Silence.
Oppressive, suffocating silence.
Smoker gripped his Seastone jitte with both hands, the confident expression he had worn just moments ago still frozen on his face—
But the instant Ryukawa's wooden sword became wrapped in that black layer of Armament Haki, that confidence shattered.
In Smoker's understanding, Logia-type Devil Fruit users were blessed by nature itself.
That advantage was the very foundation of his survival in the East Blue.
It was also the reason he had risen to prominence in Loguetown, earning the infamous nickname "Mad Dog" among pirates.
Logia powers meant near-invincibility.
Logia powers meant dominance.
Thanks to the Smoke-Smoke Fruit, Smoker had always been able to stand undefeated—even when facing enemies stronger than himself.
Because this was the East Blue.
The weakest sea.
In this sea, encountering someone capable of Armament Haki was practically unheard of.
As for Seastone weapons?
A joke.
Seastone was absurdly rare. Ordinary people could never obtain it, let alone wield it as a weapon.
If Smoker hadn't been a student of Zephyr, he would never have been granted a Seastone jitte in the first place.
That was why—
Before this moment, Smoker had believed the battle was already decided.
Even if his opponent was terrifying, as a Logia, he held the absolute advantage.
Until—
He saw it.
The change in Ryukawa's sword.
In that instant, Smoker could no longer remain calm.
His eyes widened violently, his confidence evaporating as shock and disbelief flooded his face. His pupils shrank as he stared at the sword in Ryukawa's hand.
"T-This… this is—?!"
His body stiffened.
The scene before him was so unbelievable that even Smoker—known for his iron will—felt his mind reel, wondering if he had fallen into some kind of illusion.
But no.
This was real.
He stared, unblinking.
At some point, Ryukawa's wooden sword had undergone a complete transformation.
A black, armor-like coating covered it completely—like a knight donning dark steel plate armor straight out of legend.
The blade radiated cold, razor-sharp pressure.
A terrifying presence spread outward, flooding the entire hall.
Smoker was shaken to his core.
His confidence was torn apart without mercy.
A wooden sword—
Now resembled blackened steel, hard, indestructible, and brimming with lethal intent.
The sword aura alone made the air feel heavy.
A crushing pressure slammed into Smoker's body, freezing him in place, every cell screaming as if being squeezed by an invisible force.
"This… this is impossible!"
"This makes no sense!"
"Conqueror's Haki was already absurd enough—"
"But this kid… he actually also possesses—"
"Armament Haki?!"
Smoker's throat went dry.
A chill ran from his spine straight to the top of his head, goosebumps erupting across his skin.
This was terrifying.
Everything he had experienced today overturned his understanding of the world.
Conqueror's Haki alone was already shocking.
But now—
This monster could skillfully wield Armament Haki as well?
This was the East Blue!
The weakest sea!
Why—how—could he encounter someone who possessed both Conqueror's and Armament Haki here?!
Smoker's memories stirred.
Zephyr's teachings echoed clearly in his mind.
"Armament Haki manifests like armor, coating the body or weapons."
"It drastically enhances attack and defense."
"And most importantly—"
"It allows one to strike the true body of a Logia user."
Armament Haki.
The natural enemy of Logia types.
Even without Seastone, Armament Haki alone was enough to deal devastating damage to Logia users.
Which meant—
The moment Ryukawa revealed his Armament Haki—
Smoker's greatest advantage vanished completely.
Before someone who could wield Armament Haki, the so-called supremacy of Logia users crumbled instantly.
"My Logia… no longer gives me any advantage against him…"
Smoker's mind spiraled.
"How is this possible…?"
"This has to be wrong!"
"Am I mistaken?"
"Or is the world broken?"
Someone—anyone—explain this to him.
Why, in the East Blue—
Had he encountered a monster who possessed not only Conqueror's Haki, but also Armament Haki?
This defied all logic.
In all his years stationed in Loguetown, Smoker had never faced an existence this terrifying.
One that made fear rise from the depths of his soul.
"A boy… with Conqueror's and Armament Haki?"
"How did he even train?!"
"Even in the Grand Line, monsters like this shouldn't exist!"
"Did he start cultivating from the womb?!"
"He's just a teenager!"
Smoker's thoughts were smashed into chaos.
And then, a terrifying realization struck him.
If Ryukawa possessed both Conqueror's and Armament Haki—
Then there was a high chance he had already mastered the third as well.
"Don't tell me…"
"He's mastered all three forms of Haki…?"
Smoker swallowed hard, his gaze locked onto Ryukawa, unable to look away.
Unthinkable.
Even with Smoker's experience, his worldview was on the verge of collapse.
"Just… what kind of monster is he?"
He took an involuntary step back, his face pale, nerves stretched to the breaking point.
Moments ago, he had been certain of victory.
Now—
The moment he saw that black-coated blade—
Smoker's mentality collapsed completely.
Because he understood all too well what it meant to face an enemy who wielded Armament Haki.
Especially one this proficient.
At the edge of the hall, the marine lieutenant and the remaining soldiers stared at Smoker's back in confusion.
They could clearly sense it—
Smoker's emotions were violently fluctuating.
"What's happening…?"
The lieutenant whispered, voice trembling.
"Captain Smoker… he looks scared?"
Impossible.
He was a Logia user!
How could Smoker feel fear?
Then—
"Look!"
"The sword—that kid's sword!"
They noticed it at last.
The wooden sword was no longer wood.
It looked like solid black metal.
"A black… coating?"
"What kind of ability is that?"
Most of them were completely lost.
Only the lieutenant hesitated, recalling something he had once heard.
"There are monsters on the sea who can coat their weapons with an invisible armor…"
"It enhances durability and attack power…"
"And more importantly…"
"It allows them to strike Logia users directly."
"That power is called—"
"Armament Haki."
The words fell like thunder.
Silence engulfed the room.
Every marine stared at Ryukawa—and at the blackened blade in his hand.
"Oh damn…"
"We just stumbled onto something insane…"
Could it be—
This was truly Armament Haki?
The legendary power specifically meant to counter Logia users?
Now they understood.
Why Smoker was afraid.
Why his confidence had shattered.
Because this time—
He hadn't just met a strong enemy.
He had encountered a true monster.
A monster who wielded Conqueror's Haki.
A monster who wielded Armament Haki.
And possibly—
All three forms of Haki.
Which led to a single, terrifying question that echoed in every mind present—
Just who in the world is this monster?!
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