Bang!
The Jitte crashed to the ground, shattering the floor and sending up clouds of dust.
Smoker's brows furrowed tightly.
The strike that should have secured his victory had missed—and now, his opponent had vanished without a trace. This wasn't just a matter of his moves being seen through.
More importantly… how did he disappear so quickly?
"Shave?!"
"Or a Devil Fruit ability?!"
"Neither."
Gawain's voice echoed directly in Smoker's ear. Cold sweat instantly broke out on his back. He spun around—only to see a ghostly silhouette flickering into view.
"Death Walk."
A vicious, lightning-quick thrust tore through Smoker's body in an instant.
Though he transformed into smoke to evade the blow, he lost sight of Gawain immediately afterward.
The white smoke that had been intended to limit Gawain's vision had now become his own handicap. Realizing this, Smoker looked around in growing dread.
"That speed… it's not a Devil Fruit—it's purely physical. But for a human to achieve that...!"
His words were cut off by a distant roar.
"Fang Thrust!"
Another thrust, even faster and more violent, swept through the haze—dispersing Smoker's form before he could fully reassemble it.
"Tch... an attack like that can't hurt me. What's the point, other than stalling—?!"
"Stalling?"
A strange urgency seized Smoker's heart. He tried to act, but Gawain's barrage left no opening.
"Fang Thrust!"
"Fang Thrust!"
"Fang Thrust!"
"Fang Thrust!"
Each time Smoker managed to reform, Gawain's thrusts would tear through him again.
In just a few short breaths, Smoker found himself completely overwhelmed.
Had it not been for his Logia ability rendering him immune to physical damage, he would've been killed a hundred times over. That thought alone filled him with deep humiliation.
His opponent was simply too fast.
Even with his enhanced perception, all Smoker could make out was a blur of motion. He had no way to counter it.
"If only I'd mastered Observation Haki... I wouldn't be at such a disadvantage."
He recalled Zephyr's advice before leaving HQ—and for once, he regretted not heeding it sooner.
Meanwhile, Gawain's movements were becoming smoother, more fluid.
The Death Walk technique demanded peak physical condition. Fortunately, Gawain was built for it. His physique far exceeded that of Kuro's, and his neural reflexes were lightning-fast. Naturally, his execution of the technique was more complete—and far deadlier.
Now, armed with the newly acquired famed blade Seikō Masamune, even his simplest thrusts carried devastating force. The web of slashes crisscrossing the port was proof of that.
With speed and precision, Gawain pushed the tempo of suppression—a tactic built not on power, but relentless velocity.
Even if his opponent weren't a Logia user, they would still find themselves helpless under Gawain's endless assault.
This technique wasn't just borrowed—it was his own. Evolved from Kuro's indiscriminate barrage into something uniquely his:
Fang Thrust.
A strike propelled by divine speed.
From this moment forward, the fight turned completely one-sided.
At the edge of the port, the Captain of the Guards, sent under Grayza's orders to assess the situation, stood frozen in disbelief.
All he could see was a swirling mist of white smoke—and within it, a white-haired man repeatedly rending his fog-like form. The smoke blanketing the harbor tore apart in ragged gashes, as if some unseen beast was clawing through it."
"W-What is this?!"
"Is this… the Kamaitachi? The death wind of Wano folklore?!"
"I-I don't understand..."
Despite how absurd the scene appeared, the captain still relayed everything faithfully through the Den Den Mushi.
"Captain."
Grayza raised a hand to her forehead, rubbing her temple in exasperation.
"I told you to keep an eye on Major Gawain. And you're reporting about white smoke and marines?!"
"It's not that," Kuro interrupted, patting his shoulder.
"That 'invisible force' he mentioned—that's Gawain."
"Major Gawain is… a Kamaitachi?" Grayza asked, dumbfounded.
"Think of it as incredibly fast swordsmanship," Kuro said plainly.
"I see…" Grayza nodded in relief.
"Then he has the upper hand?"
"Upper hand? He's dominating."
Kuro's lips twitched.
Just from the Guard Captain's description, he could tell that Gawain's mastery of the Death Walk had already surpassed his own.
It was absurd—he, the originator of the technique, was now outclassed by someone who had copied it.
Still, Kuro's eyes gleamed with confidence.
With his newly awakened Observation Haki, he still had a trump card.
Only those who had touched the realm of Haki understood how vast the gap truly was—a chasm, not just a difference. To put it bluntly: a dimensional leap.
"Gawain… I'll surpass you soon."
"Mr. Condoriano?"
Grayza tilted her head, confused by Kuro's muttering. The latter quickly masked his expression.
"Any ships still docked? We can't afford direct contact with the Navy, given our position."
Grayza hesitated, then shook her head.
"We had spare ships—but a group of refugees took them. I just received the report."
Seeing Kuro's frown deepen, Grayza added quickly:
"If you're worried about the Navy launching a search, I can help. Without a warrant, even they can't enter my Mansion."
Kuro's expression softened slightly.
"That would be helpful."
"It's only right," Grayza replied.
"We'll be relying on your strength to keep Raven Harbor stable."
"Understood."
Night fell.
A cool sea breeze swept through the port, slowly dispersing the lingering smoke.
Gawain and Smoker stood several meters apart—both clearly exhausted after hours of combat. Neither spoke, but an unspoken agreement passed between them as they ceased fighting.
Gawain was drenched in sweat, his chest heaving.
To be honest...
He still had no idea how to effectively deal with a Logia-type opponent. In this version of the world, they really were a form of dimensional suppression.
Even his relentless Fang Thrusts could only stall Smoker, not defeat him.
He'd considered stealing the seastone-tipped jitte from Smoker—it would've been an instant game-ender.
But Smoker had been prepared.
The moment Gawain's eyes lingered on the weapon a bit too long, Smoker had flung it straight into the sea without hesitation.
His reflexes were terrifying.
Little did Gawain know—at that very moment, Smoker was equally unnerved.
This guy… even knew my weapon had seastone?
There's a spy in the Navy?!
If I hadn't tossed it when I did, that thing would've turned into a blade aimed at my throat!
Before either could make their next move, a loud whistle rang out across the harbor.
A massive warship broke through the fog, cutting across the waves and into port.
Gawain turned his head.
Standing clearly on the deck, even in the darkness, was a woman with short blue hair and square-framed glasses. She held a long sword.
Tashigi.
Behind her stood a squad of fully armed marines.
Gawain narrowed his eyes.
"...It's time to go."