The colossal slash, stretching thousands of meters, tore through the battlefield, sending shockwaves that battered the earth.
For Ashveil, this attack was trivial, but for the world below, it was nothing short of apocalyptic.
The immense slash carved a scar across the sky, splitting the heavens and the earth as if the world itself were being torn apart. The shockwave struck a nearby island, cleaving it in two with a thunderous roar. Boom! The land collapsed instantly.
The slash surged onward, plowing into the vast sea and splitting the waters asunder. Towering waves rose in all directions, currents spiraling violently across the sky, while the ground was plunged into shadow beneath the maelstrom.
The Whitebeard Pirates, safely shielded beneath Ashveil's Golden Conqueror's Haki barrier, gaped in awe and fear. Bickley the Sword Saint's raw power was undeniable, yet even as he faced such an adversary, Ashveil remained resolute.
"How many times do I have to tell you, Sword Saint? No matter how you strike, you can't hit me!" Ashveil's eyes narrowed, a faint smirk curling his lips.
Appearing directly before Bickley, Ashveil condensed a massive Conqueror's Haki-infused fist above his head and slammed it down with crushing force.
Bickley's pupils dilated in shock. He tried to evade, but Ashveil's speed and sudden appearance rendered his Observation Haki useless. Before Bickley could deploy his Holy Sword's defensive barrier, the fist struck, sending blood spraying across the sky.
The Sword Saint was hurled downward, crashing toward Ashveil's Golden Conqueror's Haki barrier. The combined weight of the fist and Haki threatened to shatter it.
Below, the Whitebeard Pirates gasped in disbelief.
"What the hell, is Ashveil trying to kill us too?" Marco exclaimed, dumbfounded.
"Yeah, his power is incredible! What if he smashes through our barrier?" Flower Sword Vista stammered, lips trembling.
Hearing this, other pirates below also panicked, shouting toward Ashveil above.
"Stop it, Ashveil! You're not trying to kill us, are you?"
High above, Ashveil shook his head, bemused. Though he could be lazy at times, he was not foolish enough to harm his own people. His Golden Conqueror's Haki barrier was unyielding, fortified with abundant Haki to absorb impacts. Though the fist struck with tremendous force, much of its power dissipated, leaving the barrier intact.
With a deafening boom, Bickley collided with the Haki wall, the sound echoing across heaven and earth. Everyone beneath the barrier trembled at the sheer intensity.
The residual energy from Ashveil's massive attack radiated outward, disintegrating islands within the Whitebeard Pirates' territory. The surrounding sea rose violently into the sky before crashing down in towering waves.
"Tsunami! It's a tsunami!" the pirates shouted as the massive waves surged toward their base.
Even elite captains like Marco, Jozu, and Ace exchanged worried glances. Many were Devil Fruit users, vulnerable to being overwhelmed by the surging water.
Yet when the waves struck Ashveil's Conqueror's Haki barrier, they were effortlessly split in two, surging harmlessly in all directions. Relief washed over the pirates.
Edward Newgate, the Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, exhaled softly, a rare moment of awe in his expression. Golden Lion, observing the scene, approached with a mischievous grin.
"Hahaha! Whitebeard, I didn't expect even a man as strong as you, the strongest in the world, to show surprise at just the aftershock of Ashveil's power!"
Whitebeard scowled, cheeks tinged with embarrassment.
"Old lion, what nonsense! When was I surprised? I'm fine, thank you very much! Don't lump me in with Marco, who's never seen a grand display!"
Marco rolled his eyes at his Captain's prideful claim, while Golden Lion leaned closer, still teasing.
"Oh? Is that so? I just noticed your breathing tightened, a little sign of inner surprise!" Golden Lion's smile widened, clearly enjoying Whitebeard's rare human reaction.
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