"As expected, life is full of surprises. I didn't expect to run into a monster like you here. But even so, I'll be taking your head today. I am the number one assassin in the dark world—don't think my stealth skills are all I've got!" Dark Thorn spun around and swung his blade in a flash.
But that strike was doomed to hit nothing. The space behind him was completely empty.
Such speed! After his attack missed, Dark Thorn's face twisted in shock. That strike had been his full strength—yet he hadn't even grazed the man's clothes.
"Don't be so hasty. Since you managed to reach this place, that means you've passed Bins' test. I'll give you all a chance," Rosinante's voice came from behind him again—but this time, it wasn't whispering close to his ear.
Dark Thorn turned around sharply. Rosinante was already standing back where he had been before!
"A chance? What kind of chance?" Dark Thorn asked, confused.
"A chance to defeat me," Rosinante said with a faint smile.
Dark Thorn's eyes widened at those words.
"This war of yours—the goal on your side is to seize one trillion Berries. But my goal is to establish my power through this battle. At the same time, I'm using it to select a few strong individuals to join the Gray Country and strengthen it. Passing through Bins' trial to stand before me is your first test. If you can reach me and pass my trial, you'll be allowed to join the Gray Country—as a division captain, or even a member of the core organization, the Royal Blood Oath Guards." Rosinante spoke calmly, yet his words carried immense weight.
"You mean to say this entire war is just your selection trial for new subordinates? What an insane idea! A war of over a hundred thousand men—and you're using it as a recruitment test? Aren't you afraid your ship might get overturned?" Dark Thorn asked, utterly shocked.
"As long as the Dark World doesn't send monsters like Whitebeard, Kaido, or Big Mom, there's no chance of overturning anything. And even if someone that powerful appeared—so what? The initiative in this war lies with me. Whether we fight or not, all of it is under my control. It only happens if I will it. If I don't want it, then it won't happen," Rosinante said coolly.
"What a terrifying man… The Gray Country… Dragon King Rosinante. Just to make a name for yourself, to pick a few subordinates—do you know how many people have died today? Over a hundred thousand marched here, and how many will live to see another day? A handful, at most! Don't you think that's too cruel?" Dark Thorn pointed at Rosinante, his voice laced with fury, as though he were the one standing for justice.
"As expected of an assassin—you'll use anything you can as a weapon, even words. Don't bother trying to sway me. Even if all these people are damned, then killing evil is a kind of good. And if they were innocent, then this bloodshed is nothing but the result of your masters' greed. If you want to blame someone, blame them. Besides, this show of force isn't only for the Gray Country—it's also for the slave trade that plagues this world. There should be no such inhuman practice. Wiping you all out today won't erase it completely, but at least it won't appear so brazenly in the open anymore… because I don't allow it, for him to stand here so brazenly!" Rosinante's voice thundered with conviction.
Dark Thorn's expression didn't change at all.
Words wouldn't work on him, and instead, he had been completely outmaneuvered in conversation. It was said the Dragon King possessed Conqueror's Haki—no wonder he couldn't be shaken. That meant there was only one path left: defeating him through sheer strength. But taking him down alone… that would be difficult. Looks like I'll have to wait.
Dark Thorn thought for a moment, then simply sat down off to the side to wait.
"A very well-rounded assassin," Rayleigh said with a small laugh, commenting from the sidelines.
Meanwhile, inside the Pica Palace, Enel's expression was extremely unpleasant.
The moment Dark Thorn revealed himself, Enel had immediately sensed him.
Enel had always been supremely confident in his Observation Haki—but ever since arriving at Sabaody Archipelago, that confidence had been shaken again and again.
First by Rayleigh.
Then by this assassin.
And even people like Garp could likely hide from him if they wanted to.
Observation Haki is a power of "hearing," or rather, a sense that exists between hearing and not hearing. Though it isn't actual listening with ears, it is, in essence, the concept of "hearing" one's surroundings.
This kind of "hearing" can be disrupted—Observation Haki can interfere with another's Observation Haki, concealing one's presence.
Rayleigh had used that very method to make himself undetectable to Enel.
Dark Thorn, too, was a master of Observation Haki. Though his Haki wasn't stronger than Enel's, it had unique properties that made it exceptionally good at concealing itself and disturbing others' perception—granting him formidable stealth abilities.
Still, no matter the reasons, Enel could not tolerate being humiliated before Rosinante. Rage boiled inside him—and as a result, the people on Sabaody were about to suffer for it.
They suddenly noticed the storm clouds above growing more violent. Thunder raged with greater ferocity. Bolts of lightning, thick as serpents, lashed down like enormous whips, slamming into the ground and leaving behind massive craters.
Those struggling to survive beneath the storm were terrified. The power of the lightning had skyrocketed. Oni Warrior, most unlucky of all, was struck directly by one of the thunder whips. He was sent flying before he could react, his entire body scorched black. Luckily, his body was inhumanly strong, or he might not have survived the blow.
"The lightning's gotten a lot stronger. Oni, let's work together—otherwise, neither of us will make it through this storm zone!" Blade Wolf shouted, cleaving apart a bolt of lightning with a massive sword strike.
"Fine," the charred Oni Warrior replied coldly, spitting out the single word.
"We'll take the lead. You follow behind us!" Blade Wolf barked.
Then he charged ahead, leading the way. Several sword masters struck in succession, slicing open a path through the storm. The mercenary squad of Oni Warriors followed closely behind. A moment later, it was their turn—they smashed through bolts of lightning with fists and bodies, forcing a way through the tempest and dragging the others along.
"Oh? The second one's here." In Zone 1, Rosinante lifted his head slightly and said with a smile.