Bab 63: Chapter 63: Blindfolds and Discoveries
The training field at Marineford was, as usual, buzzing with activity. But in one corner of the field, an unusual scene was unfolding.
Vulcan stood blindfolded in the center of the field, fists clenched at his sides, while Garp sat comfortably on a large crate nearby, lazily munching on crackers. His booming laughter echoed across the field every time Vulcan stumbled, and there was no shortage of that.
"Come on, brat!" Garp bellowed between bites. "You're not even trying! You'll never make it in the New World if you can't dodge a simple ball!"
Vulcan gritted his teeth, trying to focus. Garp had been pelting him with small rubber balls for the past hour, and he hadn't managed to dodge a single one. His entire body was tense, and the blindfold wasn't helping. He could hear Garp's every movement, but it was all just noise. There was no clarity—just confusion.
"Clear your mind!" Garp shouted, hurling another ball with more force than necessary. "You're too focused on what you hear. Use your Observation Haki to sense where I'm throwing from!"
Vulcan growled, his fists tightening. "I'm trying! It's not exactly easy with you screaming in my ear."
"Gahahaha!" Garp's laughter roared through the air as he threw another ball with pinpoint accuracy, hitting Vulcan square in the chest. "There's no crying in Haki training, brat!
Vulcan staggered back, rubbing his chest. "You don't exactly make this easy, old man!"
"Easy? You think this is supposed to be easy?" Garp reached into his pocket and pulled out another cracker. "You're too used to relying on your strength.
Another ball whizzed toward him, and Vulcan barely had time to flinch before it smacked him on the side of his head. "Damn it!" Vulcan groaned.
"Focus, brat! You have to feel where the attack is coming from. Don't rely on what you hear or what you think. Just sense it," Garp said with his mouth full of crackers, hurling another ball.
Vulcan took a deep breath, trying to tune out the sounds. It was easier said than done, especially with Garp's constant commentary. But this time, instead of focusing on the noise, he tried to calm his mind. He pictured the field in his head, imagining the space around him without using his eyes. Slowly, the distracting noises started to fade into the background, and something else took their place.
For a split second, Vulcan felt it—a shift in the air. The faintest hint of movement from Garp's direction.
Without thinking, Vulcan leaped to the side, narrowly dodging the ball that shot past him. His heart raced with excitement. "I did it!"
"Not bad," Garp said through a mouthful of crackers, his tone still playful but with a hint of approval. "But don't get cocky, brat. You're still nowhere near good enough."
Vulcan grinned under the blindfold, feeling a surge of pride. "See? I'm starting to get the hang of this."
But before he could finish his sentence, another ball smashed into his shoulder, knocking him off balance and sending him sprawling into the dirt.
"Gah!" Vulcan gasped, rubbing his shoulder as he lay on the ground. "What the hell was that for?!"
"That's what happens when you let your guard down!" Garp said, cackling as he munched on another cracker. "Lesson number one in Observation Haki: Don't celebrate until the fight's over!"
Vulcan groaned, sitting up and pulling off the blindfold. "This is ridiculous."
"Ridiculous? This is basic training, brat!" Garp shot back, standing up and stretching. "You think the pirates out there will stop attacking just because you dodge one punch? They'll pummel you into the ground the moment you let your guard down."
Vulcan sighed, brushing the dirt off his arms. "Yeah, yeah. I get it. Don't relax until it's done."
"Exactly!" Garp said, clapping his hands together. "Now, let's take a break before you pass out."
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Vulcan found himself sitting on a bench near the training field, a cold drink in his hand. His muscles were sore, and his mind was still buzzing from the intensity of the Observation Haki training. He hadn't realized how mentally exhausting it would be.
"You're making progress," Garp said, standing next to him, his arms crossed.
Garp grunted in agreement, then changed the subject. "So, what about that devil fruit you found?"
Vulcan's eyes narrowed slightly. The fruit had been on his mind for days now, ever since he'd discovered what it could do. "I read about it in the encyclopedia. It's a Paramecia-type fruit that enhances my vitality. More stamina, faster recovery, even the ability to manipulate life force in battle."
Garp raised an eyebrow. "Sounds useful. So why haven't you eaten it yet?"
Vulcan sighed, leaning back against the bench. "I don't know. Part of me thinks it could give me an edge, but another part of me… I don't want to rely on it. You always said devil fruits are just tools, not something to depend on."
Garp chuckled, sitting down next to him. "You've been listening to me, huh? That's good. You've got the right idea. A devil fruit can make you stronger, but if you rely on it too much, it can also become a crutch. It's a tool—nothing more. You need to master your own strength first."
Vulcan nodded, understanding the wisdom in Garp's words. "So, what should I do?"
Garp grinned, slapping Vulcan on the back. "That's up to you, brat. But if you ask me, you've got a good head on your shoulders. Don't rush into anything. Train harder, master your Haki, and if the time comes when you feel you need that fruit's power, then use it."
Vulcan took another sip of his drink, letting the words sink in. He still wasn't sure if he wanted to eat the fruit, but Garp was right. There was no need to rush. He had plenty of time to make that decision.
For now, he had enough to focus on with his Haki training.
As the sun set over Marineford, casting long shadows across the field, Vulcan stood up and stretched. His muscles ached, but his determination had never been stronger.
"Back to the grind tomorrow?" Vulcan asked, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Gahahaha! You bet!" Garp stood up, towering over him. "Get ready, brat. Tomorrow's gonna be even tougher!"
Vulcan couldn't help but grin. "Bring it on."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone