Chapter 45: The Four Stages of Haki

The characteristic of Armament Haki is that it allows one to touch the essence of something.

This also applied to the Logia users’ physical bodies.

And so, Armament Haki was considered the only proper countermeasure against Logia-type Devil Fruit users.

There were three total stages of Armament Haki.

The first stage involved simply cloaking oneself with Haki.

At this stage, the user couldn’t expect much in terms of defense or combat practicality—it was a newly awakened level, useful solely for the fact that it allowed one to touch Logia users.

The second stage, Hardening, involved concentrating Haki until it turned pitch black, granting the body durability beyond metal.

From this point, one could imbue Haki into objects outside the body.

Finally, the third stage, Ryou, allowed the user to emit Haki without making physical contact, sending it flowing into the opponent’s body and attacking from within—reaching the level of internal destruction.

It was commonly believed that these three were the limits of Armament Haki.

As for Observation Haki, it had two recognized stages: sensing a target’s presence, and reading a glimpse of the future.

Thanks to my own eyes and the world I could see beyond the visible, I had long reached the level of reading the future.

No—perhaps I had gone even beyond that.

I could even vaguely read a person’s thoughts.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call this the third stage of Observation Haki—Mind Reading.

I usually turned it off since I didn’t want to hear everyone’s pointless thoughts, but in battle, it could be a massive advantage.

Well, for now, I couldn’t even activate it properly since I was focusing on Armament Haki.

Even someone like Edward Newgate had likely only reached the level of Ryou.

‘But after bringing the techniques of Jujutsu into this world… I caught a glimpse of something beyond that realm.’

The stage beyond Ryou.

A new form of Armament Haki that maximized its core trait—reaching the essence.

True Armament Haki.

That was what I named it.

An aura so dark it shone violet.

This was the result of merging my technique from Jujutsu with Haki.

It was an ability that allowed me to reach even untouchable essences.

Whether it was space—or even a concept itself—if one reached the domain of True Armament Haki, they could touch it.

Of course, I couldn’t yet manifest this level unarmed.

I had to concentrate all my Haki into a single point on the blade.

That was why my sword, once drawn, became my true combat power.

This was—

Space Swordsmanship.

“Huuuuuuuup—”

Total Concentration Breathing.

Breath of the Flower, First Form—

Blossom Fan.

Crackkkkkkkkkkk!!!

As if foreshadowing the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, space itself cracked around my sword.

Schwaaack!!!

The slash I unleashed carved through shockwaves themselves, sending a space-rending strike that seemed capable of cleaving the entire Moby d*ck in two.

An absolutely devastating slash that cut through anything it touched…!!

This must be what they call the world’s strongest slash!!

“.!!!! H-How can she slash through space?!!”

Even Whitebeard couldn’t help but be shocked.

As the space slash surged toward him, he ripped the air apart with sheer force.

Fwooooom!!!

Collision between subspace and space slash.

CRAAAACK!!!

Two pockets of space clashed and distorted before collapsing in a BOOOM!!

The void quickly repaired itself, but that alone proved that their attacks were of equal caliber…!

Whitebeard’s amused expression disappeared at last.

Now that he could see her clearly, his opponent was nothing more than a small girl.

But the attack just now…

Even he wouldn’t have been able to stop it without his awakened Tremor-Tremor powers.

What he felt from her power was immense, overwhelming Haki…!!

“…Gurararara… Don’t tell me… You’ve touched it!!! The next stage of Armament Haki…!!”

Looking at the eerily glowing violet Haki coating her blade, Whitebeard instinctively realized the truth.

Even Roger had only glimpsed it—never reached it.

She had arrived at the stage beyond Ryou…!!

‘So this is the next level of Armament Haki… It appears to be a state where one can reach even the essence of things that are normally intangible—like Logia bodies—through overwhelming contact with their very core.’

That was how she had created a blade that could reach into space and slash it apart.

Truly terrifying Haki.

Unbelievable that this wasn’t a Devil Fruit ability, but pure Haki.

“Yes. I reached it. The next stage of Armament Haki.”

“…Gurarara! Then what is that level called, Pioneer!?”

Whitebeard couldn’t help but ask.

What name had this pioneer given the new realm she had forged?

“True Armament Haki.
That’s what it is.
The Haki that allows you to touch the untouchable.”

“Gurararara!!! Incredible!! But just because your Haki is strong… doesn’t mean you’ll win the fight!!”

Laughing at the ridiculous strength of his opponent, Whitebeard crouched, then BOOM! launched himself skyward.

His long bisento, Naginta, drawn in an instant, slashed the air vertically as he leapt—

Forming a long crack that extended from the ground into the heavens.

His eyes glowed blue, consumed by the thrill of encountering a true opponent, pushing his power to its absolute peak.

The Tremor-Tremor Fruit’s awakening.

The force to tear apart space itself.

And now—he had evolved further.

Whitebeard had learned the principle of the space slash, focusing it into his weapon.

“Even without Haki…
I can slash space itself!!!!”

SCCHHHWWWAAAACK!!!

A massive space slash flew toward me.

I tried to dodge it lightly at first—

“Who said you could?!”

CRACK!!!

SWISHHHH!!!

Whitebeard grabbed the air, twisting it into chaos and turning my escape path into a labyrinth.

The only answer was to defend!

Clicking my tongue, I raised my sword and began slashing through his spatial attack.

CLAAAASH!!

“Ghkk!! You monster!!!”

“Gurararara! Look who’s talking!!!”

It was a massive space slash—of course it required massive Haki to cancel out.

Even though I had converted all the Cursed Energy I’d gained from Jujutsu Kaisen into Haki and possessed a near-infinite pool, I could feel it draining rapidly…!

Damn it! Even with this, I can’t win?!

I clicked my tongue, gritting my teeth and raising my focus to the limit.

My original limit had been the fourth stage of Armament Haki.

But in the midst of battle—I was evolving.

I realized I could push even further.

‘Now… I cloak it—
With Conqueror’s Haki!!!’

CRACKLE!!

Violet Armament Haki—now mixed with dark crimson lightning.

My Haki, turned into violet lightning, cracked through the air with a sound like shattering glass.

An overwhelming scene where even space began to quake and split apart.

It had become Conqueror’s Haki—so potent it could destroy space.

“Gurararara!!!! You’re truly a monster!! BUT STILL—!!”

CRAAAACK!!!

Space warped.