"BOOM—"
A deafening sound like thunder reverberated across the sea, as an overwhelming pressure instantly enveloped the surroundings.
The sky itself seemed to collapse under this force, dark clouds churning as the atmosphere grew suffocatingly tense.
A crimson Conqueror's Haki surged forth like a storm, its oppressive aura making everything around tremble violently.
"!!!"
Dragon's eyes widened abruptly, he was filled with shock and disbelief, as if an immense shockwave had struck his heart directly.
"This is... Conqueror's Haki?!?"
He murmured in a trembling voice, his eyes flashing with incredulity.
Since becoming the leader of the Revolutionary Army, he had encountered countless powerful individuals.
Yet this man before him—Mike, whom he had dismissed as an ordinary Marine captain—was now displaying such undeniable, overwhelming Haki.
Conqueror's Haki was the rarest form of Haki.
It couldn't be acquired through training—it was an innate mark of a king.
Perhaps only one in millions could awaken it.
This power wasn't merely an external force; it symbolized resolve, will, and the bearing of a ruler.
"And... this isn't some basic-level Conqueror's Haki."
"This isn't the unconscious release triggered by extreme emotional turmoil."
For a brief moment, Dragon's mind went blank before he snapped back to reality, his eyes reflecting profound astonishment.
"This... this is trained, high-level Conqueror's Haki that can be controlled with precision?"
He froze, his throat dry, his thoughts nearly grinding to a halt.
"What the hell kind of Marine captain is this???"
"Is he the only freak captain in HQ, or..."
"Are Marine captains really this strong nowadays?!"
"If they're all this strong... if every one of them has high-level Conqueror's Haki..."
"What's the point of my revolution?"
"I might as well surrender right now!"
Dragon took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
"No, that can't be..."
"Not every Marine captain at HQ is this strong. Otherwise, Smoker wouldn't have been subdued by me easily."
"There must be only one freak like this."
Dragon exhaled in relief. "It has to be that way!"
After all, in the entire Marine HQ...
The only ones confirmed to possess Conqueror's Haki were his own father—Vice Admiral Garp—and the Marines' supreme leader—Fleet Admiral Sengoku!
"That's a relief. I almost thought the revolution would fail before it even began!"
Dragon inhaled deeply, trying to steady the panic and shock within him.
His gaze gradually cooled, the earlier unease dissipating, replaced by resolute determination.
Then, the aura around him shifted—a verdant Conqueror's Haki erupted from his body like wildfire, shaking the surrounding air.
The overwhelming pressure instantly made the space feel heavier.
Mike sensed the drastic change in the atmosphere, his eyes sharpening as he thought to himself:
'As expected... Dragon possesses Conqueror's Haki too.'
The Monkey D. family truly lives up to its reputation as the clan of Haki.
Whether it's inherited talent or the free spirit passed down through generations, these questions need no further examination...
'Lets try a Conqueror's Haki clash with Dragon!'
Excitement flashed in Mike's eyes.
"Bring it on!"
Crimson Conqueror's Haki erupted from Mike's body, colliding with Dragon's Conqueror's Haki.
"BOOM—"
The collision of the two Conqueror's Haki forces tore through the sky like thunder, resembling a massive explosion that shook the entire sea.
The air was instantly ripped apart, the sky seemingly split by this overwhelming power.
The immense pressure surged outward like a tsunami, freezing the entire sea in its grip.
The surrounding sea winds were scattered by this merciless force, and everything around seemed to come to a standstill at that moment.
The intangible aura was so dense it nearly suffocated those nearby, as if time itself had frozen in place.
Standing beneath Mike and Dragon, Smoker felt the oppressive weight descending from above like a mountain pressing against his chest.
His eyes widened, his vision blurring as cold sweat dripped uncontrollably from his forehead.
His heart was filled with unprecedented terror and disbelief.
He opened his mouth, trying to speak, but his throat was dry—words stuck like a choked sob.
Kizaru gently patted Smoker's shoulder, and the pressure around him instantly eased, the air seeming to flow once more.
"Hah—"
Smoker took a deep, shuddering breath before tremblingly lighting a cigar, trying to steady himself.
"Admiral Kizaru…"
His voice carried a faint tremor.
"This… what is this?"
"Mmm."
Kizaru nodded lightly, a profound glint flashing in his eyes.
"This is the clash of Conqueror's Haki."
"It's been a while since I've seen it firsthand!"
Slowly, he raised his gaze, fixing it on Mike in the sky.
His sharp eyes seemed to pierce through the storm and dark clouds, locking onto Mike's figure.
A complex mix of contemplation and appraisal flickered in his gaze.
'That brat… actually possesses Conqueror's Haki of this caliber!'
He had originally worried whether Mike could truly stand against Dragon, which was why he had rushed here in such haste.
But now, it seemed that even if Mike wasn't Dragon's equal, he wouldn't suffer a crushing defeat.
"Still, I arrived just in time to witness this."
Kizaru silently congratulated himself.
Had he been any later, he would have missed this clash of Conqueror's Haki.
Turns out, Mike's potential far exceeded what he had imagined.
This always-lazy and shameless captain wasn't just strong—his talent was astonishing.
First, he had unleashed the "Sun Halo Dragon Head Dance" against Mihawk's full-power strike and now, against Dragon, he had displayed high-level Conqueror's Haki.
All of this left Kizaru both surprised and delighted.
Mike's performance filled him with anticipation and excitement.
"A treasure of the marines…"
Kizaru murmured, admiration in his eyes.
"That last move I could still try to learn it, but Conqueror's Haki…"
"That's an inborn talent. How am I supposed to steal that?"
A faint smile curled on Kizaru's lips.
"And if you've got any more hidden sword techniques, don't hold back—show them all!"
...
Far out at sea, a storm raged.
The waters churned violently, waves surging as if nature itself was restless in anticipation of the coming conflict.
The wind howled, thunder rumbled, and lightning split the sky, illuminating the dark expanse of the ocean.
"Why does the air feel even more oppressive now?" Nami frowned slightly, a trace of unease in her voice.
"Look!!!" Luffy suddenly pointed at the sky behind them, his voice filled with shock and excitement.
"The sky..."
The others followed his gaze and turned to look.
As their eyes focused on the sky, everyone's pupils dilated instantly, their jaws dropping to the ground in disbelief.
Every member of the Straw Hat crew could hardly believe what they were witnessing.
The sky was violently contorting, as if torn apart by some invisible force, revealing numerous fissures.
The entire sky had been split in two, with storms and lightning piercing through the gaps.
The air was thick with a suffocating sense of oppression.
"The... t...he"
"The sky..."
"The sky is splitting apart!!!"
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