Smoker's Counterattack! (34)

On the battlefield reeking of scorched smoke and gunpowder, air currents surged wildly.

At the edge of Chocolate Island, two figures clashed without pause. Their raging Haki was as unstoppable as a storm, forcing even the soldiers to watch from far away.

Koby was carried back by soldiers for emergency treatment. The formidable vitality brought by developing Rokushiki had barely kept him alive, but he was not out of danger yet.

Watching the smoke clouds on the horizon dyed orange-yellow by flames, the surviving Marines soldiers clenched their teeth, tears welling in their eyes.

"Don't lose, Vice Admiral!"

The addition of the new cannons had finally given the soldiers the means to threaten these monsters of the sea—the confidence Franky had told the Straw Hat Pirates about, the Marines' marching-ant style.

But after the artillery positions were destroyed, everything had returned to square one. They simply did not have the strength to interfere in a battle of this level.

All they could do was pray silently, hoping Smoker could avenge their fallen comrades.

At the center of the battlefield, Smoker drew the weapon he had not used for many days—the Jitte—and swung it hard, interrupting King as he drew his blade for an upward slash.

White Smoke: Misty World!

A ring of white smoke clouds emerged around him. It was the powerful finishing move of his awakened state.

But at that moment, King's eyes narrowed. He took half a step back, suddenly rose into the air, and transformed into his Half-Beast Form.

"Not happening, Smoker!"

Whoosh...

Rustle!

He spread his wings, which spanned over ten meters, and flapped with all his might. A violent gale instantly rose, blowing the mist away.

"Hawkins's death wasn't meaningless. Trying to ambush me with that move? Too naive!"

Misty World was a domain Smoker