Chapter 28: Enlightenment
At the lord's mansion, Gawain took Guanze Masamune from Gaza.
Although it was the first time he held the handle of the sword, the feeling from it still made him so excited that his arms couldn't help but tremble.
It is a wonderful feeling of blood connection, extremely mysterious and difficult to describe in words.
Clang!
As Gawain exerted force with his hands, the silver-white blade slowly came out of the sheath.
The length of the blade alone is over 1.2 meters, and including the handle, the overall length is about 1.5 meters.
The style of Guanze Masamune is obviously different from the usual sword at Wano Country in Gawain's impression.
There are not too many complicated sword patterns on the blade, only a chrysanthemum-shaped mark carved on the blade guard. However, the simpler the appearance, the more people can feel the sharpness of the blade.
"Nice sword!"
Gawain gave a heartfelt compliment.
Jasmine beside him raised her chin slightly, revealing a look of sympathy:
"Of course. This is the sword that the lord spent more than half a year of tax to obtain."
"Even if it is placed on the Grand Line, it is an absolute masterpiece!"
"Snort!"
Gawain smiled faintly.
He didn't know if it was fate or the spirit of the sword, but at this moment, he and the Guanze Masamune in his hand actually felt a sense of mutual understanding.
"You're eager too, right?"
"To drink the blood of my enemies!"
Gawain spoke in a firm tone, raised his hand, and swung the sword; without exerting much force, he released a silver light flying slash that sank into a small building in the distance.
Then, under the frightened eyes of the two girls, the upper part of the small building slowly slid down, revealing a cut as smooth as a mirror.
Boom!
Gawain suppressed his excitement and looked at the two girls while speaking.
"You guys find a place to hide first and leave the fighting to me."
After saying this, Gawain disappeared from the lord's mansion.
When Gaza saw this scene, she inexplicably felt more confident. Now, she had placed all her hopes on Gawain and could only win and not lose.
After sending Jasmine into the cellar, Gaza gritted her teeth and locked the cellar with her backhand. She ignored Jasmine's anxious call and walked out of the city lord's mansion with a determined look in her eyes.
This is her territory, and those within it are her people.
Having enjoyed power and money, she should protect the people who once respected them in times of crisis.
"Everyone, follow me out of the mansion and organize a rescue!"
"Understood!"
… … …
After leaving the lord's mansion, Gawain accelerated all the way and headed towards the harbor, where the fighting was most intense.
Visible to the naked eye, on the sea in the distance, a whole row of pirate ships armed to the teeth were gradually approaching.
With Gawain's eyesight, he could even see the strangely shaped flag of the Krieg Pirates.
A skull and crossbones flag with hourglasses on either side.
Gawain vaguely remembered that the meaning of this flag was, no matter where you go, I will find you!
A powerful enemy is at hand.
Gawain, who held an authentic Great Grade Blades in his hand, did not feel the slightest fear in his heart. Instead, he felt a vague sense of inexplicable anxiety.
He was worried that there were too few opponents and they would fall down before he could even make a move.
Anxious that the enemy is too weak, the Guanze Masamune has not come out, but the enemy has already laid down, and then he has to wait for the next meal, which may come at an unknown time.
"You must hold on a little longer!"
A sinister smile appeared on Gawain's lips, but his footsteps suddenly stopped the next moment, crushing the floor beneath his feet.
Just because a familiar system prompt sound appeared in Gawain's mind: "Kuro realizes his true self!"
"Potential Improve: Bronze -> Silver!"
"Awaken: Observation-Haki! Current level: 0 (0/100)!"
…
"This is!!!"
"His potential has been broken through? He even awakened his Observation-Haki?"
Gawain looked shocked: "What on earth has happened to Kuro?"
The sudden change is no longer a surprise but a shock.
He still remembered that he had only mentioned it to Kuro at the beginning and actually had no hope for him to awaken Observation-Haki.
But it's only been a few days?
Has he already awakened the Observation-Haki?
Awakening the Observation-Haki before entering the Grand Line was truly a pleasant surprise.
Even though the level was not high, Gawain had the system. With every little progress Kuro made, he could gain ten times as much. In a few months, he could reach a level sufficient for actual combat!
"The stronger my subordinates are, the stronger I am. When my subordinates awaken their abilities, I can also awaken them!"
"The system's capabilities are even more exaggerated than I expected!"
Besides, awakening the Observation-Haki is only secondary. What is more important is to understand one's own nature so as to enhance one's own potential.
It can even make him leap from Bronze to Silver level.
You should know that in the system's division, Silver covers the levels from Commander to Vice-Admiral rank at the Marines, as well as a small number of the seven warlords of the sea.
Such combat power would be well-known even in the New World.
It can be said that once Kuro fully realizes his potential, he can be regarded as a core combat force in any force.
Originally, in Gawain's speculation, there were only two ways to improve potential: Devil fruit and human body transformation, but now it might require an additional change in mentality.
Gawain realized it only now.
Haki is essentially an extremely idealistic power.
The stronger the belief, the stronger the Haki. Conversely, if the belief collapses, the Haki will decline to a terrifying level in a short period of time.
Crocodile is the most typical example.
When he was young, he made great progress and made his way to the New World. His fighting power was comparable to Douglas Bullet. However, he was defeated miserably by Whitebeard, and his strength plummeted.
The core problem was the decline of his Haki.
Twenty years later, after he walked out of Impel Down and regained his belief in becoming the King of the Pirates, he was able to fight against top pirates like Hawk Eyes.
"However, given his strength breakthrough, I'm afraid he won't be able to sit still given his temper."
A smile appeared on Gawain's lips, then a disdainful look appeared on his face.
My growth rate is ten times faster than yours. Even if you work so hard that you vomit blood, you still have to call me captain!
Shaking his head to dispel the distracting thoughts in his mind, Gawain tightly grasped the Guanze Masamune in his hand, accelerated at his pace, and in just a few dozen seconds, he crossed a distance of nearly a thousand meters and arrived at the harbor.
The scene inside made him slightly stunned.
The setting sun had left only a ray of light, making the sky look even more red but not as red as the blood all over the harbor.
Kuro was covered in blood while standing in the harbor.
One of his arms was twisted like a pretzel, and one leg was completely deformed. It was obvious that he was at the end of his rope and on the verge of reaching his limit.
But his spirit and momentum were unprecedentedly high at this moment, so much so that Gawain frowned slightly when he saw it.
In front of Kuro, Gin had already fallen into a pool of blood; his skin and flesh were rolled up and covered with scars.
If it weren't for his chest still rising and falling, Gawain would have thought he was dead.
"Gawain, you're too slow."
Kuro raised his trembling hand and subconsciously used his palm to push up his glasses. It took him several attempts before he succeeded.
The Cat Claws on his hand were completely broken due to the countless collisions just now, and his fingers were all blue and purple.
Despite being seriously injured, Kuro's tone was exceptionally calm:
"An easy life?"
"I don't want it anymore."
"When I recover from my injury, I will be the captain."
"I will take the position of Warlord, and I will fulfill our agreement!"
Gawain expression showed an as-expected look.
"Okay, but you have to get past me first."
"I will!"