Whitebeard shook his head in helpless disbelief.
Hawkeye Mihawk's eyes widened as well.
"This is the first time I've felt a lifeless weapon exude its own Conqueror's Haki," he muttered, staring at the colossal machine before him.
Indeed, the entire Heavenly King radiated an aura reminiscent of human Conqueror's Haki, causing even the weapon in Mihawk's hands to tremble violently. Even his Supreme Grade sword, Black Blade Night, quivered uncontrollably.
Hawkeye Mihawk could hardly believe it. His sword was forged to overpower almost any other weapon, yet here it was, reacting in fear to the Heavenly King's presence.
Hawkeye Mihawk muttered under his breath, stunned, "I never imagined… a weapon itself could radiate Haki."
Meanwhile, Imu laughed triumphantly.
"Thorne Ashveil… I never expected you to be so young, hahahaha!" she declared. "The reason I've ruled this world for so many years is not only my strength; I always anticipated the existence of someone like you, but your youth still surprises me!"
She hovered above the massive weapon, her voice echoing through the battlefield. "But it doesn't matter now. Once I defeat you, I can rule this world in peace for another thousand years. Beings of your caliber appear only once every millennium!"
Ashveil's eyes narrowed as he studied the Heavenly King. Its colossal presence, combined with the Conqueror's Haki emanating from it, made it difficult to believe such a weapon could exist.
"Interesting… truly interesting," Ashveil murmured. "The Heavenly King, huh? I've heard legends, but I'm curious about its strength."
Imu froze for a moment at his words, then erupted into laughter.
"Hahahaha! Thorne Ashveil, you are far too overconfident! You really think this legendary weapon is something you can handle?"
With that, Imu propelled herself into the sky, entering the cockpit of the Heavenly King. The colossal war machine opened its valves, white light radiating from its body as Imu's voice resonated, ancient and commanding.
"Thorne Ashveil, now I will show you the true terror of the Heavenly King!"
Suddenly, all the cannon muzzles on the Heavenly King aimed at Ashveil, and shells began to fire with explosive force.
Within Ashveil's Overlord Conqueror's Haki Domain, his eyes narrowed, a solemn expression crossing his face. He realized all the shells were made of Sea Stone and contained Armament Conqueror's Haki.
The combination was catastrophic: Sea Stone could contain Haki, and Haki could shatter Sea Stone. The resulting explosions would be among the most destructive in history.
Every shell fired with precision toward Ashveil, yet when he activated his spatial displacement, the impossible occurred: the shells followed him.
The Whitebeard Pirates below could hardly believe their eyes. A weapon with spatial abilities? Was it human-made, or divine? The Heavenly King's power defied comprehension.
Ashveil led the bombardment into the deep sea, minimizing the explosion's impact on his allies. The resulting blasts triggered underwater volcanoes, sending molten fury into the skies and waves crashing over the land where the Whitebeard Pirates were stationed.
The World Allied Forces trembled. If they had not been protected by Ashveil's Conqueror's Haki, they would have perished instantly.
A subtle shift occurred among the Whitebeard Pirates. Though initially frustrated at the apocalyptic scene, they realized Ashveil's actions were deliberately protective. Serving under him, even as free labor, no longer seemed undesirable.
They also noticed cracks forming in Ashveil's Haki barrier.
"Damn it," muttered one pirate. "I thought defeating Imu would be enough. But now… the Heavenly King surpasses even her power."
Even stronger than Imu, the Heavenly King's destructive capability made it clear: this was a war machine unlike any other. The Whitebeard Pirates feared for Ashveil, knowing that if he struggled, they were helpless.
Emerging from the sea, Ashveil demonstrated his unmatched skill and strategic brilliance. Imu's frown deepened as she realized his cunning—drawing the blasts into the ocean mitigated much of the destruction, preserving the lives of those below.
The world felt the tremors. Earthquakes struck across continents, news agencies captured the devastation, and reporters could scarcely believe that a single weapon could induce such global chaos.
Even the Supernovas watching remotely were stunned. Kid, Hawkins, and Apoo all witnessed the world-shaking power of the Heavenly King, yet saw Ashveil stand resilient.
Apoo muttered in awe, "Alone… protecting his crew and still fighting that machine… only Thorne Ashveil could do this."
Law, observing the same broadcast, narrowed his eyes. "If Doflamingo follows this man, then he truly has the strongest backing in the world. Even Doflamingo could never betray him safely."
Meanwhile, in Holy Land Mary Geoise, the Celestial Dragons reacted with fear long buried. Soldiers guarding the palace recognized the terror of the Heavenly King, but the Dragons themselves, unaccustomed to fear, felt their knees weaken in the presence of a human standing against it.
A white-bearded Celestial Dragon attempted reassurance. "That machine is the Heavenly King. That human only diverted its attacks… the next wave will be different."
Their false comfort did little. No matter the strength of Ashveil, the celestial elite could not ignore the weapon's overwhelming might.
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