Hollowfication Power

While eating a donut, Garp laughed and said, "Don't worry, Haku. With us watching, you'll..."

Suddenly, Garp stood right where he was and fell inexplicably asleep!

Haku was already quite used to this kind of scene, having after all seen the sight of Garp and Luffy both suddenly falling asleep right in the middle of a beating.

Haku glanced at Sengoku, as if to say, Look how utterly unreliable this man is!

Haku reached out his hand, and the Hollow Mask manifested in his palm. Everyone looked curiously at the bone-like mask in Haku's hand, not understanding how Haku had conjured up such a thing.

Without a moment's hesitation, Haku placed the Hollow Mask in his hand directly onto his own face!

At that moment, the entire world seemed to freeze, and everyone's gaze focused upon Haku, waiting for what was about to happen.

A fierce aura and a deep crimson light burst forth from Haku's body, an aura brimming with evil, violence, and a desire for destruction!

Sengoku and the just-now-sleeping Garp both snapped instantly to alertness. Right beside them, Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru suddenly appeared, faintly surrounding the seemingly hyper-dangerous Haku.

As for Haku himself, he felt as though his body had formed a wondrous connection with the Hollow Mask—a sensation he had never experienced before. He felt his power being gradually unleashed under the guidance of the mask, his gaze growing sharper and his body becoming far more agile.

He felt as though he had transformed into a ferocious beast, ready at any moment to leap upon anyone who dared challenge him.

Is this the power of the Hollow Mask? Haku asked himself inwardly.

He felt his thinking become clearer and his decision-making far more resolute. He felt as though he had somehow become the master of this world, with everything under his absolute control.

Only, before Haku could dwell on it further, Garp's face suddenly closed in until it was practically touching his own. Accustomed as he was to being disciplined by the man's so-called 'Fist of Love', Haku—who had felt utterly fearless upon putting on the Hollow Mask—shivered violently down to his core!

He rapidly increased the distance between them and cursed, "old man! Getting this close, you trying to scare someone to death?!"

Yet Haku's voice had grown unusually deep and hoarse, causing everyone present to feel a wave of discomfort.

Garp laughed heartily, "Still that same familiar flavor. Looks like this brat's mind hasn't undergone any changes at all."

Hearing Garp put it that way, Haku suddenly recalled that his personality really was, just as Garp said, pretty much unchanged. It seemed nothing particularly major had happened to it?

At that moment, Sengoku spoke up, "Haku, you said this is a new power you researched, so how is your strength right now?"

Haku fell briefly into deep thought, and after taking a look at Akainu standing before him, he said, "Right now, my strength should be able to casually thrash a few Sakazuki admirals."

Aokiji muttered inwardly: This brat's mouth is still just as venomous!

"You stinky brat!" Akainu roared loudly, never expecting that this fellow Haku would use him for comparison. It left him boiling with irritation!

Haku said with an innocent air, "Hey! Don't doubt it, just watch this move of mine."

With that, Haku drew his Zanpakuto and pointed it toward the open sea, pouring the entirety of his Hollowfication Power into the tip of the blade.

A Cero brimming with destructive power shot forth from Haku's hand!

BOOM!

Everyone's vision was instantly blinded by the brilliance of the Cero, and by the time their sight recovered, the crowd stood with their jaws agape, at a loss for how to describe their feelings.

Out on the ocean just outside Marineford, the spot struck by Haku's Cero had been hollowed out of a massive chunk! The area must have been about half the size of a normal island, and the surrounding seawater was currently pouring endlessly into the empty void.

Kizaru exaggeratedly remarked, "This brat is truly terrifying!"

As for Akainu, upon seeing this kind of attack, he fell entirely silent.

Observing the state of the distant ocean, Aokiji hurried away toward the port area to prevent a massive tsunami from occurring!

Meanwhile, Haku himself collapsed onto the ground, completely exhausted. Using this ability for the first time, Haku had failed to control it properly, and his entire reserves of strength had been nearly drained dry in one go!

Watching the half-dead Haku lying on the ground and panting desperately, Sengoku muttered a thought to himself: Looks like this brat can only use this kind of power once! What a relief!

After resting for a long while, Haku finally struggled to his feet from the ground.

Yet just as he stood up, Haku's gaze suddenly caught the spot where Momousagi was standing not far away! For some unknown reason, the moment he saw Momousagi's appearance, Haku felt his heart begin to hammer wildly against his ribs.

Before Sengoku and Garp could even react, Haku's figure suddenly vanished right from where he stood!

Sengoku: ???

Garp: ???

The next instant, Haku appeared abruptly right before Momousagi. In his eyes, Momousagi was beautiful and mystical, resembling a celestial maiden beneath the moonlight.

Momousagi was startled by Haku's sudden appearance, letting out a gasp of surprise as she instinctively took a step back.

Haku looked at Momousagi's flustered appearance, and a wave of emotion he had never known before abruptly surged into his heart. He wanted to protect her; he wanted to make her feel safe.

"Momousagi, are you alright?" Haku's voice was deep and gentle, his gaze filled with concern and affection. Yet since he was still wearing the Hollow Mask, his voice remained deep and hoarse, slightly marring the beauty of the moment!

Yet Momousagi found herself growing somewhat shy under Haku's gaze. Even though Haku's eyes had turned entirely black on account of the Hollow Mask, Momousagi somehow still seemed to discern something within them! She lowered her head, not daring to meet Haku's eyes.

"I... I'm fine." Momousagi's voice trembled slightly, her heart filled with bewilderment and shyness.

Her bewilderment stemmed from the fact that Haku had never acted like this when seeing her before; her shyness came from the reality that Haku's gaze was simply too scorching, leaving her no choice but to blush.

Haku watched Momousagi's demeanor, abruptly feeling his heartbeat accelerate as his chest swelled with deep feelings for Momousagi.

"Gion, I like you." Haku's voice was deep and resolute, his gaze brimming with fondness and love for Momousagi.

"What?! You can't like—" The first to react was Vice Admiral Chaton, who naturally was also pursuing Momousagi and had confessed his love to her well over a hundred times for that very reason.

Yet before he could finish speaking, Haku cast an icy, murderous glare at the person daring to obstruct him!

Chaton looked into Haku's lethal gaze, then thought back to that Cero the fellow had just unleashed. In the end, he capitulated and said no more, sensing that Haku's current state was deeply abnormal. His intuition told him that if he dared say another word, Haku would genuinely attack him!

As for Momousagi, she was startled by Haku's words, raising her head to gaze into Haku's eyes with a heart full of astonishment and confusion.