As Whitebeard Newgate shattered the air with a quake, the familiar sight sent a shiver through Brook. The guy had reached that level?
The visual impact of triggering tsunamis with raw vibrations was one thing, but shattering space itself to unleash a tsunami? That was a whole new tier. And had Newgate's Conqueror's Haki just spiked to another level?
That faint black-red lightning around his fist—could it be Conqueror's Haki Coiling?
No way. Absolutely no way! There's no chance he mastered it that fast. It's only been a day or two since he got it. What is he, Luffy, the main character?!
It's probably just the black-red sparks of a normal Conqueror's Haki burst, right?
Brook frowned as he watched his crew get carried away in the heat of battle. Had he set a bad example?
...
Sensing Newgate's overpowering Conqueror's Haki, Redfield turned, his pride flaring. He unleashed his own Conqueror's Haki, countering Newgate's indiscriminate pressure. No way was the haughty Redfield letting another officer outshine him!
If he didn't get stronger, how could he push Captain Brook to the top? How could he slaughter the Celestial Dragons to the last?
Ignoring the two battered enemies at his feet, Redfield poured everything into matching Newgate's Haki intensity. Seeing Redfield dismiss them, Grimm Vane and Sax Vey bolted toward the dense forest behind the town.
Charlotte Linlin's opponents, Rocket Jonas and the giantess Jennifer, had already fled into the woods. Most of the enemy's elite pirates had been wiped out by Brook's crew, devoured by their relentless onslaught.
Linlin, who'd been hunting down elite pirates, snapped out of her frenzy as the clashing Conqueror's Haki hit her. Feeling the vast soul power coursing through her, she lost track of how many pirates she'd crushed.
She glanced nervously at Brook. Brook always warned her against reckless killing, and she remembered his words. Luckily, he hadn't noticed her slip-up, and she breathed a small sigh of relief.
Following Brook's gaze, she saw Newgate radiating Conqueror's Haki. Its overwhelming force calmed the Hell Pirates, pulling them back from their bloodlust.
...
Seeing his officers flee, Skal scurried after them. He couldn't hold out long against so many powerhouses. As for Sandy, already crippled by Newgate, Skal abandoned him without a second thought.
Golden Lion Shiki, spotting Newgate and Redfield flexing their Conqueror's Haki in a showdown, gave up chasing Skal. No way was he sitting this out! He joined the Haki clash, his own aura surging.
Why was Newgate's Devil Fruit and Conqueror's Haki suddenly so strong? Shiki was the hardest worker, always charging into battle headfirst. So why was he the one getting battered?
The more Shiki thought about it, the angrier he got. His Conqueror's Haki flared, showing signs of growth!
"Linlin, let loose your Conqueror's Haki! Join in and sharpen it!" Brook called out.
Seeing his crew's competitive spirit—Redfield and Shiki spurred by Newgate's display, their Haki strengthening after the battle's catharsis—Brook seized the moment.
Linlin unleashed her Conqueror's Haki at Brook's command. Sure, she wasn't in danger, so it was hard to tap into that explosive potential. But clashing Haki like this? It could only make her stronger.
"Gurarara! Everyone's back to normal—perfect!"
Newgate's booming laugh shook the air, laced with the power of the Quake-Quake Fruit. His crew was back, their savage edge dulled.
"Newgate, what the hell?!" Shiki snapped. "Didn't you see I was this close to crushing Skal?!"
He was pissed. Newgate's reckless Haki burst had thrown him off. Just a bit longer, and he could've taken down the wounded Skal, especially with his ace up his sleeve—a Shirokiri Blood Crystal Dandelion.
Now, Newgate had beaten Sandy, and his bounty was sure to soar past Shiki's.
Talk about planting flowers and getting weeds instead! Shiki, obsessed with boosting his bounty, kept coming up short, while Newgate, who barely cared, stole the spotlight.
"Gurarara, I just saw everyone getting lost in the slaughter and wanted to snap 'em out of it!"
Newgate grinned, relieved. He didn't want his crew turning into the Rocks Pirates—cold, cutthroat, and void of camaraderie.
"Tch! What pirate doesn't kill?" Shiki shot back. "I'm gonna rule the New World, help Brook unite it, and topple the World Government to make him King of the World!"
Shiki refused to let Newgate—or even Redfield—outshine him. That's why he'd challenged Shirokiri and Skal, desperate to jack up his bounty.
"Newgate, I'm not letting you snag the Hell Pirates' number-two spot!"
Redfield's Conqueror's Haki surged, nearly matching Newgate's. Shiki's jaw dropped. Were these two cheating or what?
Everyone's showing off, and I'm the one taking hits? Shiki fumed.
He pushed his Haki harder, but it still fell short of Newgate and Redfield's intensity.
When Linlin joined the clash, Shiki found some comfort—at least someone's Haki was weaker than his!
...
"Yohohoho! With Rocks not here yet, I'll give my Conqueror's Haki a spin too!"
Brook's sudden declaration stunned the four fighters. Since when did Captain Brook awaken Conqueror's Haki?
His ghostly blue eyes faded to black, and the icy Revive-Revive Fruit aura gave way to a fleshy hue.
"Don't blink!"
Brook's pupils narrowed, and a titanic aura erupted. The ground trembled, buildings cracked, and even trees splintered under the pressure.
"Th-this…" Shiki froze.
"That's the same aura from that mysterious powerhouse in Ohara!" Newgate muttered, puzzled.
"Brook, it was you?!" Redfield shouted, thrilled. His idol never ceased to amaze.
"You lied to us,! So naughty—but I love it! I adore how strong you've gotten!" Linlin squealed, her eyes sparkling.
"Feel the weight of my Conqueror's Haki!"
Brook unleashed his full power, joining the Haki clash. The four fighters' faces tightened as they resisted, using the pressure to hone their own Haki.
...
A warning crackled from Silva, the sniper aboard the Golden Ark:
"Rocks is closing in from the northwest! He'll hit the island in under an hour!"
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+300 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg