"...I refuse."
Before the gathered Holy Knights members, Aus just smiled faintly and spoke slowly.
"Because... I absolutely will not lose."
"Arrogant brat." Garling sat in a chair, watching Aus's attitude. Couldn't help sighing inwardly.
This kid has the capital to be arrogant.
Heard he had a good relationship with that lost child of his...
With Garling's command, the battle representing their positions began.
If Aus lost, though he could still join the Holy Knights, he'd follow Shamrock like everyone else—become his right hand.
If Shamrock lost, Aus would rightfully claim external Celestial Dragon status. What Imu tacitly approved.
Both possessed a king's spirit. Same old routine...
Time for a clash!
"Whooom—"
Sharp eyes glared. Shamrock, called Little Red Hair, possessed considerable Conqueror's talent. In an instant, red domain spread from him as center.
Black-red lightning crackled. Knights uniform moved without wind. Aura surged fiercely toward Aus.
Drawing countless Knights' gazes. Truly Figarland family's future—this terrifying presence!
Some newly joined Knights felt uncomfortable.
Many Celestial Dragon girls couldn't help looking at that red-haired man, eyes carrying inexplicable light.
Celestial Dragons generally didn't marry outsiders. Only children of two Celestial Dragon parents were recognized as legitimate World Nobles.
And so many useless Celestial Dragons. Few were both handsome and strong. Shamrock was an exception.
Many also looked at Aus. Trained as Celestial Dragon elites from childhood, little contact with outside.
This unfamiliar face could duel that monster Shamrock—naturally curious.
Who was this?
Very strong?
"I trained hard in frontal combat for this—so my Conqueror's wouldn't lose to you red-haired freaks..."
Under the Conqueror's impact, Aus's expression stayed calm. Cloak fluttered gently.
Face indifferent, eyes flashing crimson. After sensing the Conqueror's impact, cold gleam flashed through.
"WHOOOM!"
Abyssal, hellish black domain, wrapped in terrifying black-red thunderstorms, instantly surged from Aus's space.
As if to dominate the entire world, wildly arrogant thunderstorm overwhelmed the earlier lightning, spreading beyond the arena.
Ferociously dancing, Red Line's surface cracked. Countless Knights rookies' eyes rolled back, collapsing unconscious.
"CRACK CRACK CRACK!"
"Thud..."
"Thud..."
"You're kidding!"
"This aura! He doesn't look much older than us!"
They thought among young people, Shamrock's Conqueror's was already top-tier. Didn't expect such a figure...
How vast was this sea?!
"What?!"
Feeling his expanding Conqueror's being slowly suppressed before this abyssal presence, Shamrock's eyes showed shock.
Couldn't believe it. Showed the exact expression a certain someone once had.
That disbelief when realizing you're a genius, never had opponent growing up, then suddenly encountering suppression.
The sea had many monsters and geniuses. Monsters born to become strong.
But monsters were just the threshold to meet certain true monsters.
On distant chair, legs crossed, Saint Garling subconsciously frowned after feeling this exaggerated Conqueror's.
Then looked at Shamrock's troubled expression. Eyes meaningful.
"Becoming your inner demon or your whetstone—all in single thought."
Conqueror's depended on will. Once your heart held retreat or defeat, you'd never become top-tier.
No one could help Shamrock on this.
"What exaggerated Conqueror's..."
At some point, Five Elders had appeared, standing beside Garling, observing.
"Looks one-sided. Young people can't keep composure.
But remember—Aus is among them too."
Nusjuro held his cursed blade. Swordsman's eye was always sharp.
"The man who defeated Charlotte Linlin and Kaido...
Charlotte Linlin's strength lay in physique and fruit—countered by Aus. Kaido hadn't reached peak. Final clash, Aus actually fell slightly short in direct confrontation.
Ultimately still young. His Haki hasn't truly reached Roger's level."
"If Shamrock maintains composure, catching up isn't impossible."
Nusjuro's words favored Shamrock, practically analyzing Aus's record and strength. But Garling shook his head.
Didn't say anything biased because Shamrock was his son.
"Current Shamrock before Aus truly isn't enough. I could tell from initial clash.
Just hope after cliff-like defeat, he can still maintain strong heart."
"After all, he's Figarland future."
Not just Celestial Dragon leaders—many Knights saw the gap.
"Fighting such monster, will Shamrock be okay?"
"This Haki... just thinking about facing such monster makes me despair..."
Shamrock naturally took in his father's and surrounding reactions. Eyes held tenacity.
Drawing his blade, he pointed at Aus. Black-red lightning coiled around it. No retreat.
"Right, only someone like you deserves to join the Knights..."
"Come, Dortorl Aus!"
"As you wish."
Aus stepped forward. Black cloak danced with thunderstorm. Hand slowly rested on Ace's hilt.
As black blade slowly drew, Conqueror's condensed like light source coiled around blade, emitting ear-piercing sound exploding the air.
Countless thunderstorms surged explosively. As blade fully unsheathed, Shamrock's pressure skyrocketed.
"Young Celestial Dragon, this sea is far vaster than you imagine!"
In the crowd, tall slender girl wearing military cap with wide sleeves—rare among those still conscious.
She looked at that towering figure on field, almost dominating the world. Eyes filled with shock. Before, only heard of Shamrock's spirit, but today...
"This is the young generation's—"
"The peak of Conqueror's Haki?"
[PS: Gentlemen, I want five stars...]
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