Conqueror's Haki, Clear the Field!

"I'll take this trait!"

"Y-you bastard! Do I know you? Why are you looking at me like that?" Buggy suddenly felt a chill run down his spine~

The man before him had bloodshot eyes, and his gaze looked like he wanted to devour him!

His name... seemed to be Rayson?

Wait... Heavenly King Rayson?!

"Rayson? Y-you're that... Heavenly King Rayson?!" Buggy's expression changed drastically as he stared at the man before him~

The hottest topic on the seas lately was the World Economic Journal's report that a new king was about to rise in the East Blue~ That person's title was "Heavenly King" Rayson~

"Y-yes! That's right, Captain Buggy! This guy is Heavenly King Rayson! And that green-haired one beside him is Pirate Hunter Zoro!" One of Buggy's subordinates trembled as he unfolded a newspaper for comparison, unable to stop himself from swallowing~

"Someone with Conqueror's Haki..." Even Buggy broke out in a cold sweat~

If it had been "Pirate Hunter" Zoro, Buggy would not have feared a swordsman with the powers of the Chop-Chop Fruit~

But Conqueror's Haki was entirely different~

As a former member of the Roger Pirates, aside from missing Laugh Tale due to illness, Buggy had followed Roger in conquering the entire Grand Line~

In the East Blue, no one understood better than Buggy what that kind of Conqueror's Haki represented~

It was unquestionably the potential of a king!

Anyone capable of awakening such power would become a dominant figure even in the powerhouse-filled New World~

And such a terrifying existence had actually appeared in the weakest East Blue?!

Wait!

A thought suddenly flashed through Buggy's mind like lightning, and he looked incredulously at Luffy, who was imprisoned in the iron cage~

This guy named Rayson... was that Straw Hat brat's crew member?!

Could that "Heavenly King" title be an imitation of Rayleigh's old "Dark King" title because this brat had declared that he would become the Pirate King?!

In other words, did this Conqueror's Haki wielder truly believe that this reckless brat could rise to become the Pirate King?!

What the hell kind of joke was this?!

There was a world of difference between a brat who spouted wild claims and a "future Pirate King" acknowledged and supported by a Conqueror's Haki wielder!

But why?! Why would someone with the qualities of a king submit to such an idiotic fool?!

Buggy's eyes reddened with fury and shock~

"Heavenly King... Rayson?" Nami murmured, her beautiful eyes filled with confusion~

For the past few days, she had been fully focused on stealing nautical charts and had not had time to buy the latest newspaper~

Even without reading the report, the sheer prestige carried by the words "Heavenly King," along with the terrified reaction of Buggy, the East Blue tyrant with a fifteen-million-Beri bounty, already explained a great deal~

Just hearing his name had made someone like Buggy this nervous?

Just how monstrously powerful was this man?

Nami stood frozen in place, staring blankly at Rayson, who stood in front of her~

Kingly bearing increased. Conqueror's Haki strength increased~

Another system notification sounded in Rayson's mind~

Noticing the cold sweat on Buggy's face upon hearing his name, as well as Nami's shocked expression behind him, Rayson understood~

The amazement of ordinary fodder could no longer provide him with any boost to his bearing~

But the reactions of key characters like Buggy and Nami could still bring him significant increases~

In the pirate world, Haki was tempered like gold panned from raging waves; one needed the blood of the defeated and ruins to forge an even stronger presence~

A strong person's reputation was likewise built upon the defeats of countless opponents~

Therefore, if Rayson wanted to keep growing stronger through fame, he needed to spread his bounty and prestige far and wide~

And the most direct measure of fame was naturally the number on one's bounty~

However, improving through reputation alone was somewhat too slow~ Right now, a faster and more reliable path to strengthening his Haki stood before him: Buggy's "Child of the Sea (Ultimate Gold)" trait~

"You..."

Buzz!

Buggy had just begun to speak when a trace of savagery flashed through Rayson's black-and-red pupils~

The next moment, BOOM!

An overwhelming pressure suddenly spread outward, sweeping across every Buggy Pirate present~

"..."

In an instant, the densely packed lackeys stiffened, then rolled their eyes back in unison and collapsed unconscious to the ground~

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The dull sounds of bodies hitting the ground rang out without end~

Conqueror's Haki, clear the field!

Before a true king, the weak did not even have the right to remain conscious!

"Amazing, Rayson!" Luffy shouted ecstatically, offering the most fitting praise~

"What an unreasonable power~" Zoro sheathed his sword, his expression carrying a trace of awe~

No matter how many times he saw it, such a grand and overwhelming method still set his heart racing~

"W-what happened?" Nami stared at the scene in horror~

Judging by their reactions, this was clearly Rayson's doing~

But he had not even moved a finger. With nothing but the release of his aura, nearly a hundred elite pirates had all fainted!

What kind of sorcery was this?!

Arlong's physical strength might have been formidable, but at least it was something she could see and touch, something she could understand~

But everything happening before her had completely shattered Nami's understanding of combat~

She stared blankly at Rayson, who stood with his hands behind his back, radiating an imposing and domineering presence~

"Conqueror's... Haki..." The sweat on Buggy's forehead had already gathered into streams~

Though he had long known that Rayson possessed this power, enduring its pressure head-on was no joke~

If he had not weathered countless storms aboard Roger's ship, that blast alone might have cost him his ability to fight~

Such masterful control over Conqueror's Haki!

How could a monster like this be hiding in the East Blue?! And willingly serving as someone else's subordinate?!

It was utterly absurd!

"You're still standing. At least you haven't disappointed me~" Rayson looked at Buggy, who was gritting his teeth and holding on, with slight regret~

But Buggy had been an apprentice aboard the Roger Pirates and had witnessed the unfathomable collision between Roger and Whitebeard's Conqueror's Haki infusions~

Although Buggy had not awakened it himself, knocking him unconscious with an ordinary burst of Conqueror's Haki alone was indeed unrealistic~

In that case, it was time to execute the backup plan~

Buggy had to lose consciousness~

"Zoro~" Rayson glanced sideways at him~

"Leave it to me!" Understanding Rayson's intent, Zoro flashed forward toward the fully loaded cannon nearby~

Before coming here, he had heard Rayson explain that Buggy possessed a special ability that made him immune to slashes, rendering blades useless against him~

"Up!"

Under Buggy's horrified gaze, Zoro exerted strength with one hand and directly turned the heavy cannon around, aiming its barrel at Buggy~

"Stop! Stop! That's loaded with a specially made Buggy Ball!" Buggy screamed~

BOOM!

The next moment, flames erupted and the cannon roared~ The hard cannonball exploded precisely at Buggy's feet~

Crimson waves of fire, accompanied by a violent explosion, swallowed Buggy and the surrounding bricks and stones whole~