Boom.
Sakazuki's overwhelming aura suddenly receded. His magma-like eyes locked directly onto Hawk.
"Hawk, I still hold one special promotion slot for Headquarters Commodore," Sakazuki said in his gravelly voice.
"This appointment requires no approval from Fleet Admiral Sengoku. As long as I submit it, the promotion is yours."
"But you must prove to me that you deserve it."
Hawk's breathing was heavy. The armament haki covering his body slowly withdrew, revealing skin drenched in sweat. His pupils shrank the instant he heard those four words Headquarters Commodore.
Headquarters Commodore?!
Right now, he was only a branch lieutenant colonel. Between that and Commodore of Navy Headquarters stood the ranks of branch colonel and headquarters senior officers a gulf so vast it could hardly be measured.
The leap was enormous.
Sakazuki's offer carried a weight that stunned him. If he became a Headquarters Commodore, he would truly step onto the path of a Navy flag officer.
The resources he could mobilize, the intelligence he could access, and the authority he could wield would all be transformed. He would no longer be a mere regional commander tucked away in the East Blue, but a direct participant in the decisions and operations of the Navy's core.
Hawk drew in a deep breath, forcing down the storm within his heart. He lifted his head and met Sakazuki's gaze.
"Admiral Sakazuki… what must I do to earn that promotion?"
Sakazuki slowly rose from his chair. He walked to the office window and looked down at the training grounds below.
"Show me your full strength," he said. "Fight me."
Hawk's heartbeat spiked. Fight Admiral Sakazuki…? So this was how he was to prove himself?
His mind raced. Admiral Sakazuki one of the Navy's highest powers, wielder of the magma-magma fruit, a monster standing near the peak of the world. To defeat him was impossible.
But that clearly wasn't the point. Sakazuki wanted to weigh his mettle. To see whether Hawk was truly worthy of an exceptional promotion to Commodore.
The Justice System had rated him at a Headquarters Rear Admiral's combat level, but what would that mean when facing one of the Admirals themselves?
Hawk was curious too. His previous opponents Cutlass, Nezumi, even Arlong had been far too weak. None had forced him to unleash everything.
But against Sakazuki? This was the perfect test. A chance to measure himself against a true giant. And the reward was nothing less than a ticket into Headquarters' inner circle.
A chance worth everything.
Hawk's eyes sharpened, battle lust rising in his chest.
"Very well!"
…
Navy Branch 16, training grounds.
The area was soon secured. Commander Dane led the branch soldiers, while the Marines who had come with Sakazuki joined them, sealing off every exit.
Hundreds of eyes fixed on the two figures standing face to face in the arena.
"You've got to be kidding me…"
"An Admiral, fighting personally?"
Headquarters soldiers whispered in disbelief, their voices low but charged.
"This isn't a drill! Is this some kind of punishment?"
Others muttered uneasily, worried for Hawk.
"Don't forget when the Admiral threw out a magma fist earlier, the Branch 16 soldiers blocked it together!"
"And Hawk is their commanding officer. Do you think he's weak? Not a chance. I'm betting on him!"
"Betting won't save him. An Admiral is Headquarters' supreme power. Hawk will lose, no matter what."
"Of course he'll lose. The question is, how long can he last? I say… five breaths."
"Five? That's too generous! Three breaths!"
"One!"
"You're all ridiculous!" one soldier protested. "The Admiral invited him to spar, which means he wants to see Hawk's full ability. Counting breaths is pointless. Hawk could stand still gathering energy for ten breaths, and the Admiral would still wait."
"That's true…"
The crowd nodded in agreement.
"Then let's wager on his strength!"
"We're all Headquarters men. We know how to measure ability."
"I like it!"
Bets began flying.
"I say Hawk has Headquarters Captain-level strength!" one bespectacled soldier declared firmly, pushing his glasses up his nose.
"You're insane!" another exclaimed. "He's just an East Blue branch lieutenant colonel, and you're betting he's at Captain level?"
"Just look at what he's done. He cleaned out the entire East Blue! For that alone, I say he's at Captain level maybe even Commodore!"
"That doesn't prove anything. The East Blue's pirates are weak this generation."
"I bet he's below Captain!"
The wagers piled up fast.
In the end, the bet was set: Does Hawk possess Headquarters Captain-level strength or not? The loser's penalty washing a month's worth of socks.
And not just any socks. Training socks. After hours of grueling drills. Socks that could qualify as biological weapons.
For Headquarters soldiers, this was the ultimate gamble.
Hawk listened quietly as the crowd bickered, the corner of his mouth twitching ever so slightly.
He looked at Sakazuki with a trace of hesitation in his eyes. "Admiral… is this really appropriate?"
"Life in the Navy needs its share of entertainment," Sakazuki replied, a rare smile tugging at his lips. His deep voice rumbled like distant magma. "Besides, I'm curious too."
"About your strength."
Hawk inhaled, then nodded. His aura began to condense around him.
Sakazuki glanced at him. "What about your weapon?"
Hawk raised his right hand. Slowly, his fingers clenched into a fist of iron.
"This is my weapon."
"Good." Sakazuki's eyes glimmered with growing approval. "I once fought with a blade as well. But in the end, I found these iron fists more reliable."
"Come then, Hawk."
Hawk said nothing more. He tightened his fist. His aura shifted sharply, as if the air itself grew heavy.
A sheen of black seeped across his skin, crawling over his fist and forearm until it gleamed like obsidian, swallowing the light around it.
Armament Haki. Full force.
In the next instant
Hawk's toes drove into the ground with explosive force.
Crack!
The hardened training ground split beneath him. His body shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, leaving only a blur behind.
The rushing wind whipped at the uniforms of the soldiers watching from the edge.
Mid-sprint, Hawk drew back his right arm, his waist twisting, his body coiled like a bow pulled to its limit. All of his power, all of his intent, channeled into that single jet-black fist.
"Overdrive Power Punch!"
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