Naturally, Cain did not remain buried in Uta's embrace for long.
For one thing, he had to preserve at least a little of Shanks' dignity.
More importantly, he had not forgotten the real purpose of this training.
Once everyone moved aside again, Cain faced Shanks and asked directly,
"So what exactly were you trying to say? You wanted me to remember why I first awakened Conqueror's Haki. Is that supposed to make it stronger?"
"No."
Shanks answered immediately, without the slightest hesitation.
"Huh?"
Cain stared at him.
"Then why did you spend so long telling that story?"
"I wanted you to understand that Conqueror's Haki has never been something you can improve through ordinary training."
"Its power increases only as its user grows stronger in body and spirit."
"Isn't that basic Haki knowledge?" Cain tilted his head, sounding thoroughly unimpressed. "Do you really think I'm some idiot who knows nothing about Haki?"
"Exactly. Because it's basic, you need to understand its core properly."
Shanks ignored Cain's last remark entirely and continued in a serious voice.
"The moment you begin treating Conqueror's Haki as nothing more than an offensive technique, you limit the growth of your own spirit."
"Let me give you an example."
"When you use Conqueror's Haki unconsciously, you don't control it. It simply grows naturally alongside your body, mind, and strength."
"But once you learn to control it and start viewing it as a power that can be trained, your mind unconsciously confines it to the category of a 'combat technique.'"
"When you desperately want to become stronger, you constantly examine your own shortcomings."
"But that anxiety is exactly what restricts your spirit and causes it to stagnate."
"The more impatient you become, the less naturally your Haki can grow alongside you."
"That's why I brought up the first time you used Conqueror's Haki."
"So remember this: what you truly desire is not simply to 'become stronger.'"
"What you want is to defeat—and crush—every enemy standing between you and your ambition."
"Understand?"
Shanks' explanation instantly allowed Cain to piece everything together.
Focusing too heavily on Haki itself could actually prevent it from progressing.
In the future Cain had once seen, Luffy's Conqueror's Coating had broken through during the battle in Wano, eventually surpassing even Yamato's and reaching the power necessary to split the heavens.
That had happened because Luffy's mind was focused entirely on defeating his opponent, not on becoming stronger.
That difference in mindset alone revealed a great deal.
Seeing Cain fall into thought, Shanks continued.
"Polish your body and mind. Temper your spirit."
"That isn't only important for your Conqueror's Haki. It has irreplaceable value for you personally."
"Awakening a Zoan Devil Fruit carries enormous risks."
"If your body, mind, and strength cannot keep up with the power of the fruit itself, the animal will residing inside it may overwhelm you and cause you to lose yourself completely."
Shanks' voice grew heavier as he slowly drew Gryphon from his waist.
"So no matter what, those two parts of you must become strong enough."
Cain felt slightly uncertain upon hearing that.
Whether his particular Devil Fruit could even awaken was still completely unknown.
Even Vegapunk, the fruit's creator, had admitted that he did not know.
Yes.
He had flatly said he had no idea.
Still, preparing specifically for that possibility could not hurt.
With that thought, Cain reached for his weapon and prepared to attack Shanks.
Only then did he realize it was gone.
He turned around and saw the Red Hair Pirates passing it around and playing with it, all of them wearing gleefully malicious expressions.
Cain still had no idea what awaited him.
At that moment, Shanks charged.
"Treat me as an enemy standing in the path of your ambition."
"Please don't hold back."
"Oh, and I forgot to mention—the purpose of this training is to teach you how to defend yourself using Conqueror's Haki."
"So don't use your hybrid form or Armament Haki."
"Don't dodge with Observation Haki either."
"Take my attacks head-on."
"Divine Departure!"
"Hey! That's cheating!"
"What do you mean, don't hold back? When have I ever held back against you?! Which one of your eyes saw me not fighting at full strength?!"
The sight of Shanks using that attack made Cain instinctively want to dodge.
But halfway through his complaint, he gritted his teeth and stopped himself.
'Divine Departure? I won't depart! I'm greater than the gods! What do I have to fear?'
The real problem was that Shanks expected him to endure it without Armament Haki or dragon scales, using only Conqueror's Haki.
Aside from coating attacks with it, Cain had no idea how to defend with it.
He had seen Rocks do something similar before, but he did not understand how it worked.
Conqueror's Coating was fundamentally a technique used to enhance attacks.
Using it defensively did not seem to make any sense.
But he had no other choice.
Cain clenched his teeth and attempted to wrap Conqueror's Haki around both arms without releasing it outward.
Then—
Bang!
Shanks' sword struck Cain directly.
The attack exploded against his arms, and the violent impact sent him flying.
Fortunately, Shanks had not used too much force. Cain traveled only several dozen meters before crashing to the ground.
Surprise flashed through Shanks' eyes before he asked,
"Who told you to wrap Conqueror's Haki around your arms like that and call it defense?"
"If you don't release it outward, my Conqueror's Haki will penetrate your body."
"Meanwhile, yours is still wrapped inside you."
"When two forms of Conqueror's Haki collide inside the body, the resulting explosion is far worse."
"If I hadn't withdrawn part of my Haki in advance, you would've been seriously injured."
'You could've told me that sooner! That nearly broke both my arms!'
Cain climbed back to his feet.
Conqueror's Haki flowed through his body without recklessly bursting outward or damaging the surrounding area.
Shanks clearly sensed the change in Cain's presence.
He nodded approvingly.
"That's right. That's the feeling you want."
"Defend yourself properly."
"Again."
Shanks instantly appeared in front of Cain and swung before he could prepare.
"Again?! This is obviously revenge!"
…
No one knew how long the training lasted.
It continued until Uta finally grew tired and released everyone from Uta World.
Only then did they notice that Cain was still asleep.
Uta casually explained that he had simply exhausted himself inside Uta World.
However, she glared viciously at Shanks.
It was entirely his fault for beating Cain so brutally.
Hundreds of wounds covered Cain's body, each one painful to look at.
Perhaps Cain had been right.
Shanks' training did contain a small amount of personal revenge, and he had struck harder than necessary.
After all, Shanks was furious that Cain had been getting far too familiar with Uta.
But it was for Cain's own good.
And Uta's too.
Uta, however, knew none of that.
She only wanted revenge.
With that thought, she helped Cain into the guest room at Makino's bar and lay down beside him to rest.
Shanks remained worried and continuously monitored them with Observation Haki, but he detected nothing unusual.
Was there truly nothing happening?
Uta's eyes were closed, but she was not asleep.
She silently thought,
'Since you hate seeing Cain and me being affectionate so much, Shanks, we'll simply do it somewhere you can't see.'
'Inside Uta World.'
In truth, neither Cain nor Uta was tired.
Uta had merely chosen not to release him.
Still inside Uta World, Cain had only just endured Shanks' brutal training when every wound on his body abruptly vanished.
Warm steam rose around him.
Cain rubbed his eyes and discovered that he was standing beside an enormous pool.
Although calling it a pool did not seem entirely accurate.
The ground beneath him was unusually soft.
He looked more closely.
Two enormous snow-covered mountains towered nearby, though they were strangely warm rather than cold. Their peaks were hidden behind drifting steam, appearing and disappearing within the mist.
The entire landscape looked suspiciously strange.
Cain turned his head.
Foam and a pleasant fragrance surrounded him.
Then he looked at the "pool" again.
Its shape almost resembled a navel.
In that case…
Cain slowly and stiffly turned around.
A gigantic Uta was rising behind him.
The movement shook the ground beneath Cain's feet.
He slipped—
And fell straight into the pool!
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