Chi!!
In the air, phantom, star-like sword shadows seemed to flicker casually a few times. The bullets that came whistling toward him were all cleanly cut down by Roya's sword!
When the sword collided with the high-speed bullets, not even a single spark was produced.
Looking at Hiru in his hand, a trace of admiration appeared in Roya's eyes. This sword was indeed a cut above Engetsu.
Not only that—its handling was exceptionally comfortable. After only a few swings, he had already almost completely adapted to its weight, as well as the hardness and flexibility of its blade.
Click! Click!!
The middle-aged man had emptied his magazine, yet Roya stood there completely unharmed. His pupils contracted violently. Even as a peripheral member of the Donquixote Family, a chill ran down his spine.
Dodging bullets alone was one thing—but precisely cutting down every single bullet with a sword was absolutely not something an ordinary person could accomplish!
At this point, everyone present understood that Roya was no ordinary figure. After taking a deep breath, they instead gradually calmed down.
They were all people who lived with blades at their throats. With numbers on their side, shock did not turn into fear. Instead, their gazes grew cold as they stared at Roya, killing intent filling the air.
Roya, as a Marine, was now the common enemy of everyone present.
Even if Roya clearly wasn't an ordinary person, he was still only one man. The disparity in numbers was overwhelming. Many of them drew their weapons, preparing to attack.
At that moment, more members of the Donquixote Family rushed in upon hearing the commotion, completely surrounding Roya. At the middle-aged man's command, they brandished all kinds of weapons and charged toward him.
From beginning to end, Roya had barely even glanced at the people present. He had been admiring the Supreme Grade Blade in his hand. Seeing the crowd rush forward, he merely shook his head slightly.
"Ants…"
Roya turned sideways, holding the sword in one hand. Hiru pointed downward as he swept it lightly from left to right, facing the oncoming crowd.
Hum!!!
A dazzling sword energy suddenly burst forth, illuminating the dim underground chamber like broad daylight. It tore through the void and vanished in an instant.
The sword energy appeared swiftly and disappeared just as quickly. In almost the blink of an eye, it was gone. Along its path, nothing could stop it. It advanced with unstoppable force and finally pierced straight through the ceiling above.
---
At the center of Bana Island.
A large luxury hotel stood here, with an open area in front. Ordinary passersby would only glance at it from afar before walking around it.
This opulent hotel was far beyond what they could afford.
However—
In the very next instant—
Chi!!
Without warning, a streak of light suddenly flashed beneath the ground in front of the hotel, bursting out from underground and shooting into the sky before fading away.
Immediately after, a clearly visible crack appeared on the ground in front of the hotel!
The crack was unnaturally neat, as if measured with a ruler—like a straight line carved cleanly by a sharp weapon.
Crack!!
Almost as soon as the fissure appeared, spiderweb-like fractures spread along it across the street.
Boom!!
The fractures expanded rapidly, covering a vast surrounding area. In the end, stones shattered, and the entire region collapsed with a thunderous roar!
The might of a single sword strike—breaking through the earth!
The massive noise caused all distant pedestrians to stop in their tracks, staring at the scene in shock.
When they saw that beneath the collapse was what appeared to be a huge underground chamber—along with blood and corpses inside—screams erupted everywhere.
The once-bustling street instantly descended into chaos.
Some people recoiled in panic and terror, while pirates hidden among the civilians drew their weapons in shock and rushed toward the scene.
---
Underground.
Roya's sword strike had completely split open the ground above the chamber. Sunlight poured down, and Roya stood at the very center, bathed in its glow.
Hiru in his hand emitted an even more brilliant white radiance under the sunlight, shimmering around the blade.
Yoru was heavy and massive; Hiru was slender and exquisitely refined.
All around Roya, everyone was frozen in shock—staring at the underground chamber split in two by a single strike, staring at the shattered ground above and the sunlight pouring in.
To Roya's side, all the pirates—whether flesh and blood or steel weapons—who were caught along that line had been cleanly severed into two!
"This… this has to be a joke?!"
"What terrifying power! Is it because of that sword?!"
Even though those present were seasoned leaders of the underground world, they were ultimately just forces from the West Blue. Power of this level was beyond their comprehension.
Witnessing a single sword strike that was utterly unstoppable—cleaving through flesh, steel, and even the earth itself as though they were rotten wood—left them profoundly shaken.
Some even believed that this horrifying power originated from Hiru in Roya's hand. Their eyes burned with greed and madness as they stared at the sword, thoughts of seizing it beginning to surface.
At that moment, the pirates under the Donquixote Family also arrived in force. From above and below ground, vast numbers of pirates poured in, surrounding the area from all directions.
Countless gun barrels pointed at Roya. Countless blades were aimed at him. It seemed as though, in the next instant, an endless barrage would tear Roya to pieces.
Yet under such circumstances—
Roya's expression remained utterly calm. Even the initial traces of delight and mockery had vanished, replaced by a detached serenity, as though he stood far above them all.
These people… were far too weak.
So weak that Roya felt he did not even need to swing his sword—just a single thought would be enough to make them all collapse.
The sky, the earth, the enemies…
Not only those before him—perhaps even the vast heavens and the heavy earth themselves felt as though they could be grasped with a single thought.
That was the sensation.
Hum!!!
In that instant, an unprecedented light flashed through Roya's previously tranquil eyes. A power originating from deep within him suddenly erupted outward, rippling violently in all directions and spreading in a blink.
Roya's presence at this moment was unparalleled—so dense it seemed tangible, as though even heaven and earth were about to submit before it!
Silence.
Those pointing guns at Roya froze.
Those wielding swords froze as well.
Those staring greedily at the Supreme Grade Blade in his hand froze—every emotion locked onto their faces.
In the distance, the fleeing civilians—running figures and screaming voices—all came to a halt.
Between heaven and earth, everything was calm and still.
As though all existence had been frozen in this single moment.
Thud! Thud!!
In what felt like both an instant and an eternity, the people closest to Roya suddenly collapsed soundlessly to the ground.
Then the second. The third…
Like wheat being harvested, everyone on the island—centered on Roya—fell in waves. Thud after thud echoed endlessly until all lay unconscious on the ground!
Roya stood quietly at the center, his expression unchanged, as if all of this were only natural—exactly as it should be.
In the West Blue, anyone witnessing this would be left horrified and unable to believe their eyes.
In the first half of the Grand Line, most would be equally stunned and incredulous.
Even in the second half of the Grand Line, such a sight would shake hearts and provoke shocked cries:
"Conqueror's… Haki!"
Yes.
At this very moment, Roya's Conqueror's Haki had awakened.