As Koa asked Rayleigh to train him, Rayleigh instructed Koa on how to use Conqueror's Haki properly. It was an ability directly connected to its user's strength and couldn't be trained conventionally, but Rayleigh could teach Koa how to control it.
"Once you awaken it, controlling it becomes simple," Rayleigh explained. "You must remember the state of mind you were in when you awakened it—the goal you wanted to achieve—and use that as fuel to release it outward. After that, you must learn to dictate your will: who you want to affect, who you want to target. These are questions you must define before using it, until you can do so unconsciously."
Koa listened intently as Rayleigh spoke.
"Thank you for the guidance," Koa said. "That's very insightful advice. No wonder you are the second-in-command of the Roger Pirates—the smartest and the second strongest here."
Koa's compliment highlighted Rayleigh's wisdom and commanding presence, which naturally drew respect. However, Gaban, overhearing the remark, immediately shouted in protest.
"Hey, hey! I'm the second strongest here—don't get it twisted!" Gaban yelled, correcting Koa with a grin.
Koa laughed, and Rayleigh joined in, amused by Gaban's outburst. Unhappy with the reaction, Gaban stormed over, his expression mock-offended.
"Got that? I'm number two, not Rayleigh," Gaban insisted, holding up two fingers for emphasis.
"The truly strong don't announce it themselves," Rayleigh retorted smoothly. "It's a title given by those who witness their strength."
Koa burst into even louder laughter at Rayleigh's jab, reminded of the endless rivalry between Zoro and Sanji, who bickered over everything.
"Damn you! Fight me right now, and we'll prove who's stronger!" Gaban challenged, unsheathing his twin axes and unleashing his Conqueror's Haki toward Rayleigh.
"Come on, then," Rayleigh replied, drawing his sword and matching Gaban's energy with his own Conqueror's Haki.
Koa watched closely, studying how they released their Haki, absorbing their techniques. But just as suddenly as the tension had risen, the two men stopped, bursting into laughter.
"You guys are a weird bunch," Koa remarked, shaking his head.
Rayleigh and Gaban laughed again, their camaraderie a stark contrast to the serious personas they often displayed in the limited scenes that they had in the anime One Piece.
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As weeks passed, Koa dedicated himself to mastering Conqueror's Haki. He meditated frequently—almost every two hours—believing that inner alignment was key to controlling his power. Alongside this, he trained relentlessly, swinging his axes like swords, the blades cutting through the air with sharp, resonant slashes. Large weights strapped to his arms increased the intensity of his movements. Unconsciously, he was evolving into a swordsman under Rayleigh's guidance, who taught him the fundamentals of swordsmanship to integrate into his combat style. Meanwhile, Gaban drilled him on proper slashing techniques.
Koa wasn't the only one making strides. Ginny had unlocked Observation Haki within her first week of training, sharpening her sniper skills to near-perfection. Rayleigh also instructed her in close-quarters combat, ensuring she wouldn't be defenseless if an enemy closed the distance. She primarily fought with her legs, keeping her rifle secure in her arms. Koa contributed his insights, teaching her a move inspired by the infamous "Black Widow" technique—launching herself at an opponent, wrapping her legs around their neck, and spinning midair to slam them down while simultaneously aiming her rifle at their head.
Ivankov, now the user of a powerful Mythical Zoan, was trained under Nozdon in the art of boxing. Nozdon recommended a brutal regimen inspired by Garp—punching the reinforced hull of a ship barehanded—but Ivankov opted instead to refine his form, throwing precise strikes in the air.
Kuma, under Sunbell's tutelage, embraced Fishman Karate as his primary fighting style. The two shared a deep bond, both being members of persecuted races often targeted for slavery. Kuma also grew more adept with his Devil Fruit, blending its powers with his martial arts. Koa suggested an innovation: repelling water in a concentrated jet, mimicking a high-pressure cutter. At first, the technique lacked power, but with practice, Kuma learned to compress and repel water with precision. When unleashed, it struck like a missile—a discovery tested when a band of glory-seeking pirates attacked the crew.
The Roger Pirates, aware of the ambush, allowed Kuma, Ginny, and Ivankov to handle the fight alone—a test of their growth. Koa, ready to jump in, was stopped by Rayleigh.
"Let them. They can handle it," Rayleigh said, his voice calm.
Koa hesitated but obeyed, watching as the trio dismantled the enemy. Ginny picked off targets from the rear, protected by Kuma and Ivankov, who held off over a thousand pirates. Kuma leaped toward the sea, summoning a Repel Paw to propel himself skyward, carrying seawater with him. He then hurled it at the pirates in a devastating wave. Ivankov, partially activating his Devil Fruit, coated himself in a slippery slime, moving with frictionless speed as he struck. Ginny alternated between sniping and delivering crushing kicks to any who got too close.
The battle lasted twenty minutes, delayed only by the sheer number of foes, before the trio stood victorious. They looted the enemy ship, claiming 20% of the spoils for themselves while the rest went to the crew's treasury. As the Roger Pirates sailed away, Koa turned back and unleashed his Earthquake powers, obliterating the enemy vessel without a second thought.
Koa's latest display of power sent a silent ripple through the veteran members of the Roger Pirates. They had now witnessed him wield two distinct Devil Fruit abilities—first, a power reminiscent of Shiki's Float-Float Fruit, allowing him to levitate objects he touched, and now, the unmistakable tremor abilities of Whitebeard's Gura Gura no Mi. Both were powers they knew intimately, having clashed with Shiki during his time with the Rocks Pirates and faced Whitebeard's earth-shattering might themselves.
Yet, despite the glaring question hanging in the air—how?—no one asked. It wasn't their place to pry, and they respected Koa's privacy too much to demand answers. For his part, Koa remained oblivious to their unspoken curiosity. Had he noticed, he wouldn't have hesitated to explain. He trusted his crewmates implicitly, unafraid that they'd turn on him for the secrets of his power.
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PS: I EDITED IT USING DEEPSEEK, SO IF IT SOUNDS LIKE AI, YOU KNOW