Divine Departure is essentially releasing Conqueror's Haki in the form of a shockwave.
It couldn't be considered particularly exquisite - the reason it earned the name "Divine Departure" was due to the overwhelming strength of its two legendary users.
Compared to the more advanced Conqueror's Haki Infusion, this method of releasing it through a slash primarily tested the sheer intensity of one's Conqueror's Haki.
If someone like Chin Jao were to attempt it, the Conqueror's Haki would dissipate before even reaching the enemy.
...
Griffin had carefully observed Shanks using it twice - or more accurately, he had personally experienced it twice.
The second time, even if Shanks hadn't used his full power, it was still a serious strike that treated Griffin as an opponent of equal standing.
Through this, Griffin had grasped the key to executing the technique.
Possessing Flying Slash techniques and high-intensity Conqueror's Haki were the basic requirements, but the most crucial element was...
An indomitable will that knows no retreat!!
——
——
CLANG————!!
Before Spring Rain even made contact with the naginata, the point where they converged erupted with the deafening sound of clashing metal.
An arc of black-red energy tore through the sky and sea like an abyss, thunder cracking as it pulverized the warship's bow into dust.
CRACK—
Weevil's ferocious expression suddenly froze, the naginata in his hands shattering inch by inch before exploding into countless fragments.
A deep depression appeared on his chest, blood blossoming from the horrific impact.
With a roar of bitter resentment, Weevil's massive body traced a straight collision line before disappearing from view.
...
...
Griffin remained standing in place, his tattered Justice Coat slowly settling as the black energy covering Spring Rain gradually faded.
...
"So... so strong!!"
Doll leaned against the broken mast, lips slightly parted, her eyes filled with astonishment.
During the day after day of extreme training, she had felt herself getting closer and closer to Griffin.
"Soon enough, I'll be able to keep up with him!"
This fantasy shattered completely after witnessing this single slash.
...
"Cough cough..."
Griffin suddenly bent over, coughing up a mouthful of blood.
"What's wrong—"
Doll rushed forward anxiously, forgetting that only one of her legs was still functional, resulting in her face making violent and intimate contact with the deck.
Wiping the blood from his mouth, Griffin looked at Doll with a resigned expression.
"According to the script, this should have been a hero saving the beauty. How did it end up looking like a consumptive boss and his foolish subordinate?"
...
Griffin placed a hand over the wound on his chest, a faint blue glow emanating from his palm as he began healing the injury.
The long-distance pursuit had consumed massive amounts of stamina, using the Sharingan to counter Buckingham Stussy had drained his mental energy, and that final Conqueror's Haki-infused strike had taken the rest.
Only now did he finally have time to treat the damage Shanks had inflicted.
...
When Conqueror's Haki was used for attack, it carried a toxin-like effect - perhaps this was why advanced Conqueror's Haki could counter the immortality of the God's Knights.
...
During their first encounter, the two had been on completely different levels, and Griffin couldn't even properly gauge Shanks' strength.
With his current understanding, he could roughly assess Shanks' power level.
The seas didn't have clearly defined realm distinctions - the most precise classification system was the Marine ranks. Setting aside exceptions like Garp, military rank generally represented one's combat prowess.
Using Marine figures as reference points...
Though it feels somewhat disrespectful to say this about Instructor Zephyr, he was indeed the weakest Admiral Griffin had ever encountered.
If Zephyr didn't fall ill during battles, he'd likely be about a 60-40 match against Shanks.
Even if he couldn't see clearly, one thing Griffin was certain of: Shanks was definitely not this strong during their last meeting!
Is this Yang Guo's storyline, where losing an arm leads to a dramatic power increase?
...
Stop making random complaints during serious moments... you bastard..."
Doll turned her face away, spitting out wood chips from her mouth: "Are you still okay? Is that guy dead?"
Griffin shook his head:
"I don't know how strong Whitebeard's body was in his youth, but this guy..."
"Is ten times stronger than a Giant Vice Admiral!"
"If an inferior replica is this tough, I'd really like to see how strong Whitebeard actually was..."
...
Whitebeard...
Hearing this name, Doll couldn't help but feel a chill through her body, thinking of Weevil's similar appearance.
"Griffin... you..."
Halfway through her sentence, Doll abandoned the thought of persuasion, smiling faintly: "Go ahead, I'll wait for you to return."
...
"Mm."
Tearing off his tattered outer clothing, Griffin stepped into the air toward the direction where Weevil had disappeared.
Watching Griffin's retreating figure, Doll felt an inexplicable pang in her heart.
...
What am I afraid of?
He'll definitely win, just like every time before. Even if covered in wounds, he always comes back...
——
——
——
On a small island dozens of miles away, Griffin saw Weevil embedded in the rocky cliff.
This place... will do.
...
Weevil's already ugly appearance became even more distorted due to his injuries.
A large portion of his chest was sunken in, each breath sounding like a broken bellows, his tiny pupils filled with hatred as he stared at Griffin.
"Huff... huff... Mom..."
"I don't have a mom anymore... Waaaa!!!!"
Weevil suddenly burst into tears, pulling himself out from the cliff, pounding the protruding bones on his chest with both hands, actually hammering his dislocated and broken ribs back into place!
"I'm going to kill you!! Bastard!!"
...
"Shut up!!"
Whoosh—
Griffin, who was just in mid-air moments ago, instantly appeared before Weevil, delivering an uppercut that shattered his jaw!
Before Weevil could react, a powerful punch smashed into his chest, spraying filthy blood foam.
"It hurts so much!!!"
Weevil's massive palms clapped together, compressing the air with a dull explosive sound!
Griffin between the palms seemed to transform into a thin sheet of paper, flipping and floating at incredible speed along the air currents.
Icy blue arcs of light circled around Weevil's arms.
A moment later
Riiip————!!
Wherever the arcs passed, blood gushed like springs!
"Ahhhhhhhhh!!! It hurts it hurts!!!"
Weevil clutched his blood-soaked arm, screaming in continuous pain.
Without any time to catch his breath, he felt intense pain from his ankle.
Compared to his obese upper body, his disproportionately thin legs - one was missing!
...
Thud—
Weevil collapsed to his knees, stirring up clouds of dust.
Looking up...
He saw a face resembling a demon's!
"What right do you have to be angry! How dare you be angry!!"
Griffin's suppressed roar almost shattered his teeth.
"Compared to what you've done, this level of pain is far from enough!!"
Swish—
The blade flashed, precisely severing all five fingers of Weevil's left hand. The heart-piercing pain made him convulse uncontrollably.
The demonic face reflected in Weevil's eyes, the hatred within them gradually being overshadowed by fear.
...
In the crimson eye sockets, the tomoe spun wildly.
The chilling Eye Power coiled around Weevil like a venomous snake, gradually amplifying his perception of pain.
It hurt so much that even breathing felt like being cut by blades.
...
The approaching footsteps made Weevil understand for the first time in his life what true terror meant.
...
"The first cut was for the first victim."
"The punch to the heart was for the second..."
"The right hand for the third, the left foot for the fourth, the fingers..."
Counting them one by one, Griffin's voice shifted from initial venomous hatred to calm, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
Yet it stirred overwhelming waves of fear in Weevil's heart.
"Thirty-two people, including Teacher Zephyr and Doll..."
Griffin raised the Butcher's Blade high, the coldness in his eyes enough to freeze souls.
"Weevil..."
"Only by torturing you to death can I vent the hatred in my heart..."
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