One Piece: The Saiyan Pirate

Chapter 84: The Path of Ki Mastery

The Going Merry swayed gently on the vast ocean, the sky clear and the sun high above, casting a warm golden glow over the open sea. The crew was gathered on the deck, their usual banter and excitement replaced by a focused determination as Goku—now fused with Eto Shapan's soul—took the lead in a new training session. This time, the lesson was about Ki, the life energy that powered warriors in both mind and body.

"Alright, everyone, focus!" Goku's voice rang out, confident and reassuring. His hands rested comfortably behind his head as he addressed the crew. The wind tousled his hair, but his stance remained solid, like a warrior who had mastered the ways of combat and the mind.

Sanji stood to the side, one hand on his hip, giving a skeptical glance at the group. "I still don't get how we're supposed to manifest Ki," he muttered, kicking his foot up to his other knee, clearly unimpressed by the idea.

Gin, standing next to him, stretched his arms, his posture more relaxed but still clearly intrigued. "We're supposed to push our energy out of our bodies? Sounds like it could be useful, especially with the kind of fights we've been getting into."

"Exactly," Goku replied, smiling warmly. "Ki is your internal energy, and with the right control, you can manipulate it and even use it for powerful attacks or to increase your physical abilities. We're going to start with simple Ki balls. The goal is to form the ball of energy in front of you. You'll need to feel the energy flowing through your body and push it out."

Zoro cracked his knuckles, looking over at Goku with a competitive glint in his eyes. "Sounds easy enough. Let's see if I can make one bigger than you."

Goku chuckled. "It's not about size at first. Focus on control. The size comes later."

As Goku began to demonstrate, he placed his palms in front of him, the wind catching his hair in dramatic fashion. He concentrated, his body still, as a small orb of blue Ki began to form in the air in front of him. The ball shimmered, glowing with intense energy, until it grew to the size of a wrecking ball, suspended in the air with perfect stability.

"See this?" Goku asked, his tone calm and instructive. "This is the level of control you'll need to master. Now, try it yourself."

The crew members took their positions, each of them focusing intently on the task at hand. Sanji gritted his teeth, attempting to gather his energy. His brow furrowed, and after a few moments, a faint flicker of blue energy began to spark between his hands. However, the ball was weak, flickering and unstable. It wavered before dissipating.

"Dammit…" Sanji muttered under his breath. "I just can't get it."

"Don't be too hard on yourself," Goku said encouragingly. "It takes time. Remember, focus on your breathing and let your energy flow naturally."

Gin was up next, his hands positioned like Goku's as he closed his eyes in concentration. His Ki ball slowly formed, but like Sanji's, it was small, flickering weakly in front of him. It didn't last long before it fizzled out.

"Not bad," Goku encouraged. "You're on the right track. Just a little more focus and control."

Nami, standing off to the side, watched the others with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. She hadn't yet attempted the technique, preferring to watch the results of others' efforts first.

"How long do you think it'll take for us to get it right?" Nami asked, folding her arms across her chest.

Goku smiled at her. "Everyone's different. For some, it'll take a while. Others might get it right away. But don't worry, we'll get there."

Usopp, however, had been quietly observing and testing the air around him. His hands were steady as he began to focus, a small orb of blue energy swirling between his palms. At first, it was no bigger than a marble, but as he focused, the ball began to stabilize and grow. Slowly but surely, it expanded to the size of a soccer ball.

"Whoa…" Usopp's eyes widened in disbelief. He had done it. "Look at this! It's actually working!"

His Ki ball floated steadily in front of him, glowing bright, its stability a testament to his determination and focus. He grinned triumphantly. "I did it! I really did it!"

"Nice work, Usopp!" Goku cheered, clapping his hands. "You've got a good grasp on it. That's a solid ball, nice and stable."

Usopp beamed with pride. "I knew I had it in me!"

Zoro, who had been struggling to even form a small ball, scowled but was visibly impressed. "Lucky bastard," he grumbled, "I can barely get a flicker of energy to even show."

"Keep practicing," Goku encouraged. "It'll click for you. Just focus on the flow of energy. Don't rush it."

Sanji, still frustrated, turned his attention to Usopp's ball. "Dammit, Usopp, you got it the first try! What's your secret?"

Usopp laughed, scratching his head. "No secret, just pure talent, Sanji!"

Gin chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the lighter mood among the group. "It's more than just talent. It's about trust—trusting the energy inside you."

Nami stepped forward, her brow furrowing as she tried to form her own Ki ball. Her hands trembled slightly as she attempted to focus, but all that appeared was a faint wisp of blue energy before it flickered out.

"I can't do it," she sighed, her shoulders slumping. "It's just… not happening."

Goku walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Nami. It's alright. Everyone has their own pace. Just take your time, and remember to breathe."

Zoro crossed his arms, still focusing on his own hands. He couldn't help but chuckle. "I didn't expect Ki training to be so difficult. But I'll get it eventually."

Goku's smile softened, and he gestured toward the crew with a wave of his hand. "Remember, this is just the beginning. There's so much more to learn about Ki and how to harness its true power. It's about pushing your limits and trusting yourself. Don't worry if you're not perfect right away."

The crew continued to practice, with Usopp's Ki ball becoming a stable, steady sphere in the air. He couldn't help but look at it with a sense of accomplishment, the energy humming quietly as he stared at it.

As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, the crew took a break, their energy drained but their spirits high. Despite the challenges, they knew they had made progress.

"I can't wait to see what we can do with this power," Gin said, wiping his forehead.

Goku gave a confident nod. "This is just the first step. Together, we'll get even stronger."

With the deck of the Going Merry alive with the energy of their training, the crew couldn't help but feel a new sense of unity and strength. They had taken the first step toward mastering Ki, and with Goku leading them, the possibilities were endless.

The sun hung low in the sky, its rays casting a warm, golden hue over the Going Merry as it glided steadily through the sea. On the ship's deck, the crew was hard at work trying to master a new skill—one that would elevate their combat abilities and allow them to harness the power of Ki. The last few hours had been spent training, but the frustration and excitement of trying to manifest Ki were palpable.

Usopp, still beaming with pride at his success, stood next to his glowing Ki ball, now comfortably the size of a soccer ball. His arms were crossed, a smug grin plastered on his face.

"Look at this," Usopp boasted, "A true masterpiece! It's so stable and strong… it's almost like I could use it in a fight!"

"Yeah, yeah, Usopp," Zoro grumbled, still struggling with his own feeble attempts to form even the smallest of energy spheres. His face was red with the effort, and the tiny, flickering Ki ball in front of him barely lasted a second before disappearing. "I get it, you're the genius of the crew. Can we move on now?"

Gin, who had also been having difficulty, let out an exasperated sigh. "It's not even funny anymore, Usopp. You're making it look like it's easy."

Just then, Nami—who had been sitting on the side, arms crossed, watching the others—stepped forward. "Alright, I think I've had enough of this," she said with a slight smirk, giving Goku a sideways glance. "Let's see if I can do it."

Goku raised an eyebrow, impressed by her determination. "Go for it, Nami. It's all about finding your focus. Remember to breathe and feel the energy within you."

The crew watched In suspense as Nami closed her eyes, her brow furrowing in concentration. She raised her hands and slowly began to focus, feeling her Ki as Goku had instructed them all. A faint blue glow began to shimmer between her palms. It flickered at first, struggling to stabilize, but then—miraculously—it formed a ball, the size of a small melon. It hovered steadily in the air in front of her.

"Well, that's a surprise," Nami said, her voice full of smug satisfaction, though she tried to hide it. The Ki ball floated steadily in the air, almost identical in size and stability to Usopp's.

"I—I did it…" she muttered to herself, her eyes widening in disbelief. She looked at the others, who were staring back at her in stunned silence.

The mood shifted from quiet concentration to an outburst of incredulous laughter. Gin was the first to speak, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Of course. Nami gets it right on the first try, just like always."

Sanji was next, scowling. "I swear, Nami, you get everything without even trying! It's like you're some sort of Ki prodigy or something!"

Zoro, who had already been frustrated by his own lack of progress, slammed his fist against the deck with a groan. "No way! This is a joke! You're all showing off now, huh? First Usopp, now Nami?" He threw his hands up. "What, am I the only one who's struggling here?"

Goku chuckled at the scene unfolding before him. "Don't worry, guys. It's not about talent. It's about learning how to focus. Nami and Usopp were able to find their focus quicker than the rest of you, but that doesn't mean it's easier for them. It just means they're in tune with it in a different way."

He turned to Gin, Sanji, and Zoro, who were still muttering amongst themselves. "You guys have more physical strength and stamina compared to Nami and Usopp. Your Ki is naturally larger, so it's harder to control it. It's like when I first taught you to feel your Ki back in Cocoyashi Village. You were all so focused on trying to force it out that you didn't allow your energy to flow freely. It's the same thing here."

Zoro raised an eyebrow, still looking skeptical. "That doesn't explain why Nami can do it without breaking a sweat."

Goku smiled. "It's not that simple. Nami and Usopp have a more refined, controlled energy. They don't have the same raw physical power as you guys, so they're able to manifest their Ki without it overwhelming them."

Usopp grinned and flexed his muscles, exaggerating his movements. "That's right! You guys could learn a lot from us, you know? You should just focus on your weaknesses like me and Nami."

"Shut up, Usopp," Zoro snapped, turning his focus back to his own failed attempts.

Gin, who had been quietly observing, spoke up, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "So, you're saying we need to work on focusing our energy, right? Like, control it instead of letting it run wild?"

"Exactly," Goku nodded. "And you can think of it this way: Remember the fight with Mr. 3? Zoro, you used your Ki to create fire when you were in a desperate situation. That's when your energy really came through."

Zoro winced at the memory, his thoughts drifting back to the chaotic battle. "Yeah, I remember that," he muttered. "But it wasn't like I could control it. I just did what I had to in the moment."

"That's the key," Goku continued. "Desperation, focus, a moment where you truly need to fight for your life. That's when you're able to draw out your Ki to its fullest potential. The trick is to recreate that kind of moment in your mind."

The crew looked at each other, considering Goku's words. Vivi, who had been quietly observing from the side with Karoo, piped up.

"Do you really think they'll be able to do it? I mean, it seems like everyone's having trouble, even with all that power inside them."

Goku glanced over at Vivi and Karoo, offering her a reassuring smile. "It's not about having power, Vivi. It's about learning to tap into that power. It's the hardest part. But once they get it, they'll be able to control it at will."

Sanji, still frustrated, sighed deeply and then raised an eyebrow. "Alright, so we're supposed to pretend we're about to die and see if we can unlock more Ki power? Sounds like a bad idea. What if we just blow up the ship instead?"

Gin chuckled. "I think we're all more likely to blow up ourselves than the ship, Sanji."

"Yeah, well, maybe blowing up the ship wouldn't be so bad," Zoro grumbled, clearly fed up with his lack of progress. "At least I'd get a decent rest."

The crew laughed, the tension easing somewhat as they returned to their training. Zoro, Gin, and Sanji closed their eyes, trying to picture themselves in a dangerous, high-pressure situation. Slowly, each of them tried to recreate the urgency and desperation they had felt in their past battles, hoping it would unlock their Ki.

"Focus, focus…" Sanji muttered under his breath, while Gin steadied his hands, his face serious. Zoro was lost in his own thoughts, imagining himself in the heat of battle once more.

Nami and Usopp, meanwhile, exchanged a glance, both feeling proud of their progress. Usopp's Ki ball remained steady, still the size of a soccer ball, while Nami's glowed just as bright, although her ball was slightly smaller.

"Looks like we've got it," Nami said with a grin, her hands resting at her sides. "It's not that hard, is it?"

Usopp smiled and shrugged. "I guess we're just naturally talented, huh?"

But Goku stepped forward, the playful mood shifting to something more serious. "Alright, everyone. You've all made progress. Keep at it, and remember—don't force it. Let your Ki come to you."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the crew continued their training, each of them growing stronger with every passing moment. They had taken their first step toward mastering Ki, and with Goku's guidance, there was no limit to what they could achieve.

"Come on, Zoro, just focus," Goku encouraged, watching his crew with a sharp eye. "It's not about forcing it. You're too used to using physical strength. Think about the moment when you had to fight Mr. 3. Remember how you felt when everything seemed impossible?"

Zoro grunted, his hands trembling slightly as he tried once more to form a Ki ball. It flickered for a moment before fading out entirely. "Yeah, yeah," he muttered, his frustration mounting. "I get it. But it's not working for me. Maybe I'm just not cut out for this Ki stuff."

Goku shook his head, smiling. "You've already got it, Zoro. You just have to learn how to control it. Trust me, once you get it, it's like second nature."

Meanwhile, Gin, who was also struggling, let out a groan, the small Ki ball between his hands flickering weakly before vanishing into nothing. "This is harder than I thought."

"Yeah, tell me about it," Sanji grumbled, attempting his own ball, which only briefly stabilized before dispersing. "My legs hurt from all this concentration."

Usopp chuckled at their grumbling. "Hey, don't feel bad. You guys are just trying too hard. It's about finding a balance."

Nami smiled at the playful exchange but couldn't help but feel a little smug. The others still hadn't caught up to her. She crossed her arms, feeling a sense of satisfaction as her Ki ball hovered steadily in front of her. It was smaller than Usopp's, but it was perfectly stable. She was starting to enjoy the feeling of power, a connection to the energy that flowed through the world.

But just as she was about to offer another smug remark to Usopp, something strange happened. Her eyes widened, and she suddenly staggered, her knees buckling beneath her. The Ki ball she had been concentrating on flickered and vanished in an instant, as though it had been blown out by a sudden gust of wind.

"Nami?!" Usopp exclaimed, dropping to his knees beside her. "What's wrong?!"

Nami tried to speak but only gasped for air, her hand clutching her head as if she were in pain. The others, noticing her sudden collapse, rushed toward her in alarm.

"Nami!" Gin shouted, his voice filled with concern. "What happened?!"

She tried to lift her head, but her eyes were unfocused, her body trembling as though her energy had been completely drained. Her breathing was shallow, and her face had taken on an unnatural pallor.

"She… she just passed out!" Usopp cried, his voice trembling as panic set in.

Goku immediately knelt by her side, his hands gently resting on her forehead. His expression turned serious as he studied Nami's condition. "She's not unconscious, but she's in a deep energy imbalance," he muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing. "She overextended herself. Nami!" he called out louder, his voice firm but calm. "You need to stay focused. Breathe slowly, in and out. Let your Ki flow naturally."

But Nami didn't respond. She remained still, her body limp in Usopp's arms.

"Get the water," Goku ordered quickly, his voice low but commanding. "Sanji, grab something cold! Gin, Zoro, help her sit up!"

The crew sprang into action, everyone doing their part to aid Nami. Sanji rushed below deck, returning moments later with a cloth soaked in cool water, while Zoro and Gin gently propped Nami up, though their worried expressions were hard to miss.

"How could this happen?" Zoro muttered, his voice filled with concern rather than his usual annoyance. "We've been training for hours, but she was doing so well!"

Goku sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's my fault," he admitted, his voice quieter than usual. "I should have warned you all. Using Ki is a mental and physical strain, and it's even more intense when you're not used to it. Nami's body wasn't ready for the amount of energy she tried to manipulate. She overexerted herself, and now her body's reacting to the stress."

Gin frowned, his brow furrowing as he knelt next to Nami. "What can we do? Will she be okay?"

Goku nodded, though his expression was serious. "She'll be fine. She just needs rest. It's like any muscle; if you push it too hard without proper conditioning, it'll wear out. But she'll recover. Just make sure she's breathing evenly, and keep her calm."

Sanji crouched beside Nami, gently wiping the cold cloth over her face. "This… this is all my fault," he muttered, clenching his fists. "If I hadn't pushed myself so hard, maybe I could have helped her."

"Nonsense," Usopp interjected, his voice a little shaky but determined. "We're a team. We'll all get through this together. Nami will be fine, right Goku?"

Goku smiled softly, offering reassurance to Usopp and the others. "She'll be okay. She just needs some time. This is part of the process. Everyone's body reacts differently to Ki training, and Nami just has to learn her own limits. It'll be a lesson for all of us."

Vivi, still watching from the side with Karoo, let out a soft sigh of relief. "I was starting to get worried," she said, though her voice had softened. "It's good to know she's going to be alright."

As the crew settled around Nami, helping her rest and regain her strength, there was a sense of solidarity among them. They had come to understand just how challenging this journey would be—not only physically but mentally and emotionally.

Goku stood back up, giving the crew one last encouraging glance. "Everyone, let's take a break for now. Nami's going to be fine, but we all need to pace ourselves. We can't rush this. Mastering Ki takes time and patience."

The crew nodded In agreement, their concerns for Nami still evident, but they were reassured by Goku's calm presence. As the evening wore on, the Going Merry sailed peacefully through the open sea, the crew's training temporarily halted, but their resolve stronger than ever.

[A/N: Can't wait to see what happens next? Get exclusive early access on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels. If you enjoyed this chapter and want to see more, don't forget to drop a power stone! Your support helps this story reach more readers!]