Chapter 34: Come On, All of You! It's Best if Every Captain Gives a Test.
One-sword style replicating two-sword style?
Golden Lion was questioning his own existence!
This was a sword technique he had spent ten years creating!
And Rono learned it just by seeing it once!
Terrifying! Absolutely terrifying!
A talent like this was a rare sight, seen only once in decades!
No... a genius like this might not appear even once in several hundred years!
It wasn't just Golden Lion; even Rocks's face was filled with a smile.
As expected, his decision to send Whitebeard to recruit Rono was the right one.
The Rocks Pirates have gained a monstrous genius!
"So, Captain Golden Lion, have I passed the assessment?"
Rono asked, his eyes crinkling into a smile. Seeing Golden Lion's expression of existential crisis, he figured he had passed.
"I... I guess so..."
Golden Lion knew in his heart it was more than just passing; it was a perfect replica!
At the same time, Golden Lion re-evaluated Rono in his mind.
This guy's talent is too incredible. It's best not to offend someone like this, but to win him over!
After all, Golden Lion's ambition was no smaller than Rocks's. He was always waiting for an opportunity to create his own force.
Rono had now become a powerhouse worth recruiting in Golden Lion's eyes.
But before Golden Lion could finish speaking, someone suddenly stood up from the crowd.
Everyone looked over, and it was another Division Commander, Silver Axe!
"I don't agree that he has passed the assessment. Golden Lion is a swordsman, and this brother Rono is also a swordsman."
"His own swordsmanship has already reached the Master Swordsman level. Coupled with his incredible talent, it's not entirely impossible for him to grasp it at a glance."
Silver Axe spoke up. After all, a 1 billion Berry bet was on the line.
He was not willing to just hand over 1 billion to John, so he stood up to object.
"What Captain Silver Axe says makes sense."
"That's right... judging from Captain Rono's swordsmanship just now, he's at least at the Master Swordsman or even Grandmaster Swordsman level."
The pirates present felt that Captain Silver Axe had a point.
Golden Lion, however, thought Silver Axe was talking nonsense. It was definitely because of Rono's talent.
Otherwise, according to Silver Axe's logic, any random hack with a bit of sword skill could learn his Slashing Wave just by looking at it?
Did he spend the last ten years polishing it for nothing?
But thinking of the 1 billion Berry bet, Golden Lion didn't step up to clarify, instead letting Silver Axe continue.
"Silver Axe, since when did you have the right to speak?"
Just then, Whitebeard, who was standing nearby, became a little displeased.
He knew Rono's abilities best. He could even learn 'Iron Fist,' so Golden Lion's Slashing Wave was naturally no problem for him.
John, on the side, was also a bit annoyed. The moves were identical; he had clearly won!
From the looks of it, Silver Axe was trying to welsh on the bet.
So he also stood up to side with Whitebeard, but was stopped by Rono's hand.
"Oh? Captain Silver Axe, what do you have in mind then?" Rono asked with a smile, not at all angry.
"It's simple. I'll perform a move. If you can learn it, I'll acknowledge your skill," Silver Axe said.
"Alright."
Hearing this, only a faint smile appeared on Rono's face, but inside, he was ecstatic.
Come on, everyone come at me! It would be best if every commander came to test me!
Otherwise, he wouldn't feel secure in his position as a Division Commander!
This was the very purpose of him joining the Rocks Pirates!
"Good. Then watch closely. If you can learn this move, I will have no objection to you becoming a Division Commander."
Seeing Rono agree, Silver Axe breathed a sigh of relief. At the same time, he decided in his heart that he must come up with the most difficult test!
The pirates present all held their breath, not daring to make a sound, for fear of missing a single second!
Silver Axe then drew an axe from his waist. The blade's edge was dazzlingly bright and exuded a chilling aura; it was clearly a treasured weapon capable of cutting through iron as if it were mud.
After all, a person's name can be misleading, but their epithet is never wrong.
The reason Silver Axe was called Silver Axe was because of his weapon!
"That weapon is really shiny. Being nourished by Haki all year round, it should have turned black."
Rono looked at Silver Axe's weapon and grew curious.
Silver Axe was a great pirate with a 700 million bounty and a Division Commander for Rocks; he should be very skilled with Haki.
And from his epithet, he likely didn't have a Devil Fruit ability and was a powerhouse who relied purely on physical combat.
The weapons of Haki experts are covered in Armament Haki year-round, and over time, they become as black as ink.
But Silver Axe's axe gleamed brightly, whiter than spring ice or snow. Interesting.
Soon, Rono understood why.
Silver Axe drew his axe and unleashed his Conqueror's Haki.
Rumble! The sky immediately filled with dark, churning thunderclouds!
As a high-ranking officer of the Rocks Pirates, it was normal for Silver Axe to possess Conqueror's Haki.
Then, a scene that shocked even Rono occurred.
Silver Axe raised his axe high, and the next moment, a clap of thunder roared in the sky, deafening many of those present.
Rumble!
Suddenly, a heavenly thunderbolt rolled down like a shining meteor, heading straight for the banquet site!
No... to be precise, it was heading straight for Silver Axe!
The next moment, the lightning, like a well-behaved pet, coiled around the axe, flashing with brilliant light, resembling a weapon wielded by a thunder god!
Only then did Silver Axe imbue the lightning axe with Armament Haki. The dark red Haki and the lightning intertwined, creating a terrifying wave of energy!
"As expected of Silver Axe. So that's what it means."
Watching the lightning continuously infuse Silver Axe's weapon, Rono finally understood why his axe wasn't black!
Because it was constantly being tempered by lightning!
Good, very good. This makes things interesting!
"Watch closely, Rono. If the previous Slashing Wave could split the sea, then I can split the sky!"
"Silver Axe: Qilin!"
Feeling the time was right, Silver Axe swung the axe, heavy with lightning, in a beautiful arc through the air!
The lightning, mixed with dark red Haki, surged forth, and he brought the axe down heavily towards the sky above!
Rumble, rumble!
The axe energy, like sword energy, at this moment transformed into the form of the legendary divine beast, the Qilin!
The lightning Qilin opened its massive maw and desperately tore at everything before it!
Instantly, the dark clouds overhead were torn to shreds by the Qilin!
The tearing continued to spread, and spread!
The sky overhead seemed to become a sea of clouds!
And this sea of clouds was forcefully split open!
Rumble, rumble!
The Qilin, as if released from hell, seemed unsatisfied and suddenly began to expand rapidly!
Crash!
The Qilin exploded in the sky, directly blasting a dazzling mushroom cloud right above Hachinosu Island!
Looking at it, if this move were released on Hachinosu Island, the island itself would probably split apart!
"This... is too powerful!"
"This is the strength of Captain Silver Axe!"
"My god, even a Marine Admiral wouldn't dare to take this move head-on!"
The pirates present were all stunned, and a chorus of compliments arose.
As expected of a Rocks Division Commander, the great pirate with a 700 million bounty, Silver Axe!
After performing the move, Silver Axe was extremely proud. He absolutely did not believe Rono could learn his ultimate technique!
After all, this move was extremely difficult. It was a technique passed down from his father.
Even though he had practiced it since childhood, it took him over twenty years to master it!
It was with this move that Silver Axe became a Division Commander of the Rocks Pirates!
Silver Axe was fully confident. There was no way Rono could learn this move with just one look, right?
<><><><><><>
Read Advanced Chapters on: patreon.com/Amiii_
~Every 150 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~Push the Story forward with your [Power Stones]