Blindfolds, earplugs, and masks—fighting with these cumbersome obstacles wasn't easy.
Vivi was beginning to feel the strain. Her exceptional perception ability allowed her brain to process external information at an incredible rate, far beyond that of ordinary people. If the transmission speed of sensory information to the brain was 1 for an average person, hers was 100. This mental workload was exhausting. After just a few moves, her forehead was drenched in sweat, and steam rose from the top of her head, making it look as if she were boiling.
Her swordsmanship had noticeably deteriorated. She was barely able to execute a single clean move, and each strike was more erratic than the last, resembling the actions of a beginner. Despite her struggles, she kept going, her limited senses preventing her from being completely overwhelmed—at least, for now.
Vivi understood Zefa's approach. As her senses were obscured, her heightened perception relied on constructing a mental image of Ain. Though vague, this "shadow" of Ain allowed her to detect attacks. When Ain made a straight thrust, the image in Vivi's mind conveyed that same movement. However, the information was unclear and fuzzy, making it difficult for Vivi to act on it in real-time.
Despite knowing the strike was coming, she couldn't block it in time. Her actions followed her "feelings," leading to an almost random battle. She wasn't truly reacting in a traditional sense. She was simply guessing based on what her perception "felt."
Zefa stood stunned. This was the first time in his long teaching career that he encountered such a scenario. Even when training Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji, he never saw anything like it. How was Vivi perceiving the world with such precision?
It didn't make sense.
After thinking deeply, Zefa finally had a revelation.
"I see! It's tactile, right? Your sense of touch is extraordinary, and the flow of air helps you make judgments, even if they're not perfectly accurate. I've never met a student like you in all my years. Come on, put on your gloves."
Zefa proceeded to pile on more gear—gloves, scarves, and even a jumpsuit, covering her from head to toe. With everything in place, Vivi now resembled an astronaut.
Despite the extra layers, Vivi still struggled. She barely managed to defend against Ain's first three moves before making a critical mistake on the fourth. She failed to "hear" Ain's position clearly, resulting in an empty parry. By the time she tried to "listen" for it, Ain's sword was already at her neck. She reluctantly raised her hand to signal defeat.
Vivi took off the heavy gear, her body drenched in sweat as she collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily.
Karoo rushed over with ice water and fanned her to cool down, doing his best to help.
Although it had been exhausting, Vivi did feel something—her senses were more attuned to a new form of perception, something beyond her typical heightened awareness. It wasn't listening to everything, but a new way to perceive the world, one that surpassed her five senses.
"Karoo, rub my shoulders. I'm so tired…" Vivi slumped against the duck, who began massaging her shoulders with great care.
Ain, equally exhausted, was just as stunned. She had no idea Vivi could "hear" the sounds around her, thinking that Vivi was simply predicting her moves. To fight against yourself by predicting the opponent's strikes? Ain wondered what kind of swordsmanship that was, questioning her own abilities in the process.
Wearing her usual shorts and displaying her long legs, Ain stared off, lost in thought.
Zefa, noticing the doubt in her eyes, said nothing. He didn't scold anyone, nor did he offer words of consolation.
The reality of the situation was harsh: Ain, 20 years old, could not defeat 13-year-old Vivi. The difference between 13 and 20 years old was a period of explosive physical growth. For a swordswoman like Ain, it was a bitter truth to face.
Zefa knew all too well about the obstacles his students were facing. He, too, had been in their shoes.
In fact, the man who brought him the most frustration was none other than the legendary Monkey D. Garp.
Zefa, Sengoku, Garp, and Tsuru had all entered the Navy Academy at the same time. To ordinary people, they were all "monsters," but within that category, there were degrees of "monstrousness."
Years later, Zefa became known as "Black Arm" Zefa, Sengoku rose to the rank of Fleet Admiral, and Tsuru remained a respected figure. But in terms of raw combat strength, they all knew they were outclassed by Garp.
While Zefa and the others trained diligently, increasing their strength by 10%, Garp was a different story. Garp could practice twice and gain 20% strength. By the time they hit 50, their physical potential had been exhausted and started to decline. Even at 60, Garp was still getting stronger.
Zefa hoped that Ain could face her own limitations and grow from this challenge. He observed Vivi closely.
For 30 years, this was the first time he had encountered such a situation. After covering Vivi's senses, he couldn't fathom how she was perceiving the world.
Curious, Zefa asked, "How exactly did you predict Ain's attacks? Your swordsmanship may be slightly better than hers, but there's no way you could anticipate so many of her moves."
Vivi thought for a moment before answering. Given Zefa's dislike for pirates, she wasn't keen on explaining her "listening to all things" ability in detail. So, she vaguely replied:
"It's just a vague sense, I can't really describe it."
Her answer, "Don't ask—it's talent," made Zefa furrow his brow in contemplation.
After thinking for a while, Zefa finally spoke again.
"I've thought about it. Considering everything, it's clear that vision is the most significant factor here. If you want to awaken your Observation Haki, from now on, you need to close your eyes. I won't give you any more hints. You need to develop your own awareness and practice living like you're blind. Focus on your daily activities—eating, drinking, sleeping—and see the world around you. This is the way to awaken your Observation Haki."
"Pretend to be blind?" Vivi thought skeptically, glancing at Karoo. The duck shook his head, as if saying, "Don't look at me, I'm just a duck."
Determined, Vivi gritted her teeth and stomped her foot.
"Alright then, I'll try."