Chapter 118: Smoker's Awakening

"Let's go! There's nothing left to see. Since there's nothing to do, how about we go to the training ground and practice?"

Smoker blew a smoke ring and looked at Karl with a smile. Karl returned the smile, though a hint of cunning flashed in his eyes.

It seems Smoker doesn't know yet that he has awakened both types of Haki! After all, while executing missions outside, news doesn't travel that fast.

"Looking at you, has your strength improved again recently?"

Smoker sighed and waved his hand: "Sigh... just a tiny bit of progress, not worth mentioning."

Karl laughed dumbly. He's even trying to humble-brag to me.

Ten minutes later, training ground.

Both stood empty-handed on opposite sides of the training ground. Smoker had his hands in his pockets, chewing on a cigar, not knowing what an opponent was.

"This time I will use elementalization. I hope you don't lose too miserably."

Karl nodded with a smile: "Don't worry, just come at me!"

"White Snake!"

Smoker launched the attack first.

He first turned his arms into smoke, then transformed the smoke-arms into the shape of two giant pythons, aiming at Karl and striking. No matter how Karl dodged, it was useless, because this move came with a tracking and locking system.

"You can't escape!"

"Is that so?"

Karl activated Observation Haki. After sensing the two giant pythons chasing from behind, he turned around abruptly and kicked with a Tempest Kick.

"Tempest Kick: Sever"

A blue slash wave precisely severed the bodies of the giant pythons, but it was only temporary. The smoke pythons quickly merged back together, unaffected in the slightest.

"Hahahaha! I told you, it's useless!"

Little did he know, Karl had already used Moonwalk to arrive in front of Smoker. Standing before him, he covered his right fist with a layer of Armament Haki. Boom!

In Smoker's shocked eyes, Karl's fist struck his head directly, and his whole body flew away.

"Ahhh! It hurts!"

That year, Smoker held his head with both hands, beaten into a state of bewilderment.

Pain, too painful!

This was probably the most painful experience he had had since becoming a Logia user.

"Ah! It hurts like hell, when did you awaken Armament Haki!"

At this moment, Smoker was doubting his life. He had joined the Navy as a child, floating and sinking for over a decade, only to find that his rank was lower than Karl's, and his strength was lagging behind as well.

Clearly, a few months ago, they could still fight back and forth. Even when he saw in the newspaper that Karl had fought Ma Erke to a draw and injured Hawkeye, he only thought Karl had a good foundation and strong martial arts.

Who could have imagined he had actually awakened Armament Haki?

"Awakened during the internship mission."

"So early!?" Smoker was dumbfounded.

Karl nodded: "Yes! That time, I almost died!"

Smoker was speechless, sitting blankly on the ground, saying nothing.

Only then did he realize if he had been too slack. After thinking for a while, he got a definite answer.

Yes, he had been slack.

He was always obsessed with the Navy's corrupt practices, graft, and aiding the wicked, but he had forgotten the most important thing for a marine: strength.

Since graduating from the training camp, he had basically never fought a real hard battle, jumping back and forth between suspension and catching pirates, not even having time to train properly.

How could he become stronger like this?

Looking at Karl, his first mission was to face the overlord of the sea, Kaido of the Beasts, followed by the long-famous Phoenix Ma Erke and the world's greatest swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk.

And him? He didn't have a single opponent worth bragging about; every time, he relied on his fruit ability to bully small fry!

Even Tina, who graduated at the same level as him, was now following Staff Officer Tsuru to execute missions in the New World, facing the monsters of the New World.

In front of Karl, he was a complete failure, a weakling who complained about heaven and others.

"Karl, as a friend, I ask you for a favor!"

"Go ahead! As long as I can do it."

Smoker let out a long breath, leaned his body toward Karl, and lowered his noble head: "I want to become your adjutant."

"What?"

Karl looked at Smoker in disbelief, picking his ear, suspecting he had heard wrong.

Could such words come out of Smoker's mouth?

"Yes, I want to become your adjutant, execute missions with you, and fight pirates, because only by following you can I have the chance to encounter stronger enemies!"

"Only then can I become stronger!"

Smoker had abandoned his pride at this moment. He had only one goal: to catch up with Karl's footsteps and become stronger!

Karl appeared surprised on the surface, but in his heart, he was already blooming with joy. He had been worried that Ain wasn't enough as a fighter, but he didn't expect Smoker to deliver himself to his door for free.

Ain on the left, Smoker on the right—this lineup was simply dreamy!

Come to think of it, if Smoker followed him, he wouldn't end up guarding the newbie village. He should be thanking me!

Helping Smoker up, Karl patted his bicep: "Great, it's a deal. Let's go! We're going to find Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"

Seeing Karl so straightforward, Smoker couldn't help but feel moved. Karl really is a good brother!

Good brothers for life!

Knock, knock, knock! ===== CHAPTER 120 =====