Chapter 40.
{On the sorrounding seas of kexzaz}
"Little brother". A voice rang out from a den den mushi in the hands of a man in white cloth on a ship sailing towards kexzaz island.
"Hello big brother"
His said as flicked of the cigar from his mouth.
"Have you guys finished the mission?" He asked eye plain without emotions.
"Nope, there are some complications" the voice answered from the other end.
"Huh, what is that" he asked, face still calm.
"Just some wannabe pirate after their captain got some glory at Marine Ford" jork answered "and what are you doing in this area ?" he added.
"hahaah, at least I might get some fun" he said as a slight smirk crept up his face. "And I am escorting the celestial dragon's tribute from south blue to Mary geoise"
"Ooh,.see you later I got some fight to finish" jork said cutting the call.
[Back to the residential jurisdiction]
"Are you done with your call" Brocky asked.
"Yes thank you, now I respect you even more" jork said.
"Thou I don't respect the giants pride, I respect my own pride, and don't fall my hand, I want to see that technique you guys use to cover your body making it hard" he asked.
"This" jork said covering his fist with haki turning it luster black.
"Yes"
"Heheehe, this is armament haki"
"Ohhh…so that is the haki that my old man has been talking about"
"This is just using your will to cover your body strengthening your defence as long as you have enough strength.
"Hmmm." Brocky said "
The air was thick with tension—dust drifting lazily from shattered stone and splintered wood. Brocky rolled his shoulders once, massive frame creaking slightly as if steel beams were shifting beneath skin. Across from him stood Jork, his posture relaxed, yet dangerous—like a predator that had already decided how the hunt would end.
Brocky's eyes stayed locked on Jork's fist.
The blackened sheen of Armament Haki still lingered there.
"So that's it…" Brocky said slowly. "That strength. That coating."
Jork smirked. "Not strength. Will."
Without warning—
BOOM!
Jork vanished from sight.
Brocky barely had time to brace before something slammed into his ribs, launching him through the remains of a stone wall. He crashed hard, skidding across the ground before stopping with a heavy groan.
"Too slow," Jork said casually.
Brocky pushed himself up, coughing once, eyes burning—not with pain, but frustration.
Then Jork's body shifted.
Crack—snap—whrrrk.
His limbs shortened, muscles compressing unnaturally as white fur burst through his clothes. His legs bent backward, feet sharpening into clawed pads. His arms thickened with dense plating, fur hardening into layered, armor-like ridges.
A rabbit—but not prey.
A war beast.
The Armored Rabbit Devil Fruit had fully manifested.
Jork flexed, black Armament Haki coating both arms, spreading like polished obsidian over layered fur-armor.
"Come on, giant," Jork said, ears twitching. "Let's see that pride you're so proud of."
Brocky grinned.
A wide, fearless grin.
He stomped forward.
BOOOOM!
The ground shattered under Brocky's charge as his massive fist swung down like a falling tower. Jork met it head-on—his haki-coated arm clashing with Brocky's raw strength.
CRACK!!!
The shockwave tore through the street, blowing apart nearby structures. Windows exploded. The air screamed.
They were evenly matched.
Brocky felt it immediately.
He's not just blocking… he's reinforcing…
Jork twisted, using Brocky's momentum to flip upward, slamming both armored heels into Brocky's jaw. Brocky staggered, blood spraying—but his hand shot out, catching Jork mid-air.
"Got you!"
Jork's eyes widened—then hardened.
"Don't get cocky!"
SHRAKK!
Armament Haki surged through Jork's shoulders as he drove a blackened elbow straight into Brocky's chest.
The impact pierced deep—past skin, past muscle—sending internal shockwaves ripping through Brocky's body.
Brocky crashed to one knee.
His vision blurred.
This… this damage…
Jork landed lightly, breathing steady. "You feel it now, don't you? That's the difference between strength… and mastery."
Brocky clenched his fists.
Memories surfaced.
"Giants don't rely on tricks."
"But you… you're different."
"Your blood is mixed. That means your path is too."
His father's voice echoed in his head.
"When the time comes… don't fear coating yourself in will. Let your spirit speak through your fists."
Brocky rose slowly.
Each step shook the ground.
"I don't care about mastery," Brocky said quietly.
"I care about standing."
Jork lunged—faster than before. His entire body turned into a blur of white and black, haki flashing with every strike. Punches rained down, each one hammering Brocky's body, cracking bone, tearing flesh.
Brocky endured.
Blocked some.
Took most.
Blood streamed down his face, but his eyes never left Jork.
Feel it…
That pressure… that resistance…
Then—
Brocky threw a punch.
Jork blocked effortlessly.
"Too weak."
But Brocky didn't pull back.
He kept pushing.
His arm trembled violently.
Something answered.
A sensation—like heat spreading beneath his skin. Not rage. Not fear.
Resolve.
His knuckles darkened.
Just for an instant.
Jork's eyes widened.
"—?!"
BOOOOOM!!!
Brocky roared.
"WARRIOR'S FIST!"
The Armament Haki fully formed—jet black, imperfect, raw—but real. Brocky poured everything into that final punch. Pride. Pain. Belief.
The blow shattered Jork's guard.
The impact detonated like a cannon.
Jork's armored body was sent flying, crashing through multiple buildings before slamming into the far end of the district. His haki shattered, fur singed, armor cracked.
Silence followed.
Brocky stood there, chest heaving, arm still blackened—then the haki faded.
He dropped to one knee.
Breathing hard.
"…So this… is it…"
In the distance, Jork lay unconscious.
Defeated.
Brocky laughed weakly.
"Heh… guess I didn't fall your hand after all… old man."
Above them, unseen—
The sea churned.
And the escort ship drew closer to Kexzaz.
The storm was far from over.