"Wait!"
Kozuki Sukiyaki suddenly jumped up, staring at the sword on Tashigi's waist, his eyes full of disbelief.
"What's wrong, Mr. Feiche?" Tashigi asked, looking at Kozuki Sukiyaki curiously.
It was the first time Mr. Feiche had lost his composure since they met. Even when they first encountered each other, Mr. Feiche did not show such an expression. The name Kozuki Sukiyaki had told Tashigi and Ace was his pseudonym, Tenguyama Hitetsu, but Tashigi called him Mr. Feiche.
Tashigi's Observation Haki sensed Kozuki Sukiyaki's emotions and sight, and she followed his gaze to the Shusui on her waist.
"This, this sword..." Kozuki Sukiyaki's hands began to tremble with excitement.
"Clang!" Tashigi unsheathed Shusui generously, stroking its intricate lines. "Is Mr. Feiche also a sword fan? This is one of the twenty-one great swords, the famous Shusui."
"Shusui, it's really Shusui!" Kozuki Sukiyaki's eyes widened in astonishment as he looked at the blackened blade, trembling with emotion.
"Tashigi, where did you get this sword?" Kozuki Sukiyaki asked, attempting to calm himself.
"Thriller Bark. Moria used the power of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit to animate a zombie from the corpse of a swordsman. The sword of that zombie was Shusui. After I purified him, he entrusted Shusui to me," Tashigi explained, recalling the vivid memory of that battle.
"What was the name of the swordsman?" Kozuki Sukiyaki asked, his eyes filled with complexity.
"Ryuma," Tashigi said slowly, her red lips parting as she remembered the legendary swordsman.
"Ryuma! So, Moria stole Ryuma's body and our Wanokuni national treasure, the famous sword Shusui," Kozuki Sukiyaki gritted his teeth in anger.
"Wanokuni's national treasure?" Tashigi was stunned, hearing this for the first time.
"Yes, Wanokuni is home to many renowned swordsmiths, and many of the great swords were forged by them," Kozuki Sukiyaki said, his eyes filled with memories. Before Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi colluded and occupied Wanokuni, although the country was relatively closed off due to historical reasons, everything was so beautiful.
"Many famous swords?!" Tashigi's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Yes, judging by the maintenance of Shusui, you must be someone who truly loves swords," Kozuki Sukiyaki smiled warmly at Tashigi.
At this moment, his impression of Tashigi and Ace improved greatly. If Ryuma had entrusted Shusui to Tashigi, these two must not be associated with Kaido or Kurozumi Orochi. Additionally, as an excellent swordsmith himself, Kozuki Sukiyaki held a high regard for those who loved and appreciated swords.
"All of them? What famous swords?" Tashigi asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "My second dream is to collect all the famous swords from the hands of bad guys."
She took out a small notebook, her pretty face full of joy. Ace heard this and smiled. Tashigi's first dream, needless to say, was to follow him and use her power to clear obstacles on his way to becoming the king of the world.
"What famous swords are there? There are many. The Second Generation Kitetsu, one of the 21 Great Swords; the famous sword Enma, one of the 21 Great Swords; the famous sword Wado Ichimonji, one of the 21 Great Swords; the famous sword Ame-no-Habakiri, and the one in your hand, the only known black sword among the Great Swords, Shusui," Kozuki Sukiyaki generously introduced.
Hearing the names of these famous swords, Tashigi exclaimed while recording them in her little notebook. Despite the limited number of twenty-one Great Swords, so many originated from Wanokuni. Although she hadn't seen these swords in person, Tashigi was satisfied knowing they were forged by Wanokuni craftsmen.
"Do you want to see these famous swords?" Kozuki Sukiyaki asked with a smile, noticing Tashigi's enthusiasm.
"Mr. Feiche, do you have these famous swords?!" Tashigi's eyes brightened with excitement.
"There are only three, but wait for me," Kozuki Sukiyaki said, standing up and walking towards another room.
Soon, he returned with a box and a single famous sword.
"This, this is..." Tashigi's eyes widened with excitement as she saw the sword.
"Clang!" Kozuki Sukiyaki unsheathed the sword. "One of the twenty-one Great Swords, the Second Generation Kitetsu!"
Tashigi's eyes sparkled as she carefully examined every pattern on the Second Generation Kitetsu. She diligently recorded the details of the famous sword in her small notebook.
"This sword was made by your ancestors, Mr. Feiche," Ace said with a faint smile.
"You, how do you know?!" Kozuki Sukiyaki was stunned, looking at Ace in shock.
"This sword told me," Ace replied, his mouth curling up slightly.
The power of listening to the voice of all things is indeed magical, allowing Ace to hear the voice of the famous sword. The Second Generation Kitetsu, worthy of being called a demon sword, revealed an ominous aura.
"Could it be..." Kozuki Sukiyaki's eyes were filled with shock as he looked at Ace. "You can listen to the voice of all things?"
"Yes, this Second Generation Kitetsu was indeed forged by my ancestor," Kozuki Sukiyaki said slowly.
"No, what Mr. Feiche said is not entirely accurate," Ace said, his mouth curling up slightly. "To be precise, it should be forged by the person you regard as your ancestor, right?"
Kozuki Sukiyaki had changed his real name to Tenguyama Hitetsu and regarded the famous swordsmith Tenguyama Kotetsu of Wanokuni as his ancestor. This was sincere, and even the Second Generation Kitetsu forged by Tenguyama Kotetsu recognized his identity. However, this could not be hidden from Ace, who had the ability to listen to the voice of all things and practiced Observation Haki to the Ultimate.
"!!!" Kozuki Sukiyaki's pupils shrank violently. The ability to listen to the voice of all things was so powerful that even the Second Generation Kitetsu, which recognized his identity as the descendant of Tenguyama Kotetsu, could not hide it from Ace.
"Ace's power is the best in the sea," Tashigi remarked, observing Kozuki Sukiyaki's reaction.
"The best in the sea?" Kozuki Sukiyaki's expression shifted rapidly, reflecting his incredulity. The concept of being the best in the sea was immense, a claim even the fearsome Kaido, who ruled Wanokuni with Kurozumi Orochi, would hesitate to make.
Yet, as Kozuki Sukiyaki looked at Tashigi and Ace, he felt an inexplicable sense that this young girl wasn't exaggerating. Am I going mad? he thought, shaking his head fiercely. How could such a young man possess power surpassing that of Kaido of the Beasts?
"I have two more famous swords here," Kozuki Sukiyaki said, opening a box he had brought with him.
Tashigi's eyes sparkled with excitement as she saw the contents. "How?! Two of the twenty-one great swords, the famous sword Enma and the famous sword Ame no Habakiri!"
Kozuki Sukiyaki pointed proudly at the swords. "These two swords once belonged to my son, Kozuki Oden. After his death, they remained in my care. I had hoped to pass Ame no Habakiri to my grandson, but his whereabouts and fate are unknown."
Tashigi's excitement grew as she reached out to unsheathe the swords. "Famous sword Enma, famous sword Ame no Habakiri!"
"Wait!" Kozuki Sukiyaki stopped her just in time.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Mr. Feiche?" Tashigi asked, puzzled.
"Enma is not just any sword. It can absorb the wielder's Haki. If you're not prepared, it could drain you completely," Kozuki Sukiyaki explained seriously.
"Is there such a sword?" Tashigi was taken aback. The idea of a sword that could absorb Haki was astounding.
"Interesting, let me see," Ace said, his interest piqued.
"If you're not a swordsman, it will be even more dangerous to hold this sword," Kozuki Sukiyaki warned, shocked by Ace's nonchalance.
"Don't worry, Mr. Feiche. Ace will be fine," Tashigi reassured him with a chuckle. In her mind, if Ace, the strongest in the sea, couldn't handle Enma, no one could.
Ace smiled gently at Tama, who had just woken up and rubbed her eyes. "Let's go outside and watch me try this famous sword," he said, pinching her cheek.
"Yeah," Tama nodded obediently, though she didn't fully understand what was happening.
The group moved to a cliff. Kozuki Sukiyaki watched Ace nervously. "Is he really okay? He's not a swordsman."
"Don't worry, Mr. Feiche. If Ace can't control Enma, no one in this world can," Tashigi repeated confidently.
Ace stood at the edge of the cliff, holding Enma horizontally before him. A smile played on his lips as he unsheathed the sword.
"Clang!"
The moment Enma was unsheathed, a magical wave of energy emanated from the blade, pouring into Ace's body, targeting his Haki.
"Interesting. I want to see how much Haki you can consume," Ace said, feeling the sword's pull. Instead of resisting, he laughed, his eyes flashing with black and purple lightning.
"Boom!!!"
A violent burst of Conqueror's Haki roared from Ace, turning the sky a terrifying black and purple. The full force of his king-level Conqueror's Haki was unleashed.
"!!!"
"Boom!"
"Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!"
Violent black and purple lightning surged across the sky, dyeing everything in shades of ultimate violence. Each flash carried terrifying energy, causing the sea to churn with monstrous waves. The sky seemed to be torn apart by invisible hands, with air currents rolling back madly through the rips. The ground trembled violently, making it impossible for anyone to stand.
The sky was tearing, the earth was shaking, and the sea was roaring. This was the terrifying power of Conqueror's Haki at its peak!
On Onigashima Island near Wanokuni, Kaido, in the midst of a banquet with Charlotte Linlin, suddenly stopped. Linlin, standing nearby, slowly closed her mouth, her eyes turning bloodshot.
"!!!"
"This, this is!!!" Kaido exclaimed.
"Bang!"
Kaido's hand crushed the wine bowl he was holding as he looked toward Wanokuni. Such Haki could only belong to one person in the sea now!
"Such strong Haki! So that's why you want to join forces with me," Linlin said slowly, her usual eerie smile replaced by a look of bloodshot intensity.
The strength of this Conqueror's Haki surpassed even that of Shanks. It had reached the level of Rocks, Whitebeard, and Roger at their peak. This Conqueror's Haki was one level stronger than that of the current Four Emperors.
This level of Conqueror's Haki alone was not something Linlin or Kaido could contend with individually. Furthermore, Linlin had witnessed the Entei event broadcast, showcasing the Flame Emperor's immense power.
Ace, the Flame Emperor, wasn't just formidable in Conqueror's Haki. His mastery of the Mera-Mera Fruit had evolved towards the power of the sun through unknown methods. Even Akainu, the former Admiral of Headquarters and now Marine Marshal, who wielded the Lava-Lava Fruit, known for its devastating attack power, couldn't match Ace's pure Devil Fruit ability. Such a person was simply beyond the reach of any single Four Emperor to challenge.
However, when she and Kaido teamed up, Charlotte Linlin still felt confident.
Just as no single Four Emperor could stand against two Admirals of Headquarters, history showed that no one could resist the combined might of two Four Emperors. Not even Whitebeard at his peak, Pirate King Gol D. Roger, or Rocks D. Xebec, the sole overlord of that era.
Despite the Entei Pirates' power surge after former Admiral of Headquarters Kuzan joined and became the captain of the First Squad, they still hadn't reached the level of the Four Emperors. Linlin believed that if she and Kaido could defeat the Flame Emperor, they would dominate the battlefield.
Charlotte Linlin, lacking full information, was shocked by Ace's Conqueror's Haki but remained confident of winning the war.
"Huh, he actually rushed directly to the heart of Wanokuni, but it was also within my expectations," Kaido said. "The joint blockade of Naval Headquarters and the World Government couldn't prevent Ace from sneaking into the core area of Sabaody Archipelago and launching a public execution at the human auction."
Kaido stood up and spoke deeply, looking towards Wanokuni. He was unsurprised by Ace's sudden arrival and direct invasion.
After the Entei incident, the Entei Pirates had showcased their ability to sneak into Sabaody Archipelago under the World Government's surveillance Net. The transparent fruit's power was enough to allow them entry anywhere silently. Ace himself had revealed his ability to use multiple Devil Fruits, including the door-door fruit, paw fruit, and transparent fruit.
Ace's myriad of abilities had even forced the Five Elders to concede during the Entei event to prevent Ace from launching a direct assault on the Holy Land Mariejois and massacring Celestial Dragons. This made Ace's movements unpredictable.
"We need to hurry. Wanokuni has no power to stop that man," Kaido said, frowning. "And I'm very concerned about why he went there, knowing we're on Onigashima."
Ace's power, wisdom, and the strategic skills, which surpassed even Sengoku's, made Kaido wary. Ace's terrifying wisdom turned all power to his advantage. Kaido himself had once been a pawn in Ace's game during the Entei incident, where the Entei Pirates had decisively won against the combined forces of the World Government and Naval Headquarters.
Kaido couldn't understand why Ace would enter Wanokuni and release Conqueror's Haki so openly. He didn't believe Ace would do something so pointless.
"We'll know what he wants soon enough," Charlotte Linlin said, grinning at Kaido's frown. Kaido, usually appearing as a drunkard, had sharp wisdom when needed. Linlin, relying solely on her monstrous strength, cared little for strategy.
"It can only be like this," Kaido said.
"Buzz! Whoosh!"
Kaido transformed, disappearing in white light and reappearing in the sky. His massive blue dragon form loomed in the clouds.
"King! Mobilize all combat forces and prepare!" Kaido shouted.
"Understood, Kaido-sama," King, the head of the Three Disasters, responded. Flames burned on his wings as he entered combat state.
Beside him stood Queen, the Plague Disaster, and Jack, the Drought Disaster.
"Is the war about to start!" Queen laughed.
"Let me meet the guys who killed Doflamingo. Kuzan, Fujitora! They're mine!" Jack's eyes were bloodshot.
"Mama! Mama! Katakuri, get ready," Charlotte Linlin called out, laughing.
"Yes, mama," Katakuri responded, though worry tinged his eyes. He had felt Ace's terrifying Conqueror's Haki even from a distance, doubting his ability to attack such a man.
Katakuri's resolve hardened. He would still protect his siblings no matter what.
Linlin's blood-red eyes fixed on King, revealing a creepy smile. The rare Lunarian race intrigued her. She fantasized about bringing one to Whole Cake Island or even birthing a Lunarian descendant. But first, they had to defeat Ace.
"Roar!!!" Kaido's massive roar echoed as he activated his Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Beast-Azure Dragon Form.
"Whoosh!"
Flame clouds appeared beneath Onigashima, lifting the island towards Wanokuni.
"War!!! This is, total war!!!" Kaido roared.
At this moment, Kozuki Sukiyaki sat down hard, his eyes wide with horror as he stared at Ace's back. The sheer force of Ace's Conqueror's Haki was overwhelming.
"Conqueror's Haki?! It's so strong! Even more terrifying than Kaido's! How can such Haki come from a young man?! Who is he?!"
The disbelief in Kozuki Sukiyaki's eyes was palpable. He had never imagined encountering such a formidable presence, especially from someone so young.
Meanwhile, Tashigi stood protectively in front of Tama, using the power of the transparent fruit to shield her from the overwhelming Haki. While Conqueror's Haki wouldn't directly harm Tama, Ace's Haki had grown so powerful that it could affect the physical world around them.
Tashigi's mastery over the transparent fruit had nearly reached the level of awakening. She had discovered that the fruit's power extended beyond mere invisibility; it could make vibrations, airflows, and even Haki itself transparent and ineffective if the Haki couldn't resist her ability. Though the transparent fruit didn't boost her combat power directly, it greatly enhanced her swordsmanship.
"Buzz! Buzz!" Enma cried out, the sword's previously unrestrained power now almost pleading within Ace's grasp. Despite being one of the twenty-one great swords, Enma couldn't withstand such a potent Haki infusion.
"Can't suck it anymore?" Ace chuckled, retracting his Haki. As his Haki withdrew, Enma attempted to absorb more, but a significant portion remained within Ace, enveloped by his enlightenment.
In Ace's mind, a line of text appeared, accompanied by a triumphant smile on his lips.
"You understanding is heaven-defying, through understanding, analyze Enma's Haki Siphoning, and combining it with the residual fire style--South: Burial of ten trillion deaths!"
"New ability: Haki absorption."
"Haki absorption: Requires the target to be killed, absorb all of their Haki and strengthen yourself!"
Ace's grin widened. This unexpected development was a phenomenal harvest.
Ace held Enma with a satisfied smile on his lips, marveling at the newfound ability of Haki absorption. The realization that he could gain such a power from Enma was beyond his expectations.
Haki absorption was unheard of ability. For someone who had awakened Conqueror's Haki, growing in strength was initially less challenging. Conqueror's Haki, even if not yet fully mastered in its advanced forms, marked its possessor as having the "King's Qualification." This designation came from the ability to naturally enhance Observation Haki and Armament Haki. As long as the user practiced, their Haki would advance rapidly, often surpassing the capabilities of senior Vice Admirals. Essentially, an awakened Conqueror's Haki meant that with consistent growth, the user could reach Admiral level or higher.
Mastery of Conqueror's Haki—achieving its full potential, including the ability to Infuse Conqueror's Haki—could elevate a person to the level of a Four Emperor. This potential is why those with Conqueror's Haki are considered to have the qualifications of a king.
However, as Haki grows stronger, further enhancement becomes increasingly difficult. The legendary figures of the previous era, like Rocks D. Xebec, Edward Newgate (Whitebeard), and Gol D. Roger, all saw their Haki reach a plateau once they surpassed the Four Emperors' level. Whitebeard's Haki even began to deteriorate due to age and weakening physical condition.
In contrast, Luffy's combat prowess with the Human-Human Fruit's Mythical Beast Nika form demonstrates an extreme example of Haki's potential. Nika's power, with its extraordinary ability to create things out of thin air and the perfect integration of Conqueror's Haki, Armament Haki, and Devil Fruit abilities, allowed Luffy to surpass the Four Emperors. Each of his blows combined the effects of all three powers, making his combat capability incredibly formidable.
Yet, this level of integration is rare. Most, even among the Four Emperors, must choose between focusing on Conqueror's Haki or Armament Haki. While Conqueror's Haki infusion is superior in raw power, Armament Haki still offers substantial strength and can elevate someone to Admiral level.
Luffy's exceptional power is largely due to the overwhelming nature of the Nika form, demonstrating the rarity of such a perfect fusion of abilities. Even with the protagonist's edge, improving Conqueror's Haki remains an arduous task. Ace, too, faced this challenge.
After the Entei incident, Ace's Conqueror's Haki had risen to a level that matched the Pirate King Gol D. Roger, surpassing even the Four Emperors. However, the enhancement of his Conqueror's Haki had almost come to a standstill. Despite the assistance of his extraordinary understanding, Ace found it increasingly difficult to advance further. He began to speculate that, although Haki theoretically could grow infinitely, in practice, it might have inherent limits, much like the human body.
Conqueror's Haki, while a reflection of the user's power, relies on the body as its vessel. As a carbon-based life form, the human body has natural constraints. Even Kaido, with his nearly invulnerable dragon form, could only develop his Devil Fruit's powers to a certain extent. This limitation suggested that the power carried by the body might also be finite.
The "King" level might represent the pinnacle of One piece world power. Breaking through this threshold would likely require new methods or extraordinary circumstances. Joy Boy, who mastered the Human-Human Fruit's Mythical Beast Nika form 800 years ago, integrated Conqueror's Haki, Armament Haki, and Devil Fruit powers to exceed traditional limits.
Ace, too, had potential methods to surpass these boundaries. The Mera-Mera Fruit's power could reach the sun's intensity, which might break through the King-level limits. However, enhancing the Mera-Mera Fruit itself remained challenging, as it depended heavily on Ace's own physical and nutritional needs. Despite having the ability to absorb nutrients, Ace's physical growth required more and more nutrients, and even the immense Sea Kings could not fully sustain him.
The Entei Pirates were researching nutrient solutions, with Kaya managing the research. Despite Kaya's skills as a doctor, the progress was slow due to her lack of experience in advanced research. Ace's pursuit of creating a world with unprecedented productivity through the field of enlightenment was also a time-consuming and resource-intensive endeavor. To achieve this, he would need to overthrow the World Government, which controlled most of the world's resources.
Ace's stagnation in Haki, physical growth, and Devil Fruit power highlighted his need to discover new ways to advance even further. With the new acquisition of Haki absorption, Ace saw a promising new path.
"Haki...can it finally be strengthened again?" Ace mused as he observed Enma, his smile widening with anticipation.
The war in Wanokuni, with two Four Emperors—Kaido and BIG-MOM—present, was an opportunity. By defeating them and absorbing their Haki, Ace wondered how much stronger he could become. This upcoming battle promised to be even more thrilling.
"Clang!"
Ace sheathed Enma and approached Tashigi and the others with a confident stride.
"Who are you?" Kozuki Sukiyaki, still reeling from the impact of Ace's Conqueror's Haki, asked in a daze.
"Me?" Ace's lips curved into a playful grin. "I'm Portgas D. Ace, a pirate."
"It can't be just that. With such Haki, you must be someone significant."
Kozuki Sukiyaki's confusion was evident, reflecting the isolation from current events and the lack of recent news.
"Let me introduce you," Tashigi said proudly, stepping forward. "Our captain, the admiral of the Entei Pirates Fleet, the strongest in the world, and the man with the highest bounty of 5.055 billion Baileys."
Kozuki Sukiyaki's eyes widened in shock. "5 billion Baileys?!!!"
The staggering bounty was far beyond even Kaido's, and it seemed to eclipse the legendary Whitebeard. This revelation left Kozuki Sukiyaki stunned, questioning what had transpired in the world outside.
"Why did you come to Wanokuni?" Sukiyaki managed to ask, his voice trembling.
"To liberate Wano. The Four Emperors Kaido and BIG-MOM have formed a pirate alliance."
Kozuki Sukiyaki's expression crumbled as he realized the gravity of the situation. Four Emperors joining forces was unprecedented, and the implications were terrifying.
"You guessed it right. They formed the alliance specifically to resist against me," Ace confirmed with a knowing smile.
"....."
Kozuki Sukiyaki stared at Ace and Tashigi blankly.
He really wanted to ask, did Ace only bring two people to defeat the two Four Emperors?
Bulu Bulu Bulu!
At that moment, Ace's Den Den Mushi rang.
Click!
Ace answered the call, and Violet's voice crackled through the receiver. "Admiral, Onigashima is flying towards Wanokuni under Kaido's power."
Ace's lips curved into a slight smile. "They're here? How are the others?"
"The Flower Capital has been turned upside down," Violet reported. "Mr. Fujitora and Mr. Kuzan have been incredible. Nami and the others are also fully engaged. Kurozumi Orochi, who's been severely injured by Nami, is fleeing with his subordinates."
Ace chuckled at Violet's words. The sight of Kurozumi Orochi, having squandered the formidable Snake-Snake Fruit—Mythical Beast Yamata no Orochi form, now fleeing in disgrace, was almost poetic. Though the Devil Fruit was a powerful one, it was wasted on someone as inept as Orochi. In contrast, Nami's ability to face the Four Emperors head-on was a testament to her strength. If not for the intervention of Kaido and the Beasts Pirates, she alone could have toppled Wanokuni.
"The power of the Thunder Fruit is truly overwhelming," Ace remarked. "Understood. Let Nami and the others handle it swiftly. The war is imminent."
"Got it, Admiral," Violet replied.
Click!
Kozuki Sukiyaki stood in stunned silence, trying to process the chaotic news. Kurozumi Orochi, gravely injured and fleeing? His army completely collapsing? The situation seemed almost too much to fathom.
Turning to Tashigi, Ace tossed her Enma. "I understand your request. You want to exchange Enma for Shusui? Fine by me."
Ace's smile broadened. "After all, Wanokuni will soon be my territory, and these famed swords will be useful regardless of their location. Gion's White Tiger Form ability can harness the power of any renowned sword within range."
Tashigi accepted the sword with a nod, placing Enma on her waist and Shusui into its box. Her eyes sparkled with renewed determination.
"The war has begun!" Ace declared, his Observation Haki having already glimpsed the imminent arrival of Onigashima. His laughter echoed with anticipation, ready for the clash ahead.