Chapter 79

The two figures inside the enormous crater flickered without pause.

The attacking side could not touch the dodging side, so the result was that every strike landed on empty air.

The earth quaked again and again; under such attacks the entire crater floor grew larger and deeper, even more of a shambles.

After Luo En's attack missed once more.

"Is that all your strength amounts to, kid?"

Lei Li's voice rang in Luo En's ear.

His gaze sharpened; the All-Seeing World fed countless details back into his mind. Without the slightest hesitation, he thrust out a fist and blasted it toward the side.

But the power and speed of that strike surged in an instant, exceeding his perception.

Just like Kaku back in Impel Down, he had used a higher level of Observation Haki to foresee Luo En's movement, and with even greater speed, seized the initiative!

That kick passed beneath Luo En's fist, struck his belly from below, and kicked him tilting at an angle up into the sky.

"Cough…"

Luo En coughed up a mouthful of bitter water midair, then plummeted straight down to the ground like a meteorite.

Lei Li lowered his raised foot.

He watched the figure plummeting straight down, his eyes behind the glasses filled with considerable curiosity and surprise.

Where on earth did a youngster like this come from? Why had he never heard of him on the sea before?

By all reason, with strength and age like his, he should have long since shaken the seas with his name…

He watched the black-haired boy, who had taken that hit from him, slowly climb up from the ground, dust off his clothes, and look utterly unbothered.

Lei Li was somewhat stunned.

How could a boy of ten-odd years possess such a physique, such a level of Armament Haki and Observation Haki?!

He could not comprehend it.

Because it was simply too inconceivable, beyond his understanding.

In all these decades, among the top-tier powerhouses he had known and seen on this sea, none at this boy's age could possibly have reached such an outrageous level!

Apart from that born-monster Big Mom…

Could it be that this kid is the same as her?

Born with an abnormally powerful physique?

After standing up, Luo En drew a deep breath, then kicked off the ground; his body skimmed almost flat against the earth as he shot toward Lei Li at extreme speed.

A fist blasted toward his face.

But it stopped right in front of Lei Li's face; the fierce fist wind blew Lei Li's long, curved silver hair streaming straight back.

"Done fighting?"

Luo En frowned slightly.

"Done fighting. This old man doesn't have the energy you youngsters have."

Lei Li said, looking at Luo En before him, whose clothes were torn to shreds and covered in dust.

"Besides, I don't plan on getting my clothes dirty either—I'd have to wash them myself when we get back."

Lei Li said, then turned his head and walked toward the outside of the great pit the two of them were in.

Although Luo En hadn't quite had his fill of fighting.

But since Lei Li didn't intend to continue, he could only let it go.

He dispersed the Armament Haki wrapped around him and followed Lei Li out of the pit.

Both of their coats had been blown away.

While looking for their coats.

Luo En asked Lei Li ahead of him: "When you fought me just now, Mr. Lei Li, how much of your strength did you use? One-tenth?"

He could feel that Lei Li's blood energy was definitely more than double his current level, and that both his Armament Haki and Observation Haki were far above his own at present.

Although he still had his swordsmanship he hadn't brought out, the swordsmanship of this 'Dark King' Lei Li was probably still above his own.

As for why he could trade blows with him for several rounds, there was no need to say—naturally it was him holding back—no, flooding the sea.

Hearing his words, the corner of Lei Li's eye twitched slightly.

One-tenth?

Are you overestimating this old man, or underestimating yourself?

Don't you have any idea how strong you actually are?

One-tenth of my peak would be about right…

What Lei Li didn't know was that it was precisely because Luo En had no idea how strong he was that he'd come to challenge him.

In the last two years as an intern at Marineford, he had only met Kaku a few times, and never crossed swords even once; those Marine officers also never sparred with him.

Even Smoker avoided him.

He had crossed blades with that girl Tina a few times, but she was still too weak—Luo En really couldn't work up any interest, and could only reluctantly keep his strength at about her level.

The only somewhat proper exchange was a swordsmanship sparring match with Peach Rabbit Tsuru.

During that sparring match, an accident even occurred…

Lei Li found his white coat, and as he bent to pick it up, asked Luo En:

"Kid, who taught you your Haki?"

"Kaku."

Lei Li's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at him: "So you're Kaku's disciple?"

"No. He only taught me the training method for Armament Haki because of a condition."

Luo En answered truthfully.

Lei Li nodded and said nothing more.

……

Chapter 71: The Definition of Pirates, The Division of Haki Levels (8/8, please subscribe!!)

On the way Lei Li rowed the small boat back to Sabaody Archipelago with Luo En, Lei Li looked at Luo En and said: "What do you plan to do next? Since you don't plan to become a Marine, do you want to become a pirate?"

"I think I'll probably become a traveler who roams the sea."

Luo En said casually, his hands tucked behind his head, lying on the small boat with his eyes closed, enjoying the sea breeze.

"A traveler, huh…"

Lei Li looked at Luo En's blissful face, and some memories of the past inevitably surfaced in his eyes.

When he had first set out to sea with that guy called Luo Jie, wasn't it just like being a traveler…

After coming back to his senses, Lei Li looked at Luo En and laughed: "Whether it's a pirate, an adventurer, or a traveler, fundamentally they're all guys pursuing freedom on this sea."

"And right now, this sea is not free."

"If you want to pursue freedom, you must break some of the things that bind this sea."

Luo En's heart stirred slightly, and he opened his eyes to look at Lei Li.

"If you want to become a true traveler, you will inevitably come into opposition with the people who create this kind of bondage. Whether you want to or not, this is how the current era is. Not everyone who yearns for freedom becomes a pirate — only those who stand against bondage and rules, who resist the bondage, are called pirates!"

Lei Li, rowing the oars with both hands, looked at Luo En and laughed heartily: "If your goal really is to travel on a truly free sea, then I'll be waiting for you on Sabaody Island for the day your name shakes the seas."

…………

After returning to Sabaody Archipelago.

Inside a tavern.

Luo En and Lei Li had a drink, and Luo En took the opportunity to ask him some questions about Haki.

Lei Li drank the champagne he had treated him to, and answered his questions very readily.

"In my view, when it comes to Haki, whether it's Armament Haki, Observation Haki, or Conqueror's Haki, they all have roughly four stages."

"Your current Armament Haki has probably reached the second stage, while your Observation Haki is still at the first stage."

"The first stage of Armament Haki is entanglement, the second stage is hardening. To reach the third stage, you must let the Haki flow freely within your body. I once heard a companion from Wano Country on the ship say that in their country, this power of Haki is called Ryuo."

"I feel using this name to refer to Haki isn't entirely accurate, but using it to refer to the third stage of Haki is quite fitting."

Lei Li drank and said: "Those who can reach the Ryuo realm with Armament Haki are few across the entire sea. As for the fourth stage… only a handful of people across the entire sea have ever reached it."

"Mr. Lei Li, have you reached the fourth stage?"

Luo En asked curiously.

Lei Li shook his head: "No, but I know there's one person who has reached it."

"Who?"