43: Smoker: Stop Joking Around!

"Level 3 in Armament Haki, huh?"

Ron raised his right hand, clenched his fist, and with a thought, his entire arm turned jet black, as hard as steel.

"So this is... Hardening!"

Ron clenched his arm, now reinforced with Armament Haki, feeling the strength within. Compared to when he hadn't used Armament Haki, both his defense and attack power were several times stronger.

And this was only the beginning of his mastery over Hardening.

It was hard to imagine what it would be like for someone who had mastered Armament Haki to its peak, like Garp. If someone like him, with his monstrous vitality, combined that with peak-level Armament Haki, what kind of devastating power would his full-force punch have?

Destroying a small island might not even be a problem...

Ron tried again and realized that his current Armament Haki, at level 3, could only harden one arm. He couldn't yet strengthen both arms simultaneously.

Strengthening his limbs and eventually his whole body was still a distant goal.

"I'm still far from becoming a true powerhouse. I need to keep training..."

Ron looked out the window and clenched his fist.

"Let it begin here in Marineford!"

...

Having just graduated from the Marine School of Justice, Smoker, a young lieutenant, had returned from a mission. Before he even had a chance to rest, a fellow Marine from his class approached him.

"Smoker, the Admiral wants to see you."

"Huh? What for?"

"I don't know, but you better get going. Vice Admiral Garp is there too."

Smoker, chewing on a cigar, ran a hand through his slicked-back silver hair, a bit annoyed, but replied:

"Got it. Is it in the main building?"

"No, it's at the Marine School of Justice."

"Huh? The Marine School of Justice?" Smoker asked, puzzled.

With confusion in his heart, Smoker arrived at the Marine School of Justice.

In the underground arena, a place built specifically for Marine students to train and spar, Smoker saw Admiral Sengoku, Garp, Admiral Tsuru, and Admiral Zephyr, who had been his instructor at the School.

The four of them, draped in their "Justice" coats, exuded an overwhelming presence just by standing together. It was a pressure that few could withstand.

In this vast underground arena, aside from these four Marine legends, there was also an 11 or 12-year-old boy with black hair, wearing a black T-shirt and white shorts.

A kid he had never seen before...

Who?

Smoker glanced at the black-haired boy in confusion before turning to Sengoku.

"Admiral, what do you need me for?"

"Smoker, I have a task for you," Sengoku said, looking at him.

Smoker's expression became more serious. What kind of task could require the presence of these four top Marines?

Sengoku pointed at the black-haired boy standing nearby and said to Smoker:

"Your task is to fight him with all your strength!"

"...Eh?"

Smoker was stunned, unable to process what he'd just heard.

A task involving all four of these great Marines... was just to fight that kid? Was this a joke?

"Lieutenant Smoker."

Admiral Tsuru's voice broke Smoker's daze, bringing him back to reality.

He looked at Tsuru and saw her calm, wise eyes.

"Don't question it. We'll explain everything later. For now, just follow orders and carry out the task."

Smoker's eyes flickered slightly. He scratched his head, then turned to the black-haired boy.

"Alright. So, I just need to fight this kid, right?"

"Yes," Sengoku nodded.

Garp crossed his arms and grinned, "Smoker, don't underestimate him, or you'll regret it."

Smoker said nothing, but his eyes were fixed on the black-haired boy in the arena.

Though Smoker wasn't Zephyr's best student, he was one of the few who had survived Zephyr's hellish training, earning his recognition as a rising Marine force.

But Garp...

Garp had somehow found this kid and claimed his strength was on par with Smoker's, despite not having a Devil Fruit ability.

Hmph!

What kind of joke is that?!

Smoker stepped into the arena, looking down at the boy who barely reached his waist, with thighs not as thick as his arms. His eye twitched slightly.

This kid...

They seriously expected him to go all out against this kid?

Was Garp really not joking? Or was he trying to get him killed?

"Ready?" the black-haired boy asked, looking up at him.

Smoker exhaled, brushing aside his thoughts. Whatever.

The sooner this pointless match ended, the better...

"Come at me," Smoker said to the boy.

The moment the words left his mouth, the tiles beneath the boy's feet shattered, and his figure disappeared in an instant.

So fast!

Smoker's pupils shrank.

This speed...

Not far away, Zephyr, Sengoku, and Tsuru's eyes widened slightly.

Garp laughed loudly, "The kid's even faster than he was a year ago!"

Smoker sensed the incoming force from his left side and quickly raised his arm.

In the next second, a leg whipped down with a sharp gust of wind. Smoker instantly felt an overwhelming force from the kick.

Not good!

Just as Smoker was about to be sent flying by the massive force, he transformed into smoke using his Logia ability, dispersing the blow harmlessly.

"He forced Smoker to use his smoke form with just one strike! How can such a small body hold that kind of power?!"

Zephyr's eyes widened in shock, staring at the scene.

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T/N:

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