One Piece: Song of Despair - Chapter 11

Kong and the others left as quickly as they had arrived. The incident, from Chaton’s clash with Nokiyoru to his battle with Kizaru and Akainu, took only a few minutes.

But in those few minutes, everyone who had underestimated Nokiyoru now feared him. Before, because Nokiyoru was always training and didn’t socialize, many had looked down on him.

Now, no one dared to underestimate this madman, especially after witnessing his ferocity. The shadow of his rage lingered in their minds.

“S-sorry,” Gion muttered, head down, hands nervously twisting the hem of her shirt, looking pitifully at Nokiyoru.

“Don’t bother me again. I don’t have time for your games,” Nokiyoru replied coldly, not even glancing at her, walking away to continue his training.

Everyone around winced at his words. Gion was a beauty, and Nokiyoru’s indifferent response seemed harsh.

Tears streamed down Gion’s face. She hadn’t cried in a long time, but now she couldn’t stop. “I’m sorry…” she shouted, running away, sobbing.

“Hey! Hey! Was that really necessary?” Aokiji asked, following Nokiyoru, feeling a bit awkward.

“Women are a distraction, and I don’t have time for them,” Nokiyoru replied, sitting down and closing his eyes to resume his training.

“Heartless. Gion is a beautiful woman, you know.”

“Why are you still here? Don’t bother me while I’m training,” Nokiyoru opened his eyes and stared blankly at Aokiji.

“You really don’t understand how to treat a lady,” Aokiji sighed, patting his pants as he stood up, yawning. “You train; I’m going to take a nap.”

Because of today, rumors began to spread among the trainees. Nokiyoru was considered a cold, heartless monster who was indifferent to women and obsessed with training. This reputation followed him as he rose to fame.

Night fell, and the stars twinkled. The breeze carried a salty tang, soothing minds with its serene touch.

In Marineford’s back hills, silence reigned, broken only by a swift figure moving through the forest.

“You’re here,” Zephyr said, looking up at the night sky as Nokiyoru arrived.

“Sorry, Sensei, I lost track of time while training,” Nokiyoru apologized, embarrassed for being half an hour late.

Zephyr, not one to hold grudges, smiled. “I figured you were training. Sometimes, you need to balance effort and rest. Your mind needs breaks too.”

“Yes, I understand,” Nokiyoru smiled, nodding.

Zephyr stepped forward, patting Nokiyoru’s shoulder. “Did you get hurt in today’s fight?”

“Thank you for your concern, Sensei. I did get hurt, but I’ve recovered.”

“Good,” Zephyr sighed in relief, then warned, “You’ve made enemies with Chaton and Akainu. Be careful. Akainu’s a Logia user, immune to most of your attacks. Today, he was careless. Next time, it won’t be so easy.”

“I know. I was surprised I could hurt him today. But if I can beat him once, I can beat him again, and eventually, I’ll make sure he’s gone for good,” Nokiyoru’s eyes flashed coldly.

Zephyr’s face hardened, but he appreciated Nokiyoru’s trust. “I won’t stop you. You’re my disciple.”

“Sensei, I need your help. I want to train in the Six Powers and Haki,” Nokiyoru’s eyes shone with determination, momentarily dazzling Zephyr.

“Fine, but I won’t go easy on you. Are you learning all the Six Powers or just a few?” Zephyr asked.

“I want to start with Soru, Shigan, and Geppo. I’ll learn the others later.”

“Good. You’re thinking about how to integrate them with your Devil Fruit abilities,” Zephyr observed.

“Yes.”

“Then let’s begin with Soru…”

The time they were passed as Zephyr patiently taught and Nokiyoru trained hard.

Three hours later, they stopped. Nokiyoru was frustrated, having barely made progress. He could step five times a second, far from the ten required for Soru. His progress in Shigan and Geppo could have been faster.

“You’ve done well. It’s only the first night, and you’re already ahead of most,” Zephyr encouraged, recognizing Nokiyoru’s talent as above average, but his perseverance would make him excel.

“Now, let’s start Haki training. Which one first?” Zephyr asked, smiling.

“What do you suggest, Sensei?” Nokiyoru was torn.

“If you can handle it, you should train both Armament and Observation Haki together,” Zephyr said.

Nokiyoru winced, sensing a hidden challenge. “What’s the difference?”

“Armament Haki training involves taking hits. It’s an internal energy that needs to be sensed, connected with, mastered, and used. Taking hits is the fastest way to train it.”

“For Observation Haki, you need to clear your mind, extend your senses, and perceive the natural world to predict attacks. You’ll need to dodge my attacks blindfolded. If you can’t, you’ll at least be training your Armament Haki through the hits,” Zephyr explained with a warm smile that made Nokiyoru shiver.

Gritting his teeth, Nokiyoru said firmly, “Sensei, please train me.”

“I knew you’d choose this path.”

“Let’s start. Remember, you can fight back, which will also train your combat awareness. But remember, no peeking.”

Was he fighting back while blindfolded? That’s just fighting blind! Nokiyoru mentally rolled his eyes.

“Ready?”

“Yes, Sensei,” Nokiyoru closed his eyes, bracing himself.

With no warning, Nokiyoru felt a sharp pain and was sent flying, coughing and stirring up dust.

“Thud… Thud…”

“Ugh… Ugh…” He groaned in pain.

The night felt like hell for Nokiyoru, his body and mind exhausted. The physical pain was bearable, but the constant mental strain was overwhelming.

At 3 a.m., Zephyr looked at Nokiyoru, now unconscious on the ground, a soft smile on his face. Nokiyoru’s persistence, though crazy, earned Zephyr’s respect and admiration.

Every time Zephyr saw Nokiyoru’s dedication, he felt awe and gratitude. Having a disciple like Nokiyoru made his life meaningful.

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