Traveling Through Multiple Realms: The Supporting Character's Counterattack

Just as the "Water Mirror" realm was progressing steadily, an unexpected and surprising breakthrough suddenly arrived.

On this day, Iai wandered aimlessly in an open space in the suburbs, feeling the breath of the grass and trees, and his mind gradually emptied in the tranquil environment.

Before he knew it, he had walked to a clearing in the woods, found a flat blue stone to sit on, closed his eyes, and let the sunlight shine through the branches and leaves onto his face, bringing a warm and pleasant sensation.

Gradually, a wonderful change occurred.

His breathing became long and steady, and his heartbeat slowed down.

The sounds of the outside world—the wind, the birdsong, the rustling of leaves—became clearer, but they no longer disturbed his mind. Like a drop of water falling into a deep pool, they only stirred up tiny ripples, but could not disturb the depth and tranquility of the pool.

His heart seemed to have truly become a smooth, mirror-like, calm lake, clearly reflecting everything around him, yet remaining detached from worldly affairs.

In this state of ultimate tranquility and clarity, Iai felt his "perception" ability begin to expand outward spontaneously and silently.

It's not about actively exploring, but rather flowing naturally like mercury spilling onto the ground.

At first, it was the trails of insects flapping their wings within a radius of tens of meters, and the rhythm of earthworms wriggling in the soil.

Next, we see the muscles contracting and relaxing as a squirrel leaps between branches a hundred meters away.

Then, further away, the faint sound of several birds preening their feathers...

This perception is becoming increasingly refined and penetrating into the microscopic realm.

suddenly!

Iaijutsu's mind jolted!

It wasn't that I was frightened, but rather that I perceived some incredible fragments of images.

In his "mental mirror," he clearly "saw" some scenes that were about to happen in the future: ten meters to his left, a withered oak leaf was about to fall from the branch as its petiole could no longer bear its own weight.

Its trajectory, the speed of its rotation, and which ferns it would eventually land on were all clearly visible.

Almost at the same time, twenty meters to the right and behind, a cricket hidden in the grass bent its hind legs slightly, about to leap up. The direction, height, and landing point of its leap were also clearly presented in Iai's consciousness.

These images flashed by, as fast as illusions.

But then, reality struck!

Just as predicted, the oak leaf drifted down leisurely, and the cricket leaped up and landed on the grass leaf as intended!

"This is...foresight?!"

Iai suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze flashing with disbelief.

Although the foresight was extremely brief, lasting only a few seconds, the real and tangible experience of glimpsing a corner of the future was unprecedented!

He instantly realized that his Observation Haki, nurtured by the unintentional state of mind of "Water Mirror," had undergone a qualitative leap, breaking through to the supreme realm of being able to briefly foresee the future.

After the initial euphoria, Iai quickly calmed down.

He closed his eyes again, carefully experiencing this newfound ability.

He discovered that this kind of precognition cannot be activated at any time; it relies heavily on that mysterious state of "a mind as still as water and a will as clear as a mirror."

Even slight fluctuations in one's emotions can cloud one's ability to foresee the future.

"A clear mirror...still water..."

Iai pondered for a moment, "I understand! The 'clear mirror' of the 'Water Mirror' realm represents ultimate perception, which is remarkably similar to the pinnacle of Observation Haki—foreseeing the future! And 'Still Water' represents the ultimate control over one's own aura, will, and even presence!"

A bolder, more startling guess flashed through his mind like lightning.

"Kill by sight!"

He recalled the legendary skill that Shanks, one of the top powerhouses in the pirate world from his previous life, had developed regarding Conqueror's Haki.

That is a terrifying technique that completely conceals one's aura and will, even to the point of "erasing" one's own existence, rendering the opponent's Observation Haki completely ineffective!

"If foresight is one of the ultimate manifestations of Observation Haki, the ultimate 'perception,' then 'Observation Kill' is its absolute opposite, the ultimate 'concealment'!"

Iai's heart pounded wildly. "And the realm of 'Water Mirror' simultaneously encompasses two states of mind: 'Clear Mirror' (ultimate perception) and 'Still Water' (ultimate control)! Isn't this the perfect method for cultivating 'Observation Color' and 'Observation Kill'?!"

This discovery left him deeply excited and unable to calm down.

The principle behind "Observation Haki Killing" is likely to bring the concept of "Still Water" to its extreme, allowing one's heartbeat, breath, aura, killing intent, and even the vague "sense of existence" to completely "freeze," as if merging into the environment, turning into a stone or a drop of water, thus making it impossible for Observation Haki, which relies on sensing "life force" and "will," to detect.

And now, by sheer accident, he has, through the training of "Water Mirror," brought his Observation Haki to the level of being able to foresee the future.

Conversely, his speculation on the principle of "Killing Through Observation" also gave him a clear direction on how to gain a deeper understanding of "Still Water".

"Perception and concealment are two sides of the same coin! Cultivating 'Water Mirror' will not only enhance my Observation Haki, but may even allow me to master the divine technique 'Observation Kill'!"

"In the original setting, 'Observation Kill' seems to be related to Observation Haki based on its name, but it is actually related to Conqueror's Haki. After all, both are related to the aura of the spirit and the physical body. One is the ultimate burst, and the other is the ultimate concealment. They are two sides of the same coin on another level! The deeper one's control over Conqueror's Haki, the easier it is to deduce Observation Kill!"

Iai's eyes gleamed with a burning light. "And under the 'Still Water' state of mind, my control over my own will is greatly enhanced, which undoubtedly allows me to manipulate Conqueror's Haki with even greater precision!"

He realized that his previous use of Conqueror's Haki Entanglement relied more on the experience and instinctive bursts shared with King, which was somewhat crude.

If one can harness that domineering kingly quality with a mind as still as water, its power will surely reach new heights, with less consumption and more exquisite control.

The enhancement of "Water Mirror" can improve both Observation Haki and Conqueror's Haki control, thus advancing the development of "Observation Kill".

Conversely, the combination of "observation color" and "observation killing" can further advance "water mirror".

This is a perfect closed loop that achieves multiple benefits, and the key to it is the "water mirror"!

"Water Mirror... Water Mirror! So it's not only the highest realm of swordsmanship, but also the general principle and key to all abilities related to 'heart,' 'spirit,' and 'will'!"

Iai took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart.

He closed his eyes again, no longer trying to foresee anything, nor trying to hide anything. He simply tried to maintain that state of "a clear and still mind," carefully experiencing the expansion and contraction of his Observation Haki, feeling the power of his Conqueror's Haki, which was like a sleeping lion, and trying to gently touch, soothe, and guide it with the mind of "still water."

Time slipped by quietly, and the setting sun painted the sky a magnificent orange-red.

Iai slowly opened his eyes, his gaze deep and unfathomable, like an ancient well with a cold, still pool.

His aura became increasingly ethereal and unpredictable, sometimes as sharp as a drawn sword, and at other times seemingly blending into the surrounding natural environment, making him difficult to detect.

"Although there's still a long way to go before I can truly master Conqueror's Haki or even 'Observation Kill,' the direction has been found!"

Iai's lips curled into a confident smile, then he stood up, his figure casting a long shadow in the afterglow of the setting sun.