The sun glistened on the Going Merry as the Straw Hats enjoyed a brief moment of peace. Luffy was attempting to juggle meat, Zoro was napping, Sanji was flirting with Nami, and Usopp was loudly boasting about his imaginary 8000-man army.
But then—
BOOM! A thunderous sound echoed as Raja, their ever-chaotic Vice-Captain, appeared in the middle of the deck, his expression shifting from his usual mischievous grin to a deadly serious scowl.
"CREW MEETING! EVERYONE, GATHER AT THE ROUND TABLE!" Raja bellowed.
A golden round table materialized out of thin air, with ornate chairs forming around it. The Straw Hats blinked in confusion but, sensing Raja's unusually grave demeanor, they obeyed, taking their seats in silence. Even Luffy, who was usually distracted by food, looked attentive.
Vivi and Karoo, watching from the side, were stunned. The Straw Hats? Sitting still? Looking serious?! Impossible!
Once everyone was seated, Raja leaned forward, eyes gleaming with intensity. "We are about to fight Crocodile, one of the Warlords of the Sea," he declared. "He possesses a Logia-class Devil Fruit—the Sand-Sand Fruit."
The crew looked at each other, puzzled. "Logia?" Luffy asked, tilting his head.
Raja sighed dramatically. "Alright, lesson time. Devil Fruits are divided into three types:
Paramecia: Alters the body or environment—think rubber powers or shadow manipulation.
Zoan: Allows transformation into animals, hybrids, and even mythical creatures.
Logia: Grants control, transformation, and creation of natural elements, making users practically untouchable."
The Straw Hats gasped.
"Wait… so Crocodile can turn into sand and avoid all our attacks?!" Usopp yelped.
"Exactly," Raja confirmed, nodding solemnly. "That's why normal attacks won't work on him."
Zoro, ever the warrior, cracked his knuckles. "Then how do we hurt someone who's invulnerable?"
Raja smirked and, with a dramatic snap, two Manual appeared in front of them: "Haki" and "Six Styles".
"The world is divided into three parts—the Four Seas, the Grand Line, and the New World," Raja continued. "In the Blue Seas, Devil Fruits are considered myths. In the Grand Line, they're common. But in the New World? Haki is a necessity."
"Haki?" Nami asked warily.
Raja grinned. "Haki is a hidden power within all living beings. It comes in three types:
Observation Haki (Kenbunshoku) – Sense opponents, predict movements, even see the future.
Armament Haki (Busoshoku) – Coat your body or weapons in invisible armor, making attacks stronger and capable of hitting Logia users.
Conqueror's Haki (Haoshoku) – Knock out weak-willed opponents with sheer presence."
The crew sat in stunned silence.
"So… mastering Armament Haki is the key to beating Crocodile?" Zoro asked.
"Exactly," Raja said. "Or you could beat him with Seastone—like Smoker's jitte—but we don't have much of that. So, training it is!"
With a theatrical boom, Raja slammed his palm onto the table and coated it with Intial stage Basic Armament Haki ( learn the principal from Sabo).
"Zoro, try cutting me."
Without hesitation, Zoro unsheathed his sword and slashed down—only for a metallic clang to ring out as his blade bounced off Raja's Haki-covered palm.
"WHAT?!" The crew gasped.
Chopper immediately grabbed Raja's hand, inspecting it in a panic. "No cuts?! Are you even human?!"
Raja chuckled. "Devil Fruits are strong, but Haki reigns supreme. And two people stand above all in Haki mastery—The Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, and the Navy Hero, Garp."
Luffy visibly twitched at Garp's name.
"Roger was a master swordsman and Haki user. Garp? A boxer with fists that could crush mountains. Both were absolute monsters despite having no Devil Fruit."
The Straw Hats paled at the sheer scale of power being described.
Raja clapped his hands. "Alright! Training assignments!"
Luffy: "With your Sun Breathing and serum-enhanced strength, you'll be punching a steel block until you awaken Armament Haki."
Zoro: "You'll master the art of cutting steel without breathing techniques. Become a true swordsman."
Sanji: "Master 'Soru'—a technique that boosts speed to vanish from sight. Blend it with your kicks."
Nami & Usopp: "Train in Breathing Techniques to boost your reflexes and weapon efficiency."
Chopper: "Learn Beast Breathing and lets experiment on Rumble Balls."
Raja waved his hand, and suddenly—
POOF! Raja, Vivi, and Karoo were now wearing drill sergeant uniforms.
"Vivi, Karoo—you have the most important job. As my subordinates, you will make sure they train hard until we reach Arabasta!"
The duo saluted in military fashion. "Yes, sir!"
Finally, Raja gestured toward the ship's lower deck. A magical door glowed open. "Now… step inside my Training Dimension."
The Crew entered and found themselves in an endless, mystical world—a floating island with an artificial sky, a vast lake, forests, and even a dojo.
Vivi and Karoo gawked at the unreal scenery. "What… is this place?"
Raja smirked. "Welcome… to my world."
The crew wasted no time, each rushing toward their training spots, determination blazing in their eyes. Raja folded his arms, watching them with a victorious grin.
The Warlord of the Sea had no idea what was coming for him.