critically, the very foundation upon which Armament Haki was built. According to the research, if one's vital energy was sufficiently powerful, the body would naturally awaken Armament Haki, without any specific training needed. This explained why even relative fodder in the New World could often utilize basic Armament Haki.
Based on his current physical condition and vitality, Bellamy should have theoretically awakened Armament Haki already. However, the data also indicated that this vital energy gradually transforms the body over time. Only when the physical vessel reached a state capable of handling the strain of Armament Haki would the ability actually manifest. In other words, while Bellamy's own vital energy was likely strong enough, his physical body itself—his raw physical durability—was still lagging behind. It needed more time to develop.
It had been less than two years since Bellamy had taken over this body. The original 'Hyena' Bellamy had been just a small-time thug with a weak foundation. In just two years, even with his relentless training, he had barely managed to compensate for that poor starting point. In terms of sheer physical toughness, someone like Drake was likely still considerably ahead of him.
The Marine Science Unit had clearly researched these connections in meticulous detail. The information he'd obtained was remarkably thorough, though it seemed to lack the most granular, specific experimental data points. If only Sentomaru had held a higher rank, the haul could have been even greater.
Furthermore, this vital energy wasn't just linked to Armament Haki; it was deeply intertwined with the execution of the Six Powers as well. The core principle of Iron Body, the data revealed, involved rapidly circulating this vital energy throughout the entire body at high speed to achieve hardening. The documents contained detailed analyses correlating the Six Powers with Armament Haki development and provided a deep dive into the operational mechanics of Iron Body.
Having fully absorbed this knowledge, Bellamy felt his understanding of the Six Powers ascend to a new level. He even gained some crucial insights into the other ultimate technique of the Six Powers—Rokuogan, the Six King Gun. He was confident that before long, he would be able to fully replicate Rokuogan himself.
This breakthrough in his understanding of the Six Powers had, in turn, forcefully elevated his overall taijutsu. Bellamy sensed he was on the verge of reaching a completely new plateau in his physical combat abilities.
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Half a month later.
On the spacious deck, Bellamy stood clad only in shorts, demonstrating his physique for his crew.
"Watch closely," he instructed. "Observe how my muscles move when I activate Iron Body."
Following his theoretical breakthrough and another half-month of intense, focused training, Bellamy had finally managed to fully deconstruct, internalize, and integrate the Six Powers into his personal combat system. In doing so, his taijutsu had taken a significant leap forward, reaching a state where thought translated instantly into action. It was the state described by the idiom: "As the arm directs the finger, the thought arrives simultaneously"—perfect, instantaneous control. In swordsmanship, reaching such a level typically earned one the title of Sword Master. Bellamy felt his taijutsu had now reached a comparable level of mastery.
And so, early this morning, he had gathered everyone for a practical demonstration.
"Iron Body is the foundation of the Six Powers," he explained. "Master Iron Body properly, and your overall physical prowess won't be lacking." Bellamy turned, presenting his back to them. "Observe carefully. Every muscle in the body must be tensed, hardened. When activating Iron Body, you must visualize yourself as solid, impenetrable steel—flawless, without weakness." This was the advanced application of Iron Body: the unification of mind and body.
"Drake. Fetch a steel sword and strike me."
Drake complied. Soon, the steel blade came down hard on Bellamy's head, only to bounce off harmlessly. Bellamy hadn't suffered so much as a scratch.
"Did you see that clearly?" Bellamy asked. "When the sword struck just now, I made no other defensive motion. I merely tensed my entire body. Remember this: in moments like these, you absolutely cannot give in to fear. If you feel fear, your spirit weakens, and the Iron Body will falter."
That was the nature of Iron Body; the more you feared death, the quicker it would come for you if your defense failed. Bellamy was aware of the trope—how relying solely on Iron Body could sometimes get users killed—but in the heat of battle, hesitation and timidity were the greatest taboos. He would rather his companions face powerful enemies, fight with everything they had, and fall without regrets, than see them lose due to a moment of weakness or fear.
"Alright, come up one by one," Bellamy instructed. "Place your hand on me. Feel how my vital energy circulates when Iron Body is active."
Previously, he wouldn't have been able to properly describe or demonstrate the internal circulation of this vital energy. It was too vague a concept, lacking tangible substance. But after studying the classified Marine data, Bellamy now possessed a much more direct, detailed understanding. Which was why he now felt confident enough to use his own experience to instruct his crew. He wouldn't dare teach such crucial techniques if he were still just half-baked himself.
He was confident that with his guidance, his companions would soon master the fundamentals of all Six Powers. As for the ultimate techniques like Life Return and Rokuogan... even Bellamy himself hadn't fully mastered those yet. In fact, without the aid of specialized potions and nutrient-rich foods, even reaching the entry level for those techniques would have been incredibly difficult for him. Whether his companions could ever master those ultimate secrets remained to be seen; it wasn't something that could be forced.
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