Death Match, Clash of Conqueror's Haki!

Rona felt a sense of being deceived.

White Wolf Magnus not having Conqueror's Haki was no secret among the high-ranking Marines. After all, they interacted with him often enough that they practically knew everything about him.

And now, after five years apart, she was suddenly told that Magnus actually possessed Conqueror's Haki!?

"Hahahaha, if even a brat like you has Conqueror's Haki, then what's so strange about an old man like me having it?"

On the giant wolf form Magnus had taken, the sword cuts Rona had inflicted were already scabbing over. Possessing the Zoan Fruit with the strongest recovery speed, and a Mythical Zoan at that, Magnus's terrifying regenerative abilities were fully unleashed now that the "old man debuff" was gone.

Durable and resilient, with rapid recovery.

This was the power of a Zoan Fruit!

Compared to the bizarre Paramecia-type Devil Fruits or the Logia-type Fruits that allowed users to become natural phenomena, only the power of Zoan Fruits was truly suited for physical combat specialists.

"Hmph, I suppose so."

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

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

Rona was smiling, as if learning that Magnus had Conqueror's Haki was something to be happy about.

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

"Try your best to stay alive."

"And then run away!"

At that moment, though Rona stood before him, Magnus felt as if she had vanished.

The next second.

Swish——————

An unimaginably fast sword light, a scarlet streak like a viper striking its prey, flashed before Magnus's eyes so quickly that even his reaction speed could only register a red blur.

His Observation Haki saw it.

But his body couldn't react in time.

Sss—

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 moment, that strike might have taken his head.

Rona's aura had changed.

If before she had fought with the intention of capturing Magnus, then now, she had completely accepted Magnus as an opponent of equal standing.

The same level.

Whoever held back would die!

Had Magnus reached the level of an Emperor?

Magnus didn't know.

But he knew that any strategy relying on delaying the fight to wear Rona down would be futile.

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

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

What if his Observation Haki was interfered with?

As long as an attack was made, 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 "mind's eye" of a swordmaster!

Rona's intention was clear.

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

"You've gotten strong, you brat!"

The giant wolf, which had been on all fours, began to stand on its hind legs, transforming into an upright stance. Although traces of the white wolf remained on his face, Magnus had completely transitioned from his animal form.

He had returned to his human-beast form.

The long blade in his mouth returned to his hand, and Magnus's eyes were filled with intense killing intent.

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

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

Sizzz!

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

Initially, Magnus's Haki seemed a bit weak.

But at this very moment, Magnus's Conqueror's Haki was no longer inferior to Rona's, who was an Fleet Admiral.

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

It wasn't the vanity of decades spent dominating the seas.

It was—

Strength!

Two long swords clashed in the frost-covered forest, moonlight-white and crimson blades intertwining, unleashing earth-shattering sounds.

Countless branches and leaves were sliced by frost and cut by sword light.

The terrifying impact had even reached the villages on the outskirts.

So, both of them, without a word, charged deeper into 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—"

Magnus roared, unleashing his Haki and Devil Fruit ability at full power. A slash several kilometers long split the entire area they were in into two.

A corner of the entire Yang Realm of Elbaf was cleaved off, cold frost covering the cut surface. Magnus and Rona fell from the sky simultaneously, but their battle didn't stop on the collapsing earth and rocks.

A group of Giants watching from afar were already stunned.

Even though they themselves possessed incredibly powerful combat capabilities, and the combat techniques that only Giant elites could learn also had the ability to alter the terrain.

But this was the first time they had seen Magnus and Rona literally blast apart a corner of the Yang Realm.

And this was the branch of the Adam Tree, the sturdiest tree in the world!

This was also the first time Rocks had witnessed the battle of top powerhouses on the sea. In such a natural disaster-like combat scene, with his strength, he wouldn't even be able to stir up a single ripple if he entered.

In all of Elbaf, the only ones qualified to intervene in this battle.

Were.

"Your Majesty!"

"King Harald!"

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

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

He was very worried about Haierdin being kidnapped.

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

The World Government.

Were they finally going to make a move against them?

"Your Majesty?"

Seeing the old Giant Yaruru look over, Harald shook his head with a heavy expression.

He knew what Yaruru wanted to say.

If he were to act, with the two of them teaming up, they could definitely drive away that Marine Fleet Admiral.

But he didn't dare to gamble.

He didn't know if that Marine Fleet Admiral had come solely for Magnus, or if he was following the World Government's orders and had already set his 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 an act of hostility towards the Marines, towards the World Government!

"Harald!"

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

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

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

Magnus and Rona fell from the sky simultaneously, descending from Elbaf's Yang Realm into the Underworld, but Magnus's movements didn't pause at all.

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

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

Until this moment.

Magnus's blade was finally a sliver faster than Rona's.

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

Long swords rang out.

Blood splattered from Rona's body.

Thanks to "与光同尘666" for the 700 reward, thanks to "庭悬乐" for the 500 reward.

Continuing to ask for your follow-up reads!