It was wet. Cold. Everything was drenched and soaked.

Perfect conditions for a duel.

Jackie once more raised his wooden sword, watching the raindrops drip to the ground.

He knew Leonardo was there. At the doorway to the stairs. Slowly but surely, he was getting the hang of Basic Ley.

His Ley. Strong, firm, always aggressive. And...unpolished.

Thanks to Borris, he now understood why his Ley felt incomplete. Leonardo, too, was in training.

Unbeknownst to him, however, Leonardo himself recognized a change in Jackie. Not an increase in strength or anything. But a heightened concentration.

And all of it pointed to him.

"Such amateur usage of Ley." He said, speaking loudly to make his voice heard over the wind and crashing waves.

He didn't have to. Jackie could hear every individual drop of water as it left the smooth surface of his sword and hit the floor.

Relax. Observe the surroundings.

It was difficult, perhaps next to impossible. But it was not impossible.

Two things in one moment. Using Basic Ley. Fighting Leonardo. It can be done.

Leonardo edged closer, sword in hand. "Exactly eight hits in a month. That's how many times you've ever made me mess up. What makes you think you can do something special now?" He asked, circling Jackie.

Jackie decided to play along, and began to move. "I don't expect anything special. But now I understand something. I was holding myself back because I thought beating you was impossible."

"I couldn't improve. My mindset wasn't right. All I did was stare at a brick wall without even thinking of climbing it."

Leonardo shook his head. "Basic Ley isn't something you use to fight, or to climb above difficulties. It is used to observe. To increase awareness."

He stopped and assumed a stance, with his hand lowered to his side. The rain was really coming down now, and his hair was matted to his head.

Jackie stopped as well, and shuffled his right leg forward. With both hands on the handle, he raised the sword in front of him.

"Even without Basic Ley, there is swordsmanship. Without swordsmanship, you have nothing. Only an amateur skill with Ley. To improve, you need to learn how to combine both into one, fluid style of battle."

Leonardo lowered his head.

Jackie tightened his grip.

SWISH.

In sync, the two kicked off the floor and collided, their swords meeting inches from their heads.

Leonardo was faster, far more agile and experienced. Quickly, he raised the sword and swung it down, once again being denied by Jackie.

He's serious this time!

Using nothing more than physical strength, he overpowered Jackie and twisted himself to Jackie's right. Still off balance, he could only watch as the tip of Leonardo's sword hit his shoulder, sending a shockwave of pain surging through his ribcage.

Ignoring the pain, he swung his sword at Leonardo, only to hit the floor instead.

"Too fast for you?" He asked, and swung at Jackie again without pause.

All Jackie could do was block again and again. Left. Right. Center. Left. Leonardo was only getting warmed up, and he was already in trouble.

Think. Think. Feel the Ley around me. I-

He suddenly realized it. Unfortunately, his distraction led to a missed parry, and the next thing he felt was wood against flesh. Specifically, the left side of his face.

The force of the blow knocked him to the floor, but with pure instinct from two years as a pirate, he rolled away from his opponent and sprung back to his feet.

That wasn't so ba- Was all he thought before an explosion of pain burst across his face. Like fire, it speared through his muscles and made his gums throb.

"Holy shit, man. Can't you...hold back a little bit?" He stuttered, rubbing his jaw with his free hand.

Leonardo didn't reply. Instead, he simply charged again.

Jackie wasn't stupid. His only chance of not getting his ass handed to him was to stay defensive. Trying to attack opened too many holes for Leonardo to take advantage of.

But this time...

He watched as the wooden sword sped towards his forehead, almost in slow-motion. Just in time, he ducked, and the sword rose high above his head.

Yes! Now, I-

"AGH!"

Something rammed into his gut, making him choke on his own saliva in shock. It was more stunning than painful, and forced him back from Leonardo.

Despite his blurry vision, he could see Leonardo lower his knee as he prepared for another barrage of attacks.

His vision was blurry, but his mind was clear.

Dodge.

He moved left as Leonardo brought down the sword, and rolled away.

Another swing, this time lower. Jackie parried quickly, and backed away.

"That wasn't bad. You used Ley to dodge, didn't you?" Leonardo asked, edging closer.

Despite putting up a strong front, Jackie was tiring, and fast. He needed an edge.

As the water ran down his face, he suddenly realized there was a small puddle forming just between him and Leonardo.

It was but the smallest of opportunities.

He lunged forward with his sword at the ready, prompting Leonardo to pounce, his eyes on the multiple vulnerable spots around Jackie.

He tried, but in the end a fight can't be won by dodging.

With confidence, Leonardo swung his sword at Jackie, and watched as the less experienced opponent parried. As he raised his sword once more, Jackie pulled his leg back and rattled it straight into the right leg of the unsuspecting Leonardo.

The kick barely managed to even move him from the spot.

But for one second, he slipped just a tiny fraction in the puddle.

It was enough.

Without hesitation, Jackie shrugged off the sword and swung his arms in a wide arc, striking Leonardo on his right shoulder.

THWACK!

For the first time in five days, Jackie had managed to hit him.

Gasping for air, Jackie stumbled a few feet away from Leonardo. Shaken but more surprised than hurt, Leonardo looked up at Jackie with renewed interest.

This kid...he's finally starting to learn.

Jackie pushed the hair matted to his face aside and strengthened his grip on the sword.

I can do it.

I can improve.

With a small grin hidden by his raised collar, Leonardo assumed a ready stance. "Don't get cocky. You've never gotten two hits in a row. Never will, either." He said, steadying himself because of the rocking ship.

Jackie didn't reply.

Instead, he lunged forward without delay, and slammed his sword against Leonardo's.

On the elevated quarter deck, Brice watched the battle play out in front of him, contemplating a bet.

"Hey, Captain. Let's make a wager. If that there boy lands two hits on Leonardo, I'll pay you three Gold." Whitebeard, who was at the wheel, laughed at this.

"I suppose I have no choice but to take my vice-captain's side. Done!"

For almost half an hour, Brice watched Leonardo wipe the deck with Jackie. The difference in quality and experience was pretty clear from this match.

Gasping for air, Jackie tried to dodge unsuccessfully as Leonardo's sword rammed into his chest, sending him flying across the ship.

Damn...I can't...breathe. Can't...feel the Ley around me. I'm in serious trouble.

His once again raised himself to his feet. After a few unsteady steps forward, he raised his sword.

Leonardo hated it. Jackie was always an insufferable opponent, simply because he never gave up. Anybody with half a brain would've forfeit by now.

"People like you always piss me off. You think you can learn everything in one day." He muttered, and leapt straight for Jackie. This time, he'd knock the guy out.

Gritting his teeth, Jackie ran to meet him. "One day? A month? I don't care how long I have to train to get strong!" He yelled, and struck the wooden surface of Leonardo's sword.

THWACK!

THUD!

Again and again the swords clashed, flinging water everywhere as they hit. The two fighters pushed on with their battle in the cold rain, Leonardo still overpowering Jackie.

My wrists burn. My forehead is throbbing. Legs feel like they're about to fall off.

Once again Jackie realized he was only thinking about himself.

And in that moment, another merciless blow struck his forehead. But this time, he ignored the pain and focused only on his opponent and his surroundings.

The hit had probably been extremely hard, since the sword bounced back off his skull from the impact. It moved the sword an inch away from his head, allowing him space to lunge right for Leonardo.

With all his might, Leonardo swung the sword once more. But this time, instead of taking the hit, Jackie moved his head to the side and headbutted the oncoming sword, before thrusting the tip of his sword into Leonardo's lower jaw.

Despite reinforcing his face with advanced Ley, he still felt a sharp jolt of pain pierce his mouth.

With his head throbbing and blood leaking from his left temple, Jackie collapsed onto the deck, almost unconscious.

Despite hardly trying, Leonardo was stunned. For the first time, he had been hit twice in a row by Jackie.

And the manner with which the second blow had come as well...it was ridiculous.

It was exactly like the old vice-captain. The crazy, irrational attacks, the unwillingness to simply fall over and accept defeat.

"You would've lost your head if that were a real sword, you know that?" He asked, kneeling besides Jackie on the drenched floor.

Still lying down with his face on the floor, Jackie grinned. "This wasn't a real battle, was it? The whole point of training is to learn. Right?"

Leonardo stared at him for a moment.

"You know what? Fuck you."

Brice burst out laughing, and threw the Gold over to Whitebeard. "That kid's crazy! Did ya see what he did to get the second hit?" He asked, ignoring the fact that Whitebeard and his two navigators were completely focused on getting the ship out of the storm.

"A tad bit busy here, Brice!" He yelled over the howling wind and roaring waves as they crashed against the ship.

Still chuckling at the outcome, Brice got up and stumbled away, occasionally slipping on the damp wood.

And as usual, Old Man Jack stood in the crow's nest, observing everything happening on the top deck.

Heh. Those two kids...they're really something. He thought to himself.