Whitebeard's eyes narrowed, silently cursing Golden Lion. That old rascal! He must have been just as shocked as he was, yet he had the nerve to pretend otherwise, probably staring at Whitebeard the whole time. Otherwise, there was no way anyone could have missed his long exhale.
"You old lion, how dare you criticize me? Have you forgotten your first days in the Whitebeard Pirates? Ashveil beat you to a pulp! Hahaha! I saw how flustered you were back then, not calm at all, quite disheveled even!" Whitebeard shot back, mocking Golden Lion without hesitation.
Golden Lion's cheeks flushed crimson. The two veteran pirates, titans of the old era, now looked like squabbling children—a sight both ridiculous and strangely endearing.
Around them, other onlookers dissected the battle in hushed whispers.
"My goodness, that Ashveil… his strength is absurd," muttered Saint Mars, the second Elder.
"This confirms it. Sword Saint Bickley is finished. Even if he survives, he'll be severely crippled," Saint Mars added, his expression exaggerated, though all present understood the truth. The sheer force of Ashveil's attack had been overwhelming. A blow like that could either end a life or leave a lasting disability.
Sengoku's fists clenched tightly. Sword Saint Bickley, once considered among the most formidable of the Celestial Dragons, had been effortlessly defeated. The only one capable of challenging Ashveil now was Imu-sama.
If even she faltered, then Ashveil would truly command the world. Land, riches, and compensation meant nothing—control of the world itself was now within his reach.
Nearby, Garp laughed heartily, clapping his hands in amusement.
"Sword Saint Bickley even tried to kill all of us! Who would have thought he'd end up like this? I'd love to see how he plans to survive now!"
The Admirals—Sengoku, Kizaru, and Vice Admiral Gion—watched in shock. In previous encounters, even their combined efforts had failed against Ashveil, and any thought of challenging him now seemed utterly insane.
Even notorious pirates like Big Mom and Kaido of the Beasts widened their eyes, recalling past wars. They hadn't expected Ashveil to rise in power so swiftly.
"This kid… Ashveil, with such terrifying power, he may soon achieve Captain Rocks' ultimate goal," Big Mom muttered, blinking in astonishment.
Kaido swallowed, unease written across his face. Captain Rocks' ambition had once driven the two of them to consider uniting for a massive war. Now, facing Ashveil, such thoughts seemed not only impossible but foolhardy. Sword Saint Bickley, the Gorosei, even the mightiest Celestial Dragons—none could surpass him.
Meanwhile, Sword Saint Bickley, battered and humiliated, tumbled across Ashveil's Conqueror's Haki wall, finally crashing to the ground with a thunderous boom. The impact carved a colossal crater, extending deep into the sea. Bickley's unconscious form floated atop the waves, at the mercy of the ocean.
From above, Ashveil descended slowly, godlike, merging seamlessly with the Whitebeard Pirates' ranks. His massive Conqueror's Haki wall dissipated without trace, leaving only awe-struck onlookers.
The pirates swarmed around Ashveil, their excitement palpable.
"I never expected someone as terrifying as Sword Saint to be so easily defeated!" Urouge exclaimed, approaching first.
Empress Hancock walked forward, her gaze filled with admiration and awe. The defeat of a Celestial Dragon, renowned as the strongest in eight hundred years, stirred something deep within her. Her queenly pride softened only in the presence of Thorne Ashveil.
"Lord Ashveil, your power is astonishing! To defeat Sword Saint… I can hardly believe it!" Hancock's cheeks flushed, her eyes shimmering.
Even elite captains like Marco, Jozu, and Ace voiced their respect, shouting praises toward Ashveil.
Ashveil, ever unbothered, scratched his ear casually. He was used to their admiration by now.
A young intelligence officer approached, bowing deeply.
"Reporting, Lord Ashveil. Sword Saint Bickley is not entirely dead. We have recovered his body. How would you like to proceed?"
Ashveil raised an eyebrow. Even the elite Celestial Dragons possessed incredible resilience. Though his attack had been immense, it had not completely killed Bickley.
"Bring him forward. I'm curious to see him now," Ashveil said, interest piqued. A noble among the Celestial Dragons, Bickley's arrogance in captivity would be a spectacle worth observing.
The pirates gathered eagerly as Bickley was brought forth, restrained. Once resplendent in his Celestial Dragon regalia, he now appeared entirely human. His tattered clothes hung in shreds, his hair a tangled mess, and the haughty demeanor he had upon arrival was gone.
Before them stood a fallen giant, humbled before the might of Thorne Ashveil.
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