How can I become the Pirate King if you don’t work hard?.

Chapter 307 The Secret of Awakening
Van Augur shook his head to indicate that he was alright, but there was still some lingering fear in his eyes.

Given the situation just now, if Gawain and his companion had acted even a second later, he would have already been hit by Doflamingo's attack.

Even if they don't die, they will completely lose their fighting ability and become the latter's prisoners.

Fortunately.

Gawain and his companion arrived just in time, and with just their Conqueror's Haki, they completely robbed Doflamingo of his will to fight.

Clearly, the gap between the two has reached an immeasurable level.

The captain has become even stronger!

As Van Augur thought this, he felt a strange sense of peace.

As his companions gradually grew stronger and outpaced him, Van Augur gradually shifted his role from a combatant to a support role on the battlefield.

Relying on sniping capabilities, they can eliminate elite units from a distance or disrupt the battlefield.

But tonight's battle completely woke him up.

If one's own strength is insufficient, one will be easily crushed by the opponent like an ant being crushed.

They can't even protect themselves, let alone support their companions.

Strength is the only way to go!

Power is everything!
If I were a bit stronger, I wouldn't have been powerless against Doflamingo, and Sanji wouldn't have been injured to this extent!

With this thought in mind, Van Augur quietly tightened his grip on the flintlock pistol, a flame seemingly burning in his eyes.

"Crew member Van Augur's spiritual awakening!"

"Potential increased!"

"Silver Mid-Level → Silver Extreme Level!"

The sudden system notification in his mind startled Gawain slightly. He turned his head and saw Van Augur gripping the flintlock pistol in his hand even tighter.

After experiencing such a crushing defeat, did you have any epiphany?

Gao Wen nodded secretly.

He was naturally pleased that his subordinates were awakening and their potential was increasing.

Even though Van Augur's main skill is sniping, which doesn't significantly improve Gawain's own abilities, it can benefit others.

It's a sure thing that you'll make a profit.

but.

The events of tonight did not have the greatest impact on Van Augur, nor on Sanji, who was the most seriously injured.

It's Nami.

Even though the battle was over, most of the slaves who were originally imprisoned there had escaped in the chaos.

Nami was still somewhat lost in thought.

She stood to one side, looking at the headless corpse on the ground and the whale shark boy wailing beside it, her lips pressed tightly together.

The sight of the whale shark man being blown to death by the exploding collar before her eyes, and the scene of the old man from the Longarm tribe begging her not to open the cage, was too much for her to bear.

She still hasn't recovered from the shock.

“Captain, I think I understand now why Arlong’s hatred for humanity is so intense.”

Recalling the frenzied and twisted behavior of the nobles from all over the world at the auction, Nami gritted her teeth, her eyes reddening.
“I will not forgive him for what he did to Cocoyasi and the people in the area, but I also cannot accept what these nobles did.”

"But I don't understand..."

"How can someone laugh and say something like 'I want to turn my fellow human beings into specimens'?!"

Gawain looked around and saw countless world nobles who hadn't had time to escape, cowering in corners with panicked expressions.
"I...I have money, I have a lot of money. As long as you let me go, I can give you anything!"

in the corner.

The noblewoman who had just photographed the fish-man father and son and publicly stated that she wanted to turn them into specimens was now so angry that she wanted to smash her head in, her voice filled with indescribable fear.

Elegant? Powerful? Aristocratic etiquette?
When faced with a matter of life and death, everything else will vanish!
The only thing of value is to survive!

Soon, more survivors realized something was wrong and knelt down to beg for mercy.

The domineering aura that Gao Wen had just unleashed had caused many people to lose consciousness, and they only came to their senses at this moment.

Looking at the man before them, who seemed like a ghost or a god, they knew that if he wanted to kill them, he could do so in an instant!

This guy is so strong it's like he's from another species!
"That's right!"

“I am a prince of the Kingdom of Garcia. I can give you status, and if you want, I can even give you the whole country!”

"Please, I have a child, just..."

"It's about the same size as that fishman!"

"enough!"

Nami roared, bent down to pick up the flintlock pistol from the ground, but did not turn around to walk towards the surviving nobles.

She took one step at a time.

They walked toward the cage where the old man from the Long-Armed Clan was imprisoned.

Amidst the latter's surprised gaze, he asked:
"Now, do you want to leave, or continue being a slave?!"

"I……"

boom!
Gunshots rang out, and the shackles of the cage shattered.

The door opened without me having to reach out.

The auction hall fell silent.

Gawain and his group watched as Nami shattered the shackles binding the slaves with each shot, and remained silent for a moment.

a long time.

Van Augur couldn't help but speak up:

"Captain, you and Chloe have protected them so well."

"So much so that even now, neither Nami, Sanji, nor Chopper have truly faced the cruelest side of this world."

"Ah."

Gawain nodded:

"They should both have grown after this incident."

soon.

Nami opened the last cage.

She then picked up the wailing whale shark boy, and turned to leave with Gawain and his group, disappearing into the night.

Gawain wasn't worried about the situation with Crow.

Although the exchange was brief, it was clear that Kuro's combat strength was undoubtedly superior to Doflamingo's!
Furthermore, Kro possesses extreme speed, so even if he can't catch up, there won't be any danger.

in the venue.

The surviving nobles and wealthy people, looking at the vanished Gao Wen and his group, all showed expressions of relief at having survived a disaster.

"We're... saved? That monster didn't attack?!"

Some wondered why Gawain hadn't attacked them, while others, seeing the crisis pass, revealed their true colors:

"How dare you do this to me! This is an insult to the world's nobles! No matter who you are, I will make you pay the price!"

"That's right!"

"We are the rulers of this world!"

"These pigs, just obediently become our tools!"

A rustling sound came from the crowd and grew louder.

Despite their utter disheveled state and numerous injuries, they still maintained an air of superiority.

It's as if doing so can restore the dignity they just lost.

But at this time.

boom!
The auction hall doors were tightly shut, plunging everyone into darkness, and the cursing immediately fell silent.

Several seconds later, someone recognized that the one who closed the door was the same old man from the Long-Armed Clan.

now.

The old man from the Longarm tribe had only boundless rage on his face. He bent down, grabbed the flintlock pistol beside him, and pulled the trigger at the crowd in the auction hall!
boom!
"This shot is for my people!"

boom!
"This shot is for my grandson, and... for the home you burned down!"

Blood splattered among the crowd, and one nobleman and wealthy man after another fell into a pool of blood. People fled in panic, screams filling the air!
soon.

The gun was empty of bullets.

The elder of the Long-Armed Tribe slumped to the ground, his laughter both shrill and ferocious:

"So your blood is red too, just like my people's!"

"Hahahahahaha——!"

For a while.

The only sound in the auction hall was the old man's unrestrained laughter.

The expressions on the faces of the nobles froze instantly, feeling utterly humiliated.

How dare someone of an inferior race disobey me?!

For them, this was an unforgivable sin, especially since the one who committed the act was just an old and frail man.

For a while.

Countless people swarmed forward, as if they wanted to tear the old man in front of them to pieces!
But in the very next instant.

His expression froze completely as one dark figure after another emerged from the cage representing slaves!
An enraged beast.

They're out of the cage!
Outside the auction venue.

Nami held the whale shark-human boy in her arms, while panicked screams echoed from the hall behind her. She reached out and covered the boy's ears.

But at that moment, the corners of his mouth gradually curled up.

She knew she might be wrong; hatred shouldn't be perpetuated in this way, but...

Who cares?!
……

……

……

The bright moon hangs high.

The cool moonlight fell vertically from the sky, shining on the water and shimmering with silvery-gray light.

A disheveled figure leaped up on the silken threads and disappeared into the clouds in an instant.

It was Doflamingo who had barely escaped from Kuro's clutches.

now.

Doflamingo was in a terrible state, covered in glaring bloodstains, and one of his arms hung limply at his side.

"Hundred-Piece Kro?!"

Doflamingo was wearing sunglasses, so his eyes couldn't be seen, but his expression was extremely ferocious!
An uncontainable killing intent erupted, dispersing the clouds and startling the birds flying nearby to their deaths!

"A truly dangerous guy, and that all-seeing look in his eyes, it's inexplicably infuriating!"

"Knight Gawain's brilliance was so dazzling that everyone subconsciously overlooked the monsters under his command."

"It's not uncommon for an individual to grow rapidly in a short period of time, but for a group of people to grow rapidly is something else entirely."

"Looking at it this way, this guy and that guy named Akin at the martial arts tournament were definitely putting on an act, and Knight Gawain was also hiding his true strength the whole time."

"The whole world has been fooled by this guy!"

"Qi!"

Doflamingo couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood, his killing intent intensifying, but it was precisely in these moments that he was able to remain calm!

"The strength that Gawain and his crew displayed tonight is almost comparable to that of a Yonko-level pirate crew. With my strength, I am no longer able to contend with them."

"but……"

Doflamingo's lips curled into a playful smile:

"I heard before that Tezoro has already set off for Britannias, but his purpose is unknown."

"Big Mom, one of the Four Emperors, has been missing for a long time, and if I remember correctly, her ability is the fruit of manipulating souls."

"Now even the knight Gawain has his eye on that Britannias elf."

"That legend about flesh, blood, bones, heart, and soul?!"

"It's possible that the fact that this has attracted the attention of these various forces is genuine."

"With that brat Law nowhere to be found and the Op-Op Fruit not being available, Britannias's method of immortality might be an alternative."

"Hmm hmm hmm hmm—!"

Doflamingo, however, was also aware of the immense danger involved. "But even Big Mom and Knight Gawain are involved. Britannias is a deeper place than we imagined! After all, even a Yonko might not be able to defeat that old man there. This matter requires careful consideration. We need to gather enough intelligence before deciding whether to intervene!"

Thinking of this.

Doflamingo suddenly increased his speed.

Within a few breaths, it disappeared into the clouds.

……

The other end.

When Gawain and his group returned to the dock, Kro was already waiting there, looking quite displeased.

"Lost?"

Kro nodded, a hint of doubt in his eyes, and couldn't help but ask:

"That guy's ability is quite troublesome. Although he is a Paramecia type, he can influence the surrounding environment."

Gao Wen understood:

"This is a change that occurs after a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit awakens, allowing it to influence the environment in which it is located."

"A Paramecia-type...Awakened One?!"

Kuro's eyes lit up slightly. He couldn't help but recall his own Weasel Fruit, which was about to awaken but was always just a hair's breadth away from awakening, and asked:
"What characteristics will a Zoan-type awaken?!"

"Flame cloud ribbons will appear to wrap around the body, and the body's resistance to blows and recovery speed will also be improved to a higher level."

Gao Wen explained:
"and.

"Among the Zoan-type Devil Fruits, there is often another will residing within them, namely the will of the fruit itself."

"Perhaps the process of awakening is the process of mutually devouring the will within the fruit."

"Either be devoured by the will within the fruit, or devour the will within the fruit to complete yourself."

between words.

Gawain couldn't help but recall the Straw Hats' final battle with Kaido in Wano Country.

When the Straw Hats awakened their Gear 5 form, Kaido asked them, "Who are you, anyway?"

There are two possible interpretations of this question: one is that Kaido did not recognize the drastically changed Straw Hat, and the other is that Kaido sensed another will within the Straw Hat's body.

The evidence is that when faced with Kaido's question, Straw Hat was clearly momentarily distracted before revealing his name!

This might explain why even the legendary Straw Hat was affected during its fusion with the will within the fruit.

When Kro, who is also a Mythical Beast, awakens, the same situation will likely occur.

Gao Wen reminded him:
"The compatibility between you and the Kamaitachi Fruit is beyond imagination. You have made great progress in the development of the fruit, and you have almost reached the threshold of awakening."

"But it is precisely at times like these that we need to be most cautious."

Kro nodded, his face becoming more serious.

If one merges with the will within the fruit, one will inevitably be affected. In that case, will one still be oneself?
A self with other components? Or a completely new life?

No one can answer that.

Therefore, the most cautious and safe approach is to directly and forcefully devour the will within the fruit and make it one's own nourishment!
Too many things changed that night. Gawain and the others quickly returned to their cabins to rest, and Chopper also got up to treat Sanji's wounds.

The light in Nami's room stayed on all night.

The porthole was open, and the branches and leaves of the orange tree rustled in the wind, clearly indicating that her heart was still not at peace.

Kro sat on the deck all night, pondering the path of awakening he would take next. He had a premonition that if he completely devoured the will within the fruit and fully merged it with himself, he might be able to reach the level that Gawain was at.

(End of this chapter)