"So Shanks was right, Cain. The you of today really is a monster."
Rayleigh could not help but praise him.
Cain answered calmly, "In my current condition, these are the only techniques I can use skillfully. I still have quite a few others that I haven't had time to name yet."
Inside the dream world Uta created, he had indeed been able to learn the movements and forms of those techniques.
But no matter what, he had never managed to learn how those people used Haki—especially Conqueror's Haki.
Haki was something one had to comprehend personally.
Just watching others use it was not enough.
That was also why his Divine Departure still couldn't be coated with Conqueror's Haki.
In the end, it all came down to one simple fact:
He still didn't know how to use Conqueror's coating at all.
"Sometimes, learning too much and learning too many different things isn't a good thing. You need a fighting style that belongs to you alone."
As he spoke, Rayleigh sheathed his sword and walked back toward the small boat by the shore.
"So the test ends here? When does the real special training begin?" Cain hurriedly asked.
Rayleigh turned back and shook his head.
"Your heart is too unsettled right now. Training Haki and improving your strength both require a calm mind. Clearly, now isn't the time for that."
The moment he finished speaking, he picked up a long bamboo pole from the boat, casually struck it to hollow out the inside, and tossed it to Cain.
"Since you're a Devil Fruit user, go sit and cool your head off. Think back to the reason you fight, why do you want to become stronger?"
"Actually…" Cain caught the bamboo pole, but before he could finish, Rayleigh kicked him straight into the sea.
'Actually, I can breathe underwater even without this thing... well, whatever.'
The familiar sense of weakness washed over him again.
The silent seawater wrapped around his entire body, cutting him off from all outside noise.
At that moment, the restlessness in Cain's heart gradually began to settle, and Rayleigh's words started echoing over and over in his mind.
'The reason I fight. Why do I want to become stronger?'
…
Flashback :
Ten years earlier, East Blue, Foosha Village, Mt. Colubo.
"Sigh, we already have Ace, and now Garp-san grandson too? No, make that two of them…" Dadan frowned and let out a sigh.
Garp looked at her and spoke bluntly, "Alright, your choice. Spend the rest of your life in prison, or raise these two brats."
That was Cain and Ace's first meeting.
At the time, Garp was discussing the arrangement with the mountain bandit Dadan.
"UGH, SPIT! THAT'S DISGUSTING! WHO ARE YOU?!"
Luffy's sudden shout drew Cain's attention.
When he turned his head, he saw a boy sitting on a rock.
"HEY, APOLOGIZE ALREADY!" Luffy shouted angrily at Ace.
"Oh, Ace is back?"
Garp walked up and introduced everyone.
"Luffy, Cain, this is Ace. He's three years older than you two, starting today, you'll be living with him."
"Get along, alright?"
Seeing that Luffy still looked upset, Garp smacked him with his fist.
Then he handed the box in his hand to Cain.
Cain looked at Ace and took out the robot he had prepared long ago.
"I didn't know what you'd like, so I brought you a present, Ace. This is for you."
Ace jumped down from the rock, didn't even glance at Cain, kicked over the box on the ground and walked straight toward Dadan's hut.
Cain didn't get discouraged.
He knew Ace was difficult to get along with right now, so he put the robot back into the box and planned to find another chance later.
But Luffy was different.
He had the same kind of robot himself, so he could feel Cain's good intentions.
Seeing Ace act like that, he simply couldn't bear it and immediately charged into Dadan's hut.
The bandits inside instantly surrounded him, but the moment they heard that his grandpa was Garp, they all jumped in fright and didn't dare do anything to him.
Not long after Garp left, it was time to eat.
By then, Luffy wasn't as angry anymore about Ace spitting, but he was still upset on Cain's behalf.
However, when he saw how little food there was in his bowl, he instantly started yelling.
That was when Dadan threatened them.
All the meat and grain they had was what Ace had brought back by himself. Only because he handed it over did they have anything to eat.
If they wanted more, then every day they had to wipe tables, mop floors, and do chores.
And they were not allowed to tell Garp about any of it.
Seeing this, Cain handed his half-finished bowl of food to Luffy with a smile.
"If it's not enough, eat mine."
Luffy immediately stuffed it into his mouth.
Then, looking at Cain, he felt even more dissatisfied, turned around, and ran off after Ace who had just left.
Cain shook his head, cleaned up Luffy's bowl and cup, and hurried after him too.
Watching the reckless Luffy run out, followed by Cain, Dadan couldn't help sighing.
"They're both Garp's grandsons, so why is the gap in maturity between them this huge?"
....
Luffy quickly caught up to Ace and shouted from behind him,
"HEY, MY NAME'S LUFFY! I'M NOT MAD ANYMORE THAT YOU SPAT AT ME, BUT I AM MAD THAT YOU IGNORED CAIN! YOU NEED TO APOLOGIZE TO HIM!"
Ace clicked his tongue.
He hadn't expected the brat to actually chase after him.
He kicked down a nearby tree, sending the trunk rolling straight toward Luffy.
"LOOK OUT!"
Cain had caught up by then. He dashed to Luffy's side and split the trunk in half with a kick.
"Luffy, Ace, he…"
He was just about to say something when he turned and saw that Ace had already gone far ahead.
But right now, all Luffy could think about was how awful Ace's attitude had been.
He ignored Cain's words and hurried after him.
"WAIT!"
Cain sighed and chased after them too.
Ace didn't want to be pestered, so he kept running until he reached a suspension bridge between two cliffs.
He turned around, grabbed the pipe beside him, and swung it straight at the pursuing Luffy.
Caught off guard, Luffy was knocked off the bridge.
Cain instantly stopped holding back.
He rushed onto the bridge, darted past Ace, and, right in front of Ace's shocked eyes, jumped down without hesitation, grabbing the falling Luffy tightly.
"Hold on, Luffy!"
Cain grabbed Luffy's arm, spun him around, and then flung him upward.
Luffy's rubber body made his arms stretch instantly.
Following Cain's words, he desperately stretched out his arms, trying to grab onto something—and by sheer chance, they wrapped around Ace's neck.
"HUH?!" Ace was completely blindsided.
"HUHHHH?!" Cain hadn't expected that result either.
And just like that, all three of them fell into the gorge below together.
"YOU TWO…!!"
Ace had just started to get angry when he saw Cain pull both him and Luffy tightly into his arms, turning his own back toward the rushing water below.
With a splash, all three fell into the river.
Cain pushed off hard with his legs and shoved Luffy and Ace above the surface, while he himself was swept away by the violent current and struggled to keep his footing.
"HEY, I'M TALKING TO YOU!!"
As soon as Ace got up and looked at Cain, he saw him fighting desperately against the water, trying to swim toward shore.
Without hesitation, Ace thrust the pipe in his hand toward him, trying to pull him up.
He truly couldn't understand it.
Why had Cain jumped down without hesitation to save that little brat?
Ace was the one who knocked Luffy off.
So in that situation, why would Cain still protect the one who attacked him?
Cain spoke to Ace, "Luffy can't touch water… he's my little brother. An older brother protecting his younger brother—isn't that only natural?"
That one short sentence shook Ace deeply.
But the pipe wasn't long enough.
No matter what, Cain couldn't quite reach it, and the current kept carrying him farther and farther away.
Panicking, Ace ran along the riverbank, trying to get closer.
Just when Cain was about to touch the pipe, Luffy suddenly ran over and shouted.
"CAIN, I'LL HELP YOU!"
As he said that, Luffy threw a punch, his arm stretching out as he tried to pull Cain out of the water.
But he failed to control the direction.
His fist flew straight into Cain's face!
"HUHHHHHHH?!!!" Ace stared, dumbfounded.
After taking that hit, Cain closed his eyes helplessly.
'It was true that an older brother protecting his younger brother made perfect sense.'
'But if that younger brother happened to be an idiot… then all you could do was accept it.'