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"Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro, bounty 1,553,000,000 Beri."
"Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, bounty 1,959,000,000 Beri."
"Fire Fist Portgas D. Ace, bounty 2,855,000,000 Beri."
"Do you three... want to fight us?"
Kizaru's gaze skipped over Luffy, focusing on Zoro, Ace, and Hancock.
Straw Hat's power was self-evident. He had a preliminary grasp of Haoshoku Coating for offense, and in his so-called "Gear Fourth" state, he could even fight Akainu for a time.
That level of power was undoubtedly Admiral-level, capable of participating in a battle of this caliber.
But Pirate Hunter, Fire Fist, and the Pirate Empress—were not yet qualified.
During the previous operation against the Pirate Hunter, Kizaru had acknowledged that the man's raw offensive power had crossed the Admiral-level threshold. But it was only his offense.
Unlike Straw Hat, who had truly begun to master Haoshoku Coating, Pirate Hunter was merely channeling a fraction of its power through his unique "Asura Aura."
That, combined with his top-tier swordsmanship, was what barely pushed his attacks into the Admiral-class.
But in terms of stamina, Haki endurance, and defense, Pirate Hunter was not yet Admiral-level, not a true Admiral-level combatant.
Fire Fist Ace and the Pirate Empress were even less of a threat. Though both were top-tier Yonko Commanders, even working together, they were no match for a single Admiral.
Unless...
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"Hey, hey. I'm really being underestimated..." Ace commented. A new tattoo now adorned his body.
Besides his signature Whitebeard tattoo on his back and the 'ACE' and 'Sabo' tattoos on his arm—the Sky Sovereign Grand Fleet's tattoo was now on his other arm.
Ace glanced at Kizaru, then shifted his gaze to Ryokugyu.
"The Forest-Forest Fruit, is it?" Ace smiled.
Among Logias, there were elemental counters. Besides being slightly effective against the Ice-Ice Fruit, the Flare-Flare Fruit was an extremely strong counter to the Forest-Forest Fruit.
"Oh? Trying to use a Devil Fruit counter to bridge the gap between us? Kid, you and I are not on the same level,"
Ryokugyu's expression darkened. As a bully, he was particularly enraged by challenges from those he perceived as weaker.
Yes, the Flare-Flare Fruit countered his Forest-Forest Fruit. But his own fruit was awakened, and his Haki was Admiral-class. To think that a mere, unawakened Flare-Flare Fruit could stand against him was laughable.
According to their intel, Fire Fist Ace was a fighter who relied entirely on his Logia, with almost non-existent Armament Haki. Against a foe like that, Haki alone was enough to finish him.
"Is that so?" Ace's eyes flashed with an extreme orange-red light.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Terrifying flames roared from Ace's entire body, and a strange ripple began to emanate outwards. The temperature of the atmosphere skyrocketed.
The very clouds in the sky began to shift, transforming into fireballs resembling Big Mom's homie, Prometheus.
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"AWAKENED??" Ryokugyu's expression changed drastically.
Kizaru's expression also became grave.
Only after Awakening could a Devil Fruit unleash its full power.
A Fruit as strong as the Flare-Flare Fruit, which was already a powerful Logia—though it couldn't compare to Rowen's Rumble-Rumble Fruit, his own Glint-Glint Fruit, or Sakazuki's Magma-Magma Fruit—after Awakening, with just the Devil Fruit's power alone, the user could possess Admiral-level combat strength.
This was a true Admiral-level threat. Stamina, offense, and defense via elemental transformation—all of it had now reached the Admiral-class. And the Flare-Flare Fruit was a strong counter to the Forest-Forest Fruit.
If they fought, the outcome would be uncertain.
Fortunately, their side had other Admiral-level or higher combatants.
But... Kizaru felt a sense of unease.
If Fire Fist Ace's combat strength had exceeded their original expectations. Then, what about the others?
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"S-Hawk... a humanoid weapon created with Hawk-Eyes Mihawk's genes?" Zoro looked at S-Hawk, a feral grin spreading across his face.
It was true that he couldn't fully master Haoshoku Coating yet. But just like in the original story, he could use his Asura Aura to draw out its power.
And with Rowen's help, unlike in the original story where Zoro was completely unaware of this power until Luffy told him, "Don't you know? Your Conqueror's Haki is overflowing," now, by controlling his Asura Aura, Zoro could make his attack power reach the Admiral level.
FWOOSH!
A purple-green aura exploded from Zoro's body as his Asura Aura materialized. Within that aura, the power of Conqueror's Haki was drawn out, coiling around his three swords.
"Asura Aura: Nine Sword Style——!" At this moment, behind Zoro, a demonic, god-like shadow seemed to appear.
"So scary~ The power of Asura Aura," Kizaru commented, his mouth twisted.
Thanks to Rowen, the power of Asura Aura was now famous throughout the world.
And they, the top brass of the Navy who had experienced its terror firsthand, knew even more clearly—it was with this power that Rowen could use the Asura Giant Form to completely suppress the combined might of Sakazuki and Sengoku in the Summit War.
And the source of this power was on Pirate Hunter, Roronoa Zoro.
This was also why their Navy's operations had always made Pirate Hunter a primary target. It was because the power of Asura Aura in Rowen's hands was too terrifying.
And this power in Pirate Hunter's hands also proved this point, it allowed him to channel a portion of Conqueror's Haki without mastering Haōshoku Coating. Pushing his offensive power beyond its normal limits.
But thankfully, though stronger than their last meeting, there was still no qualitative change—Pirate Hunter was still not a True Admiral-level powerhouse.
Against S-Hawk, such strength wouldn't last long.
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"Hancock, I leave it to you," Rowen said gently, looking at Hancock.
"YES, MY LOVE~" Hancock clasped her incredibly beautiful face, her beautiful eyes turning into heart shapes.
Then—
FWOOSH!
A strange fluctuation began to surge on Hancock's feet. This was the power of the Love-Love Fruit.
"Perfume Femur——!" Hancock's gaze turned cold.
When her ability was truly activated, it didn't need the enemy to be infatuated with her beauty; as long as her Perfume Femur kick hit and broke through Haki, it would petrify them.
AND!
CRACKLE! BOOM!
Savage, crimson-black lightning roared through the air around her, then coiled around her right leg.
"HAŌSHOKU COATING!"
Kizaru's eye twitched.
Sky Sovereign... as expected, had another trump card!
THE PIRATE EMPRESS HAD A PRELIMINARY GRASP OF HAOSHOKU COATING!
Combined with her Devil Fruit, as long as her Haki held out, she was an Admiral-level combatant.
Can S-Hawk handle both the Pirate Hunter and the Pirate Empress?
Kizaru's eyes behind his sunglasses flashed, calculating the combat matchups.
Kaido and Big Mom could engage Sky Sovereign. Though their stamina and Haki were not at full—their cooperation would allow them to recover some in battle. At least, they wouldn't be easily defeated in a short time.
After all, the combination of Kaido and Big Mom, even with depleted stamina and Haki, was definitely stronger than the combination of Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Sakazuki during the Summit War.
He himself would have to deal with Straw Hat.
As for Fujitora, he could go against Fire Fist Ace, avoiding the elemental disadvantage for Ryokugyu.
And Ryokugyu could support S-Hawk.
One S-Hawk couldn't handle the combined might of Pirate Hunter and the Pirate Empress, but with Ryokugyu added, they could easily suppress them, even win quickly.
After all, Zoro's stamina and defense were still lacking. As for the Pirate Empress, who had just preliminarily mastered Haōshoku Coating, her Haki consumption would be extremely fast; once her Haki was depleted, Ryokugyu and S-Hawk could easily win.
And what he needed to do was the same, quickly exhaust Straw Hat's stamina and Haki.
Then, they would all converge on Sky Sovereign Rowen.
Even though the enemy's strength had exceeded their predictions, their own forces were still more numerous.
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"Truly remarkable... to have so many skilled fighters under his command," Kaido's eyes also flickered violently at this moment.
Kaido greatly valued talent; even with enemies, after defeating them, he would imprison them, trying to subdue them.
Seeing so many powerful individuals gathered around Rowen made Kaido envious.
Admiral-level combatants were absolute top-tier fighters on these seas.
Even if just entering the threshold, they were powerful enough to influence the course of a top-tier war. By his side, there wasn't even a second Admiral-level combatant. But this brat had so many.
At this moment, looking at Rowen, Kaido felt a strange sense of déjà vu. It was as if he had been transported back in time, back to the ship where he had been an apprentice, looking up at the strongest ruler of that era.
"Rocks," Kaido stated gravely.
Rocks D. Xebec!
That man's ship back then gathered the strongest pirates of that era, besides the Roger Pirates. He was the undisputed strongest of that era.
The forces gathered by Rowen before him reminded Kaido of the Rocks Pirates back then.
No!
This was a force even more terrifying than Rocks's.
After all, Rocks back then only gathered them with treasure and profit; everyone had their own agendas, no one acknowledged Rocks as captain.
It was more of a large pirate coalition formed by Rocks with treasure and profit. If there wasn't enough treasure and profit, Rocks couldn't even command some of them, like the deceased Whitebeard.
And what was gathered by treasure and profit would naturally fall apart because of treasure and profit—this was the fundamental reason for Rocks's failure in the God Valley Incident.
But Sky Sovereign was different—these guys were truly willing to die for him.
Even when launching a war against their two Emperor crews and the Navy, this group had no hesitation, ready to fight to the death at any moment.
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"Rocks? It does feel like that," Big Mom grinned her cavernous maw.
Back then, Kaido, because he hadn't eaten a Devil Fruit, was not strong enough and was an apprentice. But she, who had already eaten the Soul-Soul Fruit and was a natural monster, was a formal crew member.
When they attacked God Valley, she was one of the main forces.
The Rocks back then simultaneously faced the God's Knights, and the later arriving Navy and Roger Pirates.
The performance of Sky Sovereign Rowen now really did have the air of Rocks back then.
"If our two pirate crews had fought him without knowing the situation, we might have really lost," Big Mom glanced over the powerful combatants by Rowen's side and grinned.
"But Your Appetite Is Too Big! Brat!" Big Mom's eyes were blood-red.
"KAIDO! FORGET ABOUT A ONE-ON-ONE! WE'LL ATTACK TOGETHER! OUR HAKI AND STAMINA ARE NOT AT FULL!" Big Mom knew Kaido's personality and roared with her cavernous maw.
"Hmph." Kaido only snorted coldly, not refuting. If he were at full strength, he would definitely have a One-on-One with Rowen.
But after being worn down by Ryokugyu and S-Hawk, Kaido was no longer fixated on a one-on-one—he was a war maniac, not an idiot.
But though not at full strength, whether it was him or Big Mom, with their Devil Fruit abilities and special constitutions, they could recover stamina and Haki in battle.
The two cooperating, could also fight a war of attrition.
In Kaido's view, he and Big Mom working together could quickly finish off Sky Sovereign Rowen.
VMM!
Kaido's body rapidly changed.
He stood on the ice, holding his kanabo—Azure Dragon, Hybrid Form.
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S-Hawk, Kizaru, Ryokugyu, Fujitora also assumed offensive stances.
"LET'S GO!"
"Flame Commandment——!" Ace roared lowly, terrifying flames rapidly condensing, concentrating entirely on his fists, as if wearing a pair of sun gloves. And with Armament Haki wreathed on them—Flame Gloves!
Only after the Flare-Flare Fruit was Awakened could one successfully control the Flame Gloves. This was also the technique that allowed Ace to truly possess Admiral-level combat strength.
WHOOSH!
Ace charged towards Ryokugyu.
"Hmph!" Zoro and Hancock targeted S-Hawk.
"I can't let you match up so easily," Fujitora, about to move against Ace, to prevent Ryokugyu's Devil Fruit ability from being countered.
"Do you think I would show up if I wasn't certain of victory?" Rowen looked at Fujitora's movement and smiled.
CRACKLE!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
A horrifying crimson-black lightning bolt exploded!
BANG!
Luffy's body, enveloped in a crimson-black lightning cloud, accelerated terrifyingly under the effect of Haōshoku Coating, instantly kicking Fujitora's cane sword!
"NGH!!!"
Veins bulged on Fujitora's forehead.
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