Chapter 8: Training with the Mountain
Xander stood at the foot of the mountain, his eyes gazing upward as the massive peaks stretched far above him, disappearing into the clouds. The air was thick with the scent of earth and pine, and the wind carried the chill of a distant storm. He took a deep breath, feeling the sharpness of the cool air fill his lungs. The island was quiet, save for the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of birds. This was the place where his true training would begin.
As Xander surveyed the mountain range, something stirred in his mind. He remembered the stories he had read in the manga, about the legendary marine hero Garp and Aokiji, and their intense training with large battle ships, using them as obstacles to hone their strength and Armament Haki. They'd trained with sheer raw power, testing the limits of their will against nature itself.
An idea struck Xander, one that felt both daring and invigorating. Why not train with the mountain like them? he thought, a smirk tugging at his lips. The mountain stood tall and unyielding, but Xander knew that with his resolve and determination, he could make it a worthy opponent. It would be the perfect test of his abilities—his raw strength, his Haki, and his endurance. But it would be more than just a physical test. It would challenge his very spirit.
With that thought in mind, Xander made up his mind. He was going to train with this mountain. This mountain will be my opponent.
---
Xander didn't waste any time. He stretched his arms and legs, loosening his body. His muscles ached from his previous efforts, but he pushed through the discomfort. He was here to test himself, and there was no room for weakness. His training in the forest had already made him stronger, but it hadn't been enough. His current strength wouldn't be enough for what lay ahead.
He had his Haki, but he had to refine it. His colorless Armament Haki still felt unstable, but it was growing. It was the perfect tool for this kind of training. However, there was another idea that Xander wanted to explore. Using his Observation Haki, he want to find an animal, a creature, to train with him. It would serve as a sparring partner, a way to push himself further, to take his training to the next level.
But for now, it was just him and the mountain.
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Xander climbed the base of the mountain, finding a spot near a rocky outcrop where he could stand and strike. He could feel the mountain's weight pressing down on him, as though it were challenging him to succeed. It was daunting, but the thought of growing stronger kept him focused. Every step he took felt purposeful, and his body seemed to buzz with anticipation.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. With the quietness of the mountain surrounding him, he could focus. His Observation Haki, though still limited, began to hum within him, his senses sharpening to the point where he could feel the rhythm of his heartbeat in his chest. The power of the Haki flowed through him as his mind zeroed in on his goal. He could sense the animals in the area—the movements of small creatures, the flutters of birds overhead—but there was no creature that posed a challenge yet.
He wasn't here to fight animals. Not yet. He would focus on striking the mountain first, testing the limits of his Armament Haki.
Xander set his stance, positioning himself in front of a large boulder at the base of the mountain. His hand glowed faintly as he summoned his colorless Armament Haki, coating his fist in a thin, almost invisible layer of power. With a focused exhale, he threw his first punch at the boulder. The impact was immediate, and the resulting shockwave rattled his arm. Pain shot through his hand, and he immediately pulled back, flexing his fingers to ease the ache.
His knuckles were sore, but the mountain hadn't yielded. He smirked.
This is just the beginning.
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Xander struck again. And again. His fists pounded against the stone, the sensation vibrating through his bones. With each hit, the mountain seemed to mock him, its surface stubborn and unyielding. But Xander was persistent. His hand felt as though it were made of stone, the pain a distant memory as his focus sharpened.
The colorless Armament Haki in his fist was still too weak to leave a mark, but he could feel it strengthening. His knuckles were becoming raw, and the pain was intense. Sweat dripped from his forehead, but he kept going. Every strike was an improvement, an attempt to break through the wall his body had erected in defense.
The mountain wasn't easy to crack, and neither was Xander. Each strike was a test of endurance, a battle between will and stone. His fists ached as though they were on fire, but still, he didn't stop. He couldn't stop.
After what felt like hours, he finally stepped back to assess his progress. His hands were bruised, and his body was sore. But as he stood there, breathing heavily, he could sense something had changed. His Armament Haki was stronger, more defined. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
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Xander smiled, wiping the sweat from his brow. He had made progress, but there was still more to be done. He reached into his pocket, activating the system to check his progress.
Status Screen:
Name: Xander
Location: Island (Near Shells Town)
Strength: 25
Agility: 23
Charm: 19
Observation Haki: Level 2
Armament Haki: Colorless, Level 1
Harem Points: 80
Meri Affection: +40 (Location: Shells Town, Status: Safe)
Xander's smile widened when he saw the additional 20 affection points for Meri. So, it was the kiss, he thought to himself. I guess I didn't realize how much that meant to her. He also appreciated the fact that the system allowed him to see if she was safe. It was a comfort, even though he was far from her.
He scrolled through his inventory, checking the supplies he had stored. He had food, water, and basic gear—all of it safely tucked away, ready for the challenges ahead. He hadn't realized just how valuable this infinite storage was until now. He could train without worrying about running out of resources.
Xander turned his focus back to the mountain, ready to continue his training. But now, his next goal would be to find an animal to help push his limits further. The thought of using a real opponent to test his skills, even in a non-lethal sparring way, excited him.
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Xander walked further into the dense woods surrounding the mountain, activating his Observation Haki to locate any nearby animals. His senses stretched out, probing for any movement, any sign of life. A few moments later, his focus sharpened, and he could sense a large animal approaching from the north.
Xander didn't hesitate. He followed the faint pulse of the creature's presence, keeping his steps light as he approached the animal. The creature was large—about the size of a bear, and its muscular frame indicated that it would be a worthy opponent.
The animal paused, sensing his presence. Xander stopped too, watching it carefully. It was a large, wild boar with sharp tusks, and it was already preparing for a fight. Xander grinned. This will be perfect, he thought, cracking his knuckles in anticipation.
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The boar charged with surprising speed, its tusks aimed directly at Xander. Without hesitation, Xander dodged, using his Observation Haki to predict its movements. The boar's tusks narrowly missed, and Xander countered with a quick strike to its side. The punch didn't land as hard as he hoped, but it was enough to push the boar back.
The boar turned around, enraged, and charged again. Xander dodged again, this time using his colorless Armament Haki to enhance his punches. The impact felt stronger this time, but it wasn't enough to take down the boar.
The fight continued, Xander landing strikes and dodging the boar's ferocious charges. He was learning more about his Armament Haki with every move, and his Observation Haki was allowing him to predict the boar's movements more accurately.
Finally, after a few more exchanges, the boar slowed down, exhausted from the fight. Xander was also worn out, but he could feel the strength building in his body. This was the training he needed.
---
After the boar retreated, Xander took a moment to reflect on the fight. His body ached from the blows, but it was the kind of pain he welcomed. He had pushed himself beyond his limits once again. His Haki was growing stronger, his endurance increasing, and his techniques were sharpening.
Xander smiled. This was just the beginning. The mountain had proven to be a worthy opponent, but there was still so much more to learn. He was on the right path, and he knew that every moment of struggle would only bring him closer to his ultimate goal.
He glanced down at the system again. his Haki had grown, and he was ready for whatever came next.
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Status:]
Name: Xander
Age: 18
Strength: 25
Agility: 23
Charm: 19
Haki: Basic Observation Haki lvl:2 , Basic Armament Haki lvl:1
Devil Fruit: None