The old woman, Amazon, was stunned. Arthur had dodged the Impact Dial's bst while fag away from her. It was unbelievable.

  She steadied herself, rec from the Dial's powerful recoil. She aimed at Arthur again, releasing another bst.

  "Boom—!"

  A powerful gust of wind rushed from behind.

  This time, Arthur had no iion of fag it head-on—He wao test his newly awakened Observation Haki.

  He didn't look back at Amazon, but in his mind, a blurry, white figure appeared.

  This was Amazon's form, projected into his mind through his—Observation Haki.

  He tilted his head to the left. The bst grazed his ear again, another miss.

  Arthur was ecstatic. This initial awakening of his Observation Haki was remarkable. It wasn't just sensing air currents or the speed of the wind.

  He could directly project a white silhouette into his mind. He could "see" the figure's movements, its on, and even the airflow caused by the attack!

  This was strikingly simir to the Observation Haki of the future Marine Admiral, Fujitora.

  He remembered Rayleigh's words: Haki was a tent power within all humans in the world.

  This power was an innate ability. It was like instinct, existing alongside cepts like presend intimidation.

  Most people were unaware of this power. Or—they couldn't unlock it, even after a lifetime .

  Besides queror's Haki, Armament Haki and Observation Haki could be awakened and strengthehrough training.

  queror's Haki was a sign of a king. Those with queror's Haki could attack without even lifting a finger. It was a form of mental attack.

  Those hit would foam at the mouth and faint.

  Unlike—Observation and Armament Haki, queror's Haki was i couldn't be learned or ied. It was determined by fate.

  It required an irength of spirit!

  Every person who possessed queror's Haki was a wless individual, living freely on the sea. This was why most people who awakened queror's Haki were pirates.

  The Marines had to follow orders. How could they train their own spirit?

  But let's put aside queror's Haki for now.

  Observation Haki heightehe five senses. It allowed oo sehe presend emotions of others. It could also be used to predid avoid danger.

  As long as a creature was alive, its body emitted a unique sound. Observation Haki could use these sounds to predi oppo's move and position. With training, the range could be expanded.

  Arthur's five senses were naturally strong. He could sense when someone was watg him. It wasn't surprising that he had awakened Observation Haki.

  "Did I gamble on this rising current and gain this power early? Hahaha, this is—perfect."

  Arthur ughed wildly. He moved like a willow in the wind, dodging the Impact Dial's bsts again and again.

  The old woman, Amazon, was stunned. Her arms trembled slightly. She couldn't withstand the powerful recoil anymore.

  "I wao enter Sky Isnd without fighting anyone. But you won't let me. If I'm going to fight someone, I might as well go all the way!"

  Killing i fshed in Arthur's dark eyes. His feet moved rapidly. The powerful rea force made him disappear instantly. He reappeared o Amazon. His ched fist struck out.

  He was going to silence her!

  He didn't want to be cruel to an old woman. But if he let a witness live, he would have no pce to hide on Sky Isnd.

  Amazon would surely report his arrival to the God who guarded Heaven's Gate, Gan Fall.

  With Arthur's current meager strength, going against the endless Sky Isnd guards was foolish.

  Gan Fall and his priests in their prime were surely strohan Arthur.

  If that happened, he would be hunted, captured, or eveed.

  The best way was to kill the witness, Amazon.

  Only the dead could keep secrets.

  Killing her would only buy him some time. The Sky Isnd guards would eventually find out she was dead.

  Before that, Arthur o get the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. If he couldn't, things would get serious...

  He quickly sidered two options. He alnned ahead.

  When the Sky Isnd army came looking for him, Arthur would either have to hide among the Skypieans or in some remote location.

  Or he could join the Shandians and fight against the Skypieans.

  The Shandiahe inal inhabitants of God's Land, Upper Yard. They were forced out of their homend by the Angel Isnders, who desperately craved soil.

  For turies, they had been trying to recim their nd. They hadn't succeeded. If Arthur joihem, they would never refuse a strong fighter, uhey were pletely insane.

  Befaining the power to crush all spiracies, pnning was essential. Once he had 'that' power, he could just crush everything in his path. No need for pns.

  Arthur uood this—deeply.

  ...

  Appeario Amazon as if by teleportation, his rapid steps carried him forward in a blur. His iron fist, swift and powerful, smmed into her head.

  "Despicable Blue Sea dweller, God won't five you..."

  Those were Amazon's st words. Arthur's fist struck her head. Her body flew out like a broken sack.

  "Boom—!!!"

  She crashed into the Heaven's Gate structure. Blood spurted from her orifices. Her bones were shattered. She died instantly.

  Arthur didn't feel any remorse for killing. In fact, he felt a faint thrill.

  This wless world, where might made right, was fasating. Only with enough power could one achieve their dreams, their ambitions, and obtain true freedom!

  "It's so exhirating to kill without restraint, without the burden of guilt..." A cold smile pyed on Arthur's lips.

  The wind rustled his bck hair.

  His gradually rec vision took in the se of blood. In the refle of the blood, he looked like a demon.