A terrifying pressure rippled across the island, shaking everything within its reach. Even the ground beneath their feet trembled under Thorne Ashveil's overwhelming Conqueror's Haki.
Lightning flashed above as storm clouds gathered, plunging the sky into darkness. Birds and beasts scattered in panic, their cries echoing through the air.
Donquixote Doflamingo stood frozen, a cold sweat forming on his brow. Though he had witnessed Ashveil's strength during the Marineford War, he'd been too far away back then to truly feel it. That day, he'd only been shocked by the sight of the destruction.
But this time—he could feel it. The crushing pressure, the weight of that will, made even the Heavenly Demon's pulse quicken.
"So this is what it's like up close…" Doflamingo muttered, struggling to maintain composure. His trademark grin faltered as his instincts screamed danger.
Just standing here… I can barely breathe. Hah… seems I really picked the right ally this time, he thought with a nervous chuckle.
Before he could steady himself, Pica's shrill voice rang out from behind him.
"Doffy! Look! Is that… Mr. Ashveil's weapon?!"
"What?"
Doflamingo turned sharply. Above Ashveil's head, a golden greatsword had materialized—radiating a blinding light.
At once, every sword, dagger, and blade within sight began to tremble uncontrollably. Pirates all around instinctively gripped their weapons, eyes wide with disbelief.
Flower Sword Vista tightened his hold on his blade, his jaw dropping.
"Impossible…! That sword… it's a legendary blade said to surpass even the Supreme Grade swords. The Strongest Sword! Could it be..."
Even Whitebeard, usually unshaken, narrowed his eyes at the sight. But it wasn't the sword that startled him.
No—he knew what it really was.
That wasn't a weapon. It was Conqueror's Haki—condensed into form.
Yet this time, it was different. Ashveil's Haki didn't feel dense like before; instead, it radiated an inexplicably heavy, metallic presence—like solid gold.
Activating his Observation Haki to its limit, Whitebeard's expression turned solemn. The aura wasn't mixed with any Devil Fruit ability—it was pure, naturally golden Haki.
"Golden Conqueror's Haki…" he murmured, shaking his head. "What a terrifying brat."
On the battlefield, Ashveil raised his gaze to Mihawk and spoke in a calm, measured tone.
"It's a bit inconvenient, Mihawk. I'm in a hurry today, so I don't intend to drag this out."
His lips curved slightly.
"You won't last a single strike against me."
Mihawk didn't flinch. Instead, his excitement flared.
Ever since the Marineford War, the World's Greatest Swordsman had used Ashveil as his imaginary opponent—training day and night, pushing himself to new limits. He'd broken through barriers that once seemed unreachable, even grasping fragments of the techniques Ashveil had demonstrated in the past.
"Don't underestimate me, Ashveil!" Mihawk shouted, eyes blazing with fierce determination. "Because of you, I've grown stronger than ever before!"
He raised his Black Blade: Yoru, and a titanic wave of energy surged forth. A black slash, vast as the heavens, split through the sky itself.
"This is the strongest technique I've mastered—Autonomous Ultra Instinct Slash! Face it and guide me, if you will!"
The power of his swing tore through the storm. Winds howled. The sky seemed to crack apart, scattering the dark clouds brought by Ashveil's Haki. Trees were uprooted, waves crashed, and the sea churned violently under the force of Mihawk's attack.
"See my progress, Ashveil!" Mihawk roared. "I've trained every day to reach this point—to catch up to you!"
But then—
Ashveil's Golden Conqueror's Haki erupted once more, expanding outward like a divine storm, covering the entire island in its glow.
Mihawk's eyes widened. "This… this Haki…" His hands trembled slightly as he gritted his teeth. "Even I'm sweating?!"
Before the massive slash could land, Ashveil's figure blurred—vanishing from sight.
When Mihawk's blade finally struck, Ashveil was already standing several meters away, unharmed, his coat fluttering in the aftershock.
"What—?!" Mihawk's pupils shrank. "He dodged?!"
He had always believed Ashveil never evaded attacks—out of arrogance or indifference. He'd assumed the man lacked the movement speed to bother. But this? This was something else entirely.
Did he always have this ability? Or… has he grown even stronger? Mihawk thought in stunned silence.
Ashveil smiled faintly. In truth, he hadn't used any special movement technique. Within the domain of his Golden Conqueror's Haki, he could shift his position freely—like a god moving through his own realm.
Testing his newfound ability, Ashveil mused aloud, "Not bad… seems I've gained a bit of agility now. Though, the energy drain is enormous—my Haki depletes ten times faster than before."
He then smirked, unbothered. "Fortunately, my Phoenix Fruit's regeneration can handle it. Combined with Supreme King Fusion Haki, I can maintain this for quite a while."
His voice was confident.
The golden aura around him shimmered like sunlight piercing through a storm.
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