One Piece Thundergod Marine

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Hawkins' trick wasn't difficult to unravel. Even before Koby's reminder, Smoker had already noticed the anomaly in the soldiers, proving that the visual interference had its limits.

But as Hawkins had pointed out, how many in the fleet possessed Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) like Smoker?

The Marines' greatest advantage over pirates had always been their overwhelming firepower.

Now that the soldiers were effectively blind, firing blindly would only accelerate their downfall, turning each battleship into an isolated island. Meanwhile, Hawkins could take full advantage of this chaos, directing his forces without obstruction, and breaking them down one by one.

Watching the disoriented soldiers struggling to even locate the enemy, Smoker knew that once the battle turned into close-quarters combat, the tide would shift rapidly.

"This ability is perfect for large-scale battles."

Smoker thought grimly, then turned to Koby with precision. "Your Kenbunshoku Haki is impressive, Koby."

"From here on, you're in charge. I'll deal with Hawkins!"

No matter how effective an ability was for group combat, there was one inevitable truth— against overwhelming individual strength, it had its limits. Soldiers clashed with soldiers, officers dueled officers, and in the end, it always came down to a decisive showdown.

The Hermit Straw Man's Card could severely hinder ordinary soldiers, but it wouldn't be enough against Smoker. Even if the fleet fell, Hawkins would still need to face him.

If they couldn't stop him, victory would remain out of reach.

Smoker had no intention of letting this battle drag on.

Koby nodded swiftly. "Understood! Be careful, Vice Admiral. He mentioned this was just one of his support cards."

"Yeah, I caught that."

Smoker took a long drag from his cigar, releasing a thick cloud of white smoke.

"But I won't give him that chance..."

---

"Fire!!"

Boom!

Bang! Rumble!

The explosions rocked the sea, sending shockwaves through the battlefield. One battleship tilted under the force, its reinforced hull creaking in protest.

Yet, much to the pirates' horror, the Marine vessels were absurdly durable.

Their armor was ridiculously thick! Compared to these behemoths, the wooden decks beneath their own feet felt like brittle driftwood.

With their current firepower, it would take dozens of direct hits to sink a single Marine warship.

But there was one glaring issue— they didn't have enough ammunition.

"Boss Hawkins, all our spare ammo was sent back to Wano! We barely have any left!"

Had they been fighting another pirate crew, their firepower would have been sufficient. If several ships combined their efforts, they could even threaten Red-Haired Shanks' flagship, 'The Red Force'.

But the technological gap between them and the Marines was too vast. Their attacks barely made a dent, and their dwindling ammunition only deepened their growing unease.

"Tch, the Marines aren't easy prey."

Hawkins' face remained composed, though his voice carried a note of gravity.

After a brief pause, he made his decision.

"No choice. Prepare for White Blade combat!"

"We strike before the Hermit Card's effect fades! Inflict as much damage as possible!"

"Yes, Captain!"

Suddenly, an eerie fog began to roll across the sea.

"I won't give you that opportunity, pirates."

''Awakening Technique: Fog World!''

---

Among Marine Headquarters' Vice Admirals, none were weak. Smoker, having risen to the prestigious position of G-11 Base Commander, had clearly pushed his Smoke-Smoke Fruit to the threshold of Awakening.

Thick, ghostly smoke, dense as rolling storm clouds, billowed from Smoker's body, spreading across the battlefield. The clear blue sky was swallowed by an eerie white haze, plunging everything into shadowy obscurity.

"Damn it! Slow down! Watch for collisions!"

Hawkins immediately realized the danger and shouted a warning.

Against the sheer mass of Marine warships, their wooden vessels were nothing. A single collision would be like an egg smashing against a rock.

The pirate fleet's advance ground to an abrupt halt. Weapons were drawn, and the crew instinctively huddled together, standing back-to-back in a defensive formation.

But just as Hawkins struggled to steady himself on deck, a massive shadow loomed through the mist.

"Is that... Smoker?!"

"Why is he so big?!"

''Awakening Technique: Cloud Giant!''

The smoke, ethereal yet omnipresent, condensed into a towering giant, its form shifting like a living storm. In the blink of an eye, it reached Hawkins' position.

"I have to admit, your tactics are impressive... but now they're mine."

Smoker wasted no time. The moment his giant form materialized, he launched a devastating punch.

''Paddy Straw Blade!''

Hawkins reacted instantly. His weapon morphed, extending outward, held firm by a towering five-meter straw warrior—his Devil Conquering Phase.

Shuā! Shuā! Shuā!

Blades of straw lashed out like a storm of razor-sharp vines, cutting into the massive White Fist, slicing it apart, and dispersing the smoke.

"I see... Instead of turning weapons into straw, you've turned your straw into weapons."

A voice echoed near his ear, chilling Hawkins to the core.

''White Fist: Desolate Bite!''

"You've brushed the edge of Awakening, but you're not quite there yet."

Before he could react, a White Smoke Iron Fist surged forward, striking the massive straw construct. A hole was ripped clean through its chest.

"Only Awakening can truly counter Awakening, Hawkins."

"Gahhh!!"

Not far away, a pirate screamed as he collapsed, a gaping wound in his chest—crushed, torn apart by sheer force.

Pā dā!

A small straw effigy fell from Hawkins' sleeve. Seizing the moment, he swiftly leapt back, putting distance between himself and Smoker.

"What speed...!"

Hawkins' face darkened.

Just moments ago, Smoker had been a hundred meters away. Now, he was suddenly right behind him. Even with Marine's Rokushiki techniques, this speed was absurd!

"No... something's wrong!"

Hawkins' eyes darted around, scanning the fog, before realization struck.

"Impossible... You actually...!!"

"Oh? Have you figured it out already? No wonder Kaido valued you as a subordinate. Your insight is sharp."

Smoker's voice rang from the mist, his form barely visible in the swirling clouds.

"The Smoke-Smoke Fruit is special, even among Logia. Unlike Kizaru's Glint-Glint Fruit, which links light-based attacks together, smoke allows for... far greater flexibility."

"The spaces it leaves... are wide enough to move through."

"This is my domain, Hawkins."

"You have no escape."

And with that, Smoker disappeared completely into the haze.

''Because you're all inside me.''

Above them, the swirling smoke gathered once more, forming an even larger Cloud Giant. Its massive fist plummeted down toward Hawkins, ready to end the battle.

---

(End of Chapter)