บท 19: Chapter 19: The Road to Strength and North Blue
The sun hung high over the calm seas as Xander stood at the helm of the ship, his crimson eyes glimmering with determination. They had left Loguetown far behind, and the open sea stretched endlessly ahead. The girls—Nami, Nojiko, Kaya, and Mari—were scattered around the deck, chatting or busying themselves with tasks.
Xander turned, his gaze serious. "Ladies, come here. We need to talk."
Hearing the tone in his voice, the four women exchanged glances before gathering around him.
"What's this about, Captain?" Mari asked, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
Xander crossed his arms, his tall frame imposing but calm. "We're heading toward the Grand Line, but I need you all to understand something—it's dangerous."
The girls fell silent, the weight of his words settling on them. Even Nami, who usually carried herself confidently, furrowed her brows in concern.
Xander continued, "The Grand Line isn't like the seas we've been in so far. Strong pirates, Marines, warlords—you name it. If we want to survive and thrive, you all need to get stronger. At the very least, you need to master one type of Haki."
"Haki?" Nojiko asked, tilting her head.
Xander nodded. "Haki is a powerful ability that allows you to sense your opponents, strengthen your attacks, and even defend yourself against Devil Fruit users. It's essential."
Mari frowned slightly. "But how are we supposed to learn that?"
Xander smirked. "Don't worry—I'll awaken it for you. But you'll need to train hard to master it."
The girls looked at him, a mixture of excitement and determination on their faces.
Xander mentally opened his System Shop, scrolling through the options. He grinned when he found what he needed:
Armament Haki Seed: 1000 HP
Observation Haki Seed: 1000 HP
"I've been saving up for this," Xander muttered to himself as he started purchasing.
[Ding! Purchased 4x Armament Haki Seeds for 4000 HP.]
[Ding! Purchased 4x Observation Haki Seeds for 4000 HP.]
As the notifications rang in his mind, Xander's HP count plummeted. He glanced at the remaining amount.
[Current Harem Points: 3000 HP]
"Damn… poor again," he muttered with a chuckle. "But worth every point."
---
Turning back to the girls, Xander held out his hand, and in a flash of light, eight small, glowing seeds appeared in his palm. Each seed radiated a faint energy, pulsing softly.
"What are those?" Kaya asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"These are Haki seeds," Xander said. "Once you take one, the ability to awaken Haki will be planted inside you. It's up to you to train and bring it out."
Nami's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You're telling us to eat those?"
"Don't worry. You won't feel anything—at least not right away," Xander reassured her.
Mari, always the brave one, stepped forward first. "If this will make me stronger, I'm in."
One by one, the girls accepted their seeds. Xander handed them two each: one for Armament Haki and one for Observation Haki. They hesitated briefly before swallowing the glowing seeds.
As promised, there was no immediate reaction, though Kaya shivered slightly. "I feel… warm."
"That's the seed taking root," Xander said. "Now comes the hard part—you'll need to train. Haki doesn't awaken on its own."
Nami smirked, cracking her knuckles. "Fine. I'll train as hard as it takes. I'm not letting you leave me behind, Captain."
"Good," Xander said, grinning. "We're not going to the Grand Line yet. First, we'll head to North Blue."
"North Blue?" Nojiko repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Why there?"
Xander shrugged nonchalantly. "Two reasons. One, it'll give us plenty of time to train and grow stronger. And two…" He smirked mischievously. "We need more crew."
The girls stared at him, unimpressed.
"You mean more women," Nami deadpanned, crossing her arms.
Xander coughed into his fist, pretending not to hear her. "What I meant was, we'll recruit new crew members to help us on our journey. North Blue has plenty of talented people—why not take a look?"
Mari chuckled. "Whatever you say, Captain."
Kaya, her face flushed with quiet resolve, spoke up. "I don't mind… as long as we're all together."
Nojiko sighed but smiled. "Fine. I'll follow your lead—for now."
"Perfect." Xander grinned. "Set course for North Blue!"
---
As the ship sailed onward, the crew wasted no time. Under Xander's watchful eye, they began their Haki training.
Nami and Nojiko focused on Observation Haki, practicing their ability to sense movement and attacks. Mari and Kaya worked on Armament Haki, training to harden their fists and increase their physical power.
Xander supervised them, offering guidance and occasionally sparring with them to push their limits. Though progress was slow, he could already see sparks of potential in all of them.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the sea, Xander stood at the bow of the ship, his crimson eyes looking toward the horizon.
"North Blue…" he murmured to himself. "Let's see what you've got for me."
Behind him, the sounds of the crew's training filled the air—grunts of effort, shouts of encouragement, and the steady rhythm of fists meeting wood.
Xander smiled. They'll be strong soon. And together, we'll conquer everything the world throws at us.
With the ship cutting through the waves and his crew growing stronger every day, Xander felt a new excitement bubbling within him.
The journey is just beginning
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