17 Training me Senpai!
(A/N: Before you read this chapter, I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who has continued to read, leave reviews on the book and comment about their thoughts! Without you all, the book wouldnt of hit 130k viewers, and over 700 collections! I appreciate each and every one of you! Much love <3)< strong>
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Two days into their unlikely partnership, Robin found herself back in the ship's kitchen, watching Kasper attempt another culinary adventure. This time, a monstrous Sea King carcass dominated the counter.
Haunted by the memory of his previous attempts (charcoal disguised as food?), Robin braced herself. But to her surprise, Kasper, ever the optimist, beamed proudly.
"Voila!" he declared, gesturing with a flourish towards two steaming plates. "Sea King a la Kasper! Blood, sweat, and maybe a few tears, but definitely edible!" He carefully placed the plates on the table, treating them like priceless artifacts.
Robin eyed the meal cautiously. It actually looked… decent. A small smile played on her lips. "Not bad, Kasper. Considering the… 'experiments' you inflicted on us the first night, this is a vast improvement." She took a tentative bite, surprised by the flavorful, well-cooked meat.
Kasper puffed out his chest, mock offense coloring his features. "Hmph! You just don't appreciate the struggles of an aspiring culinary genius!" he declared, digging into his own plate with gusto. Relief and satisfaction flickered in his eyes – his first successful dish!
As they neared the end of the meal, Kasper's gaze met Robin's over the rim of his mug. "Alright, so Water 7. Marines will be drawn to you like flies to… well, you get the idea. Besides these feasts to keep you fighting fit, I think it's high time you learned some self-defense." His voice turned serious. "Haki too. Otherwise, staying alive might get a little tricky."
Reaching under his chair, Kasper rummaged through his inventory before placing two well-worn books on the table. "Observation Haki" and "Armament Haki" adorned the weathered covers.
"Read these cover to cover tonight," he instructed, pushing them towards Robin. "Training starts tomorrow. We meet in the training room at six sharp. No excuses." With a final nod, Kasper stretched and headed for his quarters, leaving Robin alone with the books and the daunting prospect of mastering a mysterious power.
Kasper made his way to his bedroom and, upon arriving, slumped onto his cloud-like bed before addressing the System. 'Hey, System,' he began,'can you enlighten me about the eyes I acquired? I'm not well-versed in the lore of Records of Ragnarok.'
[The Eyes of the Lord, inherited from Adam in Records of Ragnarok, grant the ability to flawlessly replicate any move witnessed, regardless of its speed or strength. When activated, these eyes allow the host to see through the techniques of opponents, even if they are gods. This not only aids in dodging attacks but also enables the host to perfectly mimic and counter them.]
"Holy shit! This is like Ultra Instinct, Sharingan, and Observation Haki all rolled into one, but on steroids!" Kasper exclaimed in shock, sitting up abruptly.
Pondering for a moment at the massive bonuses he will recieved, Kasper thought 'System, what are the drawbacks involved?'
[As the eyes were fashioned for a being created in the image and likeness of God, the host's body necessitates further adaptation and evolution to fully utilize them without drawbacks. However, utilizing the eyes will result in an accelerated drain on the host's stamina.]
[ Additionally, the host must witness the entire move or skill before being able to emulate or dodge it effectively. Surprise attacks will remain effective against the host, as instantaneous reactions are not within the capabilities of the eyes.]
"No big deal," Kasper mused, considering the downsides. "Using the eyes regularly should help my body get used to the stamina drain fast, so I can keep them up in longer fights." He figured the advantages far outweighed the disadvantages.
"Please begin the assimilation of the eyes".
[Recommended for the host to recline, as the process may induce momentary blindness. Initiating assimilation now.]
As the System uttered its final words, Kasper felt as if millions of needles had pierced his eyes, accompanied by a sharp, radiating pain engulfing his head. Thanks to his previous DNA infusion, the pain was manageable, as he had elevated his pain resistance to a significantly higher level.
*DING*
[Assimilation completed, please open your eyes host.]
When he finally cracked his eyes open, the world seemed different. Colors popped with an intensity he hadn't noticed before. He could see details at a distance that would have been blurry before. But these weren't physical changes to his eyes themselves; it felt like a fundamental upgrade to his entire sense of sight.
Kasper pushed himself out of his training stance and stumbled towards the bathroom mirror. Taking a deep breath, he activated his newly acquired Eyes of the Lord. The reflection stopped him in his tracks.
Eight glowing points of ruby red radiated out from his pupils, forming a perfect star shape. The further from the center the points went, the deeper the red became, almost like molten lava. In the very center, where the points met, a brilliant white light pulsed, intense and otherworldly.
"Whoa," Kasper breathed, captivated by the sight. "These are incredible, just like the System said!" He let out a shaky laugh, the thrill of his newfound power coursing through him. "Alright, bedtime. Big day of training tomorrow, and I wouldn't want to miss a single minute." With a content sigh, he crawled back into bed, eager to test the limits of his enhanced vision as soon as the sun rose.
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Sprawled on the floor of the ship's training room, Kasper let his mind wander. The autopilot steered the ship, freeing him from navigation worries. The rhythmic creak of the ship and the gentle lapping of waves lulled him momentarily before the training room door creaked open and Robin entered.
Gone were her usual clothes. Clad in a sleek black outfit from Kasper's System Shop, she stood before him, a warrior ready for battle. The form-fitting leggings hugged her curves perfectly, offering both comfort and flexibility. A matching blue crop top, designed for active wear, accentuated her figure without sacrificing ease of movement. Her natural beauty shone through without a trace of makeup, her features captivating even without embellishment.
"Ready to put that reading to the test?" Kasper grinned, bouncing to his feet. "Today's lesson: Observation Haki. I've scattered some wooden sticks around the mat. You'll be dodging them – blindfolded, of course."
Robin stepped into the center of the designated area and secured a blindfold over her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she signaled, "Hit me."
Kasper picked up a stick, a mischievous glint in his eye. He launched it gently towards Robin, but it caught her squarely on the back. "Again," Robin called out, determined.
The grueling process continued for the next two hours. The wooden floor bore the brunt of the punishment, littered with Robin's discarded clothing – casualties of the training exercise. Exhaustion gnawed at her, but her spirit remained unbroken. Despite her best efforts, the invisible projectiles seemed relentless.
Seeing her frustration mount, Kasper decided to raise the stakes. He aimed a stick directly at her face. In the tense silence, a prickling sensation alerted Robin. Reacting instinctively, she ducked just as the stick whooshed past, missing her by a hair.
Kasper's smirk widened. He dashed around the room, launching sticks with renewed vigor. Robin, emboldened by her newfound ability, started anticipating his movements. Gradually, the blindfold became less of a hindrance and more of a guide.
After a grueling five minutes of successful dodges, Robin collapsed onto the floor, utterly spent, but a triumphant smile played on her lips.
"Bravo! You've officially unlocked Observation Haki!" Kasper boomed, extending a hand to help her up. "Now all you need is daily practice, and you'll be an unstoppable force in no time!"
Robin leaned on his arm, catching her breath. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "This means more than you know." A glint of gratitude shone in her eyes before she quickly regained her composure.
"Shower first," she said with a weak smile, pushing herself off the floor and hobbling towards the door. "I'll see you later."
Kasper watched her go, a gentle smile gracing his own face. 'At least now, she has a fighting chance,' he thought as he exited the training room, a renewed sense of purpose fueling his steps.
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It had been 4 days since Robins first Haki training with Kasper, and her progress was smooth and quick, she had been able to continously use her Haki with less drawbacks.
Kasper, seated on the upper deck was currently looking at the system notification he had recieved this morning.
[Due to the combination of the Eyes of the Lord and Primal Instincts, Observation Haki has been unlocked.]
[The compatibility between Primal Instinct and Observation Haki has led to a merging of both skill, resulting in the creation Ultra Instinct (Mortal).]
[Ultra Instinct (Mortal): This alternate version of Ultra Instinct has been unlocked as a result of compatible skills. It replaces the requirement of God Ki with the utilization of willpower and stamina. However, this unique skill will increase the consumption of stamina and willpower. Consumption will lessen with progression of skills mastery.]
[Passive use of the skill is enabled, with less consumption. However, using it actively within battle will significantly increase consumption.]
"I had no idea this could happen. I suppose as I continue to learn more combat skills, they might eventually merge into something even higher tier, or perhaps something unique to me," Kasper mused with satisfaction.
Lost in his thoughts, Kasper felt a soft and gentle hand grasp his shoulder, accompanied by a soothing voice from behind him. "What's got you so lost in thought this early?" Robin inquired, her smile warm and inviting.
Turning towards her, Kasper didn't mention anything about the System. "I've developed a new skill, so I thought we could test it out. Let's get some practice in before we reach Water 7," he suggested with a smile as he rose and headed towards the training room, with Robin following close behind.
