Half an hour later, after another clash, Mosen and Smoker separated again. Both were unable to land a decisive blow on each other. By this point, only a handful of officers watched the fight; the rest of the soldiers had dispersed to carry out their duties.
The prolonged use of their Devil Fruit abilities had taken a toll on their stamina. Mosen’s consistent physical training was paying off. While his stamina had decreased significantly, his grip on his sword remained steady, just as it had been at the start of the battle. Smoker, on the other hand, was struggling; his hand, gripping the Seastone weapon, was trembling noticeably, and his breathing was labored.
“Hey, kid, are you some kind of monster? Why do you have more stamina than me, a Headquarters Captain?” Smoker stared at the young man before him, cursing inwardly. How could a boy not even 16 have more stamina than a man in his twenties from Headquarters?
Smoker couldn’t count the number of times Mosen had shattered his confidence during this battle.
Both fighters had been so engrossed in their fight that they hadn’t paid attention to their stamina consumption. Mosen’s daily regimen of several hours of physical training was no joke. Although he couldn’t yet match the ten-day-and-night battle between future Admirals Aokiji and Akainu, he believed that with Admiral-level combat strength, he’d outlast them. Real men not only had solid abilities but also immense endurance.
Smoker’s neglect of physical training was now glaringly apparent. Facing an opponent of equal strength who wasn’t fazed by Logia’s abilities, his lack of stamina was a significant disadvantage.
“Hehehe, Captain, you should know that the body is the foundation of everything. All abilities—be it physical skills, swordsmanship, Haki, or Devil Fruit powers—are better developed on a strong physical base,” Mosen remarked. Their duel had turned into a sparring match, and Mosen, coming from a technologically advanced world, knew better than anyone the importance of physical conditioning.
Moreover, developing Armament Haki was tough without a strong body. Even if one managed to awaken it, using it frequently without proper physical support could leave one utterly exhausted, hindering further development.
Admiral Zephyr, the Chief Instructor at the Marine Headquarters, taught this. Zephyr’s poor relationship with Kizaru wasn’t just due to differing ideologies but also Kizaru’s overreliance on his Devil Fruit power, which neglected his physical combat skills.
“Ah, so I have neglected Zephyr-sensei’s teachings. Thank you, Mosen. As a token of gratitude, let me defeat you with my newly developed technique,” Smoker announced.
Mosen sighed inwardly. Where did this confidence come from? Didn’t he realize who had the upper hand in their previous exchanges?
“Let’s hope your new technique isn’t just another boast. You’ve claimed victory many times already, Captain,” Mosen taunted, drawing Smoker’s ire.
Enraged, Smoker regained some of his strength and resumed the fight.
“Impudent brat! I’ll show you my strength. Smoke: White Bind!”
Smokers fully transformed into smoke, enveloping the entire battlefield. The remaining spectators could no longer see what was happening inside the smoke cloud.
Mosen immediately noticed the difference from before. This smoke cloud wasn’t just blinding but also impaired his sense of smell and hearing.
The feeling was akin to being trapped in a fire, surrounded by thick smoke that stung the eyes, nose, and throat. Many victims of fires succumb to smoke inhalation rather than the flames themselves. Properly developed, Smoker’s ability was far more formidable than depicted in the anime.
Fortunately, while his hearing was affected, it wasn’t completely disabled. The main problems were his blocked vision and impeded breathing.
Suddenly, a loud whooshing sound came from behind—Smoker’s Seastone weapon. Mosen barely had time to parry the blow with his sword. The impact sent Smoker retreating, but Mosen staggered, the smoke around him continuously trying to bind him.
From the side, Smoker’s weapon struck towards his back. Mosen managed a desperate sidestep, parrying with Koi. The force of the blow pushed him back several steps before he regained his footing.
Realizing his disadvantage, Mosen knew he had to escape the smoke. If he stayed, it was only a matter of time before Smoker’s Seastone weapon would hit him, leading to his defeat.
Just as he was about to choose a direction and make a break for it, Smoker, anticipating his move, struck from an awkward angle.
“Damn it, if only I could find an opening,” Mosen cursed, abandoning his escape attempt. In his current state, any attempt to flee the smoke would result in getting hit by the Seastone weapon, ending the fight.
Forced to focus on defense, Mosen inhaled more smoke, causing him to struggle for breath and slowing his movements. Fortunately, Smoker’s strength was waning, or Mosen would have already lost.
What Mosen didn’t know was that Smoker was even more frustrated. The kid’s stamina was incredible. Smoker felt his strength rapidly diminishing, his strikes losing power, and his movements sloppy.
He’d be exhausted if he couldn’t end the fight within ten minutes.
Then, a turning point occurred. Mosen, struggling to breathe, nearly coughed, his movements slowing momentarily.
“Got you!”
Seizing the opportunity, Smoker appeared at Mosen’s rear left, bringing his Seastone weapon down towards Mosen’s shoulder.
Mosen felt a chill down his spine. There was no time to dodge. He threw himself forward in the nick of time, rolling clumsily to dodge the attack. The Seastone weapon ripped the already tattered Justice Cloak.
So close!
What a pity!
“I can’t keep going like this. I need to gamble!”
Determined, Mosen knew he couldn’t win passively. The smoke was Smoker’s domain, and he couldn’t keep dodging it forever.
Closing his eyes, Mosen held his breath, relying on his other senses. His ears twitched, picking up every sound in the smoke.
In this moment of desperation, Mosen felt something shift. His hearing seemed to amplify, a strange sensation flooding over him like he had entered a new realm.
The smoker didn’t notice. His stamina was nearly depleted. If he didn’t defeat the kid now, he’d become a laughingstock at Headquarters. His enemies, numerous due to his personality, would seize the chance to mock him.
Exerting all his strength, Smoker manipulated the smoke to continue harassing Mosen, reappearing at his front left and swinging his weapon down.
Mosen, now with heightened senses, calmly blocked the attack.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of clashing weapons echoed. Mosen felt increasingly at ease, each of his parries perfectly timed.
Another overhead strike came, and Mosen, eyes still closed, seemed to “see” the attack as if in slow motion. He easily dodged it.
Snap—a sound like something breaking echoed in his mind. A hidden potential within him was unlocked.
Cough… cough… cough…
Suddenly, Mosen’s breath gave out, forcing him to inhale the smoke, leading to a fit of coughing.
Smoker’s Seastone weapon struck Mosen, sending him flying backward.
But Mosen laughed despite the pain.
Observation: Haki had finally awakened!
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