The realization sent a spark of excitement through Peter's mind.
When he had first exchanged his points for the Rokushiki (Six Powers), the item description mentioned that long-term practice could lead to the awakening of Armament Haki and Observation Haki.
Peter had been looking forward to it, but after two months without a single sign of awakening, he had gradually pushed the thought to the back of his mind.
But looking at it now, the reason he hadn't awakened his Haki earlier was simply that the level of his battles had been too low.
In the face of an opponent like the Hulk, a single accidental flash of inspiration was enough to trigger the awakening.
Now that his Armament Haki had finally stirred, Peter naturally wanted to master it completely during this fight. He didn't expect to reach the level of Ryou immediately, but he at least wanted to be able to summon it at will.
He decisively abandoned any thought of long-range magic and focused entirely on close-quarters combat with the Hulk.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Peter's figure flickered frantically around the Hulk, launching attacks from every conceivable angle. In just over ten seconds, he rained hundreds of punches down on the giant.
Yet, none of these strikes triggered the Haki; to the Hulk, they were nothing more than a light massage.
Just as Peter began to wonder if he had misjudged the situation, a strange sensation welled up in his heart. He instinctively looked down and noticed that, for a split second as his fist connected, his hand was coated in a layer of pitch-black substance.
BOOM!
The sound of the impact was far heavier and duller than before.
"AOOOW—!!!"
The Hulk let out another cry of pain. His massive body was sent flying back as if hit by a high-speed locomotive, crashing into a pile of ruins and grinding brick walls into powder.
"Holy—!"
In the distance, Tony's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Gwen and Felicia both covered their mouths in shock.
"What just happened? Peter actually sent that monster flying with one punch?!"
Could it be that Peter was getting stronger again in the middle of the fight?!
In the center of the battlefield, Peter stared at his fist with a pensive expression. I definitely awakened Armament Haki, but why is it so inconsistent? What was different about that last punch?
He replayed the moment in his head. The conclusion he reached was that his emotional state during that specific strike had been more... frustrated?
Is that it? In the lore of One Piece, Haki is the power of "will"—the firm belief that you are a powerhouse. If your will wavers, the Haki fails. (Just ask Moria.)
So... he needed to shift his mindset? He needed to believe that no matter how strong the Hulk grew through rage, he could crush him fairly and squarely?
Peter looked at the Hulk climbing out of the ruins. He hesitated for a moment, then performed a legendary (if slightly taunting) move: he beckoned with one finger.
"Come here!"
Sure enough, a massive vein throbbed on Hulk's forehead. With a feral roar, he locked his hands into a double-fist hammer and swung down at Peter. Peter forced himself to ignore his speed advantage and raised his fist to meet the blow.
CRASH!
The next second, Peter was hammered straight into the ground.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The enraged Hulk seized the chance, raining a frenzy of punches down into the pit where Peter lay.
Having lost the initiative, Peter could only raise his arms to protect his face, utilizing the Horse Talisman to heal his injuries instantly. But the Hulk was relentless; he didn't know the meaning of fatigue.
"Peter!"
Tony, Gwen, and the others were horrified, instinctively rushing forward to help. But as they approached, a roar erupted from the deep crater:
"ENOUGH!"
BOOM!
The Hulk's massive body was suddenly blown backward, and Peter soared out of the pit. As he reappeared, everyone noticed a dramatic change.
Peter's white-and-gold armor was gone—from the waist up, his body was now coated in pure, glossy black.
Armament Hardening!
Though the coating receded slightly after the initial burst, Peter felt the change. He finally understood: for him, "will" wasn't about being "Number One in the World." It was the will to protect his loved ones and ensure they were never harmed.
When he had seen Gwen and Felicia rushing toward the danger to save him, the bottleneck shattered. His Haki wasn't just summoned; it covered half his body, and its intensity spiked to a new level.
It turns out you two were the key to my Haki all along...
Just as Peter mastered the feeling, the Hulk rose again. Still fuming, he tried to replicate his earlier success. But this time, Peter didn't use a fist. He held his hand open, fingers straight.
Armament Hardening: Hell Stab!
Under the stunned gazes of the onlookers, Peter's spear-hand stabbed into the Hulk's incoming fist. The two forces locked in mid-air.
During the stalemate, Peter slowly curled two fingers inward.
Zzzzt!
As his pinky and ring finger retracted, the lightning surrounding him exploded in intensity. In this surge of power, Peter—half the size of his opponent—pressed the Hulk down into the earth.
"It's over."
As the Hulk watched in terror, Peter slowly curled his middle finger.
Puchi—!
With only two fingers extended, Peter's hand pierced through the Hulk's palm. But he didn't stop there.
His index finger, driven by the momentum of a piercing spear, slammed into the Hulk's chest, boring a hole straight through the center...
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