A foul stench of urine spread as Saint Charlos lost control of himself. A moment later, countless blades of Conqueror's Haki materialized in the air, piercing his body without mercy.
Crimson blood sprayed into the sky. The Celestial Dragon's shriek was high-pitched and pitiful, echoing like the squeal of a slaughtered pig before he finally collapsed into a spreading pool of red.
[Ding! You have slain a Celestial Dragon. Reward: 200 Conqueror's Haki points. The Glint-Glint Fruit has advanced to a higher level.]
[Host: Thorne Ashveil]
[Conqueror's Haki Attribute Points: 6406]
[Devil Fruit Abilities: Tremor-Tremor Fruit (Medium), Magma-Magma Fruit (Advanced), Search Ability (Medium), Glint-Glint Fruit (Advanced), Ice-Ice Fruit (Medium), Appearance Fruit (Medium)]
[Devil Fruits in Possession: Tanuki Fruit, three artificial Devil Fruits, Hyena-Hyena Fruit]
[Skills: Flash (100 meters), Conqueror's Haki Passive Defense Shield, Shinra Tensei (Self-created)]
[Items: Healing potion, ham, hamburger, cola, red wine, turkey, salad...]
Clenching his fists, Ashveil felt his aura grow even heavier. His Conqueror's Haki swelled, sharper and more suffocating than before. The Glint-Glint Fruit within him resonated, its power surging to a new stage. His speed now outstripped what it had been—geometric growth, a frightening leap forward.
Ashveil turned toward Urouge, his tone carrying the weight of an older brother lecturing a wayward sibling.
"See? Even the blood of Celestial Dragons runs red. Even they know fear."
Then, glancing at the quivering slaves spared by his Haki, he softened his voice.
"And you… you are free."
At first, disbelief clouded their hollow eyes. Slaves of Celestial Dragons rarely dreamed of freedom. Their gazes wavered, uncertain, hesitant.
"We… we are free?" one muttered, barely daring to hope.
Ashveil's tone was firm. "Yes. From this day on, you are free. Return to your homes. That is where you truly belong."
He raised his hand, his Conqueror's Haki flaring once more. The explosive collars chained to their necks cracked and shattered, their mechanisms destroyed by invisible force. He flicked them into the air.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The explosions echoed above, but no slave was harmed. The detonations marked not their end, but their rebirth.
Tears welled in their eyes. The reality hit them—they were no longer property, no longer beasts of burden. For the first time in years, they could breathe as humans again.
They collapsed, but this time in gratitude, not oppression.
"We're free!"
"We're free!"
"Thank you, benefactor!"
Their cries carried the weight of lives reclaimed. For those who had never known chains, it would be impossible to understand. But for them, freedom was nothing short of rebirth.
Ashveil turned his back on their kneeling forms. With one last wave of his hand, he spoke.
"Remember this—men's knees are worth gold. Do not kneel so easily again. You are no longer slaves."
His words etched themselves into their hearts.
Behind him, freed men and women wept openly. Some spoke of spreading his name, of telling their people that even Celestial Dragons could bleed.
"The world must hear of this man!"
"Celestial Dragons are not gods!"
Above, Bete of the World Economy News trembled with shock. His lips moved soundlessly before he turned to the woman beside him, Rose.
"Rose… did that young man really kill a descendant of God?"
Rose's face was pale, but her voice was steady. "Yes. A Celestial Dragon is dead, and his blood stains the earth."
Bete swallowed hard, his expression shifting from disbelief to feverish excitement.
"This is big news… the biggest news of the year! President Morgans must hear of this immediately!"
His eyes gleamed. "Zero Division Captain Thorne Ashveil of the Whitebeard Pirates—you're my lucky star! This scoop will make me rich!"
…
By the time Ashveil and his group left the auction house, they had already reached the coast where his warship had once been docked. The sea churned as always, restless and unending.
He stood at the shore with Kuma beside him, gazing out at the waves.
"Well, Kuma," Ashveil asked, smiling faintly, "would you be willing to help someone like me?"
Kuma lowered his Bible, his eyes solemn. "Of course, Ashveil-san."
Ashveil's gaze lingered on the giant before him. In another life, this man had sacrificed everything for the Revolutionary Army—offering his body for Vegapunk's experiments, enduring torment for the sake of freedom. Ashveil respected him deeply.
"Kuma," Ashveil asked, his tone serious, "are you interested in standing against the Marines with me?"
The wind caught Kuma's coat, making it billow as he considered his answer. His voice, when it came, was steady.
"Ashveil-san… if I could, I would fight at your side. But I have more important duties to fulfill. The Marines are not the only power that must be opposed. My path… leads elsewhere. And I must walk it."
He paused, his face softening slightly.
"One last piece of advice. You are strong, but the Celestial Dragons' power extends far beyond the Marines. You have slain one of them. From now on, you must tread carefully, Ashveil-san."
With that, Kuma spread his palms. The air warped, forming a giant paw-shaped bubble that encompassed Ashveil, Urouge, and the massive warship.
Bang!
In a blink, they vanished, sent flying through the sky.
Kuma stood alone at the shore, his Bible pressed to his chest as he gazed out at the endless sea.
"Revolution needs men like him," he murmured, "but it also needs sacrifices. If only I could walk beside you longer… I hope you succeed, Ashveil-san."
…
As Ashveil soared within Kuma's paw, the world erupted into chaos. News of the Sabaody Archipelago spread like wildfire.
A Celestial Dragon was dead.
And the man who killed him was Thorne Ashveil.