Hawke's Conqueror's Haki pressure was the lightest on Hibari and Kujaku among the six of them.
Even so, that overwhelming aura still made their delicate bodies tremble uncontrollably.
"Ugh—ah!"
Hibari let out a short, strained cry. Her small face instantly lost all color, turning pale as a sheet.
She bit her lower lip tightly, her mind spinning wildly with just one thought.
I can't collapse!
I absolutely can't embarrass Hawke-san!
She forced her eyes wide open, trying to focus on the man's back, but her vision blurred amidst the violent trembling.
"Th-this is…"
Kujaku's reaction was more composed—but only on the surface.
She drew in a deep breath, her legs firmly rooted to the ground, but the hands hidden behind her back were clenched so tightly that her nails dug deep into her palms.
This… this is Hawke's Conqueror's Haki?!
She had only ever felt something like this once before, standing beside her grandmother, Vice Admiral Tsuru, when they experienced Fleet Admiral Sengoku's Conqueror's Haki from afar.
It was said that Vice Admiral Garp had it too, but she'd never seen it with her own eyes.
And now… a man of her generation… was unleashing such a terrifying level of Conqueror's Haki?!
No wonder...
No wonder Grandma said he's the future of the Marines!
"!!!"
Hina and Smoker, however, were in a completely different world.
The pressure of the Conqueror's Haki on them was several times stronger.
"Ngh… H-Hina…"
Hina let out a muffled groan, her throat tight, her chest weighed down by an unbearable heaviness.
She instinctively tried to activate her Cage-Cage Fruit powers, but to her shock, it was useless.
All she could do was rely on sheer physical strength and willpower to withstand it.
"Hawke… you bastard…"
Smoker bit down so hard on his cigar that it shattered, tobacco fragments mixed with blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
The veins on his forehead bulged as his legs trembled violently, his knees slowly, stubbornly buckling.
I can't kneel!
Stand the hell up, legs!
Skipping dinner is one thing… but collapsing or kneeling in front of everyone?!
If Kuzan finds out, he'll never let me live it down!
I won't let that happen!
Never!!!
"…"
Just as his willpower was about to reach its breaking point, Smoker suddenly felt a strange, resilient force welling up from deep within his body—seeping out from every single cell.
What… what is this?
Looking down at his trembling arm, he noticed several faint, dark specks appearing beneath his skin.
The tiny black spots spread like drops of ink in water—small, but carrying an unshakable, indestructible strength.
This is… Armament Haki?!
!
"BOOM—"
Most of Hawke's pressure was concentrated on the two monsters of potential—Sanji and Zoro.
"D-damn it…"
Sanji's right leg was already bent, his knee barely an inch from touching the ground.
Cold sweat drenched his clothes, golden hair plastered tightly against his forehead.
His mind was blank, overwhelmed.
W-what the hell is this?
Why… why can't I move when Hawke-sama hasn't even budged an inch?! And why do I feel like I'm about to collapse… or even pass out?!
Damn bastard!
No way in hell… I'm not going down before that moss-headed idiot!
But the crushing, suffocating pressure was like the endless depths of the ocean, threatening to swallow him whole.
Sanji's consciousness began to blur.
Then, Hawke's calm voice cut through the storm.
"Planning to… just sleep through this mess?"
"!!!"
Sanji's eyes shot open wide!
Sleep through it?!
No way!!!
"Not bad, huh? Still holding up… but I… I will never…"
"LOSE HERE!!!"
"ROAR—!!!"
A thunderous shout erupted from Sanji's throat.
The knee that was about to touch the ground stopped its descent mid-tremble, his body holding on through sheer defiance.
Beneath his skin, faint black specks began to appear.
"T-this is…"
Sanji stared in shock at the transformation happening to his leg, a surge of newfound strength flooding his body like never before.
Right beside him…
"AAAAAAAHHH—!!!"
Zoro's bloodshot eyes burned like wildfires, the pressure Hawke placed on him far exceeding Sanji's.
His entire skeleton groaned under the strain, creaking like it might shatter at any second.
The overwhelming weight rendered him completely immobile, unable to even reach for the Wado Ichimonji at his hip.
Amazing.
Absolutely amazing!!!
Zoro didn't feel fear—he felt exhilaration, an almost uncontrollable urge to laugh.
As a man who challenged his body's limits every single day, he could feel it clearly… his entire being fighting back against the crushing pressure.
Every cell in his body screamed in defiance, resisting with everything it had!
A dormant power deep within him was being brutally awakened by this external force.
That strength… was supporting him, helping him withstand Hawke's monstrous pressure.
"…"
Hawke's gaze landed on Zoro, whose eyes were clear and burning with battle lust. The corner of his lips curved upward.
As expected of you.
Then…
"BOOM—"
A heavier wave of pressure descended, like an invisible mountain crashing down on Zoro.
"Haaah—!"
A guttural roar tore out from Zoro's throat.
He gathered every ounce of strength in his body, draining the very last drop of his potential.
He moved.
Under Hawke's Conqueror's Haki… he actually moved!
His right arm, painstakingly slow and nearly imperceptible to the naked eye, crept toward the hilt at his waist.
That short distance felt like crossing an entire world.
"..."
"Tap—"
Zoro's hand finally closed around the hilt of Wado Ichimonji.
Now!
A surge of unprecedented willpower exploded from the depths of his soul.
He remembered training as a boy, remembered the promise he made with Kuina, remembered the day he joined the Marines.
Hawke-sama, Dane, curly-brow, Smoker…
He no longer resisted the pressure—instead, he focused all his unyielding spirit into a single point.
"CLANG—!"
A crisp metallic ring pierced the suffocating silence.
Within this deadened world of Conqueror's Haki, that sound was like thunder.
Wado Ichimonji… unsheathed!
A razor-sharp, pure sword aura surged upward, carving an almost invisible crack through the crushing sea of pressure.
Zoro roared, pouring every last shred of strength into his strike.
A condensed, flawless white slash, like a newborn crescent moon ripping through the dark, flew forward with unstoppable resolve—aiming straight for the godlike figure ahead.
This strike was the roar of his will, the song of a swordsman's soul.
As the slash finished, darkness swallowed Zoro's vision, his strength fully spent, his body collapsing backward.
A polished black shoe appeared just in time to catch him.
"Phew—"
Sanji, panting heavily, caught the unconscious Zoro and slung him over his shoulder.
And in that same moment, the overwhelming, suffocating pressure vanished like a receding tide.
"…"
Hawke stood where he was, facing the slash that had carried Zoro's entire soul.
He casually raised two fingers.
"Clink—"
With an effortless motion, he caught the white sword aura between his fingertips, as if plucking a drifting petal from the wind.
A slight squeeze, and the energy shattered into motes of light, dispersing into the air.
"Zoro…"
"This strike… is already at the level of a Headquarters Commodore…"
Hawke looked at the unconscious Zoro on Sanji's shoulder, clear admiration in his eyes.
He turned away.
"Tonight, double the rations. Everyone eats their fill!"
"A Total Mess, I'll need you to make a proper feast tonight."
"???"
Sanji, still carrying Zoro, froze at the words, whipping his head toward Hawke.
"Hawke-sama! I'm still… A Total Mess?!"
"Hah—"
Hawke chuckled, nodding.
"You've been promoted."
"Not bad."
"Hahaha!"
Sanji's face split into a huge grin, thumping his chest proudly.
"Leave dinner to me! I'll make sure everyone's satisfied!"
Finally… finally, he was on par with moss-head!
And then, Hawke added casually.
"Zoro… well done."
"..."
Sanji's smile froze.
"Damn it!!!"
----------------
Chapter was posted for your review. Thank you for your support