Cracking It! Scholar's Authority!

The villagers' hostility tormented Momonga, making it impossible to deceive itself and dispense justice upon Lowett.

But Smoker's scolding woke it up.

They knew that these dark forces still walked the path of upholding justice.

Thinking of the past Smoker, who was like an overly aggressive punk, Momonga didn't feel ashamed at all; instead, it felt deeply pleased.

The great sea ultimately belonged to the young; each generation had its own wave riders.

Smoker's realization allowed Momonga to finally catch a hint of freshness in the rotten, stale air of the East Blue.

Therefore, it absolutely could not let him perish here!

Momonga made up its mind.

What did it matter if it bore the infamy of thousands and was not understood? As long as hope remained, nothing was over.

Moreover, Smoker wasn't finished yet!

Swish... rustle!

Grit rolled off its clothes. Smoker slowly got up, gripped its jutte, and asked, "What kind of ability is this?"

"Magic!"

Lowett planted his staff on the ground, his left and right hands overlapping.

"Black magic, undead magic, evil sorcery, call it whatever you want."

Lowett had never shied away from revealing the existence of magic to the true core of this world: the World Government.

For one thing, it was impossible to keep secret; magic was too unique. The pride of being a titled Great Mage also wouldn't allow him to hide like other novel protagonists.

At the same time...

Since the direction of the illegal immigration experiment back then was correct, he was determined to continue.

Even if he couldn't find the answer to the ultimate mystery, he had to find his origin.

That would require a lot of resources...

"Magic?"

Smoker scoffed, "You don't seem to know about Devil Fruits?"

It regarded Lowett as a native of the lowest rung of the East Blue.

In the East Blue, Devil Fruits were legendary items, rarely seen throughout the entire region.

Including Luffy, Smoker, and Buggy, none of their Devil Fruits were obtained in the East Blue.

"..."

Hearing this, Lowett's face twitched.

Damn it, this felt worse than Arlong.

While both were telling the truth, Arlong, that fool, believed it quickly. But Smoker, who had access to Navy intelligence and believed it understood countless secrets of the world, firmly believed this was an unknown fruit ability.

[The day we personally slew the gods we once worshipped, I began to ponder: Is the magic we now consider truth merely another form of superstition and worship?]

Recalling this admonitory quote left by the first leader of the Ten Saints, engraved on the wall of the Ten Saints' council, Lowett sighed.

"It's all the same!"

"Oh well..."

It sighed, put away its staff, tucked it under its arm, and smiled faintly.

"Then I'll prove it to you, what the difference is between magic and Devil Fruits."

It's really magic?

Smoker's eyelids twitched.

Anyone who could say that clearly knew about Devil Fruits.

But why did it insist on "magic"?

It didn't look like a cult leader either.

"I have a feeling you're thinking something disrespectful..."

Lowett narrowed its eyes, and its soul aura suppressed forward.

Buzz!!

A soul pressure, tens of times vaster than that of ordinary people, surged forward. From hundreds of meters away, the soldiers immediately began to breathe heavily, their pupils dilating. Unlike the oppressive feeling of Conqueror's Haki, soul-level suppression only produced an instinct called "fear."

In the eyes of ordinary people, Lowett instantly transformed into an invisible, inaudible monstrous beast. The world turned gray, and their tiny selves kept falling before it, plunging into the abyss.

"Conqueror's Haki?!"

"...No, it's not! This power..."

Momonga's eyes were filled with shock.

"I feel like I'm facing BIG·MOM,"

Smoker's eyes deepened as he felt the fear welling up from the bottom of his heart. He pushed off the yellow sand with his feet, refusing to back down.

"Oh? Then I shall... await your efforts!"

As his voice fell, Smoker shot forward, turning into a black line as he rapidly closed the distance.

White Gale!

At the same time, he swung his arms, his left fist clenched and his right hand gripping his baton. White smoke extended his arms like two whips, unleashing a storm of attacks.

Bang bang bang bang!!

"You're dreaming?!"

Without any command from Lowett, the Ghost Bone Shield automatically floated in front of him to block the attacks, emitting dull thuds.

'I take people's money to solve their problems.'

As summoned creatures specifically crafted by Emperor Haisan to form contracts with Necromancers, their fate would be dire if they took payment and did no work.

"Annoying bones!"

Smoker's eyes were grave. The sturdiness of the shield exceeded his expectations. Though it appeared to be made of white bone, it was harder than steel.

All his attacks were blocked, and he couldn't break through for the time being.

"But my objective has been achieved!"

The torrential, dense attacks suddenly ceased. Smoker spread his hands outward, biting down on his cigar.

"White Gale!"

Pfft...

A hissing sound was heard. Smoker's arms instantly turned into clouds of mist, and white smoke continuously surged from his shoulders, engulfing everything.

This smoke was different from the solid White Fist; it was like rising steam, expanding in large masses in all directions.

This was his strongest killing move yet, White Gale!

It utilized the dispersing properties of smoke itself to create an area of white mist that was almost impossible to breach.

It looked harmless, but this smoke was a part of him. He could solidify it again at any time to restrain his opponent, or even suffocate them!

"So that's how it is. Using the chaotic barrage to confuse my vision, while actually closing the distance so I have nowhere to hide."

At some point, Smoker had gotten within ten meters of Lowett.

At such a distance, the white mist instantly covered the entire port. With the ocean behind him, Lowett had nowhere to dodge.

If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.

With his keen sixth sense, he could clearly discern the faint threats emanating from all around, forming a perfect net.

"Interesting idea, but... what about yourself?"

Unexpectedly, there was no panic in Lowett's eyes, nor did he rush to leave the area.

A faint smile played on his lips as he looked up at Smoker and asked softly.

"To release the smoke, you yourself shouldn't be able to move freely."

"If someone were to strike you at this moment, the consequences would be dire, wouldn't they?"

"You don't need to worry about that. Try it if you can..."

Smoker's expression remained unchanged.

Lowett could hurt him, but the effect wouldn't be significant.

Before he exhausted his strength, he was confident he could subdue Lowett.

This was the confidence that Elementalization gave him!

"Surrender! Black Count!"

In response, Lowett shook his head and said softly.

"Do you know how many steps it takes for Armament Haki to touch a Logia elementalized body?"

He knew Haki too?!

Smoker gasped, a sense of unease creeping in.

Lowett ignored him and continued speaking as if to himself.

"Three!"

"One, your body erupts with Haki power; two, you control the Haki with your will to form armor; three, you touch."

From a distance, Momonga frowned.

"Impossible! His physical condition shouldn't allow him to master Armament Haki!!"

As one of the top powerhouses on the sea, he was absolutely confident in his judgment.

While Lowett's knowledge of Haki's existence was surprising, it was still understandable. The World Government hadn't issued a gag order preventing Haki from spreading to the Four Blues.

But it was impossible for him to master Haki, let alone Armament Haki, which required extremely high physical fitness!

In fact, he guessed correctly.

It was just that Lowett didn't intend to talk about that.

"Haki originates from the body, the body represents vitality, and control originates from the will, the will represents spiritual power."

Something called "Scholar's Authority" shone brightly in Lowett's eyes.

He clamped his cane with his severed left arm and raised two fingers on his right hand.

"Regardless of the specific repulsive reaction between Armament Haki and Logia, the fact that it can be done proves one thing."

He retracted his middle finger, his eyes piercing through everything, containing stars.

Looking at Smoker in front of him, whose muscles were so taut that his cigar was crushed, he said confidently.

"As long as it's an energy convergence that integrates both vitality and spiritual power, it can touch the Logia!!"

This was a process of reverse deduction!

As soon as the words fell, the sense of crisis surged instantly.

Smoker's pupils constricted, and he controlled the smoke.

"Constrict!!"

Whoosh!

The drifting white smoke instantly solidified, appearing out of thin air and turning into white vines that suddenly appeared under Lowett's armpits and around his thighs.

Then they tightened violently.

Creak...!

Lowett's limbs and torso were instantly entangled tightly, unable to move, and he was suspended in mid-air.

But he remained unmoved, his eyes as calm as an ancient well, looking at Smoker.

"You are already dead."

Whoosh!!

Blood seeped from the skin on his face, and a drop of blood protruded from his skin, which Lowett shot out.

Flesh Magic · Blood Cone Technique!

This was a half-star spell, and it was only considered half-star because of the extra effort required for the casting materials. Its true power could be imagined.

Yet, with such a minor spell, Smoker's sense of crisis surged.

"I'm going to die!!!"

He wanted to dodge, but as soon as he moved his feet, he realized that his hands were still connected to the entire area of white smoke that was restraining Lowett, and he couldn't dodge at all.

The smoke, created to annihilate the enemy, had now become his own death knell!

"Not good!"

Was this also part of your plan, Lowett?!

He suddenly looked up, and the blood cone magnified in his pupils.

Smoker's body recoiled, and blood sprayed from his forehead, dyeing his white hair tips red.

"Captain!!"

Heavenly Slash!!!

Boom!!

The next moment, a terrifying sword energy that defied description tore through the ground and shot straight towards the port, plowing a deep沟壑 in the ground.

The instant the white smoke dissipated, Lowett had no time to think. Using the inertia of his fall, he slammed his cane onto the ground, unleashing almost all of his spiritual power.

Necro-realm Summon · Shield of the Bone Mountain Dragon!

A giant horned shield with spiraling horns sprang from the shadows on the ground and blocked in front of Lowett just before the sword energy hit.

Crack!

But the next second, this ferocious shield, which had appeared for less than a second, let out a mournful cry of being unable to bear the burden. Cracks spread from the inside out, seeping through the shield's surface...

Then, with a "boom," it shattered into pieces.

Chii...!

The terrifying sword energy continued its momentum, tearing through the port and the ocean. It was like a child playing with a branch, leaving a concave mark hundreds of meters long before finally dissipating.

Seeing Smoker being hit, Momonga, that terrifying Vice Admiral from Marine Headquarters, resolutely chose to act!

With a single move, he stunned the entire scene!

Thanks to the book friend ~Seeing You~ for the 2000 reward, thank you for your support!

Also, thanks to all the book friends who persisted in voting for recommendation tickets. This is likely related to the recommendation schedule, so please don't stop!

Additionally, I have corrected a major loophole in Chapter 24. One hundred million, followed by eight zeros after the one. I admit I was being silly.