Boom!
On Ruskaina Island, two forces clashed violently, Haki soaring into the sky, entwined with the trees, sand, and rocks, lifting them high into the air. The explosive energy sent shockwaves rippling across the landscape, spreading outwards like the burst of a mushroom cloud.
The clouds above shattered, while powerful waves of air, visible to the naked eye, expanded in all directions, radiating from the center of the island.
Nearby, a towering hundred-meter-tall tree was uprooted, while in the distance, ancient trees splintered, their branches snapping as if caught in a colossal storm.
The massive beasts that roamed the island dropped to the ground, bowing before the immense force, their instincts screaming that something godlike had touched down on the island. In the world of Pirates, creatures other than humans often possessed a kind of spirituality, and in some cases, intelligence rivaling humanity. The beasts of Ruskaina were no exception.
Hush... hush... hush...
The ocean waves surged violently.
"Hold the ship steady! Don't let it capsize!" shouted one of the crew members from the Kuja Pirates, her voice barely audible over the roaring sea.
The giant Sea Kings nearby fled in a panic, terrified by the disturbance on the island. Even the venomous sea serpent that pulled the Kuja ship trembled with fear as the ship was thrown about by the waves.
On deck, Hancock and her crew watched in horror as the massive explosion erupted on the island. Even in her usually aloof and confident demeanor, Hancock's eyes widened with fear.
"This... this power... it's terrifying!" she thought, her heart racing.
Though Hancock often masked her vulnerability with pride and haughtiness, in the face of such overwhelming power, her fragile side crept to the surface. For a brief moment, the proud Pirate Empress felt utterly powerless.
Meanwhile, the other warriors of the Kuja Pirates stood fearlessly, ready for battle despite the chaos around them.
Back on the island...
Leno and Rayleigh clashed, their Armament Haki exploding into the air as they recoiled from one another, both landing hard on the ground.
Thud!
Leno skidded back, leaving deep grooves in the ground beneath his feet. He collided with a boulder, more than ten meters tall, shattering it into pieces.
Taking a deep breath, Leno steadied himself, his eyes fixed on the wide rift that stretched out between him and Rayleigh. The two warriors had torn the island apart with their battle, leaving cracks that extended toward the horizon.
The ground hissed as molten magma and seawater surged into the rift, creating a cloud of steam that rose into the sky.
On the far side of the battlefield, Rayleigh lay among the rubble, breathing heavily, his glasses shattered. He glanced up at the sky, his lips curling into a faint smile.
"It's been a long time since I've seen a sky like this," he muttered.
Suddenly, Leno appeared beside him, speaking with admiration.
"As expected of Roger's right hand... You're still as strong as ever!"
Rayleigh shook his head, chuckling as he sat up. "Ah, it's no use. I can't keep up with you youngsters anymore. My stamina isn't what it used to be."
Rayleigh glanced at Leno, his tattered clothes revealing a well-built, bronze-toned body. He couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. There was a time when he and Roger could fight for days without rest, but that time had long passed.
"It's not the Haki that's failing me," Rayleigh said with a sigh.
"It's the body... Strength fades with age, even if your skills remain sharp. Wounds don't heal as fast, and Haki doesn't recover like it used to."
Leno, however, still stood strong. His body healed quickly, and despite the fierce impact he had endured, he was far from defeated.
Rayleigh waved his hand. "That's enough for today. I don't think my old bones can take much more. Besides, if we keep going, this island might not survive."
In the world of One Piece, battles between top-tier warriors were often cataclysmic. Islands were regularly laid to waste by such intense clashes.
Rayleigh looked around the battlefield. "We wouldn't want to turn Ruskaina into a wasteland, now would we?"
Leno's breathing had already steadied, his young body brimming with energy.
He asked, "Did you notice anything about my technique?"
Rayleigh nodded slightly. "Yes. It's a lack of sharpness."
"Sharpness?" Leno frowned, confused.
Rayleigh explained, "You focus too much on defense with your Armament Haki. It's heavy, like a hammer, but it lacks the precision and sharpness you need."
He continued, "Garp's Haki is similar to yours, but his has a sharpness to it that yours lacks."
Leno's eyes lit up as realization dawned on him. "I see... I've been using Armament Haki like a blunt weapon. I've been so focused on defense that I've been missing the offensive edge."
Rayleigh nodded. "Exactly. You've been treating your Haki like armor, but it's holding you back. You need to find balance between offense and defense. Focus more on attacking, honing your Haki to be as sharp as a sword."
Leno's mind raced. He had always trained his Haki through forging, treating it like a hammer. But now, he understood that it needed to be more than just a defensive tool—it needed to cut like a sword.
"I get it now," Leno said, his voice filled with determination. "I need to focus on the sharpness of my Haki, not just its strength."
Rayleigh smiled. "You've got it. Now, sharpen your blade, Leno. You'll need it to face Kaido."
Leno, eager to continue his training, asked, "What about Conqueror's Haki? How can I improve it?"
Rayleigh shook his head. "Conqueror's Haki isn't something you can train. It grows with you, with your spirit. The stronger you become, the stronger your Conqueror's Haki will be."
Leno nodded, though a part of him was still curious. "But how can I use it more effectively? How do I master Conqueror's Haki in battle?"
Rayleigh, feeling slightly exasperated, waved his hand. "Tomorrow. We'll talk about it tomorrow. Focus on perfecting your Armament Haki first. You can't rush these things, Leno. Step by step."
He glanced toward the horizon. "Besides, it seems we have company. I'd better go check it out."
Rayleigh stood up, rubbing his back, and quietly made his exit.
He feared that if he spent a few more minutes chatting with Leno, his composure might crumble. Talking to monsters like Leno required a steel heart.
If not, their casual remarks would continuously cut through his defenses.
Rayleigh thought he'd seen it all when Shanks grew, but here was someone even more outrageous.
"Roger, the new era you foresaw... it's coming," Rayleigh murmured, feeling the shift in the world.
Leno sat cross-legged on the ground, his focus sharp.
[Ding! You've defeated your opponent. Scanning talents: Conqueror's Haki (SS level), Armament Haki (SS level), Observation Haki (SS level), Rayleigh Kendo (SS level), Physical Art (SS level), Strategy (SS level), Strength (S-level), Teaching (S-level), Shipwright (S-level), Coating (S-level), Affinity (S-level), Gambling (A-level)...]
Rayleigh's talent was extraordinary.
Leno was taken aback by the scan.
Five SS-level talents, all practical for combat and life.
Leno had a pretty good understanding of the system's grading. The SSS level indicated a unique mastery in that particular field.
Titles like "world's strongest" were reserved for those at that level.
Garp, with his world's strongest Armament Haki.
Kaido, the world's strongest creature.
Whitebeard, the world's strongest man.
And Shanks, the future world's strongest Conqueror's Haki user.
Though, the Shanks of East Blue was still far from his prime—much like Luffy when he first set out. Shanks' Conqueror's was barely awakened at that time.
Thus, developing SS-level talents to their peak was essential for greatness.
[Please select a talent to copy!]
No hesitation.
Leno sought out Rayleigh for his Conqueror's Haki.
"Conqueror's Haki, I choose you."
[Ding! Successfully copied talent: Conqueror's Haki.]
[Talent Info: Your potential as a king, your courage, and willpower define your strength!]
[Strength: SS-level]
[Ding! It has been detected that you already possess Conqueror's Haki. Would you like to fuse it?]
"Fuse!"
The system's light shimmered.
Two Conqueror's Haki talents merged into one.
The fusion process was swift, completed in mere moments.
[Ding! Your Conqueror's Haki has been advanced to SS level.]
Leno shut his eyes as the power coursed through him.
It felt like an unstoppable torrent of energy, vast and powerful, as if an ocean had been released inside him. He now wielded an endless reserve of Haki.
The combination of two Conqueror's Haki was not just a boost in quality but also in sheer quantity.
In this moment, Leno felt invincible.
He believed he could challenge Kaido, one of the Four Emperors, and emerge victorious.
Under this immense pressure, his confidence surged.
Leno brought up the system panel.
[Host Name: Leno]
[Real Age: 18]
[Battle Talents: Armament Haki (SSS level), Gluttonous Demon King (SS level), Wind's Blessing (SS level), Freezing (SS level), Observation Haki (SS level), Master of the Sword (SS level), Conqueror's Haki (SS level), Rokushiki (S level), Fish-men Karate (B level)]
[Auxiliary Talents: Music (SSS level), Strong Luck (SS level), Pianist (SS level), Craftsman's Soul (S level), Infection (S level), Underwater Breathing (D level), Gambling (D level), Shipwright (D level)]
[Strength Evaluation: You are at the pinnacle of Vice Admiral strength, possessing top-tier Armament Haki, a gluttonous appetite for battle, mastery of the sword, and boundless potential. Though strong, true warriors are forged in the crucible of battle. Evolve, young man—the winter's ice and the wind's blessing guide you. The future is yours.]
Leno's fist clenched with determination. His spirit was now untouchable.
The battle with Kaido would be his ultimate test, the forge where he'd prove his strength.
But just then, a frantic shout interrupted his thoughts.
"Help! Someone, help me!"
It was Buggy.
Leno's brow furrowed. Had he heard wrong?
No. Buggy's voice echoed again, unmistakable.
Leno launched into the air, propelled by the Geppo technique, and scanned the distance.
Sure enough, Buggy was on the beach, surrounded by the Kuja Pirates.
Where was Rayleigh? Wasn't he supposed to negotiate?
Leno couldn't spot him with his Observation Haki but overheard murmurs in the distance.
"Rayleigh's been petrified!!!"
"Hebihime-sama, isn't he Rayleigh? Shouldn't we reconsider?"
"Hmph! Rayleigh has visited Amazon Lily too many times with men. It's time he learns a lesson!"
"And besides, I'm far too beautiful—everything I do is forgiven!"
Leno suddenly understood. Rayleigh had been petrified by Hancock.
Hancock, the Paramecia-type Love-Love Fruit user, could turn anyone enchanted by her beauty to stone.
And she wasn't just any beauty. She was the most beautiful woman in the world.
Her ability was terrifyingly effective because so few could resist her charms.
But there were three ways to counter Hancock's power.
One, like Luffy, be entirely free of lust or infatuation.
Two, use powerful Armament Haki to resist her power.
Three, wield the Dark-Dark Fruit, which could nullify Devil Fruit abilities.
Leno weighed his options.
He activated his Fearless Heart talent.
Instantly, his mind cleared, and his will became unshakable.
With a swift step, Leno crossed the distance and landed on the beach.
"Ugh!"
Buggy was tied up like a fish in a net, with a gag stuffed in his mouth. He squirmed, but upon seeing Leno, his eyes sparkled with hope.
"A man?" Hancock's voice oozed disdain. "How dare you defy the beauty of my presence?"
Hancock's presence was captivating—long, flowing black hair, a pristine forehead, and a perfectly smooth complexion. Her dark blue eyes gleamed with a haughty chill. Her lips, soft and inviting, were offset by her snake-shaped gold earrings and a cheongsam-style purple dress that accentuated her elegance.
But Leno remained unmoved.
She may have been proud, but Leno was fearless. His arms crossed, his expression unyielding.
Hancock, the so-called greatest beauty in the world?
Leno's confidence surged.
With a snap, his SS-level Conqueror's Haki erupted.
His eyes glinted with gold, making him seem like a divine being.
The golden aura of his Conqueror's Haki shot out like lightning, flooding the area.
Hancock gasped.
All the Kuja Pirates around her collapsed instantly, their eyes rolling back as they succumbed to Leno's overwhelming will.
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+30 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg
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