Pain.
After half a day of fighting, facing two taishō-level (admiral-level) opponents at once, it was like dancing on a wire. Magnus's mind was taut, his body on the verge of collapse.
But now—it was different.
Sebas was down.
Only one enemy remained on the battlefield: the Navy's admiral candidate.
Codename: Steel Bone, Vice Admiral Kong.
The man destined to become Fleet Admiral. Supreme Commander of the World Government's forces.
Even though Kong hadn't reached his peak—
He still possessed taishō-level combat ability, top-tier mastery of all three Haki, and was a pure martial arts powerhouse.
Facing such a foe one-on-one—
Every cell in Magnus's body forgot fatigue.
They cheered. Rejoiced.
"Hahaha! That's it, Kong! Let's fight, let's clash! You bear the hopes of the Navy—I carry the hopes of my crew."
"Neither of us can afford to lose!"
Blow after blow.
Busōshoku no Haki (Armament Haki) cloaked their bodies.
Kenbunshoku no Haki (Observation Haki) foresaw each other's moves.
Haōshoku no Haki (Conqueror's Haki) clashed continuously.
Roya and Lili, watching from afar, were stunned.
"So strong!"
"So fast!"
Devil Fruits were rare blessings.
But it was Haki and pure martial skill that earned a place atop the world.
No tricks. No illusions.
Only overwhelming strength. Blinding speed. Too powerful to resist. Too fast to react.
BAM!
Magnus's fist embedded in Kong's face—Kong's punch slammed into Magnus's gut.
The two were blasted backward like cannonballs, carving hundreds of meters through the earth, leaving twin furrows behind.
"Cough, cough!"
Magnus staggered to his feet and spat a mouthful of blood. Kong's punch had broken three of his ribs—his Armament Haki failed to defend against it.
"Maaagnussss!!!"
Kong's roar echoed. He was already back on his feet. Three teeth missing, his words whistled through his mouth—but he was still bursting with stamina.
The prior half-day of combat barely dented his strength.
"No choice now."
Magnus smirked.
Pure martial combat? He couldn't beat a monster like Kong that way.
But when had he ever fought purely with martial arts?
As Kong charged forward, Magnus's Haōshoku no Haki surged.
Unlike the first clumsy use, his second attempt showed a vast improvement in mastery.
Seeing Magnus draw his blade, Kong's Observation Haki screamed danger.
Too late.
"Dragon Slayer!"
Haōshoku no Haki exploded into the blade.
The slash wasn't wide—but landed perfectly in front of Kong.
Kong froze, as if struck by lightning.
"Conqueror's... Infusion!?"
Magnus's blade sent Kong flying over a kilometer.
A massive wound tore across his chest.
Blood gushed from his mouth and nose.
He stared at Magnus.
"That's the slash that brought down Admiral Jōma..."
Roya's desperate strike, Lili's explosive bullet—those were the final straws.
But Magnus's slash broke Sebas.
The infused Haōshoku no Haki.
It was a technique Kong had only learned about from Fleet Admiral Xiang Shan.
The Navy had hierarchy—
But as long as a marine had courage and true justice in their heart—
Even they could master the pinnacle of Haki.
Rank was just a title.
Faith was what mattered.
But how?
Kong had no idea.
His Armament, Observation, and physique were all maxed out.
To go further—even one step—was nearly impossible.
Some chose Devil Fruits, trading vulnerability to water for new powers.
Jack of all trades? That applied to novices.
For those who'd maxed out their fields, adding new powers could be the wiser path.
Even Magnus, despite his belief in ultimate Haki, didn't blindly rely on it.
After all, talent mattered.
Rocks had talent in Haki and martial arts—so Magnus told him to focus there.
Ripley lacked talent in Haki—so she was given a Devil Fruit to boost her limits.
Tailored guidance.
That was how he ensured newcomers didn't stray.
But enough theory.
This fight between Magnus and Kong—
Would decide the war.
Yes, war.
Fifteen thousand marines versus nearly twenty thousand pirates.
If that's not war, what is?
Both sides awaited the result.
Would the pirates triumph?
Or the Navy?
Kong charged again.
So what if he couldn't use Conqueror's infusion?
Magnus was exhausted—
Kong would endure.
Busōshoku no Haki flared.
Kong leapt into the air, fist blazing like a meteor.
"Steel Fist Smash!"
BOOM!
The ground beneath Magnus shattered.
The island crumbled. Sea rushed in beneath their feet.
Kong's eyes lit up.
He found his chance!
"Kid, don't be naive!!"
Before Kong could celebrate—
Magnus roared.
A freezing wind burst from him.
A thousand-meter stretch of ocean turned to solid ice.
Freezing that much water?
Nothing for Magnus.
Didn't even cost much stamina.
Kong abandoned tricks.
"Magnus!!"
Roaring, clad in white Navy uniform, he leapt again.
Armament Haki surged to its peak.
Beast-form Magnus gripped his sword tight.
"Falling Star!!"
"Dragon Slayer!!"
Two titans unleashed all their power.
Armament bursts. Conqueror's infusion. Black-red lightning exploded.
It consumed Sphinx's skies.
BOOOOOOM!!
The island trembled.
If not contained—their battle could sink the whole island.
Haki collided—blade vs. fist.
Kong lacked Conqueror's infusion—so he flooded Magnus with pure Armament Haki.
Multiple times over.
"We need to move!"
Even a thousand meters away, Lili felt the danger.
Dragging the immobile Roya, she retreated.
"Hey, could you be more gentle!?"
Roya coughed, nearly crushed by flying debris.
"Shut up!"
Lili stared at the battlefield's center.
The island's left side had vanished.
The shockwave raised hundred-meter waves.
Cloud layers collapsed.
Snow evaporated before reaching the ground.
Magnus had almost nothing left.
One man versus two admirals?
Even with help—it was too much.
He'd taken Kureha's secret pill.
Molten blood surged from his heart.
Kept him standing.
But Kong was still there too.
What drove him?
That vague thing called "justice"?
"Kong! Tell me—what is your justice!?"
Magnus roared.
His grip bled. Muscles tore. Bones cracked.
Eyes bloodshot, he glared at Kong.
"My justice?"
With every ounce of strength poured into his body—
Even thought faded—
But his soul cried out—
"Order!"
Kong whispered.
His eyes blazed.
"I want to protect the order of this sea. My justice—is to uphold order!"
His voice grew louder. Firmer.
The moment he realized this—his power surged.
He even began to understand Conqueror's infusion.
"Good answer."
But Magnus didn't flinch.
Instead, he roared even louder:
"But your order—whose order is it!?"
"The World Government's!?"
"The Tenryūbito's!?"
"Did you protect the people who needed you!?"
"Those enslaved by the Celestial Dragons!?"
"Did you help them, Kong!?"
"Answer me!!"
A brief hesitation. A single moment of distraction.
And that changed everything.
Magnus's roar echoed in Kong's mind.
"Is this... your order!?"
(End of Chapter)
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