Just as Eden set out toward Alabasta to confront Crocodile...
Marine Headquarters.
After parting ways with Eden, Erza headed to Marine Headquarters to report to Fleet Admiral Sengoku and request Vice Admiral Garp to teach her Haki.
Garp took Erza, who was eager to learn Haki from him, to an area used by the headquarters for storing discarded warships.
"Listen up, Erza!"
"No hero in this world is born naturally!"
"And no powerful technique or ability can be mastered in just a day."
Pointing to the warship in front of them, Garp instructed, "For now, don't use any Haki or special abilities—just rely purely on your physical strength to punch this warship."
"Keep going until it's beaten into the shape of those warships over there," Garp added, gesturing toward two warships whose bows were entirely collapsed.
"Even if you hadn't said it," Erza replied, slightly amused, "I currently don't know how to use Haki. That's exactly why I'm here—to learn it from you."
She approached the massive warship, running her hand gently over its hull. "Use pure physical strength to punch this warship into shape? Interesting!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Without further ado, Erza started pounding away at the warship, relentlessly throwing powerful punches.
"Hmm," thought Garp, stretching out comfortably on a beach chair nearby, soaking up some sunshine. "Under normal circumstances, it should take Erza at least one to two years to deform the ship like that."
About an hour later...
"Vice Admiral Garp?! Vice Admiral Garp, can you hear me?"
Garp stirred awake, slightly annoyed by Erza's voice calling him. "What is it, Erza? Did you already finish your assignment, or have you given up after less than an hour? If that's the case, perhaps I misjudged you."
"That's not it, Vice Admiral Garp. I've completed the assignment you gave me. The warship has already taken on my personal shape," Erza replied, casually pointing to the warship.
Garp glanced in the direction Erza pointed and was astonished. The warship indeed looked as if it had endured years of relentless beating, not merely an hour. His eyes widened in shock.
"Did you use Armament Haki? I explicitly told you not to!" Garp accused.
"Have you forgotten again, Vice Admiral? I still can't use Haki—that's why I'm here, remember?"
"Ah… indeed," Garp said, momentarily baffled.
"Then you must have used a Devil Fruit power," he guessed.
Erza sighed deeply. "Again, Vice Admiral, have you forgotten? I'm not a Devil Fruit user."
"Oh, right," Garp nodded slowly.
"Then, surely, you used some special ability I'm unaware of?" he insisted. "I can sense a peculiar energy around you—very distinct and powerful."
"Nope," Erza shrugged helplessly. She hadn't even used magic.
"Then how could you possibly have shaped the warship so quickly? Are your hands insensitive to pain?" Garp questioned, thoroughly confused.
"Maybe because my hands have grown accustomed to something even tougher," Erza pondered.
"Accustomed to something tougher?" Garp asked, puzzled.
"Let me demonstrate," Erza said, calling over Gajeel Redfox. "Vice Admiral, do you think this guy's body is tough enough?"
Garp gave Gajeel a solid pat on the shoulder, chuckling, "Indeed, this fellow's body is as tough as steel."
"Exactly. He's my usual punching bag," Erza clarified seriously.
"Ah, I see," Garp said, suddenly enlightened. "In that case, the warship training was obviously too easy for you. Let's move on to real Haki training now."
Garp, finally understanding Erza's strength, smiled approvingly. "Brace yourself; the next phase of training will be even tougher."
"I'm ready," Erza nodded determinedly.
Meanwhile, Gajeel, who had been introduced as a mere punching bag, lamented, "Are you serious, Erza? Is this really polite?"
~# Every 30 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter