The Holy Sword

Indeed, the overwhelming power contained within that Holy Sword is none other than the legendary Conqueror's Haki! It's important to understand that this Holy Sword is not something just anyone can wield. Only those born with Conqueror's Haki are qualified to become its master. If anyone else attempts to touch this Holy Sword, their fate will be tragic—not only will they be unable to control this powerful force, but they will also be manipulated by the Holy Sword, becoming its puppets.

Take the fierce battle with Moke as an example. If Moke hadn't possessed a more powerful Devil Fruit ability, he probably wouldn't have been able to escape being controlled by this Holy Sword. The reason why this Holy Sword is imbued with such a strong Conqueror's Haki has its origins. Long ago, a certain king wielded this sword, conquering battlefields and fighting countless battles. In those fierce battles, this Conqueror's Haki gradually seeped into the blade.

This is similar to the Black Blade in that it achieves its power through the application of Armament Haki; however, there is a clear difference between the two: the Black Blade generates its power by wrapping Armament Haki around its blade, while this Holy Sword is renowned for its Conqueror's Haki coating.

It's worth noting that while ordinary Devil Fruit Ability are unlikely to rival Conqueror's Haki, under certain circumstances, Devil Fruit User can absorb the Conqueror's Haki from the Holy Sword. This is primarily because this Conqueror's Haki is currently in a state of "ownerlessness." However, regardless of the circumstances, once the Holy Sword merges into the user's body, a miraculous change occurs—the person and the sword instantly become one! Simultaneously, the wielder's swordsmanship will skyrocket, greatly increasing their strength!

Just like Saka in the original story, the moment the Holy Sword Shine with Holy Light, pierced his body, an incomparably powerful force suddenly erupted. This force was like a surging torrent, unstoppably breaking through the layers of shackles within his body, causing his strength to achieve a qualitative leap.

In that instant, Saka leaped two realms in succession, successfully entering the third new realm on the swordsman's path of cultivation— Flying Slash. At this moment, he could now unleash sharp sword energy detached from his body at will. This sword energy sliced through the sky like Inazuma, with astonishing power.

It's important to understand that there are clear standards for classifying swordsmanship levels. The first stage is called the Novice Swordsman, where one has only just mastered how to pick up a sword and perform some simple sword techniques. Back when Roronoa Zoro was still diligently training at Koshiro's dojo before his debut, and even before his later encounter with the formidable Mr. 1, he was essentially at this level. However, even so, Roronoa Zoro, who was just beginning to show his talent, had already reached the pinnacle of the Novice Swordsman level, only one step away from breaking through to the next stage!

When Roronoa Zoro engaged in that thrilling life-or-death battle with Mr. 1 of Baroque Works, he finally mastered the "Way of Cutting Steel" through his unwavering will and profound understanding of swordsmanship. Only then did Roronoa Zoro officially step into the second stage of swordsmanship—becoming a true swordsman capable of cutting through steel.

As for the third stage, it belongs to the Swordmaster. Flying Slash is one of the signature skills of Swordmaster. Basically, any master who can reach this level has the ability to directly unleash sword energy that leaves their body. Our protagonist Roronoa Zoro also went through many hardships and successfully climbed the mysterious Sky Island before he was able to master this skill and thus join the ranks of the top Swordmaster.

The fourth stage is the final level of this cultivation path— the Black Blade Realm. To reach this level, one must possess Intermediate Armament Haki. Only by skillfully wrapping that Armament Haki around the sword and hardening it (anyone capable of Armament Haki Hardening must possess intermediate-level Armament Haki) can one truly achieve the supreme state of being able to cut through anything. Against anyone or anything within a unit area whose Haki intensity is weaker than one's own, one can cleave them in two with a single strike, without exception.

At this moment, what is truly astonishing is that Moke, just like those peerless masters, has directly leaped to the third stage. This means that Moke has now become a true Swordmaster! He exhaled lightly, as if all the power in his body was gathered into the Sandai Kitetsu in his hand. In an instant, the Sandai Kitetsu was drawn like Inazuma, carrying a sharp momentum, and was swung fiercely towards the sea.

A deafening roar echoed through the sky! A massive slash, two meters high, shot out like Inazuma. This powerful strike, like a roaring dragon, bared its fangs and claws, carrying unparalleled pressure and power, hurtling towards the sea with overwhelming force. Robin, Mr. 1, Mr. 2, and Mr. 3 stood frozen like statues, completely stunned by this sudden and astonishing scene! Their jaws dropped open, their eyes practically popping out of their sockets, their mouths agape as if they could fit an egg inside. The disbelief on their faces was as if they had witnessed the end of the world.

While they were still reeling from utter shock, the terrifying slash, carrying the force of a cataclysmic destruction, slammed into the vast, boundless sea with lightning speed. In an instant, a deafening roar erupted, like a thunderbolt striking the sea. Immediately afterward, a colossal wall of water, tens of meters high, rose abruptly, blotting out the sky and the sun; its imposing presence was utterly terrifying.

In an instant, the entire sea surface seemed to be torn apart, churning up towering waves. The slash actually carved a bottomless chasm into the sea, like a wound on the earth, ferocious and conspicuous. The seawater surged and churned in this chasm, colliding with each other, stirring up countless splashes of water, forming a white mist that filled the air.

However, Moke, having accomplished such an astonishing feat, did not stop his progress. He slowly closed his deep, abyss-like eyes, instantly becoming calm and serene, as if completely isolated from the world around him. At this moment, he was completely immersed in a state of tranquility, focusing on feeling the powerful force surging and surging within his body.

This power, like a flood bursting its banks, flowed wildly through his meridians, impacting every acupoint. At the same time, a faint, mysterious aura lingered around him, giving him an aura that commanded respect.

In that instant, Moke suddenly realized with crystal clarity that the Devil Fruit ability that had been troubling him had unknowingly broken through its original bottleneck, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, achieving a qualitative leap and reaching a brand new level! At the same time, his swordsmanship also soared like a rocket, successively crossing two unattainable realms and successfully stepping into the extraordinary realm of Swordmaster, a realm that only a few top experts could reach.

At this moment, Moke naturally exuded an invisible yet extremely oppressive terrifying aura. This aura was like a towering mountain, causing people to involuntarily turn their heads and feel awe. Moreover, due to the long-term tempering by the sharp Ghost Aura contained in the Holy Sword and the Sandai Kitetsu, his body had also undergone earth-shattering changes, experiencing a qualitative transformation from the inside out.

Only now did Moke have the confidence and assurance to face the truly monstrous beings of this world without fear and engage in a thrilling life-or-death struggle. Recalling his battle with Crocodile, he realized he had to rely on trickery and schemes to win. But things were different now. Moke now possessed enough strength to confront any formidable enemy head-on!

Then, something unexpected happened again—he keenly sensed that his already powerful Moke 'Conqueror's Haki was gradually growing stronger. As he absorbed those strands of Conqueror's Haki into his body, it finally ignited the long-dormant flame of his Conqueror's Haki Awakening! Even more astonishingly, with the miraculous assistance of his Devil Fruit ability, the newly Awakening Conqueror's Haki displayed an unprecedented devouring power, frantically consuming other Conqueror's Haki around it...

"Hahaha..." A hearty laugh rang out from Moke's mouth, echoing in the air like rolling thunder. His face was filled with uncontrollable excitement, because just now, a wonderful idea had suddenly come to mind.

Moke pondered to himself, if Conqueror's Haki could display such astonishing power and characteristics, then what about Armament Haki? This question was like a spark, instantly igniting the deep-seated desire for exploring power within him.

"Gecko Moria, here I come... Are you ready to face my challenge? Tsk tsk tsk..." Moke's lips curled into a slightly mocking smile. His gaze seemed to transcend time and space, landing directly on the formidable enemy he had yet to meet. At this moment, he was filled with anticipation to personally verify his hypothesis—whether absorbing those unclaimed Armament Haki could truly Awakening his own Armament Haki ability as smoothly as Conqueror's Haki.

The further possibilities only fueled Moke's excitement. If he were to successfully Awakening Armament Haki and absorb all the Armament Haki contained within the legendary Black Blade, just how astonishingly powerful would his Armament Haki become? Just thinking about it was enough to make him tremble with excitement.

However, after a brief moment of emotional turmoil, Moke quickly regained his usual calm and composure. He turned to Robin, Mr. 1, Mr. 2, and Mr. 3 beside him and said in a steady and firm tone, "Robin, Mr. 1, Mr. 2, and Mr. 3, you will return to our original base and continue your intelligence business. At the same time, you must do everything possible to gradually infiltrate the New World. I expect that by the time I step into the New World, the intelligence network you have built here will be quite substantial and effective."

The four responded in unison, "Yes..." However, at that moment, Moke frowned slightly, as if he had thought of something important. He quickly added, "Oh, right, there's one more crucial thing: you must never forget to continuously improve your strength! You must understand, your current strength is far too weak... Only when each of you can raise your strength to the astonishing level of 300 million will you be qualified to stand proudly before everyone and become an indispensable member of my ship!"

Upon hearing Moke's words, Robin, Mr. 1, Mr. 2, and Mr. 3's expressions instantly turned serious. Mr. 1, in particular, being an extremely competitive person, secretly thought to himself that he must break through his own limitations as soon as possible and reach that awe-inspiring height.

Just then, Moke, whose expression had been serious, suddenly narrowed his eyes and whispered, "Someone's coming..." It turned out that since reaching the Swordmaster Realm, Moke's perception of his surroundings had become exceptionally sharp. He Fudō gave a wink to the four people beside him, who immediately understood. After all, they couldn't easily reveal their special relationship with Moke at this moment. Without hesitation, the four of them vanished from the spot like ghosts in a flash.

Not long after, a series of heavy footsteps approached. In the blink of an eye, two tall and imposing figures appeared before Moke. The one on the left was particularly striking—four alarming X-shaped scars crisscrossed his cheeks and neck; his split and curly beard and long brown hair fluttered wildly in the wind, eventually falling over his broad shoulders.

The most peculiar feature was his left eye, which had no pupil, resembling a deep, empty Black Hole, inspiring awe. The person standing to his right sported a striking mohawk, his long, dark purple hair neatly tied back in a T-shaped bun. Two thin, long mustaches adorned his face, like two nimble snakes coiled around it. He wore a refined light purple striped suit over a dark blue shirt, with a snow-white tie at the collar, exuding elegance and sophistication. Behind him, a long white navy coat draped him, fluttering gently in the breeze like a waving flag. Even more striking was the gleaming samurai sword at his waist, its blade razor-sharp and radiating a chilling aura.

The two men were so distinctive that Moke recognized them instantly with just a glance. They were none other than the renowned Marine Vice Admiral Doberman and Momonga. Both were undoubtedly elite Vice Admiral of the Marine Headquarters! Moke was quite surprised to see them together today.

Just then, Doberman and Momonga clearly spotted Moke as well, their expressions instantly changing. Doberman's face darkened, and he coldly said, "It seems you were the one who unleashed Conqueror's Haki Ground Burst just now." As he spoke, he slowly moved his right hand to the hilt of his sword, assuming a stance ready to draw it at any moment. At the same time, Momonga did the same, also reaching for the hilt of his sword, his eyes fixed on Moke, radiating intense hostility and vigilance.

"I am truly flattered that two Headquarters Vice Admiral have come together!" Moke said, slowly placing his right hand on the cold hilt of the Sandai Kitetsu. His gaze was fixed on the two people in front of him, revealing a hint of vigilance and determination in his eyes.

Upon hearing Moke's words, the flying Momonga's lips curled into a faint smile as he replied, "Hehe, I just happened to come to Chef Island with Doberman to enjoy some delicious food. I never expected to meet you here... It's quite unexpected..." As he spoke, the Momonga's right hand had already subtly reached for the hilt of his sword, ready to respond to any unexpected situation.

In that instant, the entire scene seemed to be completely enveloped by a dense and exceptionally thick haze. The heavy sense of oppression was like a towering mountain, relentlessly pressing down on people's hearts, making even breathing extremely difficult, as if each inhale and exhale was an all-out struggle.

At this moment, the invisible pressure between the two sides was far more powerful than imagined. It was like a surging, unstoppable tide, spreading wildly in all directions with overwhelming force. Under its powerful impact, even the originally freely flowing air seemed to freeze into an incomparably hard block of ice in the blink of an eye, so heavy that it could crush one's soul, making one feel an unbearable sense of suffocation.

The two stood facing each other, unwavering and ramrod straight, their gazes burning like torches, locked tightly together, locked on without the slightest sign of wavering or relaxation. At that moment, every nerve in their bodies was tauter than a bowstring, pushed to its limit. The slightest rustle, even the softest sound of a leaf falling to the ground, could ignite this earth-shattering, Mars -filled conflict, unleashing a devastating eruption as powerful as a volcanic eruption!

However, at this critical moment of life and death, a crisp and rapid "Bru... Bru..." sound suddenly rang out, like an Inazuma rippled through the stagnant sky. This abrupt sound was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples that made everyone present tremble involuntarily and shudder. As if frozen in place, they turned their bewildered gazes toward the source of the sound like startled birds.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, intently trying to find out what was going on. Finally, after a brief search, they were surprised to discover that the annoying noise was coming from the Momonga! Apparently, the Den Den Mushi that the Momonga Den Den Mushi carried with it had suddenly started Rumbling merrily, as if it too sensed the tense and exciting atmosphere and couldn't wait to deliver important information to its owner.

"Hmm?" A faint look of doubt involuntarily appeared on the usually serious and aloof face of the flying Momonga. He frowned slightly, and his deep eyes revealed an indescribable confusion and bewilderment. Clearly, he was also quite surprised and puzzled that he would receive a phone call at such a crucial moment, and his mind was filled with countless questions.

Standing to the side Doberman looked at the Momonga with a surprised expression, wondering to himself: Who could be so inconsiderate as to call at this crucial moment? Could it be that there's some unknown secret or unforeseen event hidden behind this upcoming fierce battle? Thinking of this, Doberman couldn't help but feel a strong sense of curiosity, and at the same time, he vaguely sensed that the situation might take an unexpected turn because of this unexpected call.

Despite his doubts and unease, the Momonga hesitated for a moment before finally deciding to answer the mysterious Den Den Mushi. He took a deep breath, as if trying to calm his inner turmoil, then carefully brought his mouth close to the Den Den Mushi and slowly said, "This is the Momonga. Please speak. Who is looking for me?"

The moment he finished speaking, everyone around him focused their attention on the small, exquisite Den Den Mushi. Each person's eyes were filled with urgency and anticipation, as if they were anxiously awaiting important news from the other end of the line. Time seemed to freeze at that moment, and the entire space was enveloped in a tense and solemn atmosphere.

However, something unexpected happened. In the next second, the ordinary Den Den Den Mushi suddenly transformed into a figure with a large cigar dangling from its mouth, looking completely at ease. It slowly exhaled a puff of smoke and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Vice Admiral Momonga, this is Smoker. I happened to run into one of your men on this island today, so I'm calling to let you know. If you happen to encounter that guy, Moke, don't make any rash moves..." (Sengoku, the Fleet Admiral Sengoku)