What spread through this space was not Conqueror's Haki.
Yet it was equally soul-shaking.
King the Wildfire, with a bounty of 1.03 billion, possessed an overwhelming presence by his very existence.
And behind him stood the strongest creature who had suppressed countless pirates and was hailed as a Sea Emperor—Kaido!!
...
...
"The Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea, and now even the All-Star of the Beasts Pirates has arrived..."
"This is truly a grand spectacle! What huge news!!"
Perched on a red tree branch dozens of miles away, Morgans held up his binoculars, his beak constantly opening and closing as he excitedly hopped up and down.
...
——
"I've observed carefully—that kid's weapon contains Sea Stone, but it didn't affect you upon contact."
King, wearing his black iron helmet, looked down at Kari: "I'm certain you're not a Devil Fruit user, so..."
"Are you truly... one of my people?"
Wano Country was the sole source of Sea Stone, and King understood it all too well.
The Sea Stone at the tip of Griffin's spear was of extremely high purity—even in Wano Country, it would be considered 'premium grade.' Being able to come into direct contact without being affected definitely meant he wasn't a Devil Fruit user.
Kari's flames were strikingly similar to his own, almost indistinguishable aside from being more refined.
Given all these factors, while King appeared to be asking a question, he had already reached his own conclusion.
...
In essence, their flames were indeed the same.
King could convert life energy into flames due to his racial traits, while Chakra, in a certain sense, represented a deeper level of life energy.
...
After a moment of silence, Kari spoke calmly.
"No..."
"You, who haven't received the inheritance, are not qualified to call me your kin."
"Your usage of flames remains at the most basic stage of enhancing defense—you're not even as skilled as I was in my childhood."
...
King's pupils contracted sharply, utterly astonished.
It was true—the primary function of his flames wasn't offense but boosting his defense, enabling him to survive in various extreme environments.
When his flames vanished, his speed increased, but his defense plummeted drastically.
...
What shocked him wasn't just that Kari had instantly identified the weakness of his flames.
The implications behind those words served as indirect proof...
Kari was indeed one of his people—and a descendant who had received complete inheritance and guidance from their kin!!
"Kari..."
King's voice trembled slightly as he asked with difficulty: "Are there... still others of our kind?!!"
...
Kari shook his head: "After the teacher who taught me died, there should be none left."
...
"I see... I understand..."
King took a deep breath, sweeping his gaze imperiously over the crowd. Watching the Marines closing in, he declared firmly:
"I'm taking him with me. Anyone who dares to interfere..."
"Be prepared to wage war against the Beasts Pirates and the strongest creature, Kaido!!"
Proud as King was, he didn't believe he could break through the encirclement with Kari alone, so he decisively invoked the name of his boss, Kaido.
...
The Marines gripping their weapons murmured among themselves.
"The Beasts Pirates..."
"I recall the World Government has orders—we can't engage them without authorization."
"Kaido is..."
...
...
"Who said I was leaving."
Kari spoke coldly.
"There's a prey before me more intriguing than the Celestial Dragons. How could I bear to leave?"
Following Kari's gaze, King looked toward Griffin, who had remained silent all along.
...
"What's the deal with that guy? He's just a Marine officer. What's so noteworthy about him?"
...
Kari grinned, his face showing a distinct expression for the first time: "In ancient records, we are the Tribe of Fire dwelling in the heavens, while they are the Snow Clan living on the icy plains."
"It was a prolonged war spanning thousands of years."
"I thought it was merely a false legend, but it turns out it truly exists..."
"Unparalleled insight, a gaze capable of piercing through flames—the proof of that clan."
"Kid... if I'm not mistaken, your surname is Uchiha, isn't it?"
...
...
"It seems you haven't been reading the newspapers lately. This kid is practically the second most famous person after you recently," King added.
"Uchiha Griffin, the Marine's rising star, known for repelling the Red Hair Pirates several months ago."
...
"As expected..."
Kari lowered his gaze, staring intently at Griffin: "I must kill him! We absolutely cannot allow the bloodline of that clan to continue!"
...
King glanced at Hawkeye standing beside Griffin, feeling somewhat troubled.
Although he had never fought Hawkeye before, he had clashed with the Red Hair Pirates in the New World.
That young red-haired captain had displayed strength not inferior to Kaido in his youth. After a brief exchange, King knew he was no match and retreated promptly.
Given that Hawkeye and Red Hair were evenly matched, both vying for the title of the world's Great Swordsman...
This man...
...
King wasn't afraid to fight Hawkeye; since he had shown up, he was confident he could ensure Kari's safe escape.
But if a real battle broke out... that might not be certain anymore.
...
Griffin, who had been silently listening to Kari's account, finally spoke.
"This is the first time I've heard such a story..."
"Is there anything else I don't know?"
Kari sneered, "If your Sharingan awakens, you might receive the complete inheritance."
"But you won't get that chance!"
"You're called King, right? Hold off Mihawk. I'll go kill him!"
Whoosh!!
With a light shout, the flames on Kari's back erupted with immense thrust, propelling him forward in an instant!
...
Though confused, King's body moved on instinct, charging forward and drawing his sword to block Mihawk's Black Blade.
He turned his head to watch the two locked in combat once again.
"Kari! At least tell me the reason for this fight! Your mission to hunt the Celestial Dragons has already failed. Why are you still pursuing this?!"
...
Kari didn't answer him.
Instead, it was Hawkeye, who seemed to be swinging his sword casually, who responded.
...
"You still don't get it?"
"You're the only one who can't see that guy's terrifying potential."
Hawkeye's golden pupils narrowed slightly; even while fighting King, he had spare attention to observe the other battle.
...
At first, Griffin was calmly defending with his spear held in both hands.
But at some point, he had discarded the spear and drawn two steel blades from his waist.
The tomoe in his Sharingan spun rapidly, capturing every subtle movement of Kari.
The angle of his wrist rotations, the distance of his footwork, the rhythm of his breathing and sword swings—
All this information was constantly being deconstructed and reconstructed in his mind.
...
Ordinary people using Shaped Magic Puppets could only absorb the accumulated experience after the puppet shattered six times.
But Griffin was no ordinary man.
Compared to the monotonous day-to-day training, life-and-death battles were the nourishment that fueled his evolution.
It all stemmed from the Sharingan.
The unparalleled insight and replication ability of these eyes, also known as the Copy Wheel Eye!
In just a few minutes.
Griffin's slightly clumsy dual-blade blocking became fluid, his sword techniques began to carry traces of Kari's style, and he even started imitating Kari's unique sheathing pause.
...
...
Hawkeye, who was battling King, couldn't help but murmur.
"That guy... those eyes are like a black hole, greedily absorbing Kari's combat experience!!"