Awakening Conqueror's Haki, Confronting Smoker

"Ah~ I'm stuffed."

Looking at the mountain of plates piled up beside them, Luffy wore a satisfied grin, while Zoro took a sip of his drink and settled in comfortably. The six of them, now full and content, were the Straw Hat Pirates.

Only Sanji frowned, taking a drag of his cigarette.

"Do we even have enough money to pay the bill?"

This single sentence instantly made the group feel guilty, and they began to glance around shiftily, looking as if they were preparing to bolt.

Sanji looked resigned; forget it, they were pirates now anyway, might as well dine and dash once.

"Run!"

Luffy scooped up the others, crashing through the door with them in tow, and vanished in a cloud of dust.

Standing up from the ruins was a white-haired man in a Marine uniform—it was Smoker, who had been on his way to find Moya.

Veins bulged on his forehead, his eyes were filled with rage, and he bit his cigar clean in half.

"Colonel Smoker, it's the Straw Hat crew! They just ate without paying and ran off!"

"After them!"

Smoker had been humiliated; as a Logia-type user, to be carelessly knocked over by pirates was truly the height of embarrassment.

Forgetting his mission to find Moya, he immediately gave chase to the Straw Hat crew.

"Hey, hey, your name's Gin, right? Why not come work for me instead? Stop looking for your Captain Moya."

Bartolomeo the Rooster had just finished a bout with Ghost Man Gin.

He hadn't been able to get the upper hand against Gin, a rare occurrence since he had obtained the Bari Bari no Mi and become the boss of several hundred streets.

Having learned that Moya was at the Execution Platform in the center of town, Gin was preparing to head back to report to him.

Seeing Gin about to leave, Bartolomeo, who had taken a slight interest in the captain of such a fierce warrior, followed along, chattering incessantly the entire way.

The numerous squad leaders, having received the news via Den Den Mushi, also began to converge on the town center.

Moya finally stepped onto the Execution Platform, looking down at the masses from the same vantage point Roger once had.

At this moment, as if resonating with some hidden aura, the seed of Moya's Conqueror's Haki began to grow rapidly.

A breeze began to stir around the Execution Platform, growing increasingly swift and fierce, and the very heavens began to feel heavy.

People on the ground started shielding their eyes; sand and dust swirled, clothes snapped loudly in the wind, and the figures of the beautiful women present were perfectly outlined.

High above, Monkey D. Dragon watched the scene and frowned. He hadn't expected this kid to possess such heaven-defying talent; he looked like a born king.

In this moment, Moya recalled the hardships of his arrival in this world, remembered the cries of the common folk under pirate rule, and saw Roger's laughter in the face of death.

Moya closed his eyes, hearing the emotional aura of the thousands upon thousands of people in the square.

He thought of the painful past, his fists clenching tight, rapidly turning a lustrous black-red.

Feeling the spirit of Roger, black and red lightning began to arc around him, air currents surged in reverse, and the pressure became suffocating.

In an instant, feeling all of this, Moya's emotions soared. He opened his eyes, looking down upon the world with disdain.

"The Three-Color Haki shakes the heavens; my fate is my own, not heaven's."

At this moment, the world changed color, all sound vanished, and only Moya's arrogant declaration of supremacy echoed.

High in the clouds, Monkey D. Dragon watched the youth in shock, his eyes filled with disbelief and awe.

The fleeing Straw Hat crew was forced to a halt, staring at the scene in a daze.

Nami and the other women, along with Buggy and his crew, withstood the radiating Conqueror's Haki, their faith in Moya's figure becoming god-like.

Smoker, who had been pursuing Luffy's crew, was also stunned by this sight.

He saw the birth of a king who would suppress an era; his pupils constricted, as if he were seeing Roger from twenty years ago.

Bartolomeo and Gin were also rendered speechless by the pressure, staring blankly at the figure atop the Execution Platform.

The squad leaders were forced to their knees, yet they gazed fanatically at the figure on the high platform—this was their captain!!

Countless tourists, civilians, and thugs rolled their eyes back and collapsed, while those with stronger wills could only lie on the ground, heads tilted up, watching this demonic figure in terror.

Time seemed to stall, and space seemed to solidify.

A full minute passed before the world regained its color, sound began to return, and a deafening roar of discussion erupted.

"Captain Moya will surely ascend to the peak of strength!!"

El Drago's Oto Oto no Mi carried this shout across all of Loguetown.

The Moya Adventure Group began to cheer, shaking the very earth.

Click. This scene was rapidly captured by a reporter.

'White Fist'

Smoker watched Moya on the Execution Platform with a grave expression and attacked without hesitation; someone possessing Conqueror's Haki was never a person who would stay quiet and obedient.

Even though Moya did not have a bounty on his head at this moment, Smoker decided to capture him first to nip the danger in the bud. If it turned out he truly had no intention of becoming a pirate, he would then consider whether or not to let him go.

At this moment, Moya's emotions were surging and his momentum was high. His Observation Haki sounded an alarm, and seeing the incoming smoke fist, he didn't say a word before swinging his own fist, which was wreathed in black, with all his might.

With a "bang," the two fists collided.

"Ah~" The smoke fist flew back, accompanied by Smoker's cry of pain as his knuckles shattered and blood seeped through his glove.

Since acquiring the Logia Smoke Devil Fruit, this was the first time Smoker had suffered such a severe injury; he clutched his fist, gritting his teeth.

"To think it's Armament Haki Hardening!!!"

"I never imagined such a figure would emerge in the East Blue, actually possessing the Three-Color Haki."

"Moya, are you planning to become a pirate?"

Moya looked down at Smoker and spoke slowly.

"I have never thought about becoming a pirate. My only ideal is to become stronger, so that no one can threaten me. And now, I have added another dream: to plant my red flag across the entire world. Under this red flag, there will be no slaves, no oppression, and all races will coexist in peace."

"Are you trying to challenge the World Government? Or do you want to become a member of the Revolutionary Army?" Smoker suppressed his pain and demanded.

"The Revolutionary Army is also a decent choice! However, one organization cannot have two powerful kings. I will change this world in my own way."

After awakening the Three-Color Haki, Moya seemed less cautious and less timid than before.

It could only be said that every possessor of Conqueror's Haki was a paranoid; they had to have a goal they would spend their entire lives striving to achieve.

Otherwise, they would not be worthy of awakening Conqueror's Haki.

Moya jumped off the Execution Platform, passed by Smoker, and said slowly, "I hope that I will not be an enemy of the Navy."

Smoker watched Moya's retreating back, gritting his teeth, but he had no intention of continuing the attack and could only let Moya leave.

"To think he also wants to change the corruption of the World Government. It seems this path is never short of like-minded powerhouses." Dragon watched Moya with interest, a hint of newfound respect in his eyes.

"Moya, you're so cool, so domineering!!!"

"Big Brother Moya is so amazing!!!"

"Captain Moya is destined to become a powerful king!"

Nami and the other women, along with Buggy and the other officers, crowded around him.

"Moya, you will be the strongest enemy on my path to becoming the One Piece." Luffy adjusted his Straw Hat, his expression serious and grave.

"Hey, are you the Moya that Gin mentioned? You really are a super amazing guy! 'My fate is determined by me, not by the heavens'—hearing that made my blood boil! Take me out to sea with you!!!"

"I can't wait to follow you and turn this world upside down, hahaha." Bartolomeo stood with one hand on his hip, pointing at Moya with the other, shouting loudly.

His gaze, his gaze, seemed, seemed to shine like stars.

Gin hurriedly pushed down Bartolomeo's hand that was pointing at Moya and knocked him to the ground with a punch.

"You bastard, how dare you point your finger at Captain Moya! Such disrespect!"

Everyone immediately turned to look at the fallen Bartolomeo.