Chapter 19

"You heard that clearly."

"I myself once heard whispers of these rumors, but I can't give you much explanation or introduction."

Dadan paused to think, then exhaled heavily, "This sea is teeming with strong ones, crawling with monsters. Many of these monsters possess exceptional talent and formidable strength."

"They control a terrifying ability."

"This ability is called Haki."

She had always known.

Ace longed to set sail…

To become a powerful pirate!

To become the Pirate King!

Even though over the years Captain Kapu had constantly stressed that Ace should become an outstanding marine.

But she also knew well.

Ace never took Captain Kapu's words to heart; his inner conviction had long been unshakable.

No one could easily change Ace's thoughts or beliefs.

As for this,

what Dadan could do…

was to teach Ace more basic knowledge about this sea before he set sail.

To prevent him from provoking terrifying monsters or powerful enemies.

"Haki…"

Little Ace's eyes glazed over, filled with confusion.

The power called 'Haki' was something he had almost never heard of.

Then,

Dadan continued speaking.

"Haki is divided into three types."

"The first two are Armament Haki and Observation Haki."

"What I'm going to tell you today is the third type—the rarest of the three Haki types."

"It is said that only one person in a million possesses the potential of a king!"

"Even I, in my entire life, have never seen it—I've only occasionally heard descriptions and introductions of Conqueror's Haki."

"It is called…"

"Conqueror's Haki!"

The words fell.

Ace's head rang dully.

Dadan's words seemed to open a brand-new world before him.

"Only one in a million possesses the potential of a king?"

"So…"

"Last night, I passed out because of Conqueror's Haki?"

Ace opened his mouth.

"Yes."

Dadan nodded.

"Then who exactly…"

Ace pressed.

"It was your older brother, Lu En."

"The Conqueror's Haki last night was unleashed by your older brother. It didn't just knock you unconscious—it nearly felled everyone else in the house, all except me."

"All of them suffered the same fate as you."

Dadan stated plainly.

"Wh-what?!"

"Lu En?"

"That guy possesses the potential of a king—one in a million?!"

Ace's eyes widened, his face filled with shock.

He could not believe this result.

Yet…

They were all roughly the same age!

He could not accept it.

Lu En had mastered the terrifying power of Conqueror's Haki.

For a moment,

Ace felt an unprecedented, overwhelming pressure emanating from Lu En.

"That guy…"

"Is far stronger than me—not by a little!"

"We're both three years old, yet this guy has already left me so far behind."

"I absolutely cannot let him pull ahead of me!"

He clenched his fists unconsciously.

"Work hard, Ace."

"Even if you can't surpass that kid Lu En…"

"Just don't fall too far behind."

Seeing the shock and unwillingness in Ace's expression, Dadan patted the little shoulder earnestly.

As for wanting to surpass Lu En?

How could that be easy?

Don't forget.

That is a monster who awakened Conqueror's Haki at three years old!

Ace is still young now…

Clearly, he can't understand at all.

A genius who awakened Conqueror's Haki at only three years old.

What, exactly, does that represent as a terrifying concept!

……

Sunlight spilled down through the window.

Lu En awoke from a deep sleep.

Then,

He began his day-after-day devilish training.

Having yet to fully master Conqueror's Haki, it was not yet time for him to slack off.

"Set a small goal…"

"Within one month, fully master Conqueror's Haki."

"Before cheap old man Dragon brings little Lufei back to Windmill Village, I must master Conqueror's Haki."

Lu En thought to himself.

According to what Grandpa Kapu had said before.

Cheap old man Dragon and silly little brother Lufei would arrive at Windmill Village in a month.

Just thinking of this,

Lu En secretly steeled his resolve.

Within one month, he must master Conqueror's Haki!

The following period of time…

He would race against the clock!

And so,