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Rowen probably never expected that a seemingly simple belief, something he held as second nature, would leave such a profound impact on those around him.
Not only had Law taken it to heart as an unshakable creed— voicing it in his battle against Zoro— but even Smoker resonated with it at this very moment… Perhaps even Koby, still struggling in the thick of danger, felt the same.
Beyond them, how many among the millions of Marines across the world upheld this principle? That remained unknown.
But what is true influence?
This— this is influence!
Perhaps to Rowen, everything he did was merely a means to achieve his goals, to push his limits, to carve out his ambitions.
Yet to others, it was precisely this Rowen— his unrelenting drive, his unwavering spirit— that moved them!
Since the war at Marineford, countless impassioned men, stirred by his words, had thrown themselves into the Marine ranks, ready to fight with reckless determination.
As Rowen had once declared, they had all faced the cruel reality of war— comrades, family, even themselves, all just a heartbeat away from death.
And so, they steeled themselves.
For Justice, we are prepared!
"Madman!"
King couldn't help but shudder at Smoker's sheer ferocity. Every punch landed with devastating force, the impact reverberating through his own body. He was willing to shatter himself just to drag King down with him.
At this rate, Smoker's insides would be completely wrecked. Meanwhile, as an awakened Zoan user, King's body would regenerate as long as he drew breath.
So what was the point?
King wanted to ask— but Smoker's relentless barrage left him no room to speak, forcing him into pure defense.
And yet…
King suddenly realized— there was a flicker of fear in his heart?!
Yes. Smoker would die before King could be overwhelmed.
And King? He only needed to endure a little longer.
He held the advantage. He controlled the battlefield. If he wanted to retreat, Smoker had no way of stopping him. And yet, despite knowing this, King couldn't help but be shaken.
Smoker's resolve was terrifying.
Death itself wasn't frightening.
But staring death in the eye and charging forward— that required an unfathomable level of courage!
Even King, for all his strength, could feel the weight of that.
Gritting his teeth, he forcibly broke through the rain of White Fists. His body swelled, shifting from his half-beast form to full Beast Form!
BOOM!!!
A single punch landed, and this time, the White Fist that should have driven him further into the ground was stopped— his thick muscles absorbing the impact.
Smoker coughed up another mouthful of congealed blood, barely keeping his battered body upright.
King's transformation had increased his size dramatically, but there was a downside. His jaw had grown wider— so much so that, drenched in his own blood, his fingers could barely grip anything properly.
"But... don't think you can escape!"
Shuā!
The moment they broke apart, thick white smoke erupted from beneath Smoker's silver Marine coat. It wasn't an attack— it was a flood.
A dense fog exploded outward, blanketing the battlefield in an impenetrable white mist.
'Awakening Technique: Fog World!'
'Cloud Giant!'
The swirling smoke suddenly condensed, taking the shape of a towering, massive figure.
Smoker, coughing up more blood but refusing to back down, roared—controlling the colossal cloud giant as it came crashing down.
Bang…
Kā Chā!!
The punch landed squarely on King's beak, producing a deafening crack as hardened keratin clashed against Smoker's fist. The force sent King crashing into the ground.
Then, under his own stunned gaze, pain flaring through his face, he saw it—jagged fractures splintering across his beak like cracked glass struck by Tekkai.
"You bastard!!!"
Smoker's aim had been for King's temple, but with the Zoan's last-second retreat, the attack barely clipped his elongated jaw instead.
"Tch, missed? Damn it… Losing too much blood is messing with my vision…"
Smoker clicked his tongue in frustration, but then his lips curled into a grin.
"But this works too! If I don't leave something behind, how am I supposed to vent my frustration?!"
Without hesitation, he pressed forward. The massive fist of his cloud giant clenched tight and came crashing down once more.
Kā Chā… Bang!!!
King's expression twisted in disbelief as his once-prized beak— one of the two hardest natural weapons of the Pteranodon— shattered into countless fragments!
"ROAAARR!!!"
The searing pain sent him writhing across the battlefield, his agonized roar splitting the air. His massive body trembled, fluctuating between forms as he struggled to maintain control over his Beastification.
It was a long while before he finally came back to his senses. His breathing was ragged as he took in the eerie battlefield, the thick, almost solid White Smoke swirling around him like a vengeful specter.
"You… you're asking for death!"
But Smoker was barely conscious. Lying motionless on the ground, his body was battered beyond recognition.
By all accounts, a regular man would have died from such injuries. The fact that he had lasted this long was a testament to the monstrous endurance of those who thrived in this era.
Yet, Smoker had chosen to trade blows, pushing himself beyond his limits.
"This ends now, Smoker!"
King's eyes gleamed with cold intent as he loomed over his fallen foe. He wreathed himself in Busoshoku Haki, his body taking on the appearance of a beast forged from molten iron.
With a powerful leap, he pounced— his claws extending like the talons of an ancient sky overlord, the fearsome Pteranodon, ready to tear Smoker apart.
Then—
A streak of dark light tore through the battlefield.
Whoosh!
Time seemed to freeze. The attack moved faster than sound, faster than anything King had ever seen. His instincts screamed at him, and at the last possible second, he twisted his body— just barely evading the strike.
And then—
BOOM!!!
A violent shockwave erupted, sending the massive winged beast hurtling through the air.
King's pupils contracted. His breath hitched.
"What kind of power…?!"
Even the sheer air pressure from the strike had altered the terrain!
This kind of attack— this level of destruction— there were only a handful of people in the world who could pull off something like this.
King's mind raced. "Could it be…?!"
"Tch, I actually missed?"
As the smoke cleared, a figure stood firm, gripping a three-meter-long obsidian spear, its tip still humming from the force of the strike. The figure remained in a thrusting stance, his tone laced with irritation.
Noticing the Justice cloak billowing behind the newcomer, Smoker's eyes widened in shock.
"Admiral Sōryū (Azure Dragon)… What are you doing here?!"
Wasn't he supposed to be in Dressrosa, dealing with Foxfire Kin'emon?
How the hell had he ended up here?!
"That's a good question," Rowen remarked, throwing Smoker an unimpressed glance. "You'd better think carefully about how you answer me later…"
His gaze darkened as he continued, "Tell me, who the hell gave you the courage to face the Beasts Pirates alone during their attack? If the Fleet Admiral hadn't sent multiple urgent alerts, what do you think would've happened to G-11?"
Smoker remained silent.
Rowen exhaled sharply, his displeasure palpable.
"I told you before, didn't I?"
"G-11 isn't just some random Marine base— it's the cornerstone of my and the Fleet Admiral's grand plan. It's not some playground for you to throw a tantrum!"
He leveled his spear toward Smoker, voice as sharp as steel.
"I don't care if you die, Smoker. But G-11? That's non-negotiable. It must remain standing.
Understood?"
Smoker: "…"
Rowen let out a bitter chuckle, shaking his head.
"Sorry… I didn't think this through."
With the Super Electromagnetic Cannon in place, as long as Kaido himself didn't intervene, G-11 could hold its own against any pirate crew.
And just as expected, Smoker had nearly defeated King the Conflagration.
However, something unexpected had happened midway, forcing him to retreat.
The attack on G-11 had been beyond the immediate reach of Marine Headquarters— even if they had sent Kizaru, he wouldn't have arrived in time.
But under Smoker's insistence and after careful consideration, Akainu had ultimately approved the plan, allowing G-11 to handle the threat alone while the Support Unit remained on standby.
With the Marines' focus shifting elsewhere, a mere pirate raid was no longer considered a top priority. Because of this, Rowen hadn't even heard about it.
After all, Kaido hadn't made a move, had he?
However…
"Do you know… what I hate the most?"
The question wasn't directed at Smoker. Instead, Rowen's cold gaze locked onto King, who hovered in the air.
"…What?"
For some reason, King found himself responding, as if compelled by the intensity of the moment.
"Anyone— man, ghost, beast, or god— who dares to stand in my way!"
A wave of Haoshoku Haki exploded outward with his words, its suffocating pressure crashing down like a tidal wave.
King's instincts screamed.
"Not good…!"
Before he could react, a massive bolt of lightning split the sky, slamming into his enormous frame.
BOOM!
Blinding arcs of electricity flickered violently around him. His wings twitched uncontrollably, and to his horror, his body refused to move as he commanded.
"What…?! This is the same paralysis that took down Big Mom… But when did he—?"
They hadn't even properly exchanged blows yet!
Then, a sharp sting flared across his cheek.
His eyes flickered downward.
Sizzle…!
A thin trail of blood trickled from the corner of his eye.
It came from that spear thrust he thought he had dodged.
A single strike… had pierced his skin, the same skin that could withstand cannonballs.
Whoosh!
In a blink, Rowen closed the distance, reappearing at King's side.
His crescent-bladed war halberd, crackling with lightning, was raised high—
A raging storm of thunder and wind swirling around him, making him look less like a man and more like a vengeful god descending upon the battlefield.
"You dare to stand in my way?"
His voice was deathly calm.
"I'll show you what hell looks like."
(End of Chapter)
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