Fated Adventure.

With the Ancient Stone Talisman, I wasn't just training during the day. Since I didn't need sleep, I would mentally enter the space at night for additional practice.

I already had shadows that could perform the Marine Six Styles, executing each technique with mechanical precision, and others specialized in Haki training. If I ever felt too exhausted to continue, I would sit on the Jade Soul Platform, letting it nourish my soul and wipe away fatigue. The result? I was constantly improving.

During the day, Rayleigh pushed us to our limits. At night, I refined what I had learned, reinforcing my techniques until they became second nature. Where Ace and Deuce needed rest, I had the luxury of continuous training without ever suffering from overexertion.

A month into training, the results were undeniable.

I had developed a near-instantaneous grasp of Shigan. At first, it had been a simple finger jab, but with my monstrous strength, it quickly became something far more dangerous. I could pierce through thick wooden planks with ease, and when I combined it with Armament Haki, it became a lethal attack capable of shattering solid stone.

Soru, the speed technique, was another area where I excelled. My raw speed was already ridiculous, but Soru refined it, making my movements even sharper and more controlled. After spending hours watching my shadows execute the technique, I adapted it into my own fighting style, weaving it into my attacks seamlessly.

Rayleigh observed my progress with mild amusement. "You're picking these up almost too fast," he remarked one evening. "It's like your body already knows what to do—it's just waiting for your mind to catch up."

He wasn't wrong. Between my Heavenly Restriction, the Fountain of Youth, and the King Piece embedded in my body, I was evolving at an absurd rate. The King Piece removed any potential limits, allowing me to grow ten times faster than I should have. Every movement, every technique, every skill I learned was absorbed into my very being at an unnatural pace.

Ace, on the other hand, was refining his Conqueror's Haki.

Ever since his first accidental release, Rayleigh had been pushing him to control it. The old pirate would casually attack us without warning, forcing Ace to instinctively unleash his willpower to counter. At first, Ace struggled, but as the days passed, his control improved. By the end of the month, he could focus his Haki to knock out weaker-willed opponents without affecting Deuce or me.

Deuce, despite struggling early on, was making progress with Observation Haki. He had a sharp analytical mind, and Rayleigh guided him toward predicting attacks rather than relying solely on instinct.

But for me? My growth in Haki was different.

My Armament Haki was developing rapidly. Each night, I trained with my shadows, refining my ability to coat my limbs in hardened Haki. Rayleigh noticed the improvement and challenged me by having me clash directly against his own Haki-coated strikes. The first time, I was completely overwhelmed. The second time, I held my ground for a moment longer. By the end of the month, I was able to match him—if only for a few exchanges.

Observation Haki was another challenge. Unlike Deuce, who honed his awareness through calculation, my training involved reaction and instinct. Rayleigh blindfolded me and forced me to dodge projectiles, predicting movements before they happened. At first, I failed. But by the end of the month, I could sense incoming attacks without needing my eyes.

Rayleigh seemed especially intrigued by my progress. "It's almost like you have too much potential," he mused one day. "Most people struggle to develop one type of Haki, but you're improving in all areas simultaneously."

I shrugged. "I just keep pushing forward."

Rayleigh chuckled. "That you do."

The days passed in a blur of relentless training. With each session, my control improved. I could use Geppo to remain in the air longer, Tekkai to absorb direct strikes without flinching, and Rankyaku to unleash razor-sharp air slashes. My body adapted faster than should've been possible, my endurance was endless, and every technique I learned became second nature within days.

By the end of the month, it was clear—I wasn't just keeping up. I was surpassing expectations.

One evening, after another brutal training session, Rayleigh sat down with a bottle of sake and motioned for us to join him. Ace flopped onto the ground, exhausted, while Deuce wiped sweat from his brow. I, as usual, wasn't particularly tired, but I took a seat anyway.

"You three have come far," Rayleigh admitted, taking a sip from his drink. "But don't get cocky. There's still a long way to go."

Ace smirked. "I don't know… I feel like I'm getting the hang of this Conqueror's Haki thing."

Rayleigh raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Then why don't we test it?"

Ace immediately tensed. "Wait, I didn't mean—"

Rayleigh's eyes gleamed, and in an instant, a crushing wave of Conqueror's Haki exploded from him. The sheer force of his willpower bore down on us like an invisible storm. Deuce gritted his teeth, sweat pouring down his face as he struggled to stay conscious. I felt the pressure, but my body handled it better than expected, as if my instincts simply absorbed the force. Ace, however, wasn't fazed at all.

Instead, he grinned.

A second later, his own Conqueror's Haki surged outward, clashing against Rayleigh's like a thunderous wave. The ground beneath us cracked, trees rustled violently, and for a moment, the entire island seemed to tremble.

Rayleigh let out a hearty laugh. "Now that's more like it!"

As the clash subsided, Ace exhaled, wiping his forehead. "Okay… maybe I am getting cocky."

I chuckled. "Maybe?"

Deuce groaned. "Can we not do that again?"

Rayleigh smirked, taking another sip of sake. "Get used to it. This is only the beginning."

And with that, our training continued—harder, faster, and more relentless than ever before.