Gion, Recruitment Successful!

"The strongest Conqueror's Haki in the world!"

Gion repeated Sengoku's words in disbelief.

"Are you sure something like this actually exists?!"

"There's no need to consider whether it should exist or not; it has already appeared!

Whether it was Mary Geoise this morning or Marineford today, following Saint Gawain's actions, nobody can evaluate or question his Haki anymore!"

Sengoku answered Gion's question through clenched teeth, then violently clenched his right fist into the empty air.

Immediately, Sengoku's Conqueror's Haki poured out in full force, crashing all the way toward Gawain until it stopped just a dozen meters away from Gawain's front.

Unlike the previous scenario where Gawain unleashed his Conqueror's Haki alone, right now, the collision between these two streams of Conqueror's Haki—Gawain's and Sengoku's—made Gawain's Conqueror's Haki grow increasingly active.

Black and red lightning quickly gathered, and the power of Gawain's Conqueror's Haki increased to an immeasurable degree during the clash with Sengoku's Haki.

The window-like azure sky was continuously torn apart by the collision of Gawain and Sengoku's Conqueror's Haki, the circular gap gradually turning oval and then completely transforming into the likeness of a rift valley.

The sea at the soles of Gawain's feet also grew increasingly frantic, waves surging and constantly slamming against the shores of Marine Headquarters, wave after wave, and in just a few dozen seconds, the newest crests actually billowed to a height of twenty to thirty meters!

Facing the increasingly violent Haki, Gion took a deep look at Sengoku. This Marine admiral, who had barely been able to match Gawain just a moment ago, was now finding it difficult to even maintain his basic Conqueror's Haki.

Splash!

Sengoku's Conqueror's Haki completely receded, while Gawain's Conqueror's Haki seized the opportunity to bring yet another round of Haki baptism to Marineford!

Taking two steps back, Sengoku took a deep breath.

"Saint Gawain's Conqueror's Haki is way too overpowered!

If we're only comparing Conqueror's Haki, I am simply no match for him!"

"Indeed!"

Beside Sengoku, Chaton sighed with emotion.

"If we don't consider this a clash of Conqueror's Haki, then I'd only need a single dash to make Saint Gawain feel enough pain.

But, heh, we can't possibly make a move against a Celestial Dragon!"

As his voice fell, Chaton swallowed hard with excitement. Gawain's Conqueror's Haki even reignited the urge to slaughter in him, a seasoned veteran.

Yet, a brief thought of Gawain's identity killed any urge to fight; Chaton felt almost like kneeling on the spot.

That was a Celestial Dragon! A World Noble whose slight injury could lead to the complete destruction of an island or even a country!

Yet right now, a Celestial Dragon and the Marines were actually standing in direct opposition...

My goodness!

To be honest, no matter how powerful Gawain's Conqueror's Haki was, it could never cause any real trouble for Sengoku and the others. Rare though it might be, Conqueror's Haki was ultimately just one of many powers.

Compared to Gawain's Haki, which possessed a solid foundation but lacked skill, whether it was the Rokushiki and dual-colored Haki mastered by the vice admirals, or the Devil Fruit abilities and swordsmanship specially excelled in by Sengoku and Gion, their sheer physical constitutions and powers were far stronger than Gawain's sole reliance on Conqueror's Haki.

The crucial point, however, was that no matter what abilities they possessed, the Marines had no possibility of executing them—they could not make a move against a Celestial Dragon!

And relying solely on Sengoku's Conqueror's Haki, they were completely unable to contend with Gawain!

Just like that, Gawain's Conqueror's Haki persisted for a full two minutes before showing slight signs of weakening!

By this point, watching Gawain bobbing up and down on the ocean waves thanks to his Haki, Gion finally made up her mind.

She took a deep look at Sengoku, then gripped the Supreme Grade Sword Kompira in her hand and took a resolute step forward.

"Saint Gawain!"

Gion frowned tightly and shouted in a deep voice.

"I am willing to accept your invitation, so please stop releasing your Conqueror's Haki!"

Accompanied by Gion's declaration, Sengoku by the side let out a lingering sigh. Sighing, he looked helplessly up at the sky.

In the end, he had failed to protect one of the Marines' most powerful younger generation from the hands of a Celestial Dragon!

Nearby, on the shattered sea surface, when Gawain heard Gion's voice, his Conqueror's Haki quickly vanished.

The scene instantly turned calm and breezy, and the vice admirals could no longer feel any pressure or tension.

Seeing that Gawain had put away his Haki, Gion let out a heavy breath. She took two steps forward and walked straight toward Gawain.

"Saint Gawain, I admit that at the very beginning, I wasn't willing to spend my time upholding justice on you!

But facts have proven that I truly underestimated you!"

As her words fell, Gion stepped out of the shattered dock, slowly treading through the air, stepping on the empty space until she reached a position less than two meters in front of Gawain.

With one hand resting on her Kompira sword, Gion said heavily to Gawain.

"If it were merely to guard a World Noble, there are far too many people in the Marines more suitable than me.

But as for guarding the wielder of the strongest Conqueror's Haki in this world..."

Saying this, Gion extended her right hand, her palm stopping just in front of Gawain's chest.

Looking at the slender palm within arm's reach, Gawain reached out and firmly grasped Gion's wrist.

At the same time, Gion continued.

"To possess such astonishing Conqueror's Haki, what kind of great ideals are you harboring in your heart? I am truly curious.

Whether it was Rocks, whom Garp faced in the past, or Red-Haired Shanks, who became one of the Four Emperors in the New World a year ago—even those powerhouses who stirred up an era never displayed such terrifying and unimaginable resolve!

Compared to them, your Conqueror's Haki is even superior. I have already begun to look forward to the future that you are destined to bring to the seas once you gradually grow stronger!"

As her voice fell, Gion nodded heavily at Gawain.

As for Gawain...

Along with the act of withdrawing his Conqueror's Haki, he could no longer rely on it to stand upon the sea surface.

With a splash, his two legs sank straight into the water, but at the same time, by grabbing hold of Gion's hand, he avoided the possibility of plunging entirely into the ocean.

Gion pulled Gawain up, hauling him out from the surface of the sea, and then used Geppo, bringing Gawain back to the vicinity of the remaining dockyard.

The moment she landed, Gion let go of Gawain's hand and expressionlessly turned her head to the side.

Gawain looked left and right, then gently shook his soaked legs.

Feeling the sensation of his shoes being completely filled with water, Gawain first let out a chuckle, then shrugged with satisfaction and spoke softly to Gion.

I'm truly pathetic without using Haki. If it weren't for you, it wouldn't just be my pants that got soaked, haha.

"Why would you think that?"

Hearing Gawain's words, Gion lazily rested her hand back on the hilt of the Kompira and said.

"The last person to unleash their Conqueror's Haki to their heart's content at Marine Headquarters was Shiki. Although he ended up in Impel Down, the fact that he once used his Conqueror's Haki to intimidate hundreds of thousands of marines is already deeply engraved in the heart of every single one of us.

And now, compared to Shiki, your Conqueror's Haki wasn't just unleashed to your heart's content in Marineford—even Admiral Sengoku couldn't rely on a direct clash of Conqueror's Haki to make you retreat.

Although your body..."

Gion's right hand grasped Gawain's arm. She gave it a gentle squeeze, feeling Gawain's muscles.

Gion took a deep breath.

"That's right, your body is just like an ordinary person's, and your physical constitution is even inferior to an ordinary person's. Yet even someone like you has already become number one in the world when it comes to Conqueror's Haki.

Clearly, being merely the best in the world at Conqueror's Haki is far from satisfying you. And yet, you—the one who forced us to take a step back—actually still think you have anything to do with the word 'pathetic'?"

With those words, without waiting for Gawain's reply, Gion very naturally walked behind Gawain and stood at attention.

Looking at Gion, who had completely accepted her destiny as his guard, Gawain discarded his previous arrogance and smiled anew.

"Am I not pathetic?"

Gawain said with a light smile.

"Perhaps I haven't mentioned it, but before I even arrived at Marineford, I had already decided that you would be the one by my side.

You weren't a choice made after repeated proposals; from the very beginning, you were my only choice."

Gawain continued with a profound expression.

"Celestial Dragons, heha.

This sea indeed holds no status nobler than that of a Celestial Dragon, but even so, there are still too many things a Celestial Dragon cannot do.

Or rather, precisely because I am a Celestial Dragon, there are too many things I want to do that I am unable to accomplish.

Take right now, for instance. The one whose allegiance you have won isn't simply me as a Celestial Dragon; if I didn't possess Conqueror's Haki, would you have chosen to take orders and follow me like this, Gion?"

"Wait!"

Gion suddenly froze, and with unconcealed shock, she asked Gawain.

"Saint Gawain, didn't you say that I only needed to fulfill the role of your guard while you tour this ocean?

Then what was that about allegiance just now, or winning anything, or following and the like...?!

Are you serious?!!"