10 Absolute Strength I
Veyron's light and muddy steps resonated on the anti-climatic island. What had been a passive atmosphere one year ago had transformed into a land riddled with thunderstorms and tornadoes.
An island besieged by overwhelming will and pressure on a daily basis could only take so long.
His eyes were dark in a mixture of fright and expectations, today he had a 'date' with his mother and just like any young man in these circumstances, he had to prepare.
...
Upon reaching his destination, Veyron's sight nestled in the gigantic entrance of a cave.
*RUMBLE!*
His conqueror Haki crashed forth like a form of greeting... a salutation too overbearing in fact as at this point Veyron had technically fused his 4th Will and Conqueror Haki together, resulting in a humongous crashing noise to originate from the insides of the cave.
The shrieking noise of a pitiful beast resonated until it stopped. Veyron extended his hand forward for a few seconds and something came out of the cave, floating. It was a sword, the vivid copy of Dracule Mihawk's own Kokuto Yoru except that this version was white and gigantic, fitting the body of the humandrill tribe leader.
The boy contemplated it in all its splendour and grace, if Mihawk's was the [Night] this was the [Day].
'Before my whole year training, I couldn't even dream about defeating you and yet now... I don't even need to touch you' Veyron remarked inwardly towards the creature that had just passed out inside the cave, the Humandrill tribe leader.
It was all thanks to his mother's rough and abrasive training and now, it was time to pay his dues.
*CLAANG!!*
With a swift move of his hand, the floating sword pierced itself into the soil. This was the weapon that he needed in order to properly face Mihawk, but... it was too massive and difficult to handle.
'Thankfully I already thought about something, let's try it now'.
It was a simple concept.
*RUMBLE!!*
Focusing all of his fourth will and conqueror Haki on the sword, Veyron activated his technique.
<Graviton!>
It wasn't exactly gravity, but the principle worked the same way as gravity did. Conqueror Haki on its own was unable to affect matter, but his Fourth Haki was different. He called it Psychokinesis, but that was too hard of a word for the citizen of this world to comprehend, hence, he left it as just '4th Will'.
The sky all around turned odd, wind currents crashed one against the other like gigantic snakes fighting for dominance. Even if he focused all of his intent on the sword, it was unavoidable for some of his will to leak.
Slowly but surely, the sword started to compress on its own... it was a marginally difficult work of concentration, the moment he got distracted, the sword would surely snap as the materials that composed it were nowhere near strong as those that composed Yoru.
'I have to apply the strength evenly around all edges of the sword'.
A few seconds later, the sword had shrunk two-thirds of its original size, but it was still too big compared to Yoru. Alas, it couldn't be compressed any further as Veyron's will wasn't strong enough yet... the more an object was compressed the more its density increased and it became way harder to compress.
'This should do'.
He smirked happily, gripping the marginally big sword with an edge alone that was at least twice his size. The handle was scalding hot due to the kinetic energy released by the manoeuvre but nothing he couldn't handle.
'From now on, you are Youbi (Day) the opposite of Yoru (Night)'.
The sword alone was marginally heavier than it looked but for the kid, it wasn't a big deal, as he walked the sword floated next to him as if it had a life of its own and awaited for the slightest disturbance in order to pounce away.
...
After attaining what he needed, Veyron walked towards his next destination. Another iconic spot... the centre battlefield located deep within the forest, a clear field where thousands died and their corpses remained, yet today... their corpses were fated to scatter to dust.
The white-haired boy's steps stopped in the middle of the field, mirroring those of a lady with black boots, standing proudly with her arms crossed.
"You made me wait".
"Sorry... I'm ready now".
Mihawk's gaze ignored the torrential rain and glanced brazenly towards the sword floating next to the boy, she couldn't help but release a brief laugh as if she had already been expecting that from him.
"Mom?"
"It is nothing. What a good sword you've got there, son".
Mere pleasantries, the next second she drew not a stick, not a knife... but her sword, Yoru. Veyron flinched it was going to be the first time she ever faced him with that sword.
"I've come prepared. Ever since I've known you, Mom... I thought you were the coolest".
"...?" She felt there was some deeper meaning concealed there that she couldn't catch. What was so cool about reading a newspaper and drinking wine? at least that's how they met, according to her.
"And ever since you started training me, I wanted to be like you".
He wanted to follow her steps to the end, the way she behaved, the way she fought, even the way she sailed, "This is my new sword, I call it Youbi".
"It is a nice name, but... can the sun of your day outshine the moon of my night?~"
"We won't know until we try".
"Then what are you waiting for? Now that we've come to this, do you expect a lady to make the first move?"
"Not at all!"
*WHOOOOSHH!*
The first phase of the training spars was the use of swordsmanship at its core. Mihawk would not use Haki during this encounter, she'd use just her prowess with the sword.
*CLAANGG!!*
Both swords met in the middle, clashing like the day and night fight during the dawn, dusk and twilight.
Mihawk was serene as she blocked, evaded and counterattacked her fighting style was one of perpetual focus without disturbance. One that her son had inherited, fighting much the same way but with a style and flow that set him apart from her.
He gripped the sword and struck, released it and feinted her counterattacks while the floating sword repositioned itself, ready to be gripped again for another strike. Mihawk was mesmerized by such a stylish swordsmanship that was only possible because of his 4th Will.
It was an advantage which she had to relent to him as due to how young he was and his infant body of a seven years old, he would be unable to even lift the sword with just physical strength.
*CLAANGG!*
*CLAANGG!*
*CLAANGG!*
*BOOOOMMM!!*
Veyron's strike crashed against the soil as Mihawk retreated one step, ready for a counterattack which he intended to block, it was all fake... a feint that placed him in the spot. She used the handle of her sword to deliver a merciless blow to his ribs.
"Ugh!"
When he looked at her, her yellow eyes were shining brightly with an amused smile and thrill.
'Observation Haki'.
