44: The Shock Brought by Haki
"Impressive."
The always calm and composed Vice Admiral Tsuru was slightly moved.
"Hahaha, Sengoku, what do you think?"
Garp laughed loudly at Sengoku.
"It's still too early. Smoker's strength is much more than that," Sengoku said, looking at the two in the field.
Smoker, after enduring that blow, completely changed his attitude of underestimating his opponent.
This black-haired brat in front of him—his strength was formidable!
"Kid, what's your name?"
"Ron."
"Ron, I'll remember that."
Smoker became fully serious, and part of his body turned into white smoke, constantly shifting.
"I am a Logia-type Smoke Fruit user, Lieutenant of the Marines, Smoker."
Ron didn't waste words with him. He stomped the ground and rushed forward, throwing a straight punch.
Boom!
The air seemed to explode, and a large hole appeared in Smoker's chest—but there was no blood.
"It's useless. Right now, I am a smoke man. No matter how strong your punch is, it won't work against smoke!"
The hole in Smoker's chest quickly filled with smoke, and he raised his fist, punching toward Ron.
"White Fist!"
Ron dodged, but Smoker's arm instantly turned into smoke, extending and curving. His fist chased Ron like a homing missile.
Ron spun around and threw another punch.
Smoker's fist was instantly pierced through, dissipating into wisps of smoke, only to reform into a large hand, tightly gripping Ron's arm.
"Got you."
A cloud of smoke appeared in front of Ron and condensed into Smoker's tall figure.
Zephyr, seeing this scene, said, "The battle is decided. That brat may be absurdly strong in speed and power, but he's no match for Smoker."
"Haha."
Garp laughed loudly.
"What are you laughing at, Garp?" Zephyr turned his head, annoyed.
"That brat has no way to deal with the elemental abilities of a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, so he can't possibly beat Smoker."
"That's true," Vice Admiral Tsuru said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "But what if… he's holding a weapon made of seastone?"
Zephyr's expression stiffened.
"No need. Who said that brat doesn't have a way to deal with a Logia user's intangibility?"
Garp waved his hand dismissively.
"The only things that can counter a Logia user's intangibility are Haki, seastone, or another Devil Fruit power. Is that brat a Devil Fruit user?" Zephyr asked, frowning at Garp.
"No, he's not," Garp shook his head.
Suddenly, Sengoku seemed to realize something. He turned to Garp, his eyes showing a hint of shock.
"Garp, don't tell me that kid…"
Garp didn't answer, only grinned, revealing his large white teeth.
In the field.
Smoker had grabbed Ron's wrist, but he couldn't move him at all.
The power emanating from that wrist shocked Smoker as he realized a fact.
The black-haired boy named Ron before him possessed strength greater than his own!
Smoker was utterly astonished.
At that moment, the small wrist began to exert force. Smoker's eyes narrowed, and smoke billowed from his body.
"Brat, just give up now. White Bind!"
White smoke, like snakes, shot from Smoker's body, coiling around Ron.
In no time, the flowing white smoke turned into thick ropes, binding Ron tightly.
"You've lost," Smoker said, looking at Ron.
But just as he was about to turn away, a calm boy's voice came from behind him.
"Is this all the strength you have?"
Feeling the sudden surge of energy behind him, Smoker whipped around.
The ropes made of white smoke had been torn apart, dissipating into wisps of smoke. The black-haired boy named Ron stood there, his hair billowing as if blown by an invisible wind. His body seemed to be surrounded by an invisible force that made Smoker's heart pound.
"Impossible!!"
Zephyr was completely shocked, eyes wide and mouth agape, as if witnessing something unimaginable.
Vice Admiral Tsuru also stared blankly at the black-haired boy in the field, waves of emotion surging in her heart like never before.
"It's… Haki."
"He mastered Armament Haki in just one year…"
Sengoku's gaze was fixed on the black-haired boy in the field, his voice trembling.
"I told you, he's a little monster," Garp laughed heartily.
Ron, now wrapped in invisible Armament Haki, stomped the ground, his speed turning him into a blur as he appeared in front of Smoker.
"Useless…"
Smoker's words weren't even finished before Ron's Haki-coated fist slammed into his abdomen.
Smoker's eyes widened in shock, and in the next second, his entire body was sent flying.
He crashed heavily into the wall, embedding deeply, cracks spreading all around.
"How… how is this possible!" Smoker, trapped in the wall and bleeding from the mouth, struggled to open his eyes, staring in shock at the small figure in the distance.
"Haki… it's Haki… the thing I haven't even mastered yet!"
"That brat…!"
Envy, jealousy, and frustration… an indescribable mix of emotions filled Smoker's heart as he roared, using the smoke to propel his upper body and charge at Ron.
Ron, watching Smoker charge toward him, raised his arm and clenched his fist.
"Armament Haki, Hardening!"
With a sound that echoed like substance being formed, Ron's arm and fist turned pitch-black.
This scene left Sengoku, Zephyr, and Tsuru even more shocked.
Even Garp was momentarily stunned. "That kid… he's already reached the level of Armament Haki Hardening?"
"Haaargh!"
With bloodshot eyes, Smoker pushed his Devil Fruit ability to the limit, charging at Ron and throwing a punch!
Ron's pitch-black, Haki-hardened fist met Smoker's in mid-air.
The large and small fists collided.
Boom!
A powerful shockwave accompanied by dense white smoke exploded in all directions, blowing back the coats of Garp, Sengoku, and the others.
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T/N:
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