[BleachxMultiverse] - Conquering Worlds After Death

"Fifteen thousand."

The vendor, a middle-aged man wearing straw sandals, exuded a strong presence. His stall showcased five or six high-grade, rare items.

"Too expensive."

Though he had anticipated this, Ren couldn't help but shake his head.

Items like techniques and bloodline enhancements were designed to grow with an explorer, making them far pricier than standard equipment.

Even so, Ren didn't think this Armament Haki Training Manual was worth fifteen thousand EndCoins.

More importantly, he only had 3,450 EndCoins on him.

Seeing the vendor remain silent, Ren asked, "Do you accept trades?"

The vendor looked up, scrutinizing Ren for a moment before replying, "What do you have?"

Ren pulled out a Small Inheritance Crystal. "This, plus 3,000 EndCoins. Deal?"

The vendor's eyes lit up when he saw the crystal, but his gaze grew wary as he studied Ren further. Clearly, this wasn't a newcomer—Ren's strength was apparent. But why would a first-tier explorer willingly part with such a crucial resource?

Inheritance Crystals were prized tools that enhanced combat proficiency. They could turn an average office worker into a weapon master with well-honed fighting skills. For first-tier explorers, these crystals were lifelines.

"Not enough. Even if the Inheritance Crystal is rare, its market scarcity doesn't push its value to twelve thousand. You'll need three crystals to close the deal."

The vendor shook his head, probing further with his response.

"Three? As if I'd have that many. I only have two. Two Small Inheritance Crystals for this tool—take it or leave it. If not, I'll just invest in upgrading my specialized skills."

Ren's tone was calm, but firm. He did, in fact, have three crystals, but the vendor's evident desire for them was a bargaining chip Ren wasn't about to squander.

"Two..."

The vendor frowned slightly. By valuation, his Armament Haki Tool was worth more than two Inheritance Crystals. Yet it had been sitting unsold at his stall for over a week, and he desperately needed the crystals to upgrade one of his core skills.

"Sigh!...I think it's more prudent to focus on enhancing my existing abilities..."

Ren trailed off, about to say "forget it," when the vendor interrupted him.

"Deal!"

The vendor stood abruptly, picked up the manual, and initiated a trade request.

A small menu popped up in Ren's interface.

['Who's Smelling My Athlete's Foot' has sent you a trade request. Accept?]

Seeing the vendor's space nickname nearly broke Ren's composure, but he managed to maintain an air of reluctance as he accepted the trade.

After the transaction, the vendor beamed. "To be honest, I really needed those crystals for one of my key skills. Otherwise, I wouldn't have agreed to this price. Let's consider this a friendly exchange."

"It's just mutual benefit. Can I ask where you got this tool?" Ren gestured to the Armament Haki Training Manual in his hand.

"Ah, don't remind me. I fought tooth and nail in the One Piece World and only managed to reach the rank of Chief Petty Officer in the Marine Headquarters. This manual was my final reward during settlement. Selling it barely covers my expenses."

Perhaps in high spirits after the deal, the vendor shared more openly.

After a few more exchanges, Ren left the stall, having gained crucial new information: items obtained directly in mission worlds by official explorers could be brought back to the EndSpace by spending EndCoins.

For example, the Armament Haki Training Manual in his hand was originally a textbook on Armament Haki from the Marine Headquarters. After being certified by the EndSpace, it had transformed into a skill-learning artefact for direct use.

Interestingly, the tool wasn't an actual book but rather a cube shaped like one. It contained no visible content, preventing Ren from directly studying Armament Haki's theories. This seemed to be the EndSpace's way of stopping explorers from copying and distributing knowledge freely after returning.

After wandering the market a bit longer, Ren spent 2,000 EndCoins on a rare-grade healing item before heading back.

He couldn't wait to see what the Armament Haki was all about and whether it met his expectations.

Back at his residence, Ren issued a command.

"EndSpace, I want to learn Armament Haki."

[Request received. Commencing Haki awakening for the Pioneer.]

As the system notification rang out, the tool in Ren's hand vanished.

Suddenly, his vision darkened, and his consciousness drifted into a trance-like state.

It was an uncanny sensation as if he were floating in a void, communicating with the deepest layers of his consciousness to awaken the latent potential known as Haki.

He seemed to wander endlessly through a boundless darkness. After an indeterminate amount of time, soul-wrenching wails echoed in his ears. In the haze, he caught a glimpse of a demonic figure, its form towering like a god of the underworld, staring at him across an abyss.

When Ren finally opened his eyes, he glanced at the clock on the wall and realized five hours had passed.

He opened his menu to check his newly acquired ability.

[Armament Haki]

Skill Grade: C+ (Grade affected by level)

Skill Level: 3/40

Skill Type: Active

Cooldown: None

Details: Consumes Soul Source to activate Armament Haki, which can cover any part of the body. Consumption depends on the area covered and duration.

Covered areas gain significant defensive boosts and can strike incorporeal entities.

Skill Notes: Please refrain from using this on....strange areas.

"Haki, huh…"

Ren ignored the cheeky remark from the EndSpace system and rolled up his right sleeve. Focusing his will, he activated Armament Haki.

A visible transformation took place as his arm became coated in a layer of grey-black armour. The surface gleamed with a metallic sheen, exuding an almost indestructible aura.

Ren tapped the armoured arm with his other hand, feeling its solid resistance.

Drawing his weapon, Shūkonrasetsu, he lightly touched the blade to his Haki-covered arm.

Clink—

The sound resembled metal striking metal. He inspected his arm, noticing a faint white mark where the blade made contact. It quickly disappeared as the Haki surged to repair the surface.

"What a fascinating ability," Ren remarked, a smile creeping onto his face. The defensive strength of Armament Haki was impressive. His Shūkonrasetsu was no ordinary weapon—it was a rare-grade blade with a perfect score. While he hadn't used much force, its sharpness was undeniable. Yet, the blade hadn't left a scratch on his arm.

From a practical standpoint, Ren recognized that his current Haki level was still too low. If he truly swung the blade with intent, it would likely cut through the defence.

But Ren wasn't a stationary target waiting to be hit. His combat style was dynamic and evasive, reducing the likelihood of direct, fatal blows landing on him.

For weaker or poorly aimed attacks, he could rely on Armament Haki to tank the hits, giving him more flexibility in battle.

More importantly, Armament Haki wasn't just a defensive skill. By hardening his fists and striking with them, he could deal significantly greater damage. Additionally, the ability to extend Haki to his weapon, like Shūkonrasetsu, would further enhance its sharpness and durability, turning it into an even more fearsome tool.

Now that he had experienced the skill firsthand, Ren began to understand that Haki wasn't simply a brute-force technique—it was an embodiment of spirit, energy, and willpower.

While his academic background was modest, his knowledge of martial arts was extensive. Drawing on the lore of ancient martial traditions, he likened Haki to the concept of intent.

He remembered his master's stories from his youth.

According to legends, in ancient times, martial arts legends could kill with a sword's intent from a hundred meters away, or shatter mountains with their fists. Such feats weren't achieved through sheer physical power but rather through a profound understanding of intent—the force of the mind and spirit.

Though he didn't exactly take this legend at face value, Ren believed that the concept behind these 'myths' wasn't total nonsense.

The original One Piece described Haki as an external manifestation of willpower. Though vague and mystical, this resonated deeply with Ren's interpretation.

In any case, Ren concluded that this trade had been worth it. Haki was undoubtedly a system with immense potential.

At just level 3, the skill was already this formidable. If he could fully master it, reaching its maximum level, he might genuinely achieve an impenetrable defence, immune to blades, bullets, fire, and water, while possessing unparalleled offensive capabilities.

Curious, Ren opened his menu.

To upgrade Armament Haki further, he would need: Small Inheritance Crystal x1 and 400 EndCoins

He had the resources to proceed immediately, but he decided to hold off.

Instead, he wanted to spend some time understanding and training with the skill, seeing if he could progress through sheer practice and insight before relying on system upgrades.