Conqueror's Haki—coating!!!
Though it was still exceedingly faint, in order to let Luffy and Zoro see the truth of this path as clearly as possible—to make them understand how they should advance in the future—
Hawkeye made an exception.
Here in the seemingly insignificant East Blue, he unleashed a combat technique that only top-tier powerhouses ever used!!!
In that instant, the world seemed to dim.
A vast slash, radiating as the only light left in this world, descended abruptly upon Luffy and Zoro.
"AAAAH—!!!"
Without any surprise, the two were instantly blasted away by the terrifying strike, sent flying straight into the sea.
"Sanji, hurry and save them!!!"
Red, who had witnessed everything, immediately shouted to Sanji, who was standing nearby completely dumbstruck.
At the same time, Red re-entered the game world and began administering rapid emergency treatment to the two of them.
Although Hawkeye had held back at the very last moment, even so, for Luffy and Zoro in their current state, that attack had been nothing less than a world-class slash—one mistake away from costing them their lives.
BOOM!!!
The blazing slash that had skimmed past Luffy and Zoro shot straight into the sky, detonating high above.
A tremendous shockwave swept across the heavens and seas—the ocean churned violently, the clouds were wiped away completely!!!
Splash.
With no time to marvel at the spectacle, Sanji dove straight into the water.
Minutes later, he surfaced at last, hauling Zoro in one hand and Luffy in the other, their heads breaking through the waves.
Under Red's treatment, their bodies were now free of serious injury.
But the shock of Hawkeye's strike had utterly shaken their hearts, leaving them unable to regain their composure.
On the raging sea, Hawkeye had already returned to his coffin-boat.
Using the power of the waves, he quietly departed the waters—just as he had arrived.
Yet as he turned his head in passing, his gaze fell upon Red at the railing of the Going Merry, manipulating the sea to assist Sanji's rescue.
"Power that can control seawater… and recovery abilities like a god reforging time itself…"
"This young pirate crew truly hides dragons and tigers~!"
"The seas of the future are finally going to become interesting."
Hawkeye murmured softly to himself, his boat drifting away until he vanished from the region.
Meanwhile, aboard the Going Merry—
"Phew~ ah… I really thought I was gonna die!"
Soaked from head to toe, Luffy stuck out his tongue and sprawled across the deck like a drowned dog, completely unwilling to move.
Zoro knelt on one knee beside him, leaning on the sheathed Wado Ichimonji.
Although Red had fully restored his stamina, the shock to his spirit still left his heart in turmoil, his breathing heavy and ragged.
That slash that seemed to cleave heaven and earth alike…
That pressure capable of forcing even the sky to retreat…
"So this… is the strongest power in the world?" Zoro muttered in awe.
Nearby, Sanji—still drenched—stood upright at the railing, maintaining his usual composed air.
He slowly opened a brand-new pack of cigarettes and placed one between his lips, but with his lighter soaked through, he tried several times without success.
Finally giving up, he turned his eyes toward Zoro.
"So… is that your goal?"
"Yeah…" Zoro responded after a brief pause. For some reason, he had never liked this perverted cook all that much.
But since Luffy and Red had brought him aboard as a new companion—and considering Sanji had just jumped into the sea to save him—Zoro didn't let his irritation show.
His gaze hardened as he replied seriously, "That's right."
As he spoke, he abruptly stood up, lifting Wado Ichimonji and staring toward the direction Hawkeye had departed.
"Someday, I'll defeat him completely with this very blade!"
Sanji's eyes trembled slightly. At long last, he managed to light his cigarette, exhaling a stream of smoke.
"Is that really… possible?"
"Against a monster like that?"
"Huh? What kind of nonsense are you spouting!?"
Zoro spun around in astonishment, glaring at Sanji with utter disbelief.
His expression seemed to say, If you don't even have this kind of resolve, how dare you step onto this ship?!
He turned away sharply, re-securing Wado Ichimonji at his waist and walking toward the training area.
After a few steps, he stopped, gave a slight nod without turning back, and said,
"If your ambition isn't big enough, I suggest you leave this ship sooner rather than later."
"It'll be better for everyone."
"What did you say, you bastard!?"
Sanji exploded in anger at Zoro's sudden provocation.
But Zoro only curled his lips into a lazy grin, wearing an arrogant expression that clearly said I'm not even worth arguing with you.
"Hmph."
With that, he strode forward and walked away alone.
"Hey! You damned moss-head! Explain yourself!" Sanji shouted after him.
Seeing that he was about to charge forward and start a full-blown real-life brawl, Red suddenly popped up and blocked Sanji's path.
"Alright, alright~"
"Since Hawkeye's gone, it's time for us to set sail!"
"Sanji, go say goodbye to the Baratie."
"…."
Red's words instantly extinguished the anger burning in Sanji's chest.
He slowly turned his gaze back toward the Baratie.
As if by tacit understanding, Zeff and the other chefs were all looking back as well.
But unlike their reluctance at parting earlier, now their eyes were filled with nothing but shock.
Only Zeff himself looked marginally more composed.
Who could have imagined that such a ridiculous pirate crew would appear in the East Blue!?
Even though Luffy and Zoro had been completely suppressed by Hawkeye—
Even though from start to finish they had only managed to slightly damage his clothing—
It still couldn't change the fact that Luffy and Zoro possessed strength capable of shaking the East Blue itself.
And then there was the way they had come countless times to the brink of death, only to recover completely again and again, as if by miracle.
Such methods had already made Zeff realize—
"Sanji really did board one hell of a ship."
Thus, under the mutual gaze of farewell, the Going Merry slowly departed the Baratie, setting course for the next destination—
Nami's hometown: Cocoyasi Village.
To be honest, after witnessing the battle between Hawkeye and Luffy and Zoro, Nami had begun to care less and less about the Arlong Pirates.
In her eyes, the fate of that group of fish-men was already sealed.
Compared to that, she now had something far more important to focus on!
…
…
On the boundless sea.
Not long after leaving the Baratie, Nami came alone to the area beside the helm, near what was known as the "Usopp Factory."
"Usopp, can't you increase the output of the Clima-Tact any more?!"
"I've already mastered Thunderbolt—I can release enormous electrical energy in an instant. But the Clima-Tact's hot and cold bubbles are still way too slow!"
"Well… about that…"
Looking at the Clima-Tact in Nami's hands—freshly completed only days ago, yet already being looked down upon—Usopp scratched his head awkwardly.
Truth be told, he completely understood how she felt.
After all, he himself was currently experimenting with upgraded versions of the Buggy Bomb.
After seeing battles at that level, no one wanted to stay stagnant and become dead weight among their companions.
Everyone was finding their own way to grow stronger.
But as the saying went, even the cleverest cook can't work without ingredients.
With the materials currently on hand—and given the size constraints of the Clima-Tact—this version was already the best Usopp could make.
After thinking for a moment, he hesitantly said,
"Skill-wise, that's not the problem. With my techniques, I can build even extremely precise devices."
"The real issue is…"
"There just aren't any better materials on those merchant ships."
"If we could find materials that contain more energy, I might be able to upgrade the Clima-Tact."
"Or maybe…"
Usopp suddenly paused.
Nami immediately leaned forward expectantly.
"Maybe what?"
Usopp looked up.
"Those kinds of materials might be nearly impossible to find in the East Blue."
"How about asking Red? See if he has any ideas."
"After all, his world is so magical—there might be a solution!"
(End of Chapter)