Gion, Recruitment Successful!

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

Gion repeated Sengoku's words in disbelief.

"Are you sure something like that should even exist?!"

"There's no need to consider whether it should or shouldn't. It has already appeared!

Whether it was Mary Geoise this morning or Marineford now, with Saint Gawain's actions, no one could possibly evaluate or question his Haki anymore!"

Sengoku gritted his teeth as he answered Gion's question, then viciously clenched his right fist in the air.

At once, Sengoku's Conqueror's Haki surged forth in full force, crashing toward Gawain until it finally came to a stop barely a dozen meters in front of him.

This was unlike the previous situation, where Gawain alone had unleashed his Conqueror's Haki.

At this moment, the clash between Gawain's and Sengoku's Conqueror's Haki made Gawain's Haki grow even more active.

Black-red lightning rapidly gathered. As Gawain's Haki clashed with Sengoku's, its power rose by an immeasurable degree.

The clear blue patch in the sky was continuously torn apart by the collision of their Conqueror's Haki. The circular opening gradually became oval-shaped before eventually turning into a rift.

The sea beneath Gawain's feet also grew increasingly violent. Waves crashed endlessly against the shores of Marine Headquarters, one after another. In just a few dozen seconds, the newest wave crests had already risen twenty or thirty meters high!

Facing the increasingly violent Haki, Gion gave Sengoku a deep look. The Marine Fleet Admiral, who had barely been able to contend with Gawain just moments ago, was now struggling even to maintain his most basic Conqueror's Haki.

Crash!

Sengoku's Conqueror's Haki retreated completely, while Gawain's seized the opportunity to bring another wave of Haki cleansing to Marineford!

Sengoku took two steps back and drew a deep breath.

"Saint Gawain's Conqueror's Haki is absurdly beyond the limit!

If we compare Conqueror's Haki alone, I'm no match for him at all!"

"That's right!"

At Sengoku's side, Chaton sighed in amazement.

"If this weren't a clash of Conqueror's Haki, I'd only need one charge to make Saint Gawain feel plenty of pain.

But, heh, we can't lay a hand on a Celestial Dragon!"

As his words fell, Chaton swallowed excitedly. Gawain's Conqueror's Haki had reignited the old veteran's desire for battle.

But the moment he considered Gawain's identity, forget the urge to fight—Chaton practically wanted to kneel on the spot.

That was a Celestial Dragon, a World Noble whose slightest injury could lead to the complete destruction of an island, or even an entire nation!

And now, a Celestial Dragon and the Marines were actually standing against one another...

This was insane!!!

To be honest, no matter how powerful Gawain's Conqueror's Haki was, it could never truly cause Sengoku and the others any trouble. Conqueror's Haki might be rare, but it was still merely one kind of power among many.

Compared to Gawain's solid but unpracticed Conqueror's Haki—

Whether it was the Rokushiki and Two-Color Haki mastered by the vice admirals, or the Devil Fruit abilities and swordsmanship that Sengoku, Gion, and the others excelled in—

Their physical strength and raw power were far greater than Gawain's sole Conqueror's Haki.

But the key was that, no matter what abilities the Marines possessed, they had no way to use them. They could not attack a Celestial Dragon!

And relying on Sengoku's Conqueror's Haki alone, they were completely incapable of contending with Gawain!

Just like that, Gawain's Conqueror's Haki continued for more than two full minutes before finally showing faint signs of weakening!

By then, Gion looked at Gawain, who was bobbing atop the waves through the force of his Haki, and finally made up her mind.

She gave Sengoku a deep look, then tightly gripped the Supreme Grade Sword Kompira in her hand and resolutely stepped forward.

"Saint Gawain!"

Gion furrowed her brows and shouted.

"I am willing to accept your invitation. Please stop releasing your Conqueror's Haki!"

At Gion's declaration, Sengoku let out a long sigh. As he sighed, he helplessly looked toward the sky.

In the end, he had failed to protect one of the Marines' strongest younger talents from the hands of the Celestial Dragons!

Nearby, above the shattered sea, Gawain's Conqueror's Haki rapidly vanished after he heard Gion's voice.

For a moment, the skies were clear and the breeze was gentle. The vice admirals no longer felt any pressure or tension.

Seeing Gawain withdraw his Conqueror's Haki, Gion exhaled heavily. She took two steps forward and walked straight toward him.

"Saint Gawain, I admit that at first, I was unwilling to spend the time I should have devoted to justice on you!

But the truth has proven that I truly underestimated you!"

As her words fell, Gion walked step by step beyond the shattered docks. She slowly stepped into the air, using Geppo to reach a spot less than two meters in front of Gawain.

With one hand resting on the hilt of her great sword Kompira, Gion spoke heavily to Gawain.

"If it were only a matter of guarding a World Noble, there are countless people in the Marines more suitable than me.

But if it is to guard the possessor of the strongest Conqueror's Haki in this world..."

At this point, Gion extended her right hand, her palm stopping before Gawain's chest.

Looking at the slender hand so close to him, Gawain reached out and firmly seized Gion's wrist.

At the same time, Gion continued.

"To possess such astonishing Conqueror's Haki, what kind of great ideal do you carry within you? I am truly curious.

Whether it was Rocks, whom Vice Admiral Garp faced back then, or Red-Haired Shanks, who became the Fourth Emperor of the New World just a year ago, even those powerful figures who stirred an entire era had never displayed such terrifying and unimaginable spirit!

Compared to them, your Conqueror's Haki is even greater. I am already looking forward to the future you are destined to bring to these seas once you grow stronger!"

As her words ended, Gion gave Gawain a heavy nod.

And Gawain...

With his Conqueror's Haki withdrawn, he could no longer stand atop the sea by relying on it.

With a splash, both his legs plunged straight into the water. Yet at the same time, because he had grabbed Gion's hand, he avoided falling completely into the sea.

Gion pulled Gawain up from the water, then used Geppo to bring him back near the remaining docks.

The instant they landed, Gion released Gawain's hand and expressionlessly turned her head aside.

Gawain looked around, then lightly shook his soaked legs.

Feeling his shoes filled with water, Gawain first chuckled, then shrugged in satisfaction and quietly said to Gion.

"I really am a mess without Conqueror's Haki. If not for you, it wouldn't just be my pants getting wet. Haha."

"Why would you think that?"

Hearing Gawain's words, Gion lazily rested her hand on Kompira's hilt again and said,

"The last person to freely unleash Conqueror's Haki at Marine Headquarters was Shiki. Though he entered Impel Down, the fact that he once used his Conqueror's Haki to intimidate hundreds of thousands of Marines has long been etched into the hearts of every Marine.

And now, compared to Shiki, not only have you freely unleashed your Conqueror's Haki at Marineford, but even Fleet Admiral Sengoku could not make you retreat through a direct collision of Conqueror's Haki alone.

Although your body..."

Gion's right hand seized Gawain's arm. After lightly pinching it and feeling his muscles—

Gion took a deep breath.

"That's right. Your body is just like that of an ordinary person. In fact, your physique is even worse than an ordinary person's. Yet even so, you have already become the strongest in the world when it comes to Conqueror's Haki.

Clearly, merely possessing the world's strongest Conqueror's Haki is far from enough to satisfy you. And yet you, the one who forced us to yield, think the word 'pathetic' has anything to do with you?"

When she finished speaking, Gion did not wait for Gawain's reply. She naturally moved to stand behind him.

Looking at Gion, who had completely accepted her fate of becoming his guard, Gawain shed his earlier arrogance and smiled again.

"Am I not pathetic?"

Gawain said with a soft laugh.

"Perhaps I never told you this, but before coming to Marineford, I had already decided that you would stand by my side.

You were not a choice I made after proposing it several times. From the very beginning, you were my only choice."

Gawain continued meaningfully.

"A Celestial Dragon, heh.

On these seas, there truly is no status more noble than that of a Celestial Dragon. But even so, there are still far too many things Celestial Dragons cannot do.

Or rather, it is precisely because I am a Celestial Dragon that I cannot do many of the things I wish to do.

For example, right now, it is not merely me as a Celestial Dragon who has gained your loyalty. If I did not possess Conqueror's Haki, would you still have chosen to accept this order and follow me as you do now, Gion?"

"Wait!"

Gion suddenly froze. Unable to hide her shock, she asked Gawain,

"Saint Gawain, didn't you say I only needed to serve as your guard while you traveled these seas?

Then what did you mean by loyalty, by gaining something, or by following you...!

Are you serious?!"