Lord Mansion
Gawain accepted Seikō Masamune from Grayza.
Although it was his first time gripping the hilt, the sensation that surged through the blade sent such a thrill through his arms that they trembled involuntarily.
It was an indescribable feeling—like a blood-bound connection, mysterious and profound.
Clang!
With a light pull, the silver-white blade slid smoothly from its sheath.
The blade alone measured over 1.2 meters, and with the hilt, the total length reached approximately 1.5 meters.
Its design resembled more of a wild sword—unconventional, unwieldy for most, yet perfectly suited to Gawain's towering frame of over two meters.
Seikō Masamune clearly deviated from the traditional aesthetics of Japanese swords that Gawain had seen in his memories.
It bore no ornate blade patterns; only the hilt was etched with a chrysanthemum-like emblem. Yet, this simplicity radiated an unmistakable aura of lethal sharpness.
"What a magnificent sword," Gawain said, his voice full of awe.
Standing beside him, Jasmine raised her chin slightly, her expression one of mild pride.
"Of course. The Lord spent more than half a year and countless Baileys acquiring it from the master of Isshin Dojo," she said.
"Even on the Grand Line, it would be considered a masterpiece!"
Hmm~
Gawain smirked faintly.
Whether it was destiny or the sword's spirit, at this moment, he felt an uncanny resonance with Seikō Masamune.
"You're eager too, aren't you?"
"To drink the blood of our enemies!"
With those words, Gawain raised the blade and swung it. Without exerting much strength, he unleashed a silver arc of energy—a flying slash that sliced into a small building in the distance.
Then, to the astonishment of the two women, the upper half of the structure slowly slid off, revealing a flawless, mirror-like cut.
Boom!
The structure collapsed. Dust clouded the air, and the blade let out a low hum.
Suppressing his excitement, Gawain turned to the two women.
"Find somewhere safe to hide. Leave the fighting to me."
In a flash, he vanished from the mansion.
Seeing this, Grayza felt a surge of hope. All her confidence now rested on Gawain. There was no room for failure.
After ushering Jasmine into the cellar, Grayza gritted her teeth and locked the entrance behind her, ignoring Jasmine's panicked cries.
Her eyes were resolute as she turned and left the mansion.
This was her city. These were her people.
She had lived in luxury and authority. Now, she had to protect those who once looked up to her.
"Captain of the Guard! Follow me. We're organizing a rescue effort!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
…
After leaving the lord's mansion, Gawain raced toward the port—where the battle raged most fiercely.
He could see them clearly.
Across the distant sea, a line of heavily armed pirate ships approached steadily. Even from afar, Gawain's sharp vision picked out their flag—a grotesque skull flanked by hourglasses.
Krieg's banner.
Gawain recalled its meaning: No matter where you run, I will find you.
A dangerous foe was drawing near.
And yet, holding Seikō Masamune, Gawain felt no fear. Instead, there was a troubling thought gnawing at him.
What if they're too weak? What if they die too quickly?
What if this sword doesn't even get a proper taste of battle before it ends?
"Try to hold out a little longer," he muttered, a grim smile curling at his lips.
Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, shattering the tiles beneath his feet.
A familiar system prompt rang out in his mind:
"Crew member Kuro has realized his true heart!"
"Potential increased: Bronze → Silver!"
"Observation Haki awakened! Current level – LV-0!"
"What?!"
"A potential breakthrough? He even awakened Observation Haki?!"
Gawain was stunned.
What did Kuro go through?
He still remembered casually mentioning it to Kuro earlier, never expecting him to actually awaken Haki—let alone so soon.
Just a few days!
And Kuro had already awakened Observation Haki?
To do so before even entering the Grand Line—what a pleasant surprise!
Even if it was only Level 0, with the system's support, every step Kuro took would be amplified tenfold for Gawain. In just a few months, he could reach levels sufficient for actual combat!
"The stronger my crew, the stronger I become. Their breakthroughs fuel mine."
"This system… it's even more absurd than I imagined."
But even more important than the Haki itself was the realization of one's true heart—an inner clarity that boosted potential.
From Bronze to Silver—an extraordinary leap.
Within the system's hierarchy, "Silver" corresponded to combat power ranging from Navy Headquarters Brigadier Generals to Vice Admirals, even some members of the Shichibukai.
Such strength would earn recognition even in the New World.
If Kuro could fully realize that potential, he would become the cornerstone of any force.
Until now, Gawain had believed there were only two ways to enhance potential—devil fruits or human body modifications. But now, a new method had emerged: mental transformation.
And suddenly, it clicked.
Haki—the force that rivaled devil fruits—was, in essence, an idealist power in the pirate world.
The stronger one's conviction, the stronger their Haki.
The moment that conviction faltered, Haki would crumble just as swiftly.
Crocodile was a prime example.
In his youth, he charged into the New World, matching even Barrett in strength. But after suffering defeat at Whitebeard's hands, his confidence shattered—and his Haki collapsed with it.
Yet it was the same Crocodile.
Years later, he escaped Impel Down, reignited his dream of becoming Pirate King, and once again stood toe-to-toe with top-tier fighters like Dracule Mihawk.
"But with this new power… I doubt Kuro will remain still."
Gawain chuckled.
He looked down with a calm expression.
My growth rate is ten times yours. No matter how hard you work, even if you cough up blood—I'm still your captain.
With a shake of the head to clear his thoughts, Gawain gripped Seikō Masamune tighter, accelerated, and covered nearly a kilometer in mere seconds to reach the port.
What he saw left him momentarily speechless.
The setting sun cast a deep red hue across the sky, but it wasn't as red as the blood that soaked the harbor.
Kuro stood at the center, drenched in blood.
One arm twisted grotesquely, a leg completely mangled—he was at the brink of collapse.
Yet his spirit burned brighter than ever. Even Gawain couldn't help but frown at the sight.
Before Kuro lay Gin, collapsed in a pool of blood, his body torn and battered, riddled with wounds.
If not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, Gawain would've thought him dead.
"Gawain… you're late," Kuro said, raising a trembling hand.
With great effort, he pushed his shattered glasses back into place. His claw-knife had been destroyed by the relentless combat, and his fingers were bruised and bloodied.
Despite the severity of his injuries, Kuro's voice was calm:
"Easy life?"
"I don't want it."
"Once I recover… make me captain."
"I'll claim the Shichibukai title—and fulfill our deal!"
Gawain smiled, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Alright. But you'll have to get past me first."
"I will."