I'm Not Interested in Devil Fruits

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Robin watched silently for a moment. 

Compared to their first meeting three to four years ago, Liam now stood tall at around six feet, with a muscular build and defined lines… 

Without B.I.B., Liam was relying purely on his memory fragments, recalling images of a woman named Lily, unconsciously practicing this rudimentary Hasshoken again and again. 

"Isn't it called Hasshō-ken - Eight Impacts Fist?" 

Liam came back to his senses, opening his eyes to see Robin on the shore, having cleaned the giant beast she hunted, lit a fire, and skillfully set up a rack to roast it. 

Liam walked over and tore off a large chunk of meat, saying, "Yeah! But it's just a framework; to learn the real Hasshō-ken - Eight Impacts Fist, you'd have to go to Kano Country." 

Robin replied, "It seems you don't value this Hasshoken?" 

Liam said, "It's not that I don't value it! But it's not entirely wrong either." 

Robin: "…" 

Liam chuckled, "Whether it's Hasshoken or not, we'll talk about it later. Since our physical condition and Haki levels still have room for improvement, let's continue practicing. If we don't improve our strength, going to Kano Country to learn their Hasshoken would be embarrassing if they refuse us." 

Even though most people could get stuffed from eating just a leg of a beast, Liam and Robin expertly shared it, dividing it evenly. 

Both of them ate until their bellies were round, not minding each other's appearances as they chatted and laughed, their bodies visibly recovering at a remarkable pace. 

Snap! 

Liam snapped his fingers. 

The black armor on Robin's body detached like a phantom and flowed into Liam. 

Liam held his posture and shivered slightly. 

Seeing this, Robin felt a bit apologetic. If she could be more decisive when fighting in her armor, Liam wouldn't have to feel so uncomfortable when retracting his ghost. 

"Invigorating…" 

Steam wafted off Liam, who trembled as he raised his fist and slowly gave a thumbs up. 

Robin: "…"

"How do you feel?" Liam asked as he adjusted his limbs and adapted, while also inquiring about Robin's condition.

Robin pondered, "Although I've 'weakened,' I still feel more natural as myself. As for Haki…" 

She initially thought that this time would be similar to before, that when Liam's ghost left, the miraculous powers would vanish from her as well. 

But this time felt different. 

Robin felt Liam's presence. 

"…" She stared at Liam in front of her, a completely different sensation, even distinct from when she had used B.I.B.'s power before. 

Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki)? 

Liam's body slightly swayed, and a mass of black energy surged out, transforming into dark armor that stood beside him. 

For the first time, Robin saw the black shadow with her own eyes. 

B.I.B. said: "Hello, Nico Robin." 

Robin smiled and winked, saying, "Hello, Back in Black…" 

... 

"Aaaahhhhhhh!"

Robin exclaimed, quickly dodging as a wolf lunged at her. 

Just as she was about to fall, an invisible hand steadied her, but it quickly withdrew. 

B.I.B., like an emotionless black mech, stood ready beside Robin.

The wolf with it's dripping saliva, growled lowly in front of Robin, staring menacingly.

"…" 

Robin looked at the wolf, turned to glance at B.I.B. standing idly by, and then up at Liam sitting on the treetops…

---

Liam held two stones in his hand and smiled, "You can only master Haki quickly and proficiently in real combat... Now, it's time for you to master your own Haki, Robin."

Robin had no choice but to concentrate, focusing her mind on mobilizing her Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki), preparing to anticipate the next attack from the wicked wolf in front of her.

"Roar~!!"

The wolf lunged.

"Aaahhhhh!" Robin dodged in a panic.

.........

The long night stretched on as the full moon was visible in the sky.

Taking out some external injury herbs he had found in Kuja City, Liam evenly spread them on the scratches on Robin's arm.

.........

Spring was in full bloom, and the trees were blossoming.

Flowers opened, sprouting many eyes scattered throughout the forest. 

Suddenly, Robin opened her eyes, and jumped to the side, narrowly dodging the beast's attack.

"Success…"

A smile appeared on Robin's face, but she was overshadowed by the shadow of a huge wild boar behind her.

"Roar…" The wild boar let out a low, menacing laugh, and Robin looked up, her eyes filled with panic.

Just then, two intersecting beams of cold light struck from both sides and the massive wild boar behind Robin was suddenly sliced in half, its eyes turning white as its body fell apart into four pieces, crashing to the ground…

.........

That night, snow began to fall.

Beside the campfire lay the bones left over from the wild boar. Liam and Robin sat facing each other.

"Heaven and earth are boundless, the laws of nature are ever-changing, Haki, Haki, quickly reveal yourself..."

Liam waved his hand in front of Robin, twisting and turning it around… After a moment, Robin, with her muscular frame, began to practice the rudimentary Hasshoken - Eight Impacts Fist in the snowy night, while Liam expressed his frustration beside her, "No, the hypnotic technique really leans more towards Life Return skills. It can only hypnotize you to tap into your physical potential, but cannot dictate your body to actively unleash the power of Haki…"

Robin wanted to say, 'I understand, can you let me stop now? I'm so tired…'

She clenched her fist and slammed it down into the snow.

Bang!

A small pit was created in the snow.

Liam and B.I.B. turned to look at the power displayed just now… After exhausting herself, Robin's muscles relaxed, and she slightly gasped for breath, but couldn't help breaking into a joyful smile.

Though she wasn't someone who enjoyed fighting, she was still delighted to learn a brand-new power.

"Liam…"

When Robin turned back, she was taken aback by Liam's expression.

.........

"I didn't mention it before because you hadn't mastered Haki…"

In Kuja Island, Robin followed Liam through the familiar woods, with the ghostly black armor shadowing them. This feeling was new; it was Robin's first experience from this perspective. 

Even though Liam's ghost had been beside them until today, in most of Robin's memories, there was no specific image of this black armor. Since she began practicing Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki), the entire world seemed to have changed before her eyes.

Liam arrived at the towering wall of Kuja City, and through the massive stone wall, his Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) could sense the presence of Amazon warriors inside the city.

"I was worried about misjudging the situation, but since you've also mastered Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) and Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki)…" Liam gently pressed his hand against the rough stone surface of the city wall, speaking in a tone that seemed to be talking to himself, "Robin, do you think there really exists such a thing as 'Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki)'?"

Robin thought she misheard and blinked, "What?"

"I'm asking if there really exists such a thing as 'Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki)' within us— me and you?" Liam turned back, opened his arms, clenched his left fist, and questioned, "Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki)," he held his right fist, "Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki), is there really a clear distinction between these two types of energy within us? Or are we misled by the names of these two types of Haki, thinking that the energy within us called Haki is partly Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) and partly Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki)... Is it that way?"

Robin was very willing to discuss the issue. She frowned in thought, reminiscing about her experiences using the two types of Haki.

Her own Haki was still weak and unrefined, but she had used B.I.B.'s two types of Haki for a long time…

"I believe the essence of things is both simple and unified." Liam's fists tightened, entwined Haki quickly coating his fists in black. "Like you, I initially entered through Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) … but later I realized that when I only knew Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki), I hadn't activated the energy within me even once. The so-called Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) is less a type of Haki and more of a skill."

"Skill?" Robin blinked.

"Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) and Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) are not types of Haki, but two applications of Haki skills."

He pointed his finger like a sword, his dark fingers pressing down on the city wall, creating a hole.

"Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) is the real technique of calling forth the energy within our body known as Haki, and strengthening oneself."

Liam, through the city wall, sensed the countless "light points" within Kuja City.

"And Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) is… the technique of sensing external 'Haki,' sensing external 'aura'… I've always found it strange that even though I released nothing, I could sense the presence of animals dozens or even hundreds of meters away in an instant… If I had to release a power called Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) to probe, then pull it back and analyze it, there wouldn't be enough time. But if Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) is merely a technique based on Haki, a skill for observing aura fluctuations and gathering external information…"

This might also explain why so many people on Skypiea could use Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) but none could initiate Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki). 

Because in their concept, there was no such thing as Haki. Their perception ability was called "Heart Network," and they saw it as a magical ability to perceive external objects since they themselves had not undergone any substantial changes…

Robin pondered Liam's words.

She reflected, "According to your theory, if we also regard Haoshoku as a type of Haki application skill…"

"They're back."

Liam suddenly pointed in the direction of Kuja City's gate.

Two massive serpents dragged a red ship adorned with the Kujapirate flag, finally returning to the daughter island of Calm Belt after more than half a year of sailing.

--- 

(End Of Chapter)