Chapter 12: A Method to Increase the Odds of Awakening Conqueror's Haki
At first, Newgate felt a bit annoyed by this new companion's challenge. This wasn't the kind of companions and family he wanted.
But after hearing what Akane said, he finally felt somewhat comforted.
At least there was still someone worth valuing and befriending.
Listening to their conversation, Newgate more or less understood the rules on this ship.
The strong rule.
As long as you're strong enough, you don't even have to put Rocks in your eyes.
"I accept your challenge, big fish-man."
Newgate spoke calmly. This catfish fish-man was even larger than him in size. He wanted to see how much strength he really had.
Now there was no need to worry about Uharu's feelings. Newgate wanted to see how far he could grow.
"Ba-haha! Now that's refreshing!"
Babel grinned broadly, his attitude toward Newgate improving a lot.
If you want status on this ship, you carve out a path in blood and prove it with strength.
"Wororororo! I also welcome you all to challenge me too. My hands are itching!"
Rocks D. Xebec laughed wildly and even shot Akane a deliberate look.[1]
He had to make this little brat who could foresee the future truly understand the cruelty of these seas, and the rule that strength was everything.
Akane was always thinking about Devil Fruit abilities and things like feelings and bonds. That wouldn't take you far in this world.
Only strength mattered.
Sanbel watched the big brothers' sharp back-and-forth and felt a little nervous inside.
Among the official crewmates here, he was the weakest.
If Akane, the chief strategist, hadn't spoken up, he probably wouldn't have been allowed aboard at all.
Rocks had originally wanted him to be a trainee crewman. It was Big Brother Akane who made him an official crewmate.
But if he wanted to become an officer like Boss Babel, he still needed to get stronger, until he earned Captain Rocks' recognition.
"If your hands are itching, go find Harald. Only a powerhouse on your level can make you stronger."
"And later, test your advanced Haki on those immortal monsters of the God's Knights."
"Figure out advanced Conqueror's coating that can completely destroy immortality."
"Don't end up unable to kill even a single God's Knight or one of the Five Elders."
Akane looked at the arrogant Rocks and reminded him.
If Rocks couldn't even kill the God's Knights and the Five Elders, then it would be even more impossible to kill Imu.
"Harald. That guy really is strong. I'm going to pull him into the crew!"
"Immortal monsters or not, I don't believe they can't be killed!"
Rocks stared at Akane gloomily. This little brat loved talking back and taking jabs at him.
Looks like beating Akane daily really was the correct choice.
But with Akane's reminders, he would definitely become stronger in the future, avoid disaster, and eventually topple Imu.
"What are the God's Knights? And what's this 'immortal body' about?"
Newgate listened to Rocks and Akane, eyes full of confusion. Even Babel and Sanbel looked blank.
They had seen the title "Five Elders," the world's highest authority, in newspapers.
"Then I'll explain the World Government's real power structure properly."
"Above the Five Elders, the world's highest authority, there's also a hidden King of the World behind the curtain. That thing is also the absolute ruler of the Celestial Dragons."
"Even the Five Elders are only Its lackeys. They have to kneel when they meet the King of the World."
"And the God's Knights are elites selected from among the Celestial Dragons, each one possessing great strength."
"The captain of the God's Knights is also a candidate for the Five Elders. If one of the Five Elders dies, the captain of the God's Knights becomes the new Elder."
"Whether Five Elders or God's Knights, the King of the World uses Devil Fruit abilities to grant them immortal bodies."
"Only advanced Conqueror's coating can truly kill them."
"Of course, maybe throwing them into the sea could also have a chance of killing them."
"That is the eight-hundred-year foundation of the Celestial Dragons' rule over the World Government."
"Well? After hearing about these immortal monsters, do you feel even a bit afraid?"
Akane finished in a low voice and looked at them with interest.
"So it's immortality granted by Devil Fruit abilities. I thought they were literally impossible to kill."
"Advanced coating. Throw them into the sea. As long as they can be killed, that's enough."
There wasn't much fear left in Newgate's eyes. He was extremely good at the method of sending people into the sea.
Maybe that was why the Five Elders and the God's Knights wouldn't want to provoke this future Emperor, whose Tremor power could casually trigger tsunamis.
"What is advanced coating anyway?"
Babel heard another new term. He had never heard of anything like that on Fish-Man Island.
He could use Armament coating, though.
Sure enough, only after leaving Fish-Man Island did you realize how vast this world was, and how full of unknowns it remained.
"Wororororo! Only people who awaken Conqueror's Haki are qualified to learn Conqueror's coating."
"How many people with the potential of a king go their whole lives without ever mastering Conqueror's coating!"
"Once you master it, you gain the top-tier combat power that can kill a Navy admiral."
"And advanced Conqueror's coating is further control and development beyond normal Conqueror's coating."
"So yeah, compared to me, you're still a whole sea away!"
Rocks grinned widely. Even within the Davy clan, no one besides him had mastered Conqueror's coating.
He was the greatest genius the Davy clan had produced in eight hundred years.
He had awakened Conqueror's Haki, mastered Conqueror's coating, and even trained it to a higher realm.
That confidence was exactly why he dared to exploit the Reverie, climb into the Holy Land Mary Geoise, and fight his way to Imu's face.
But he had still underestimated that old monster's terrifying strength.
If he could have won, then that day the world would already have changed owners.
"You have to awaken Conqueror's Haki before you can use Conqueror's coating?"
Babel's face darkened. He didn't have the qualities of a king, which meant he was fated to have nothing to do with this strongest power.
Then only the method of throwing them into the sea might give him a chance to kill those Five Elders and God's Knights.
"Conqueror's Haki…"
A sharp light flickered through Newgate's eyes. He had to master that power, or he could never become a monster like Rocks.
"Wororororo! Newgate has the qualities of a king. I can already feel his spirit."
"Maybe he only needs a single trigger to awaken Conqueror's Haki."
Rocks valued Newgate's talent greatly and had already decided this would be his right-hand man.
"Damn it…"
Babel felt resentful that he lacked this inborn quality. Why did he have to be born a whole step below Rocks and Newgate?
"Heh, Babel, don't lose heart. Awakening Conqueror's Haki is extremely a matter of mindset, and it mainly depends on what you experience later."
"It's not that you awaken Conqueror's Haki because you have kingly potential."
"It's that once you awaken Conqueror's Haki, people say you have kingly potential."
"I have a method that increases the probability of awakening Conqueror's Haki. Who wants to hear it?"
Seeing Babel's unwilling expression, Akane suddenly smiled.
In that instant, not only Babel and Sanbel, but even Newgate and Rocks all looked toward Akane together.
"Really, Chief Strategist!"
Babel blurted out excitedly, like a child who had grabbed a lifesaving straw, so thrilled he almost wanted to call Akane vice-captain.
And Rocks' face was full of disbelief. Even the Davy clan's thousand-year inheritance had never heard of such a method.