"System, add points!"
[Ding!]
[100,000 Justice Points consumed. Armament Haki upgraded to Top-Tier (Admiral level)!]
[100,000 Justice Points consumed. Observation Haki upgraded to Top-Tier (Admiral level)!]
[100,000 Justice Points consumed. Martial Arts · Fist upgraded to Top-Tier (Admiral level)!]
"Boom——"
An invisible shockwave burst out, centered on Hawke, and swept across the entire platform.
Hawke slowly closed his eyes, quietly feeling the changes within his body.
The world, in his perception, was completely reconstructed.
Observation Haki was no longer just about prediction and listening.
He could see the path of every speck of dust in the air, hear the accelerated heartbeats of every soldier below stirred by excitement, and even...
Sense the dense, almost tangible resentment and madness suppressed for decades deep within this steel prison.
Armament Haki was no longer merely a black shell covering the body.
That power had sunk down, compressed, and transformed into an obsidian torrent flowing through his limbs and bones.
It fused seamlessly with his flesh, his skeleton, down to every cell.
As for fist techniques—they had returned to their purest form!
No longer bound by any fixed style, every breath, every movement, carried ultimate destructive and penetrating force.
This was the power of Top-Tier in all four dimensions!
Hawke opened his eyes, his deep gaze calm as the abyss.
Once again, he looked at the system panel.
[Rayne Hawke]
[Marine G-3 Branch Commander and simultaneously Headquarters Rear Admiral]
[Observation Haki: Top-Tier (Headquarters Admiral level)]
[Armament Haki: Top-Tier (Headquarters Admiral level)]
[Physique: Top-Tier (Headquarters Admiral level)]
[Martial Arts · Fist: Top-Tier (Headquarters Admiral level)]
[Conqueror's Haki: Advanced]
[Remaining Justice Points: 83,520]
[Remaining Survival Days: 3650]
"Still not enough."
Hawke knew well that he was still missing one thing before truly becoming a Top-Tier powerhouse... Conqueror's Haki infusion!
But that... required Conqueror's Haki to reach Top-Tier, which meant a million Justice Points.
Before that, he would first integrate and master the power he had just obtained.
"..."
Hawke's gaze crossed over the layers of hell below and fixed on the deepest depths of this prison.
Level 6—Eternal Hell!
He would go there, find a worthy opponent, and fight to his heart's content!
He leapt down from the platform.
"Commanders, assemble!"
His low voice carried clearly into every ear.
Zoro, Sanji, Robin, Nami, Hibari, and Kujaku—who had been carrying out their respective assignments—froze in unison.
Soon, six figures converged from different directions and stood in a row before Hawke, expressions solemn.
Hawke looked to Nami and Robin.
"Level 3—leave that to the soldiers to continue training."
"Robin, Nami, you'll handle support and coordination. Don't forget to hone your own strength as well."
"Yes!"
Nami and Robin exchanged a glance and nodded seriously.
Hawke turned his gaze to Hibari and Kujaku.
"Level 4,."
"That will be your trial ground."
"Understood!"
Finally, Hawke's eyes fell on Zoro and Sanji.
The two of them looked at him with burning anticipation, their fighting spirit practically overflowing.
At last—it was their turn to take action!
"You two..."
"First, you're coming with me to Eternal Hell."
"And then..."
"Level 5, Freezing Hell—you'll clear it out."
"!!!"
"Yes!"
Zoro and Sanji's pupils shrank sharply, then were immediately overwhelmed by ecstasy and excitement.
Level 6!
Eternal Hell!
After a week here, they had come to fully understand the structure of Impel Down.
The legendary pirates imprisoned in Eternal Hell weren't people they could even dream of touching right now.
But if Hawke was bringing them along, it could only mean one thing—he wanted them to witness firsthand how a Top-Tier powerhouse fought!
"Step—"
Hawke turned, leading Zoro and Sanji toward the elevator that descended deeper.
Once the three figures vanished completely, a huge head sneakily poked out from the corner near the toilets.
Magellan.
He just couldn't put his mind at ease about Hannyabal, so he secretly slipped out to check the situation.
"Where's Hannyabal?"
He asked in a low voice to a Marine soldier standing guard nearby.
The soldier immediately saluted.
"Warden Magellan, Vice Warden Hannyabal... he's over there!"
The soldier raised his hand, pointing toward a chaotic battlefield not far away.
There, a figure was brandishing a long naginata, movements broad and powerful, charging fearlessly into a group of freshly released pirates.
That man was wearing a brand-new G-3 Branch Marine uniform, tailored to fit snugly, making his posture look especially upright.
"Wait... upright?"
Magellan's eyes focused, and his whole body froze.
That man swinging the naginata, face firm, movements even somewhat agile...
That was Hannyabal?!
No...
You...
It's one thing to be wearing a Marine uniform...
But you actually—succeeded in losing weight?!!!
...
East Blue.
"It's all your fault! You damned Straw Hat brat!"
On the boundless sea, a shabby little boat drifted aimlessly.
Buggy shouted furiously at Luffy,
"If it weren't for you, how would I be in such a miserable state?!"
His clown makeup was already ruined by sweat and dirt, making him look both ridiculous and pitiful.
Luffy lay sprawled out, stomach growling, "I'm so hungry!"
"You're just too weak, Red Nose!"
"I told you not to call me Red Nose!"
"Oh, okay, Red Nose!"
"You bastard!!!"
The two of them had been fleeing nonstop. Though they escaped by luck each time, their stamina and energy had hit their limits.
"Buzz——!"
Behind them, the sound of Marine patrol ships rang out once again.
"They've caught up again! Run!"
Buggy was scared out of his wits, grabbing an oar and paddling desperately.
Luffy, however, lay unmoving in the boat, completely done.
"Not running."
He weakly waved his hand, his voice full of grievance. "So tired, so hungry. This isn't fun at all."
Not going well!
Everything was going horribly wrong!
For the first time, Luffy began to doubt the word "adventure."
In his imagination, setting out to sea meant sailing a grand ship, facing the wind, eating meat to his heart's content, and making ten or so fun companions!
Not being chased like a stray dog, unable to even eat a full meal!
"You idiot! Do you want to die?!"
"The Marines are here! They're really here!"
Buggy's face went pale with terror at the sound growing ever closer.
Glancing at the motionless Luffy, he gritted his teeth and decided to paddle away alone.
"Damn Straw Hat! Damn Marines! Damn East Blue!"
He cursed while rowing with all his strength.
Just then, a shadow covered the sea.
Buggy instinctively looked up—and his mouth dropped into an "O" shape.
A dog-headed battleship descended slowly from the clouds, landing firmly on the sea.
"Luffy! You rotten brat, you made your grandpa work hard to find you!"
A thunderous roar burst forth from the battleship.
A robust figure clad in a Marine officer's uniform and draped with a Justice cape stood at the bow, hands on hips.
The Hero of the Marines, Monkey D. Garp!
He looked at the limp Luffy lying on the little boat and grinned wide, flashing a row of white teeth.
"Puhahahaha—"
Then he leapt high into the sky.
"!!!"
"That's... Vice Admiral Garp?!"
From afar, the Marine Captain pursuing them also spotted Garp's figure.
Why was Vice Admiral Garp in East Blue?
Wait!
Wait!!!
That posture...
The Vice Admiral was going all out?!!!
"All ships, evade immediately!"
The Captain's voice shrieked with urgency.
The patrol ships immediately turned about, fleeing the waters at full speed.
"Fist—"
Garp's voice resounded like it came from the heavens.
"Impact!!!"