Arceus's Pirate Journey

Chapter 289: Chapter 288: Midterm Exam, Squirtle Fire Brigade

Kaidou took over. When this word reached the ears of the three people, they all shivered collectively. Kaidou’s crash course was very effective, but the downside was it was life-threatening.

If Shaina has adopted this training method, then having Kaidou come over, they would definitely end up losing a few bones.

So all three of them gave it their all with heightened focus.

”Come on, Sister Shaina, please make sure to finish your teaching before Father intervenes!”

”I told you, you would all accept it.”

Kaidou’s significance lies not only in his personal teaching but also in his deterrent power. Sometimes a single word can be twice as effective. However, she was also telling the truth; if her teaching progress was too slow, Kaidou would indeed take over this task.

But this fast-track method doesn’t look good, no matter who is doing it; the trainees can’t escape getting beaten.

”The power of Haki comes from the body. It’s hidden inside you, but at the same time, it’s also the power of the heart!”

Shaina was simultaneously demonstrating with force and explaining some knowledge about Haki.

Although Haki requires physical training, this power is also quite idealistic. If the heart is dead, no matter if it’s the same body, it cannot use Haki.

Moriah and Crocodile were once pirates vying in the New World, but the process of challenging the Great Pirates inflicted major psychological and physical blows on them. Both almost went down a different path.

One was searching for the Ancient Weapons while the other was researching the Undead Zombie Legion. Plus, the long peaceful life in Paradise made them unable to use Haki. The biggest difference was that after squatting in prison for several months, Crocodile seemed to have reawakened.

”Only when fighting strong enemies will your Haki grow stronger. When you retreat, fear, and become cowardly, so does your Haki!”

”Uh... does getting beaten really work?”

Once again knocked to the ground, Maria began to doubt whether this method really worked. Although Shaina said the Haki was inside them, and they should use their hearts to guide it, she couldn’t sense anything.

”It definitely works; we all went through this. It just takes time. Don’t worry; the time given by Mr. Kaidou is quite sufficient. You don’t need to master it, as long as you can mobilize a trace and feel its presence, then you pass.

Now the warm-up should be over. All three of you attack together. Simply getting beaten is not a true battle experience.”

Even without using legs, Shaina was still overwhelmingly superior to them. Training Haki is not something that can be completed in a day or two. Rayleigh laid the foundation for Luffy over two years, and half of that time was spent in realization.

Though his higher Haki advancement was fast, the foundation also played an indelible role. Hence, the process where Yamato and the others got beaten wasn’t just a matter of days or weeks, but months.

In their spare time from getting beaten, they also had to undergo the deadly games prepared by Kaidou, which were part of Kaidou’s initial assessment of them. So far, it seems satisfactory, so Shaina continued in her role as the instructor.

After several months, they gradually found the way with Armament Haki, though it was inconsistent, and they could only occasionally muster a bit of Haki.

Originally, it was an unremarkable training, but on this day, Yamato seemed to let out a howl of grief.

”Sister Shaina! You liar!”

Initially, it was promised that if they trained hard, Kaidou wouldn’t take over, but today they saw Kaidou standing on the training ground on the rooftop of Ghost Island, making Yamato feel betrayed.

”My foolish daughter, she didn’t deceive you, and she’s trained well, but you should have heard your godfather mention, there’s a term called midterm exam.

Come, your task is to use what you’ve learned to attack me. If I’m not satisfied, ohohoho, you’ll have a wonderful second half of the semester!”

Since then, along with feeling that learning is a tedious process, Yamato gained an even more despised term - exam.

Desperate, with half their lives spent, Kaidou, the examiner, barely gave them a passing grade, avoiding the treatment of joining Kaidou’s remedial class.

Without summer or winter breaks, they moved directly into the second semester. The goal for the first semester was to understand Armament Haki, while naturally, the second semester was about Observation Haki, though the teaching process didn’t change much, only shifting from punching to throwing stones.

...

With time approaching October, it was once again the busiest time of the year for the fireworks craftsmen in Wano Kuni. Originally, they only made fireworks for the New Year celebrations, but with the arrival of the Hundred Beasts Pirates, the business of the fireworks craftsmen is revitalized.

Every year, Yamato’s birthday is an extra celebration on Ghost Island. Although the celebration there doesn’t have much to do with Wano Kuni, at that time, they would extensively procure resources, gather performance troupes, and hold fireworks displays.

As for setting off fireworks all night disturbing the public, it happens only once or twice a year, not lively enough for Wano Kuni.

Moreover, as Yamato grows older, the birthday parties become increasingly formal. If the main venue wasn’t now in Wano Kuni, this could probably become an event not losing to a BIG MOM tea party in the Underworld.

Among them, the competition for the ”Fireworks King” title has become the most valued event for the fireworks craftsmen. Although this title was conferred by the Hundred Beasts Pirates, it is still prestigious to announce it, not to mention the high amount of prize money.

But it’s not only them who are busy. Next to the Hundred Beasts Pokemon Center is a newly erected red building, with a large turtle sign hanging over it.

”Squirtle, Squirtle, Squirtle, Squirtle!”

”Squirtle Squirtle!”

In the yard, a squad of Squirtles is running, and another squad is doing push-up training. Apart from sit-ups, there is a lot of firefighting equipment here, making sit-ups difficult for a bunch of turtles.

They were a newly established fire brigade a few months ago.

Many buildings in Wano Kuni are made of wood, which makes fire a great hazard. It can easily spread with the wind. A sudden fire not long ago almost burned down the Pokemon Center.

Therefore, this fire brigade appeared here to prevent similar sudden incidents. Next to it are two small red electrically driven Rotom-brand fire trucks.

But the main function is transportation; Squirtle is much more effective than a High-Pressure Water Gun.

After finishing their day’s training, a group of Squirtles just dived into the swimming pool to relax.

At this time, an explosion sounded from afar, and clumps of fireworks appeared in the sky. Even from here, the rising black smoke could be seen below.

”Squirtle!”

The leading Squirtle put on its sunglasses, and the two Squirtle teams got on their cars and started their firefighting task.