The darkness dispersed entirely. Morning glow spilled across the sky, bathing the town in brilliant sunlight.
Yet, here in the plaza, Conqueror's Haki crashed outward with mad intensity.
One second, the soldiers were tightening their fingers on their triggers. The next, their eyes rolled back. They collapsed into limp heaps on the ground, completely unconscious.
Hundreds of Marine soldiers fell in a spectacular display of absolute dominance.
"What is this...?"
Smoker's mind trembled under the violent impact of the Haki. For a fleeting moment, he lost the will to resist.
He relied entirely on his stubborn devotion to justice. Cold sweat drenched his body. He clenched his teeth and forced himself to stay standing, though his heart was consumed by endless horror.
Now he finally understood.
This was why Lius had been issued such a massive first bounty.
Awakening the disposition of a king at such a young age, and being able to release it so freely, was more than enough to put the entire Navy on high alert.
Smoker fixed a furious glare on Lius and gritted his teeth. "Such potent Conqueror's Haki!"
Lius offered a faint smile. "Not bad. A guy vacationing in East Blue straight out of Headquarters certainly has broad horizons!"
He pulled back his Haki as he spoke.
Intimidating the small fry was enough. He maintained a healthy amount of respect for the truly capable. That included those with sheer mental fortitude.
Ace felt an inexplicable sense of shock wash over him. He had awakened his own Conqueror's Haki during his childhood. "So this kind of aura is Conqueror's Haki. But isn't this way too strong?"
That shockwave clearly had not been fully unleashed. It was merely a momentary sweep, yet it made his body and mind feel as though they were being battered by stormy waves.
Heaven only knew how terrifying it would be if released at full power.
Lius rested his hands on the hilt of his blade. "So, are you still planning to block our path?"
It was phrased as a simple question, yet it carried a tremendous, suffocating pressure.
Smoker clenched his jaw. "As long as I breath, I won't let you leave. I will wager my justice to fulfill my duty as a Marine!"
He took the initiative to strike the moment the words left his mouth.
"White Snake!"
His arm dissolved completely into smoke. The transformation generated a massive thrust, launching his gloved fist forward like a cannonball.
A loud boom echoed. The smoke stretched into the shape of a long snake and smashed directly toward Lius's face.
Simultaneously, Smoker gripped his Seastone jitte with his other hand and charged fiercely at Ace.
Knowing the sheer strength of his two opponents and still choosing to attack fearlessly was certainly surprising. More than that, it carried a distinct air of desperate, tragic heroism.
Lius let out a long sigh. "What a stubborn guy."
He spread his fingers and tightly gripped the hilt of his sword. The blade remained sheathed, yet his entire being radiated the sharpness of a divine sword poised to cleave the sea in half.
"Heat Haze!"
Ace suddenly moved from his position.
His arm morphed into pure flames. A fiery pillar erupted from his palm and collided with the smoke fist in midair. A massive cloud of white mist and fire steamed into the sky.
He followed up with a flying kick.
The Seastone jitte clashed violently against his leg with a loud bang. Ace and Smoker both staggered back several steps before regaining their balance.
Ace grinned widely and tipped the brim of his hat. "I can't let you steal all the spotlight. Leave this guy to me!"
Lius lowered his hands from his hilt and shook his head helplessly. "Your Logia type attributes cancel each other out. It'll take you a long time to decide a winner."
He did not wait around after saying that. He turned his back on the fight and strolled straight toward the pier without a single backward glance.
"Nami and I will wait for you at the pier!" Lius's voice drifted back from the distance. "You have ten minutes. If you don't show up, we're heading into the Grand Line without you!"
The expressions on both Ace and Smoker soured simultaneously.
Smoker watched Lius leave with a carefree expression. He tightened his grip on the Seastone jitte. "I think he's right. If you don't know how to use Haki, this fight is going to end in a draw."
Ace furrowed his brows. A sudden realization hit him, causing a myriad of emotions to flash across his face. "Haki? Don't tell me..."
As a Logia type user, he was completely immune to physical attacks. Yet, during his previous spar with Lius, he had been struck. There had been an element of surprise, sure, but the physical contact had been completely genuine.
Smoker's eyes darkened as he observed the pirate's expression. "You're a rookie who doesn't even know about Haki?"
This realization made him view Lius as infinitely more dangerous and terrifying.
A sharp boom shattered the momentary pause.
He and Ace lunged at each other simultaneously. Both men shared the exact same mindset. Overthinking was useless. Beating the enemy standing right in front of them was all that mattered.
Flames and smoke violently collided. The immense impact sent dust billowing high into the sky.
Lius glanced over his shoulder from the street intersection. "The sheer destructive power of a Logia type really is impressive."
A small twinge of envy blossomed in his heart.
"Pirate Lius!"
A squad of Marines suddenly blocked the road to the pier. Leading them was none other than the Marine Master Chief Petty Officer, Tashigi.
She had a tall, slender figure and short black hair. Dressed in a floral shirt and wearing red-framed glasses, she exuded a valiant and commanding presence that rivaled any man.
Tashigi drew her famed blade. "Bounty of 73 million beli. The strongest rookie in the East Blue"
Her gaze dropped to the hilt at his waist. "I didn't expect you to be a swordsman. Letting someone like you wield a famed blade is enough to make the sword itself weep!"
He did not offer a verbal reply. He simply gave her a single, sweeping glance.
A low hum vibrated through the air. Conqueror's Haki swept forward. The invisible pressure slammed into the squad, dropping every single Marine to the floor in an instant.
"I don't have time to play games with you."
Lius stepped straight over the unconscious Marines and continued down the street.
He had only walked a short distance when an unwilling, furious roar echoed from behind him.
"Damn it, what kind of ability is that? Why won't you draw your sword and fight me? Are you insulting my pride as a swordsman?"
Lius glanced back. Tashigi was trembling violently. She gritted her teeth, desperately fighting against the pressure to stand up. Her attempts failed one after another, leaving her slumped helplessly on the ground. Beyond sheer anger, her pale face was twisted with the despair of utter humiliation.
She hasn't passed out yet?
Lius was genuinely surprised. The burst of Haki he had released wasn't particularly strong, but it still wasn't something a typical person could endure.
"You misunderstand. My blade never strikes the weak."
Tashigi roared, her jaw clenched tight. "The weak? Is it because I am a woman?"
Lius offered a faint smile. "No. It is because your heart is simply not strong enough. That is all."
Another wave of Haki surged from his body. The invisible shockwave slammed into the struggling Tashigi, plunging her straight into unconsciousness. She collapsed onto the pavement.
"Why is everyone in this world as stubborn as a rock?" Lius muttered to himself. He shook his head and resumed his walk toward the pier.
Behind him, pillars of smoke and fire shot into the sky. A deafening roar erupted through the air, completely overturning the plaza in a terrifying display of elemental destruction.