Chapter 11: Conqueror's Haki
Buggy desperately wished Dante would come to their rescue, but unfortunately, Dante had his own matters to attend to.
"Sorry, Buggy, I've got things to do. You and Shanks hold on a little longer."
Dante patted Buggy on the shoulder, then instantly vanished from the encirclement with a flash of his sword.
"W-Wait… Damn it!!"
Buggy was on the verge of tears, forced to fight a retreating battle alongside a grim-faced Shanks.
They weren't freaks of nature like Dante. Though fairly strong for twelve-year-olds, they were inevitably overwhelmed facing a vast number of elite pirates.
Shanks, however, seemed more philosophical. After saying goodbye to Dante, he immediately engaged the pirates rushing toward them.
"Don't slack off, Buggy! More enemies are coming!"
"Damn it!!"
…
Meanwhile, at the main battlefield of the Edd War,
Roger and Shiki were clashing wildly, their Conqueror's Haki running rampant. Black and red lightning spread across the entire battlefield, seemingly threatening to tear the sky itself apart!
Pirates with slightly weaker strength didn't even dare approach the battlefield, as the numerous "sleeping"前辈 (senpai) on the ground served as a clear warning.
The exchange between the two was intensely fierce.
"Divine Departure!!!"
"Lion: Thousand-Cut Valley!!!"
Their sword techniques collided. Dante, who had rushed over to observe, didn't dare blink, his eyes fixed on the two blades that never actually touched.
"No matter how many times I see it, this power is still awe-inspiring!"
Conqueror's Haki Infusion!!!
Dante was practically insane, braving the residual pressure of these two immense Haki auras to spectate from the side. His Observation Haki was stretched to its limit, trying to comprehend this innate talent.
Facing this world-shattering power head-on, Dante admitted it was the first time he had truly felt fear.
It wasn't weakness of spirit or will, but a biological instinct in the face of death.
He knew that if he dared take a few steps closer, no matter how strong his physique or his two Haki types were, he would be utterly annihilated by this power, not even ashes remaining.
But Dante didn't retreat. He admitted he was gambling.
But clearly, he bet right.
When directly confronting the great terror between life and death, people can often break through certain limits.
Perhaps because he was too close, countless wounds began appearing on Dante's body. Even Armament Haki couldn't defend effectively. Trickles of blood flowed from his seven orifices.
But Dante didn't dare retreat.
Because to retreat now would be to retreat for a lifetime!
Based on his understanding of Conqueror's Haki as a power of ambition, if he retreated out of fear of someone else's Conqueror's Haki, awakening his own in the future would be extremely difficult. At best, he'd cap out at Yonko Commander level.
Then how could he show off? How could he have fun?
He refused to become someone who could be instantly秒杀 (one-shot) by a Conqueror's-infused attack, not even reaching Admiral level, forced to his knees just by Shanks's Conqueror's Haki in the future!
In his previous life, he was stuck at the bottom, unable to翻身 (turn over his life).
In this life, he finally had talent, a chance to become strong.
He would become the strongest man in the world!
The best at showing off!
The freest man!
He would make everyone break out in a cold sweat just hearing his name!
It was this simple thought filling his heart that allowed Dante to resolutely face the baptism of two of the world's top-tier Conqueror's Haki!
BOOM CRACKLE!!!
Just as Shiki and Roger were enjoying their fierce battle, a稚嫩 (young) but tyrannical will burst onto the scene! The black and red lightning suddenly drew their attention!
Shiki and Roger's eyes widened, then they both burst into loud laughter.
"Brat, it seems you have ambitions of your own too! Join me! I'll overlook that earlier gunshot!"
"I can't allow that, Shiki! This child is one of the futures of the new era!!!"
In the distance, Rayleigh and the others, fighting numerous officers, also felt this incredibly pure Conqueror's will and smiled.
The most shocked was Buggy. His hair whipped about in the storm of this aura, his eyes full of disbelief.
"Eh!!! Dante… he actually awakened Conqueror's Haki?!?!"
"Ah, as expected of Dante!"
Shanks was much calmer, genuinely happy for his friend's progress.
However, none of them noticed,
Among the crowd of lackeys in the distant Flying Pirate fleet, one inconspicuous pirate was holding up a Den Den Mushi transmitter.
And on the other end of the line,
Navy Headquarters, Marineford.
"Awakening Conqueror's Haki at such a young age… This brat on Roger's crew probably has potential no less than Roger's himself!"
"I know this guy."
A voice spoke up from behind Vice-Admiral Garp at the end of the office table, startling Garp awake and popping his snot bubble.
"Nani? Is the meeting over?"
"Garp!!!"
Seeing Garp had fallen asleep again, the current Navy Admiral, Sengoku, gritted his teeth. Just as he was about to lose his temper, Fleet Admiral Kong stopped him.
"The marine from Garp's ship. Explain in detail."
Kuzan (Aokiji), sitting behind Garp, stood up. Glaring at the military-uniformed少年 (youth) emitting black and red lightning in the Den Den Mushi's image, he slowly pulled out a bounty poster.
"The target's name is Dotor Dante, age 12. Proficient in two… no, three types of Haki, marksmanship, and martial arts. Suspected to have extremely high proficiency in Observation Haki. Cannot rule out that he is one of the great pirate Roger's chosen successors!"
If the earlier information was intelligence the Marines had gathered over years through battles and resources, the last sentence was pure personal grievance.
He, a Logia user, still couldn't remove the scar on his thigh from their encounter.
He'd almost gone from a future Navy Admiral to a future Navy "Big Sister"!
"Such a young monster… He must be nipped in the bud!!!"
Hearing Kuzan's words, Fleet Admiral Kong frowned deeply.
The increasing number of天才 (genius) monsters among the pirates posed a great challenge for the Navy, especially crewmembers of a great pirate like Roger.
Now confirmed to possess Conqueror's Haki… if he were allowed to grow up and learn Conqueror's Haki Infusion…
Just the thought of another great pirate of Roger's caliber appearing in the future made Kong feel immense pressure for the Navy's future.
"That brat with the rifle on Roger's ship has grown to this extent already?" The Navy Hero Garp mused between bites of rice crackers.
(￣～￣) munch
"My rice crackers!!! Garp!!!"
Sengoku let out a roar worthy of his future Buddha form.
…
"One after another, all refusing to be of use to me!"
"Then just die!"
"Stop boasting, Shiki!"
BOOM—
Even after awakening Conqueror's Haki, it didn't change the fact that Dante was still a kid. Roger had to protect him behind his back.
Just the residual shockwave from another clashing sword technique sent Dante flying out again.
Dante adjusted his posture mid-air. He didn't stubbornly charge back into the center of the battlefield. Instead, he used Geppo to land next to Shanks and Buggy.
Buggy, seeing him, was visibly thrilled.
"Dante! There are too many enemies! What should we do?"
"Relax, Buggy!"
Dante shook the rainwater off his blade, looking up at the turbulent, brewing storm in the sky.
"You possess Conqueror's Haki is no less than me or Shanks!"