The Possibility of Skipping Straight to the Top

Crocus's smile slowly faded, replaced by a searching look. After several seconds of silence, he spoke. "I don't know how you learned about my connection to the Rumbar Pirates, and I'm curious about that information. But I'm afraid I must refuse. My memories are too precious to trade away."

"Then I'll have to get what I want the pirate way."

The muscles in Dawn's right arm tightened. Flowing Armament Haki covered the entire limb like mercury, and he threw a punch.

The pirate way, of course, meant taking it by force.

A sharp glint flashed in Crocus's clouded eyes. His seemingly scrawny arm swelled in an instant, Armament Haki flowing over it as he met the blow head-on.

Bang!

The instant their fists collided, compressed air erupted in a deafening roar.

A visible shock wave spread outward in a ring. The ground beneath them cracked inch by inch, sending stones flying.

Their projected Armament Haki became a terrifying storm that tore at everything around them.

Crocus's expression changed.

It felt as though his fist had struck not a man, but a mountain range on the move.

I can't take this head-on!

Battle instinct drove Crocus to make a split-second choice. He withdrew his strength and drifted backward as if he weighed nothing.

The moment he leaped clear,

Rumble!

The aftershock of the punch tore up the ground where he had stood and for ten meters beyond. Earth rolled like waves and burst into a cloud of dust. Farther back, cracks spread across the lighthouse wall like a spiderweb.

Crocus landed and looked at the lighthouse that had stood beside him for decades. A flicker of pain crossed his eyes.

"Enough. I concede."

Dawn drew back his Haki, his warm smile returning as though that terrifying punch had not come from