"Hegemony, the latent power innate to all living beings in this world, exists like an instinct, akin to 'presence' or 'intimidation.'"
In Moses' view, [Hegemony] was simply another manifestation of the "essence, energy, and spirit" within the human body.
Through prolonged Breath training and medical study, Moses' understanding of his own body far surpassed that of ordinary people.
Observation Haki was a unique perceptual power—a sensory ability rooted in the "spirit" aspect of consciousness.
Moses was a natural-born wielder of Observation Haki.
Unlike other innate users who possessed special abilities such as "mind-reading," "emotional resonance," "future sight," or "hearing the voice of all things," Moses' Observation Haki only granted the most basic perceptual effects.
However, through years of practicing his unique [Breath] technique, his Observation Haki gradually evolved as it continuously synchronized with his breathing.
By sensing his own Breath, he could then perceive his entire body in all directions.
When the Blessing of [Breath] manifested and instantly reached A-rank, achieving Qi Circulation Throughout the Body, Moses' Observation Haki suddenly gained a unique "inner vision" effect.
He could sense through his own skin, flesh, bones, and internal organs. At first, Moses often felt an overwhelming sense of nausea.
But over the past year, since he couldn't change it, he had no choice but to adapt. After all, he wasn't the type to give up using Observation Haki just because of some "minor" discomfort.
Observation Haki was originally meant for external perception, so naturally, this outward-projected "inner vision" transformed into a kind of "X-ray vision."However, Moses' current Observation Haki level wasn't high enough, so the external perspective effect wasn't as clear as his internal perception."
Moreover,
Now that his [Breath] Blessing had improved, it also granted the effect of Unity of Heaven and Man. Moses had a premonition that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, his Observation Haki would likely develop another unique trait in the future.
Through prolonged use and gradual accumulation, Moses' Observation Haki had already grown significantly.
And now.
[C+ Rank Blessing: Observation Haki] (Capable of natural growth)
[Blessing Effect: An innate perceptual ability, the power of "awareness." A heightened sense of the surrounding aura, granting the special effect of "visual perception," and permanently accelerating the growth of Perception/Agility/Mystique attributes up to C+ rank by a moderate degree.]
[Blessing Evaluation: Among the three treasures of "essence, energy, and spirit," this belongs to the "spirit" aspect of perception—Perception is the foundation of all things!]
Observation Haki had risen from its original C-rank to C+ rank. Though it hadn't broken through to a higher tier, Moses didn't see any issue with that.
Because,
This was all part of an interdependent and closely linked relationship. If Observation Haki could accelerate the growth of Perception/Agility/Mystique attributes, then conversely, these attributes also influenced the growth of Observation Haki to some extent.
At present, Moses' attributes hadn't undergone any major changes—only minor, negligible adjustments.
Attributes:
[Physique]:
Strength: F+ → E-
Endurance: F+ → E-
Agility: F+ → E-
[Soul]: Willpower: F+→E- Perception: E-→E Spirit: F+→E-
[Special.Mystery (Energy)]: F+→E- (Observation Haki growth bonus in progress.)
Over the course of a year, Moses' basic physical attributes had risen from F+ to E-, which was neither particularly fast nor slow. Still in his growth phase, he hadn't subjected himself to any grueling training.
His daily routine consisted of methodical long-distance running, breath perception exercises, and occasional hunts for wild beasts.
Yet, even so, Moses believed his current physique surpassed that of Ace at nine or ten years old in the original timeline.
Because on the four major seas—East, South, West, and North—the average "strong" pirates among the common rabble rarely exceeded E-level in physique.
Dismissing the scattered thoughts from his mind, Moses closed the status panel and quietly admired the breathtaking beauty of nature before him.
Through his heightened perception, everything around him had transformed. The enlightenment of Unity of Heaven and Man imbued the natural world with a unique sense of "spirit."
"No, perhaps it's more accurate to say that only today—only now—have I truly seen the essence of all things in nature. Everything... has 'come alive.'"
[Breath]
The breath of earth and stone.
The breath of pine trees.
The breath of mist.
The breath of ice and snow.
All things possessed their own distinct breath, their own unique rhythm of life.
Moses curled his lips.
"All this talk of the breath of all things, of the power to cut or not to cut—in the end, it's just another facet of the Unity of Heaven and Man."
"Truth is, many complex, lofty concepts, once properly understood, turn out to be just that simple."
Having grasped what he sought, Moses saw no reason to linger.
As for communing with nature?
What a joke.
"You can't grow fat in one bite. Meals should be eaten slowly, paths walked steadily—one step at a time is the safest way."
All profound insights and powers ultimately rest on the most fundamental attribute: the body.
Reaching out, Moses ruffled Bear Cub's ears, then turned him around by the scruff of his neck. The little bear looked up at him in confusion.
"Let's go home."
Bear Cub shook himself vigorously and scampered happily toward the cave entrance, with Moses following behind.
The stone slab was replaced exactly as before.
The vast mountaintop returned to silence, with only a trail of footprints as evidence of recent visitors.
The descent proved trickier than the ascent. Braving the biting winds along the cliffs, they traversed the damp, mist-laden slopes until, step by step, they reached the base.
Bear Cub shook his fur vigorously, sending droplets flying. Moses, having wisely kept his distance, remained dry.
Seemingly annoyed by the dampness, Bear Cub stretched his lower jaw impossibly wide and proceeded to gnaw on his own head like bamboo. A few bites later, the self-devouring was complete, leaving only a white ball of fur behind. Seconds later, the ball unfurled, revealing a perfectly dry Bear Cub.
Moses wasn't fazed—after all, he'd taught the trick himself. Once Bear Cub steadied himself, Moses climbed onto his back, and the little bear waddled homeward with an endearing pigeon-toed gait.
...
Returning home, Moses cleaned and butchered a foolish roe deer he had caught and prepared on the way back.
He heated oil in the wok, added scallions, ginger, and garlic along with various suitable herbs, stir-fried for a few minutes, then tossed in salt, MSG, and other seasonings to enhance the flavor.
Next, he added chunks of potatoes and water, bringing it to a boil over high heat before simmering on low.
As Moses dictated the steps, Bear Cub stood upright, wielding a spatula and flawlessly executing each instruction—their coordination was seamless.
Leaving Bear Cub to tend to the kitchen, Moses went to the desk to continue reading. He had nearly finished this bookshelf, with only the last dozen or so books remaining. Once done, he could declare himself "graduated."
Upstairs, Kureha was engrossed in her experiments. After teaching Bear Cub—no, teaching Moses—how to cook, she had delegated lunch and dinner duties to him, only handling breakfast herself.
As a result, it didn't take long for a Blessing representing [Culinary Arts] to manifest.
And today, Bear Cub showed signs of mastering the craft as well.
A cause for celebration!
From then on, unless it was mealtime, Kureha remained buried in her experiments on the second floor.
Now, aside from meals or occasional knowledge checks during free time, Moses and Kureha mostly kept to their own pursuits.
Once, when Garp visited and saw their dynamic, he was utterly astonished, remarking, "If Ace were even half as self-sufficient as you, I'd die of happiness."
Two weeks later.
Mid-September.
Having just finished his morning long-distance run, Moses returned home to find a burly figure sitting leisurely in the living room, sipping tea.
The moment he spotted Moses, Garp grinned widely. "Yo, Moses! Your grandpa's here—aren't you thrilled?"
Moses sighed. Something about Garp's phrasing always felt off, as if it carried an unintended insult.
"What if I said no—would you hit me?"
Garp's lips curled into a menacing smirk, though his expression remained oddly amiable.
"What do you think?"
His fist clenched, knuckles cracking ominously.
"Thrilled." Moses flashed a bright smile. "So, old man, what brings you here today?"
Garp's face darkened. This brat's really got no respect—won't even call me 'Grandpa' anymore. He raised a hand, ready to teach him a lesson.
Just then, Kureha emerged from the kitchen with breakfast, scowling at Garp.
"Couldn't you have come after breakfast? Now I have to feed you too. Honestly, when will you learn some manners?"
Accepting a bowl of porridge, Garp grabbed a steamed bun and dug into the side dishes, his expression turning peculiar. At nearly sixty years old, being scolded like a misbehaving child was… a new experience.
It dawned on him why, despite their good relationship, he had rarely visited Kureha in the past.
But now?
A low chuckle escaped him, his mood lifting. With age, the number of familiar faces dwindled—having a friend like Kureha was a blessing.
His Observation Haki flickered briefly, sensing Kureha's vitality still robust, likely ensuring another two or three decades of life. He exhaled in relief.
Just as he took a sip of porridge, Kureha's icy voice cut in. "Looking for another beating?"
Garp hastily raised his hands. "Sorry, didn't mean to pry."
Realizing his use of Observation Haki had been detected, he immediately lowered his attitude and hurriedly admitted his mistake.
Kureha shot him a glare before turning to Moses. "This old bastard came today to take you to the East Blue to see your brother. Finish your meal, then leave with him."
Pausing his eating, Moses' eyes darted as he immediately put on an "aggrieved" act. "Doctorine, are you kicking me out? I don't want Grandpa, I only want you."
Garp's eye twitched, suddenly finding the food in his mouth tasteless.
Kureha glanced at Moses. Though pleased inwardly, she scoffed. "Quit pretending, you little brat. When did I say I didn't want you? I'm just giving you some time off. Come back quickly after seeing that kid Ace."
"Oh!" Moses resumed eating, nodding between bites. "Got it! I'll leave Bear Cub with you then. The little guy can cook now, so he can take care of your daily needs."
"Yip!"
Bear Cub looked at Moses with reluctant eyes, but his mouth never stopped shoveling food in.
Garp watched the panda eating at the table with amazement, observing how it held its bowl and chopsticks. "This little guy's pretty smart."
No sooner had he spoken than Bear Cub pulled its bowl protectively closer, eyeing Garp warily as if to say, "This is mine, no sharing."
Garp's face darkened.
Grumbling, he continued eating and drinking.
This whole family was full of troublemakers.
After the meal, Bear Cub cleared the table while Moses packed lightly—just some gold coins, spare clothes, silver needles, a scalpel, and his trusty axe.
There were no farewells, as Kureha had gone upstairs right after eating.
Walking through the dense forest with Garp, Moses wasn't wearing his usual Lapahn fur coat, just simple cotton clothes. Garp had said the weather would warm up once they passed Drum Island's waters.
From the treehouse's second-floor window, Kureha watched the two figures—one large, one small—disappear into the distance, a flicker of reluctance in her eyes before she muttered to herself.
"What's wrong with me? It's not like he's not coming back. Why do I feel this way? Since when did I become so sentimental? This isn't like me."
Only when they vanished from sight did Kureha turn back to her experiments.
After half an hour's walk, they reached a wide river channel where a medium-sized marine ship was docked, its deck bustling with figures. On the riverbank, seven or eight marines with "COOK" written on their backs were processing over a dozen wild beasts—some already prepared, others still being worked on.
Moses' sharp eyes immediately recognized them as Lapahns. "Impressive," he remarked. "They managed to hunt so many Lapahns."
Garp ruffled Moses' hair, laughing heartily. "Of course! Every marine on my ship is exceptionally skilled. What, feeling envious? Why not join my ship and become a marine with your grandpa?"
Moses pretended not to hear.
Garp looked thoroughly dejected.
As they approached, the marines—some gazing with reverence, others grinning—greeted Garp enthusiastically, their eyes full of curiosity at the small figure walking beside him.
Moses followed Garp up the gangplank onto the warship. The deck was spacious, impeccably clean and tidy, with open areas at both the bow and stern.
At that moment,
Many marines were training on the deck—some practicing sword swings, others doing physical exercises. Of course, there were also a few leaning against the railings, smoking and chatting idly.
As Garp returned, those training paused briefly to acknowledge him before resuming their drills, while the idle chatterers quickly composed themselves, stubbing out their cigarettes to greet Garp.
These men all held ranks. Noticing Moses studying their epaulets and capes, Garp paused, then chuckled.
"You think those epaulets and capes look cool too, huh? Those lads are all Marine Headquarters officers at the rank of commander. Quite capable—they can easily handle pirates with bounties in the tens of millions out there."
The commanders blushed at Garp's praise, looking somewhat bashful.
Moses remained silent, listening without speaking.
Just then, footsteps approached, and a voice tinged with curiosity spoke up, "Vice Admiral Garp, you're back. Shall we set sail now?"
The newcomer's eyes gleamed with curiosity as he subtly sized up Moses. Bogart thought to himself, 'So this little one is that infant from years ago. I can't believe he's grown so much.'
Garp nodded casually. "Let's go. We'll cut straight through the Calm Belt—it'll be faster."
Bogart's eyes showed concern as he voiced his thoughts directly: "Crossing the Calm Belt... isn't that a bit risky?"
Garp laughed dismissively. "Relax. I'm here."