A Marine butcher? I’m just fighting to live with everything I’ve got. Chapter 17 17: Admiral, Aren’t You Going to Say Something?

"Ha—"

Renn Hawk pulled his right arm back, muscles swelling with explosive tension.

In the next instant, he twisted his waist and core. The power surged from his spine, flowing through shoulder, elbow, wrist, and finally his fist, erupting like a storm.

His pitch-black fist, clad in Armant Haki, tore through the air with a piercing howl as it drove forward at Sakazuki.

This punch carried everything he had strength, will, and every ounce of hardened Haki within him.

It was his strongest strike yet.

"Full-Force Impact Fist!"

Sakazuki's Observation Haki had already tracked the trajectory.

Yet he didn't dodge. He didn't even coat himself in Armant Haki.

He wanted to feel it directly, with his battle-forged body.

BOOM!

The sound was like a war drum struck by a giant's hamr.

Renn's fist slamd into Sakazuki's shoulder, unleashing a shockwave that rippled outward.

The force blasted across the entire training ground, sending winds tearing at the uniforms of the Marines watching from the edge.

"My god… was that punch serious?"

"What terrifying strength!"

For a heartbeat, Sakazuki's eyes narrowed. A sharp jolt of pain radiated from his shoulder, burrowing into his nerves.

His body alone… couldn't fully absorb the impact?

As a Marine Admiral, Sakazuki's senses for power were razor-sharp. From just one strike, he could instantly gauge Renn's level.

This wasn't the strength of an ordinary Vice Admiral.

This punch already pushed against the threshold of a full Rear Admiral's peak, almost touching Vice Admiral territory.

So this boy Renn… could unleash power of that caliber?

In the blink of an eye, Sakazuki's gaze sharpened.

A flood of Armant Haki wrapped his body, smothering the force of Renn's punch until it could drive no deeper.

Renn used the recoil to leap back, opening distance.

"Not bad, Hawk!"

Sakazuki rolled his shoulder, the fabric already shredded. His bronze skin bore the faint imprint of Renn's fist, fading under his Haki but undeniable proof of the blow's force.

"That was a solid punch," he said with open approval. "You've honed both your body and your Haki well."

"Now, co!"

His voice rumbled, and his aura flared. Sakazuki deliberately reined in his imnse power, calibrating it to the level of a Vice Admiral.

If Renn's strength brushed that boundary, then he would et him there, and test him in every other aspect.

With a blur, Sakazuki vanished.

The next mont, his Haki-clad fist was already before Renn's eyes.

"Boom!"

Renn's pupils tightened as he swung to et it.

Fist t fist.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

Every clash detonated like a cannon blast, shockwaves hamring outward. Marines on the sidelines felt their chests quake, their blood roil, and their faces pale from the pressure.

"This… this is insane! They're trading blows like equals?"

"Lieutenant Colonel Hawk… going toe to toe with an Admiral?!"

One soldier's voice cracked, disbelief in every syllable.

"Of course the Admiral isn't using full strength!"

"No kidding! If he did, Hawk would already be finished! But still… this is unreal!"

"A branch lieutenant colonel, fighting like this? Even Headquarters' elite captains can't compare!"

The Marines who had bet against Renn were drenched in sweat, faces pale.

That bastard!

He was hiding this kind of power all along?!

With strength like this, he could have demanded promotion ages ago. Why waste ti as a branch officer?

He could've been enjoying the prestige, pay, and… company of Headquarters already!

We're dood…

A month scrubbing socks that sll like chemical weapons…

Utter despair.

anwhile, the soldiers of the Sixteenth Branch roared with excitent, pride blazing in their eyes.

That was their commander. Their Lieutenant Colonel!

Strong so strong!

"Big brother…"

Dane clutched the hilt of his blade, palms slick with sweat, equal parts nervous and exhilarated.

He had always known his captain was strong. But this? This was beyond imagination.

In the arena

Sakazuki grew more astonished with each exchange.

Sothing about Renn Hawk was… different.

His Observation Haki was wide-reaching and precise. His body was durable, his resilience staggering. His Armant Haki was refined, transitions between offense and defense seamless.

And his fighting instincts… his fists were fierce, direct, and utterly fearless.

Every move showed battle intuition. He was even keeping up with an Admiral's rhythm.

If one word could describe him, it was this:

Complete.

No glaring weaknesses, no fragile points. He was like a gem polished on every side, solid in all foundations.

Genius.

Monster.

For Renn Hawk, neither was exaggeration.

Sakazuki exhaled slowly.

Before his eyes, he saw the next leader of a new generation of Marines.

This boy's future was certain.

That Rear Admiral's insignia was his, no question.

"Boom!"

"Boom! Boom!"

The violent collisions kept echoing.

Renn fought with everything he had, every strike wringing out the last ounce of strength.

To battle a true top-class powerhouse, to feel this crushing pressure, this exhilaration of fighting without holding back…

It made every cell in his body sing.

This was what it ant to live.

This was intoxicating.

From now on, he swore, he'd seek out Admiral Sakazuki for more of these "sparring matches."

"Boom!"

Sakazuki's fist finally forced Renn back several steps.

The young officer's face was streaked with sweat, his chest rising and falling. Around them, the training ground lay in ruins.

"That's enough…"

Sakazuki's voice was low and final. "Hawk."

Renn's Armant Haki receded, leaving his skin bare once more.

He inhaled deeply, then exhaled, easing the fatigue from his muscles.

Around them, silence fell. Every Marine held their breath, eyes fixed on the two n in the center.

It was clear to all of them Renn Hawk's power was not that of a re branch officer.

Not even a Headquarters captain could compare.

Perhaps he was already on par with a Rear Admiral.

Or higher.

But the final word would not be theirs.

All eyes turned to Sakazuki.

"Admiral," soone whispered hoarsely, "give your judgnt…"

"Lieutenant Colonel Hawk," Sakazuki said at last, "your overall strength…"

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