One Piece:Magneto

Two days later, after Shakky and Rayleigh had taken Boa Hancock and her sisters to Amazon Lily and Tesoro had departed on a ship to forge his path, Alexander found himself standing on a small, unnamed island not far from Sabaody. The sea breeze was gentle, and the island was quiet except for the sound of waves crashing against the shore.

Rayleigh stood a short distance away, his arms crossed and a faint smirk on his face. "Alright, Alexander, before I teach you the basics of haki, let's have a duel to see where your current skills stand," he said, his voice calm but firm.

Alexander raised an eyebrow, scratching the back of his head nervously. "A duel, huh? Sure, but let's not get carried away, old man. I've only been out at sea for six days, you know. I'd rather not die before I make it a full week because a legendary grandpa, on par with the strongest names on the sea, forgot to hold back."

Rayleigh chuckled, clearly amused. "Don't worry, kid. I'll restrain myself. I just want to see what you're capable of. Show me everything you've got, no holding back."

Alexander nodded, gripping his two swords—Shinryu and Aramatsu. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Alright then, but don't say I didn't warn you if I accidentally land a hit!" he joked, trying to mask his nervousness with humor.

Rayleigh unsheathed his sword, his movements calm and precise. "Ready when you are," he said, his tone teasing but his gaze sharp.

Alexander dashed forward, his blades glinting in the sunlight as he swung at Rayleigh. The older man effortlessly parried the strike, his movements smooth and fluid. Alexander followed up with a series of rapid attacks, trying to overwhelm Rayleigh with speed, but it was as though the man could read his every move.

"Not bad," Rayleigh said as he sidestepped another strike, "but you're relying too much on instinct and strength. You're not thinking ahead."

Alexander gritted his teeth, leaping back to create some distance. "Fine, let's see how you handle this!" He extended his hand, and nearby scraps of metal from the island's debris began to float into the air. With a flick of his wrist, the metal shards shot toward Rayleigh like bullets.

Rayleigh raised an eyebrow, impressed by the display. He swung his sword in quick, precise arcs, deflecting the metal shards one by one. "Interesting. So you're already incorporating your Devil Fruit into your combat. That's good, but you'll need more than that to keep up with someone who knows haki."

Alexander smirked. "Well, I'm still just getting started!" He charged in again, mixing his sword strikes with bursts of magnetic force to throw Rayleigh off balance. For a moment, it seemed like he might gain the upper hand, but Rayleigh suddenly released a small burst of Conqueror's Haki, freezing Alexander in his tracks.

"Whoa!" Alexander staggered, sweat dripping down his face. "What the hell was that?"

Rayleigh sheathed his sword, signaling the end of the duel. "That, my boy, is Conqueror's Haki. It's something you'll need to master if you want to survive on these seas. You have potential, Alexander, but you're still raw. We've got a lot of work to do."

Alexander collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily but grinning. "Alright, old man. Teach me. I'll make sure you don't regret it."

After their duel, Rayleigh sat cross-legged on the ground, watching as Alexander caught his breath. The boy was raw, inexperienced, and reckless, but there was undeniable potential in him. With a smirk, Rayleigh decided it was time to begin his lesson.

"Alright, kid," Rayleigh said, standing up and stretching, "let's start with the basics of haki. There are three main types: Observation, Armament, and Conqueror's Haki. For now, we'll focus on Armament Haki—your best bet for dealing with tough opponents and those pesky Logia users, like that Aokiji you fought."

Alexander stood up, his swords still in hand. "So, what is Armament Haki, exactly? Some kind of invisible armor?"

"Exactly," Rayleigh said with a nod. "It's the ability to manifest your willpower as a weapon or a shield. It allows you to defend against attacks that would otherwise be impossible to block—and more importantly, to bypass Devil Fruit abilities and strike directly at an opponent's true body. You're going to need this if you want to cut through someone like Aokiji's ice."

Alexander's eyes widened. "So that's how you're supposed to deal with those guys. Alright, teach me. What do I do?"

Rayleigh raised his hand, and a faint black coating spread across it, shimmering like polished obsidian. "This is Armament Haki in its simplest form. When you coat your body or your weapon with it, you strengthen it beyond its normal limits. But mastering it takes time, patience, and a lot of practice. You'll need to focus your willpower and learn to project it outward."

Alexander stared in awe. "That looks cool. Alright, how do I start?"

Rayleigh gestured toward a nearby tree. "First, we're going to practice focusing your willpower. Try punching that tree, but don't just use your strength. Imagine your will flowing through your body and out of your fist. Focus on that intention to destroy, to dominate."

Alexander nodded and set his swords aside. He stood before the tree, clenched his fist, and closed his eyes, trying to focus. He thought of everything that fueled his resolve: his escape from Mary Geoise, his promise to become stronger, his desire to shake the seas. With a deep breath, he threw a punch at the tree.

The impact was loud, but it only left a faint mark on the bark. Alexander groaned in frustration. "That didn't feel like anything special. What am I doing wrong?"

Rayleigh chuckled. "You're overthinking it. Armament Haki isn't just about brute force—it's about channeling your inner will. Clear your mind, focus on your intent, and try again. Let your will do the work, not just your muscles."

Alexander nodded, shaking out his hand and stepping back. He closed his eyes again, this time pushing aside his frustration and doubt. He pictured his will as a flame inside him, growing stronger as he focused. When he threw his next punch, there was a faint ripple of energy around his fist, and the tree bark cracked slightly.

Rayleigh's eyes lit up. "Now we're getting somewhere. Keep at it."

For the rest of the day, Alexander practiced relentlessly under Rayleigh's watchful eye. Each punch grew more focused, each strike more precise. By sunset, he managed to coat his fist with a faint, almost invisible layer of Armament Haki.

Rayleigh patted him on the shoulder, a proud grin on his face. "Good work, kid. It's rough, but you've got the basics down. Now, we'll work on refining it—and eventually, applying it to your swords. But remember, haki isn't just about strength; it's about resolve. The stronger your will, the stronger your haki."

Alexander wiped the sweat from his brow, exhaustion clear on his face but a grin just as wide. "Got it. Let's keep going. I'm not stopping until I can cut through anything."

Rayleigh crossed his arms and leaned casually against a tree as he watched Alexander catch his breath. "Alright, kid," he said, his voice calm but firm. "You've got the basics down, but haki isn't something you can master overnight. I'm going to give you one month to figure out how to coat your swords with Armament Haki on your own. No shortcuts, no hand-holding."

Alexander, still panting, looked up at him in confusion. "What? Why not just show me how to do it? Wouldn't that save us time?"

Rayleigh chuckled, his grin widening. "Because that would make it too easy. Haki is as much about personal growth as it is about strength. You have to understand it, feel it, and make it your own. If I guide you through every step, you'll never fully grasp its potential. The struggle is part of the process, Alexander. Only by pushing yourself will you truly grow."

Alexander sighed, picking up Shinryu and Aramatsu, his twin blades. "Fine. One month, huh? I'll figure it out. But don't blame me if I break something in the process."

Rayleigh laughed heartily. "Breaking things is part of the fun. Just don't break yourself. Oh, and one more thing—if you don't make progress in a month, I'll double your training regimen. Consider that extra motivation."

Alexander rolled his eyes but couldn't help the smirk tugging at his lips. "Alright, old man. Challenge accepted. One month to master Armament Haki on my swords. You'd better be ready to be impressed."

Rayleigh waved him off, still smiling. "I'll be around, keeping an eye on you from a distance. But this is your journey, kid. Show me what you're made of."

And Rayleigh leave him alone on this island.

As Alexander sat on the beach, his swords resting in the sand beside him, he stared out at the endless ocean, his mind a chaotic storm. Just six days ago, he'd left Kutsukku, the forsaken island he had called home, hoping to discover the world and chart his own course. Instead, he'd been swept into a whirlwind of events that seemed too surreal to be real.

First, a chance encounter with a Fish-Man named Tiger had piqued his curiosity. Then, Tiger's impassioned words had ignited something within him, pushing Alexander to help free slaves from Mary Geoise. In the process, he had killed two Celestial Dragons and faced off against Admiral Aokiji, surviving by the skin of his teeth. The world had responded with a bounty so absurdly high it seemed laughable, painting him as a threat far beyond his current strength.

He'd formed a crew of freed slaves, only to disband it days later, sending them on their own paths while he stood here alone, on an unnamed island, trying to coat his swords with Armament Haki—a power he barely understood. The weight of it all pressed on his chest as he asked himself, What the hell am I doing with my life?

Sailing aimlessly, with no clear purpose? Promising to create shockwaves across the seas, only to feel like a fraud?

His fists clenched as he looked down at his swords, the twin blades glinting faintly in the dying light. A bitter laugh escaped his lips. All I've ever done is survive, he thought. Whether it was on Kutsukku, where the strongest ruled and the weak fell, or now, facing the world that viewed him as a demon, he had done nothing but scrape by.

His mind flashed back to the slaves he'd freed. Their chains had been visible, tangible. But his? His chains were forged from his own weakness. He was shackled, not by Celestial Dragons, but by the limits of his own strength.

The realization hit him like a tidal wave, and an overwhelming surge of emotion coursed through his body. He gripped his swords tightly, his heart pounding. Suddenly, an enormous shockwave burst from him, rippling through the air and shaking the trees behind him. He barely registered the raw force of his own will, his Conqueror's Haki erupting uncontrollably as his resolve solidified.

From now on, he would no longer let himself be bound by weakness. He would forge his own path, one that no man, no god, no world government could control. He would become the strongest, not for the sake of power alone, but because strength would grant him the freedom to act without fear of consequences.

As the shockwave faded, Alexander stood, his eyes burning with newfound determination. He raised his swords, their weight now feeling lighter, as though they, too, understood his resolve. "From this day forward," he whispered to himself, "I will decide my own fate. My name will strike fear into the hearts of those who dare to harm me. And by becoming the strongest, I will become the freest man on the sea."

The horizon stretched endlessly before him, but for the first time, he didn't feel lost. He had a goal, a purpose. And nothing would stop him from achieving it.