Conqueror's Haki.
It is the rarest among the Three Colors of Haki, a kingly quality possessed by only one in a million.
Conqueror's Haki cannot be acquired through training—if you aren't born with it, you will never have it.
Only those with the innate talent can manifest this power when their emotions surge and they reach a moment of resolve.
...
The strength of Conqueror's Haki depends on the user's own spirit. In its initial awakening, it cannot be finely controlled and acts as an area-of-effect pressure field that ignores friend or foe.
—
A terrifying wave surged forth, the air crackling under the pressure.
Floating debris shattered like fragile glass under the layers of impact.
Though merely human, the presence felt like a volcano suppressed for years, suddenly erupting!
...
King's expression twisted slightly, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
With his willpower, he wouldn't be knocked out like common soldiers, but this fearsome Conqueror's Haki scraped over his body like sharp blades.
It brought back memories of the past.
The first time he saw Lord Kaido in the biological laboratory, the first time he witnessed Conqueror's Haki.
This level... it's no less than Lord Kaido's back then!
...
"Why..."
"Why do you..."
King's voice rose from a whisper to a roar.
"A man like you!!"
"With this kind of Haki! Why would you willingly submit to those things!!!"
King was utterly enraged, shouting himself hoarse!
...
"Those things... you mean the World Nobles."
Griffin remained calm, looking up at King, yet his indifferent gaze seemed to look down upon him.
"Without the World Nobles, do you think this world would be better?"
...
"Isn't it obvious!!"
"Why are they born standing above everyone else! Why can they arbitrarily decide the life and death of other races!King spread his wings and shouted a question: "What Lord Kaido advocates is right!""
"Dragging nobles born into decadent pleasure onto the battlefield, determining value through war! That is true equality and freedom!"
...
Heh...
A scornful smile appeared at the corner of Griffin's lips.
"Complete and utter loser's theory."
"Only losers think about how the world should be."
"Winners decide how the world is."
"Even by your logic, didn't the World Government gain their position through war?"
"Eight hundred years ago, they proved their worth."
"Equality and freedom..."
"Indeed, war is a path to them, but not as Kaido understands it."
"Arbitrarily drawing equations, how naive."
...
...
"Bastard!! How dare you insult Lord Kaido!!!"
"I will never allow this!!!!"
Crackle—
King forced his way forward against the Conqueror's Haki, flames igniting on his wings, slashing down like a giant scythe!
...
Griffin still didn't move. The first time, he could have avoided it but chose not to; this time, he truly lacked the physical strength to move.
The surging Conqueror's Haki drained his last remaining strength—this power was too overbearing, completely beyond his control.
But this time, he didn't need to brace for death.
Because he had arrived.
...
Perhaps he'd been here earlier, but I hadn't sensed him at the time...
Though he hadn't awakened the Mangekyo, Griffin's perception had drastically heightened after his Conqueror's Haki awakened.
This was a bonus that came with fully understanding his body.
...
CLANG——
A deafening roar erupted!
A tall figure in bright yellow suit appeared before Griffin, hands in pockets, lifting a foot to block King's furious strike.
The colliding shockwaves tore a massive fissure in the ground, seawater flooding inward!
...
"How terrifying~"
"As expected of an executive from the Beasts Pirates, monstrously strong indeed~"
Kizaru withdrew one hand from his pocket to adjust his sunglasses.
"I'm quite fond of this boy—could you refrain from attacking him?~ Hmm... just a senior's pure appreciation for a junior, you see~"
...
King's wings trembled slightly.
On the surface, it was a standoff between him and Kizaru, but only he, standing in the midst of it, understood what kind of terrifying presence he was facing.
...
The pinnacle of combat power at Marine Headquarters...
Admiral! Borsalino!!!
...
"Both times we've met, you've pushed yourself to the brink of death with severe injuries—so reckless, young Griffin~"
Kizaru turned to look at Griffin, a wavy, awkward smile curling his lips.
...
Griffin let out a long exhale. He couldn't rein in the rampaging Conqueror's Haki and could only wait until his last bit of stamina was exhausted.
"It couldn't be helped. Who asked you to be the fastest man in the world? I didn't have time to hide my sorry state..."
As soon as he finished speaking, Griffin lost his balance, collapsing backward.
Just before he hit the ground hard, a strong hand reached out from the side, firmly supporting his back.
...
"Griffin... you did well. You've worked hard!"
Lucci, his chest still bleeding, radiated warmth, his tone uncharacteristically gentle.
Griffin struggled to lift his head, his gaze not lingering on Lucci's face at all, instead fixing on Doll behind him.
Her delicate face was streaked with sweat-soaked hair, her eyes filled with dejection, her outstretched hand unsure what to grasp.
Griffin strained to raise his hand.
Lucci immediately caught it, his voice full of concern. "Rest assured, Saint Shalria is safe!"
"You even captured Kari. There's no need to hold on—rest peacefully now!"
...
...
Griffin pulled away, pointing at Doll.
"Step back. Let her support me..."
"Ah..."
...
Lucci could only watch as Doll took over supporting Griffin, unable to hide the disappointment in his eyes.
But...
I was here first...
...
Doll kept her head down, not daring to look directly at Griffin, her voice faint and suppressed.
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm sorry... just like last time, I could only stand by helplessly watching you get hurt... unable to do anything..."
"I couldn't..."
Drip... drip...
Amid her hanging short hair, glistening drops fell onto Griffin's shoulder.
...
"Hmm... you're a rather useless vice-officer."
A slight smirk tugged at Griffin's lips.
"Remember this moment. Only by experiencing the bitterness and pain of helplessness can one become a true man... Ha... sorry, I forgot to change that stolen line."
——
——
BAM—
Unsurprisingly, in the clash between Kizaru and King, it was King who was sent flying.
King was strong, but the gap was evident when facing the true top-tier powerhouses of this sea.
Kizaru retrieved a Den Den Mushi with his other hand and held it to his ear.
After a moment, Kizaru looked at King with an amused smile.
"I still have to give Kaido some face. If you leave now, I won't stop you."
"But if you stay..."
"Then let's see if Kaido can rescue you from the Underwater Great Prison."
...
Crack—
King reverted to his human form, gritting his teeth tightly as his gaze locked onto Kari in the ice coffin.
He desperately wanted to save Kari, but if the cost was his own capture...
His own life didn't matter, but interfering with Mr. Kaido's grand plan...
Just as the Marines feared the Pirate Emperors of the New World, did the Pirate Emperors not fear the Marine Headquarters?
A single Pirate Emperor was no match for the Marine Headquarters!
...
While giving King time to think, Kizaru turned to Hancock, lowering his glasses as if to properly admire the Pirate Empress's breathtaking beauty.
The combination of this gesture and his face made him appear rather lecherous.
"Boa Hancock, so... are you certain about resigning from the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"
"The higher-ups have given me authorization. If you answer yes, I can remove you immediately."
Despite his playful expression, there was no hint of jest in his words.
...
Hancock could ignore Hawkeye's questioning, but facing Kizaru, her signature catchphrase stuck in her throat.
Her arrogant nature wanted to resist, but reason told her she couldn't be too willful for the sake of her people.
Clenching her silver teeth, she ultimately let out a barely audible sigh.
At worst, she just wouldn't be an emperor anymore!
But betraying her benefactor to their face—that was something she couldn't do...
Just as she was about to speak...
Crack—
A faint cracking sound suddenly rang out.
Griffin bolted upright from his near-death state, weakly exclaiming: "No! That guy..."
Everyone's attention was drawn, their gazes collectively focusing on the source of the major incident.
The ice coffin showed cracks, and the person inside it fluttered their eyelashes slightly.
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