"Shanks's brother." Aus's voice was almost casual. "Rude as this sounds, but when it comes to Haki? You're not as sharp as him."
Years since he'd seen Shanks. But the guy was the Conqueror's Haki peak of the Worst Generation in the original story.
Shamrock's Conqueror's was good. Just didn't blow him away.
"..."
Shamrock didn't argue. Just tightened his grip. Battle intent flared hotter in his eyes.
What the hell...
This guy in front of him was one thing. But that "brother" he'd never even met?
Both masters of Haki and blade. No words needed. Time to cut.
Aus still had some decency. Wanted to use raw power to make Shamrock submit completely. Same way he'd handled Shanks.
Black-red lightning coiled around Shamrock's blade. Domineering. Fierce.
He was a "compound kid"—raised in the Holy Knights with Garling training him since birth. Different breed from those self-taught wildcats on the seas.
No need to brush with death a hundred times. No desperate situations forcing out limits. From Armament awakening to Conqueror's Coating—he had generations of Holy Land knowledge backing every step.
"Nice swordsmanship!"
Aus caught the incoming strike with a reverse slash.
The weapons never touched. Force exploded outward from the center.
"Look!"
Every Knight's head snapped up. Pupils shaking. Mouths hanging open.
"The sky—it's splitting!"
"They're seriously our age?!"
Aus blocked the sharp slash clean. Crimson light burst from his eyes. Shamrock froze for a heartbeat.
Then Aus attacked.
"Your future has no victory in it."
Fighting other top-tiers, Aus might need to think twice. Conqueror's strong enough at the peak could kill Observation Haki outright.
Shamrock wasn't there yet.
Single hand on the blade. Crimson eyes examining every move like a god passing judgment.
Looked relaxed. His hands weren't.
Clang—
Clang—
Gale-speed slashes from every angle. Black blade-light surging like a flood.
Warp: Thousand Blade Slash.
Aus forced down the urge to shout it. Just kept accelerating. Blade-light nearly airtight.
"This speed!"
Shamrock's heart lurched. His hands sped up to match. Red blade-light danced, blocking every strike his Observation sensed.
But—
Muscle speed couldn't match teleportation.
Even full-force swings had gaps. Aus feinted left.
The blade-light twisted mid-swing. Appeared on the right.
Completely unpredictable. Even Shamrock's instincts couldn't dodge it fully. Blood sprayed.
Like hunting a caged beast. The lightning-wrapped black blade always appeared at brutal angles.
The crowd saw it clearly. Shamrock was losing ground. Their faces said everything.
Aus looked calm. Faint smile playing on his lips.
Shamrock's face was stone. Expression grave as death.
When you're under real pressure, desperate to win—you can't smile.
"Damn it..."
Shamrock bit down hard. Full-force slash. Wide arc swung forward violently.
Aus blocked it reversed. Slid back several meters.
"What's wrong? Going all out now?"
Aus's feet exploded. Massive recoil cratered the ground beneath him.
Blade raised. Like some savage god. Entire aura locked on Shamrock.
He'd use this strike to set the tone.
Even if it didn't end the fight, it'd leave Shamrock broken.
Crack crack crack...
In the crimson storm, two red lights locked on like a demon's gaze. Air splitting in their wake. Aus closed in—
"Divine Departure!"
Heaven and earth changed color.
Just seeing it planted one thought in every mind: Block it and die.
The Red Line's surface trembled. Ground cracking. The world falling into black abyss.
Aus's eyes sharpened.
Still couldn't hold back saying the name. Too uncomfortable!
Shamrock faced it head-on. Pressure crushing down on him. Cold sweat beading. Eyes locked on his blade.
Can't hold back anymore...
No reason Aus could use Devil Fruit powers and he couldn't. Even if he didn't eat it himself.
Shamrock raised his blade slowly. Energy gathering fast.
The blade began transforming.
"What—"
Red light flashed in Aus's eyes. Something surprising. Brow furrowed.
Mythical Zoan.
Hell: Cerberus.
The blade swelled violently. Then burst free—three massive beast heads with spiked collars and savage faces. Fangs jutting out.
Especially those smoke clouds coiling around them. First time seeing awakened fruit clouds.
Blades spat from their mouths. Hellish aura radiating. Three heads aimed at Aus. Conqueror's wrapped around them.
"Doctor Aus! This is a Devil Fruit's true power!"
Shamrock's face was grim. Near full-force strike.
Three heads spat Conqueror's-wrapped blades, spinning as they charged Aus's figure.
Three full hellhound executions. Once nearly killed giant prince Loki.
This wasn't Shamrock's power alone. This was awakened Mythical Zoan ability.
And now even stronger. Armament and Conqueror's layered on top. Shamrock's everything.
Aus could block it. Of course he could.
Strike wrapped in sword energy and Conqueror's. Scattered two hellhounds. Exhausted against the third.
"So this is the meta answer's power?"
Aftershock tore the Cerberus apart. Aus emerged from the explosion, landing clean.
Met Shamrock's gaze. Battle intent still burning. Fierce heads already forming on the blade again.
"In that case, I'll play dirty too. Take a little weapon advantage..."
Aus smiled. Slowly sheathed Ace. Under Shamrock's confused stare, pulled on black gloves.
"Let's try my full power."
"This is..."
Shamrock froze.
Could he also...
Impossible. Making weapons eat Devil Fruits—even the Holy Land only got that tech recently. And powerful fruits were rare as hell.
How could Aus have one?
Aus finished with the gloves. Grabbed at empty air.
Pitch-black weapon materialized in his hand.
Shaped like a gun. But weird. Too long. Could call it a staff. A club.
This was what Aus had specifically requested.
A good sniper is also a good baseball player.
"That gun didn't eat a Devil Fruit."
Shamrock studied it carefully. Reached his conclusion.
He recognized it as a gun. Combined with Aus's title "Black Gun"—easy to confirm. But he didn't get the point.
Ranged combat to avoid the awakened Cerberus?
Smart. Stable.
"Honestly, first time using this gun in real combat. Hope it doesn't disappoint."
Aus's mind shifted. Custom bullets auto-loaded.
Raised it to eye level. Aimed at Shamrock. Crosshairs on his left shoulder.
Pulled the trigger.
"BANG!"
Recoil slammed into Aus's hands. Through his body. Into the earth.
If he hadn't warped to keep balance, his feet would've plowed back a full meter.
And that was just the gun's kinetic force.
"So fast!"
Bullet arrived almost instantly.
"But just this won't shake me!"
Black smoke rose from Shamrock's blade. Fierce dog head emerged, charging forward.
Crushed the bullet. Swallowed it.
Crunch crunch...
Custom bullets stronger than steel. Still fragile in an awakened Mythical Zoan's jaws.
"Never planned to kite anyway. That wouldn't make you submit."
Awakened Mythical Zoan weapons were nasty. Massive combat boost. But Aus wouldn't counter with even nastier fruit tricks.
When had he ever been sneaky?
Always upright. Always strong.
Battle hitting white-hot intensity—
Five Elders and Garling watched without blinking. Shocked by the young generation's progress.
They favored Shamrock. But the moment Aus drew his gun...
"It's over. Aus is using the gun."
Warcury's eyes narrowed. Watching Aus aim. Power condensing Conqueror's, Ryuo, future sight—
Brow tight. Cold sweat. Other Elders the same.
"This move easily injured Admiral candidate Sakazuki. We've analyzed it. Still no counter."
This was Aus's real threat.
Long as they couldn't crack this move, the World Government had no cards to flip.
"If Aus wanted, this fight's already done. Even with Shamrock's weapon, doesn't matter. Why we knew the outcome from the start."
Garling said nothing. Just stared. Brow furrowed.
Could Observation Killing crack it?
What if he senses the anomaly and just warps randomly?
No way.
Not sensing something was sensing.
Anti-Observation Killing?
Seeing Shamrock's confidence, Garling sighed.
If the awakened Zoan gave him a chance before, now there's none.
Innately unbeatable. How do you fight that?
But Aus didn't plan that route.
Shanks's twin brother. Family stays complete. Said he'd crush him head-on—no backstabs.
Two-color Haki wrapped the bullets. Aus fired several more at Shamrock.
Conqueror's and Armament interference blocked close warps past the blade to Shamrock's body.
But massively split his focus.
Bullets this powerful—even he had to handle carefully.
One hit meant a hole in his body.
"Attacks like this can't beat me!"
Shamrock's eyes sharp. Figarland presence radiating. Slashes swung out, intercepting the Haki bullets like flashbangs.
"Head-on clash?"
Garling's veteran eye saw it clearly. Aus closing distance.
Suppressing fire keeping Shamrock busy while moving in for close combat again?
But without breaking the Cerberus lock-on range, even with superior Haki and strength, can he really take Shamrock down?
"What's your play?"
Aus unhurried. Ghost-like figure hidden among black-red bullets.
"Shamrock. You rely too much on Devil Fruit abilities."
The words landed.
Five Elders: "???"
Garling: "..."
Knights: "(ಠ_ಠ) You sneaky bastard"
Shamrock borrowed external power, sure.
But with your innately unbeatable, even sneakier fruit ability—how are you qualified to say that?!
Black gun in hand. Aus didn't use his signature sniper stance.
Looked more like—
Using it as a club?
Exactly.
Club grip. Barrel in hand. Stock facing out.
Your blade ate a Mythical Zoan. Very strong.
But my gun's made of Seastone. How will you deal with that?
Answer me, Shamrock!
Closing in. Lightning storms erupting again. Terrifying Conqueror's wrapped around the black stock.
"Shamrock!"
"Aus!"
Seeing Aus charge, Shamrock's red hair whipped. Declared his Conqueror's without retreat.
Aus wasn't having it.
"King's Thunder Bagua!"
Both hands gripping. Monstrous strength smashing toward the blade. Straight at the fierce Cerberus.
The instant of contact—
Shamrock's pupils exploded wide. Sudden realization. The Cerberus—
Instantly wilted.
"Seastone?!"
Like a mouse meeting a cat.
The fierce, vicious, terrifying Cerberus. Smoke-wrapped awakened Mythical Zoan. Meta answer.
Met the meta rules.
"Impossible!"
Shamrock's confident, serious face froze solid.
Same face. Aus had seen this expression before.
On Shanks.
Two Conqueror's-wrapped weapons clashed midair. Aus's lightning clearly superior.
Breaking limits. Charging straight at Shamrock's sword.
Clang!
Contact. Metallic clash. The fierce Cerberus like a mouse meeting a cat. Howled once—
Wilted.
The blade lost all strength. All tricks.
"Mythical Zoan's strong? Can it beat high-purity Seastone?"
Good thing Shamrock hadn't eaten a fruit. Otherwise Seastone this pure—one stock to the face would leave him paralyzed on the ground for hours.
Shamrock's blade under high-purity Seastone suppression slowly reverted to normal.
"Aus! You—urgh..."
Seizing initiative. Aus gave no chances. Monstrous strength. After suppressing the dog-blade, smooth upward swing.
Zero-frame startup. No defense. Gun's high-grade mass plus Ryuo's internal destruction. Aus unstoppable, jabbing straight at his gut!
Still wanna talk tough?
Tell it to my black gun!
Made Shamrock swallow his words. Nearly vomited stomach acid and bile instead.
Strike almost knocked him unconscious.
"You..."
Shamrock grabbed his blade. Barely managed Armament in the rush. Slashed forward.
Whoosh—
Aus dodged sideways. Kicked Shamrock over again.
"Bastard..."
Bang—
Kinetic energy through the foot. Shamrock's swings weakening. Previous battle pushed him past his limit.
Aus just with Ryuo-wrapped Armament, monstrous strength alone, beat him into retreat.
Height advantage. Ryuo-wrapped long legs. Aus kicked again and again. Adult beating a child.
Shamrock coughed three liters of blood.
"Alright, Aus. Battle ends here."
Several Holy Land pillars walked toward the Room of Flowers.
In the beautiful paradise, a thin, tall figure strolled.
Butterfly resting in their hand. Contemplating. Long while before turning.
"Lord Imu, the battle's ended. Aus won."
"And the combat wisdom and strength he displayed... honestly shocked us."
"Among geniuses the World Government's seen in 800 years—none more brilliant."
Five Elders reported. Gravity and wariness on their faces.
If Garling hadn't stopped it, they suspected Aus could've literally kicked Shamrock to death.
Intelligence said—
Monstrous physique aside, that terrifying learning ability relying on Observation left Aus with almost no peers his age.
Made them wonder sometimes—maybe someday...
Even Lord Imu might not handle Aus.
But they couldn't say it. Didn't dare.
Bad news: Aus's special nature really couldn't be controlled.
Good news: They'd become allies (questionable).
At least invisibly eliminated a threat surpassing Roger and Rocks...
Hearing this, Imu's eyes narrowed.
Saw everything through Observation.
Every era had its "strongest monster." Imu wasn't shocked. Geniuses like this—in the era he rose, there were twenty.
If Aus lived 800 years ago, at peak age he'd qualify to lead a nation alone. With "God," among Celestial Dragons, open another lineage.
"Give him Celestial Dragon status. Call it a favor."
Imu decided instantly.
Five Elders bowed acknowledgment.
They weren't opposed. Seven Warlords recommendations, underworld business cooperation, profit division—
Aus generally gave face. Relationship was solid.
Using Aus as mediator with sea forces, establishing Seven Warlords for stability—
Or through underworld business, more control over that massive profit pie—
Aus was essential to win over.
After leaving the Room of Flowers—
Peter spoke up.
"If we revealed Aus is actually a Celestial Dragon, it'd definitely calm this runaway era down."
"..."
The other four looked at him. Eyes gleaming.
Genius?
"Should inform Aus first. Otherwise feels like quietly riding coattails."
Saturn considered. Suggested.
Actually was riding coattails.
With Aus's identity as Pirate King crewmate, underworld emperor (actually also Revolutionary financier), plus that bird Morgans—every move drove the era's narrative.
If they announced it—
Shock to the seas would exceed establishing Seven Warlords, executing Roger!
Thought it through.
Headed together toward the training ground.
Arrived. Dumbfounded.
"What—what happened?!"
Before them, originally broken ground now riddled with holes. This Red Line plateau forcibly carved down dozens of meters. Giant crater.
In the altitude-lowered center, two figures emerged.
"What happened?"
"We just left..."
"Could it be—!"
Originally watching Knights had retreated thousands of meters. Only now dared approach again.
Those two emerging, slowly sheathing blades—
Aus and Garling Saint.
"Aus? Garling? You two were sparring?!"
Disbelief. Especially seeing Garling's damaged clothes. And perfectly intact, not-even-breathing-hard Aus.
What the—
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