บท 235: The Training Session Ends

"Did you get it… It seems I don't need to ask. The change in you is so significant compared to before; it's as if you're two different people."

Seeing Eiji approach with a different aura, Rayleigh immediately realized that the other party had eaten the Kanjo Kanjo no Mi, which caused a drastic change in him.

"What's different?" Eiji asked curious.

"Hmm… How should I describe it…"

Rubbing his chin, Rayleigh observed Eiji's expression, which now seemed more animated and less rigid.

"You look more human."

"Human…"

Repeating the word to himself, Eiji nodded in agreement.

In the past, he viewed the world in shades of gray. No matter what he did, nothing could shake his thoughts or cause his heart to waver. But now it was different; after consuming the Kanjo Kanjo no Mi, he saw the world differently— it seemed more colorful in his eyes.

"Then let's begin Kenbunshoku Haki training."

"In such a rush? You just got back; don't you want to relax first?"

"No, I don't want to delay any longer."

"Alright, you're the boss."

Shrugging his shoulders, Rayleigh agreed to start the training session as per Eiji's request.

"I want you to focus on hearing the sound of life around us. This forest is full of living creatures, from the largest to the smallest. Your task is to listen to them."

"Understood."

Eiji nodded, closed his eyes, and began to concentrate. He listened to the sound of the wind rustling the leaves, the water flowing in a small stream, and the birds chirping in the distance. However, despite his efforts, he still found it difficult to separate those sounds from the general noise of nature.

His five senses were far sharper than those of an ordinary person due to his superhuman physical abilities, so this task wasn't difficult for him.

Rayleigh observed closely and offered further guidance.

"Don't just listen with your ears, Eiji. Listen with your heart and consider their movements. Feel their presence and emotions."

"…"

Eiji took a deep breath and tried again. He focused his attention, trying to sense the presence of the creatures around him, not just hear their sounds. In fact, he could have easily done this using the Kanjo Kanjo no Mi's ability, but if he did, the true purpose of the training would be meaningless.

Slowly, the sounds began to shift from random noise into something more orderly. He could sense the presence of a rabbit nearby, even though the animal was invisible. He sensed the presence of a bird flying high above the trees and other animals in the forest.

"I can feel it." Eiji whispered, his eyes still closed.

Rayleigh smiled and praised him.

"Good, that's a solid start. You learn quickly, Eiji. Now that your emotional barriers have been broken down, your talent is starting to shine again. Keep practicing; I'm confident it won't be long before you master Kenbunshoku Haki."

The training continued for hours. Eiji sat still, focusing only on Kenbunshoku Haki, sensing every living creature around him. When he finally opened his eyes, the sun was high in the sky, and his body was drenched in sweat.

"This is a bit more difficult than Busoshoku Haki."

"You're still complaining? Your learning speed is incredibly fast. If others knew, they'd doubt themselves."

Hearing his complaint, Rayleigh smiled wryly. He then handed Eiji some water to drink and said, "You've made progress today, but Kenbunshoku Haki requires more than just concentration. You need to learn to use it in more challenging situations. After all, in a real fight, people don't just stand still to use Kenbunshoku Haki, do they? Follow me."

"Oh." Eiji nodded after drinking.

The two of them headed to the deepest part of the forest, where large trees and wild plants thrived, creating a dark and ominous atmosphere.

Rayleigh stopped in front of a cave hidden behind thick foliage.

"Next, you'll be training in this cave." Rayleigh said with a smile.

"It's pitch dark inside, and you won't be able to see anything with your eyes. Your task is to rely on Kenbunshoku Haki to navigate and avoid dangers. I'll be waiting for you at the end of the cave. If you can reach me without injury, it means you've successfully grasped the basics of Kenbunshoku Haki."

"Interesting. Alright, I'll do it."

With his Six Eyes, Eiji could see in the dark. But he didn't rely on them to fulfill the purpose of this training.

"See you at the end of the cave, Rayleigh."

With steady steps, he entered the cave, and darkness immediately enveloped him. Eiji closed his eyes. He stood still for a moment, listening to the sound of his own footsteps and trying to sense the presence of the cave around him.

Gradually, he began to feel changes.

There was something in this cave that couldn't be seen or heard but could be felt. It was the presence of unknown creatures, moving quickly around him.

Eiji guessed they were bats or other nocturnal animals, and he began to follow their movements using his Kenbunshoku Haki. He could feel the change in wind direction as the creatures passed by, sense the movement of air left by their wings.

"They're just bats. So the nitric acid smell in the air is from their droppings."

Before, Eiji wouldn't have cared about the pungent smell of bat droppings. But now it was different; he had regained the emotions a human should have. With his enhanced senses, his sense of smell detected the stench many times more intensely than what a normal person would smell.

It was torture walking through a cave filled with bat droppings.

"I can't take it anymore."

Feeling nauseous, Eiji quickly classified the bat droppings' smell as a threat (poison) in his mind. With that, Infinity isolated the odor from him so that it would never reach him.

*WHOOSH* *WHOOSH* *WHOOSH*

Every time the creatures approached, Eiji dodged swiftly, relying on instincts honed by Kenbunshoku Haki. What once felt like a deathtrap of a cave now became a training ground, a place where he began to master this Haki more effectively.

After what felt like hours, he finally saw a faint light in the distance. It was the end of the cave, where Rayleigh was waiting. Eiji emerged from the darkness, and Rayleigh looked at him with a satisfied smile.

"You did well, Eiji. But remember, this is just the beginning. Kenbunshoku Haki is a power that will continue to grow with your experience. That's all I can teach you. If you want to improve your mastery of Haki, mere training isn't enough; seek out strong opponents and fight them. Surely, your Haki will progress rapidly. Only true battle can make someone grow."

"Thank you for your guidance all this time, Rayleigh."

"Don't mention it; you mastered all three Haki in less than a month, thanks to your own talent."

Rayleigh felt unworthy of Eiji's gratitude. Initially, he was reluctant to train him since he had just returned to the Sabaody Archipelago. Only after seeing the generous payment did he agree to train him.

"With this, I declare your training session over. I can go home earlier than scheduled; this was the easiest job of my life."

"Heading home straight away?"

"Yeah, I'll leave the rest to you."

"Alright."

Then, Eiji used teleportation to take Rayleigh to Shakky's Bar on the Sabaody Archipelago.

Not wanting to intrude on the couple's private moment, Eiji didn't stay and left for who knows where.