When one's strength reaches a certain level, technique ceases to matter.
In some sense, that was true.
But when you can't fully control your own strength—especially one that has skyrocketed beyond your limit—it brings more discomfort than power.
Just like now.
The power Don possessed after activating Unyielding was far beyond what he'd shown in his battle against Aokiji.
It seemed he really needed to calm down and properly learn how to master his strength.
During his fight with Mihawk, Don could feel that even without activating Unyielding—even without going all out with his Haki and Devil Fruit powers—he could still hold his own.
But in terms of technique, there was much to improve.
He took note of that. It would be something to work on later.
With that thought, Don soared into the sky, leaving behind a blazing trail of fire that cut across the heavens.
Up above, he stopped restraining himself and unleashed everything.
In an instant, it looked as though a second sun had appeared in the sky.
A blinding sphere of incandescent flame hovered silently above the world—its inner core surging with unfathomable power.
The ripples of that energy spread outward, their influence reaching impossibly far.
On one side of the Red Line, near Marineford, inside a massive research complex on a nearby island
Dr. Vegapunk, with his half-apple-shaped head, was deep in research, working on a task assigned by the World Government.
For him, it was easy—just time-consuming.
This entire island served as a vast laboratory.
But as he was focused on his work, the base's alarm suddenly blared.
Vegapunk froze, then turned to a console and tapped several keys—his eyes widening in disbelief.
"What is this? Such an over-limit energy reading? Don't tell me… Caesar or Judge actually succeeded?"
He frowned in confusion.
The alarm came from the global energy detection system—a sensor sensitive enough to track immense power fluctuations anywhere in the world.
It was designed to monitor the output of the World Government's experimental weapons.
Yet now, it had picked up something… unexpected.
A golden flash illuminated the room as Admiral Kizaru appeared beside him.
"Doctor!"
Kizaru glanced at the screen.
"It's nothing serious," Vegapunk muttered. "Just detected an enormous energy surge somewhere in Paradise—far from here."
He turned off the alarm but couldn't help his growing curiosity.
Kizaru pouted. "As long as it's not pirates invading. You gave me a scare~."
"What pirate would dare attack this place? If one did, the Navy might as well disband," Vegapunk teased, returning to his work.
Kizaru only shrugged. He wouldn't have understood anyway.
In the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, within the Garden of Flowers, Im turned toward the direction of Paradise.
Her gaze flickered faintly with intrigue.
"An energy… like the sun itself?" she murmured.
Her voice was calm, her body perfectly still.
"Phew…"
Don exhaled deeply.
The light, the heat, and the burst he'd unleashed toward the heavens had lasted a full thirty minutes.
He had never imagined that the thirty minutes under Unyielding would feel so long.
Floating in the sky, Don raised his fist—and frowned.
He released his Conqueror's Haki again.
Earlier, while under Unyielding, he had managed to infuse his Haki into his attacks.
But now… he couldn't.
Though he could feel a faint trace of it, the infusion simply wouldn't form.
"What the hell…?"
He muttered, brows furrowing, and tried again—only to confirm his suspicion.
It really was impossible now.
"Damn it… so it was just a temporary power spike!"
He sighed, half amused and half exasperated.
He had thought he'd finally mastered Conqueror's Infusion… only to realize it was a special effect of Unyielding.
Still, he'd experienced it firsthand.
At least now, he knew the direction to work toward—it was just a matter of time.
Of course, finding someone to teach him would make it much faster.
With that thought, Don stopped overthinking, turning into a streak of fire that shot toward the distant ship.
When he landed on deck, Robin and Enel were still unconscious.
Mihawk and Issho stared at him like they'd just seen a mythical beast.
"What?" Don asked, looking down at himself.
His clothes were shredded from the earlier battle.
"You were hiding your true power," Issho said quietly.
"Huh?" Don blinked, then chuckled. "Well, that's only natural. Out on the seas, you always keep a few cards up your sleeve."
Both Mihawk and Issho gave him strange looks.
With that kind of power, there was no need to "keep cards up your sleeve."
"If you and Red-Hair were to fight… who'd win?" Don suddenly asked, turning to Mihawk.
Mihawk froze, then fell into serious thought.
"Shanks was already formidable back then—his swordsmanship, especially. But now… his true strength isn't in his blade. If you two fought, the result would depend on the battle itself."
He knew Shanks' swordsmanship from long ago.
But after Shanks lost his arm, though they'd sparred a few times since, those encounters had been brief.
"If you'd used that power from the start," Mihawk added, "no one could have stopped you."
That strength Don unleashed wasn't something any human should possess.
And that overwhelming Conqueror's Haki—it had reached even him from miles away, almost unbearable to withstand.
Could Shanks even endure that?
"I see."
Don nodded, then casually carried Robin into the cabin, laid her on the only bed inside, and changed into fresh clothes before stepping back out.
"I need you to teach me swordsmanship."
Mihawk blinked in surprise. "You… want me to teach you?"
Even for him, that was unexpected.
"With that kind of power," Mihawk muttered, "swordsmanship is meaningless to you."
Though prideful, Mihawk had to admit—facing a being of that scale, he might not even be able to get close.
Ranged slashes alone wouldn't even scratch him.
"I still need to learn to control my power," Don replied calmly. "To truly control it. My strength… is simply too great."
The words left Mihawk silent for a long moment.
As arrogant as it sounded, it wasn't wrong.
Finally, he sighed.
"If you truly wish to learn, then I'll teach you."
He had lost, fair and square—and he was not one to deny that.
Besides, Don's swordsmanship was… rough, to say the least.
In truth, Mihawk couldn't stand to look at it any longer.
END OF CHAPTER
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