One Piece Swordsman's Heart - Chapter 30

The next morning, Vir bid farewell to the siblings. After resupplying in Tutu Island and grabbing the Eternal Pose, which pointed to Black Iron Rock Island, he continued his journey.

Initially, he planned to follow the Log Pose, but Vir couldn’t resist checking it out after hearing about such an interesting island.

According to Ferdinand, a regular sailboat would take a month to travel from Tutu Island to Black Iron Rock Island. However, if Vir sailed at full speed, it would take about ten days.

But Vir wasn’t in a rush. Continuous full-speed sailing could damage the ship’s internal mechanics, so he planned to reach the island in about twenty days.

Usually, Vir spent his days on the ship training his swordsmanship and physical techniques. Now, with the methods to train Haki, he devoted most of his time to this, only doing basic training for the rest.

Time flew by as he immersed himself in his Haki studies. Soon enough, Black Iron Rock Island came into view.

Vir didn’t immediately land. He wanted to observe the artificial volcano’s eruption first, to prepare for future precautions. Although the magma at just oVir a hundred degrees Celsius couldn’t kill him, it was certainly an experience he preferred to avoid.

He waited two days to witness the volcano’s eruption. While studying Haki, Vir felt a subtle vibration on his ship one day. Stepping outside, he realized it wasn’t just the ship shaking; the entire sea around the island was trembling.

Before his eyes, the island emitted a rumbling sound. Not long after, the volcano at the center, resembling a large chimney, erupted.

Despite having seen many grand spectacles, Vir was almost dumbstruck.

This wasn’t a volcano; it was more like a giant fountain.

Seeing the pale red magma spurt ten meters high and then flow across the island like a cleansing tide, he noticed the island’s huge trees barely peeking out above the lava. Various animals were perched atop the trees, huddling in different poses.

An hour later, the eruption ceased, and the whole island was steaming.

For the first time, Vir felt the island’s hostility. If this volcano was artificial, what was its purpose?

Once the island cooled down, Vir anchored his ship on the shore and disembarked.

Wisely, he stripped down due to the heat before venturing onto the island. He planned to train on the island during the day and return to his ship at night to rest. Reflecting on his last island training, Vir sighed, grateful for his ship. After locking up his beloved vessel, he stepped onto the island.

Wandering around the uninhabited island, Vir pondered how best to train his Haki.

If he needed to awaken Haki through battle, he should fight unarmed, relying on direct contact to awaken Armament Haki.

As for Observation Haki’s training method described in the notebook involved blindfolding, ear-plugging, and even blocking the nose, to forsake reliance on the senses and depend solely on instinct. Vir found this method crude.

For now, he decided to focus on training Armament Haki. He needed a living target for practice.

Not far into his walk, Vir heard a strange chewing sound. Approaching cautiously, he saw a creature gnawing on a tree.

Calling it a creature was an understatement. Vir had no better word to describe it.

Its entire body was covered in a pale red exoskeleton, tightly wrapping its form. Its joints had softer tissue, seemingly the same substance as the exoskeleton. Even its eyes were protected by a layer of crystal. It resembled a beast in biological armor. Vir couldn’t tell what animal it was unless he shattered the exoskeleton.

Feeling a profound sense of wrongness, Vir couldn’t believe this creature belonged in this world. It seemed out of place, as if it had wandered into the wrong story.

Unable to bear the sight any longer, Vir decided to eliminate it.

Clenching his fist, he swung at the creature, his amateurish punch still packing power.

With a dull thud, the creature flew away.

When Vir’s punch connected, it didn’t feel hard but rather like striking a pile of rubber—firm yet elastic.

After being knocked a considerable distance, the creature stood up dazed but unhurt, glanced at Vir, and resumed gnawing on the tree.

Vir was stunned. He hadn’t expected such an ugly creature to be so docile.

He approached, poking the creature with a stick.

The creature turned, looked at Vir with an innocent expression, and even broke off a piece of tree bark and offered it to Vir.

For some reason, Vir felt a pang of guilt for punching the creature earlier.

Accepting the bark, Vir realized it wasn’t ordinary bark but a crystalline substance with a honeycomb structure, likely insulating and resistant to corrosion, explaining the survival of the island’s trees. It seemed similar to the creature’s exoskeleton.

After observing the creature, Vir deduced that, judging by the shape of its exoskeleton, it might be a large rabbit.

Patting the creature’s head, he apologized and continued towards the island’s center.

After a few steps, Vir felt something grab his leg. It was the rabbit, shaking its head furiously and pointing towards the island’s center, then shaking its head again.

Vir understood. This creature was one of those highly intelligent animals in the One Piece world, warning him of danger in the island’s center.

Thanking the rabbit, Vir assured it of his strength and continued on.

Seeing Vir was determined, the rabbit didn’t stop him, returning to gnaw on the “bark.”

After nearly an hour’s walk, Vir reached the volcano’s base.

One glance revealed the volcano’s artificial nature. It had embedded steel and was unnaturally round.

As Vir inspected it, he felt the ground tremble beneath his feet. Quickly jumping to a nearby open area, he realized he had been standing on another bizarre creature.

Covered in an exoskeleton, this creature was unlike any animal Vir had seen. It had a crocodile-like mouth, a bloated belly, short limbs, and two tails.

Initially thinking it was a crocodile, Vir was puzzled by its two tails.

As Vir tried to identify the creature, it opened its massive mouth, revealing sharp teeth, and charged at him. Despite its unclear attack power, its speed was laughable.

The creature, resembling a crocodile, seemed to be at full speed, but its short legs and heavy exoskeleton hampered its movement.

Easily dodging, Vir punched the creature, but it had no effect.

While Vir was dismissing the creature as non-threatening, it bit into a large rock, crushing it to powder in two bites.

Ver’s pupils contracted. This creature had immense attack power and full-body defense, a perfect battle beast except for its speed.

Continuing to fight, Vir found the creature ideal for training his Armament Haki.

It was a living, moving punching bag that posed a significant threat. One misstep could result in a severe bite.

So, he continued battling the creature.

From morning until the sun began to set, Vir fought the creature.

Though not exhausted, his hands ached terribly from the unarmed combat.

In terms of Armament Haki, Vir made some progress.

Seeing the creature he had pummeled all day, Vir began to like it. He named it “Platypus,” finding the name amusing, though it didn’t resemble one.

Back on his ship, Vir took a shower and ate.

Though only a day had passed, he already felt a deeper understanding of Armament Haki, beyond just the theoretical. He believed he could fully awaken it within two years.

Happy with his progress, Vir went to bed, planning to find the platypus again the next day for more training.

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