Death Match, Clash of Conqueror's Haki!

Rona felt a sense of being deceived.

White Wolf Moger's lack of Conqueror's Haki wasn't a secret to the high-ranking Marines; they interacted with him often enough that they knew him inside and out.

Yet, after five years apart, she was suddenly told Mongge actually possessed Conqueror's Haki!?

"Pffft hahaha, even a little brat like you has Conqueror's Haki, so why would it be strange for an old man like me to have it?"

Mongge, in his Giant Wolf form, had cuts from Rona's blade scabbing over. Possessing the strongest recovery speed among Zoan Devil Fruits, and even a Mythical Zoan at that, his terrifying regenerative abilities were fully displayed now that the "old age debuff" was gone.

Durable and resilient, with fast recovery.

This was the power of a Zoan Devil Fruit!

Compared to the bizarre Paramecia Devil Fruits or the Logia Devil Fruits that turned users into natural phenomena, the power of Zoan Devil Fruits was the most suitable for users who focused on physical combat.

"Hmph, that's true."

Unexpectedly, she didn't dwell on the matter. The red-haired Marine had already discarded her white Justice cape, her fiery red hair tied back into a ponytail.

"If even you, who disregards the World Government, doesn't have Conqueror's Haki, then I truly can't imagine who else would be qualified to possess it."

Rona was smiling, as if learning Mongge had Conqueror's Haki was something worth celebrating for her.

"So, you old geezer, don't you dare die, just like in the past."

"Live hard."

"And then escape!"

At this moment, though Rona stood before him, Mongge felt as if she had vanished.

The next second.

Swish------

A blade light faster than the eye could follow, a crimson stream like a venomous snake striking upwards, darted towards the enemy. Even Mongge's reaction speed could only register a red flash before his eyes.

His Observation Haki saw it.

But his body couldn't react.

Chii--

A wound deep enough to see bone ran from his left shoulder all the way to his waist. If he hadn't shifted his body at the last possible second...

That strike might have severed his head.

Rona's aura had changed.

If before she was fighting with the intention of capturing Mongge, now she had completely acknowledged him as an opponent of equal standing.

Same level.

Whoever held back would die!

Had Mongge reached the level of an Admiral Emperor?

Mongge didn't know.

But he knew that relying on a tactic of stalling for time to wear Rona down was impossible.

That's right, his speed was faster than Rona's.

But Rona didn't need to match his speed; she only needed her blade to catch up to Mongge.

What if his Observation Haki was interfered with?

As long as an attack was launched, it would leave a trace. As long as a trace was left, it would be pursued.

This was Observation Haki.

And it was also the swordsman's "mind's eye"!

Rona's intention was clear.

Either fight her with all your might, or scurry away with your tail between your legs!

"Brat, you've gotten stronger!"

The Giant Wolf, which had been on all fours, began to stand on its hind legs, transforming into an upright posture. Although his face still bore traces of a white wolf, Mongge had completely transitioned from his animal form.

He had returned to his human-beast form.

The long saber in his mouth was once again in his hand, Mongge's eyes filled with intense killing intent.

If you wish to fight, then let's fight!

If Rona, a swordsman without a Devil Fruit ability, dared to face him head-on, how could he, who had eaten a Mythical Zoan Fruit, back down?

Zzzzz!

Black and red lightning rapidly climbed, Conqueror's Haki clashing once more.

Initially, Mongge's Haki seemed slightly weak.

But at this very moment, Mongge's Conqueror's Haki was no longer inferior to Rona's, who was a Marine Admiral.

The strength of Conqueror's Haki depends on the user's own spirit.

Not some vanity from dominating the seas for decades.

But rather—

Strength!

Two long swords clashed in the frost-covered forest, moonlight-white blade light and crimson blade light intertwining, erupting with earth-shattering sounds.

Countless branches and leaves were cut by the frost, shattered by the blade light.

The terrifying impact had even spread to the villages on the outskirts.

So, both individuals, without a word, charged towards the deeper parts of the forest.

"What, worried about hurting your companions?"

"Hahaha, after all, they are still very young. It will take a long time for them to grow up—"

Mongge let out a low roar, unleashing his Haki and Devil Fruit abilities to their fullest. A slash several kilometers long split the entire area they were in into two.

A corner of the Sunny Realm of all of Elbaf was sliced off, and the frozen frost covered the cut surface. Mongge and Rona fell from the sky simultaneously, but their battle did not cease on the collapsing earth and rocks.

The group of giants watching from afar were already stunned.

Even though giants themselves possessed incredibly powerful combat capabilities, and the battle techniques only learned by elite giants could also alter terrain.

But this was the first time they had seen someone like Mongge and Rona literally blast off a corner of the Sunny Realm.

After all, this was a branch of the Adam Tree, the most robust tree in the world!

This was also the first time Rocks had witnessed the battle of top powerhouses on the sea. In such a disaster-like combat scene, someone of his strength would not even stir up a ripple if they entered.

In all of Elbaf, there was only one person qualified to intervene in this battle.

Only.

"Your Majesty!"

"King Harald!"

"Apologies, Your Majesty, Prince Healding he..."

Harald waved his hand, stopping his subordinate giant from continuing.

He was very worried about Healding being abducted.

But what weighed even heavier on his heart was the appearance of a Marine Admiral.

The World Government.

Were they finally going to make a move against them?

"Your Majesty?"

Seeing the old giant Aruru look over, Harald shook his head with a heavy expression.

He knew what Aruru wanted to say.

If he intervened, the two of them working together could definitely drive away that Marine Admiral.

But he dared not gamble.

He wasn't sure if that Marine Admiral was purely here for Mongge, or if, following the World Government's orders, they had already set their sights on Elbaf.

Elbaf was powerful.

But only Harald knew that as long as the World Government got serious, Elbaf would be nothing more than a slightly larger ant.

It was better if he didn't act.

If he acted, it would be to make an enemy of the Marines, an enemy of the World Government!

"Harald!"

During the battle, Mongge's voice carried from afar.

"Don't intervene. She is my prey, the opponent I must face!"

In less than an hour, Mongge was already covered in blood, but despite being at a disadvantage in his fight with Rona, Mongge's eyes, which had become somewhat clouded with age, grew brighter and brighter.

Mongge and Rona fell from the sky simultaneously, plummeting from Elbaf's Sunny Realm into the Underworld, but Mongge's movements did not pause in the slightest.

"I am a Great Pirate, the Great Pirate Mongge!"

Countless injuries, countless falls, yet countless times he got back up.

Until this moment.

Mongge's blade was finally a hair faster than Rona's.

"Don't lump me in with those brats who just set sail!"

Long swords rang out.

Blood scattered from Rona's body.