Self-Defined Rightness

Harald, the giant king with Ancient Giant Tribe blood.

As the king of Elbaf, the world's strongest nation, Harald possessed strength that did not pale in comparison to Rocks.

He was also someone Rocks could never forget.

But two years ago, the Five Elders exploited Harald's desire to lead Elbaf toward peace and proposed that he kill Rocks, ultimately causing Harald and Rocks to break apart after their great battle.

After that, the two never met again, seemingly determined to never have anything to do with each other for the rest of their lives.

But now...

"You want me to go deal with Harald with you?"

Annus was somewhat surprised. It seemed Rocks still had not given up.

"That's right! That bastard Harald said he'd abandon everything if it meant making Elbaf join the World's Wheel. He's been completely incited by those World Government bastards!

"He even tried to kill me because of it! He's completely abandoned a warrior's honor!

"But that idiot being used will never understand that the World Government only sees giants as 'military power.' No matter how hard he tries, Elbaf will ultimately be treated as nothing more than a 'nation of slaves'!

"That bastard being exploited doesn't understand that at all!"

At the mention of Harald, Rocks' emotions rose uncontrollably. By the time he reached the painful part, saliva was flying everywhere.

Annus silently wiped down the table.

"So what? Didn't you swear you would never seek Harald out again? Why are you asking me to do something like that?"

"Because the more I think about it, the angrier I get!"

Rocks slammed the table heavily.

"Besides, that Devil Fruit in Elbaf can only reach its greatest potential if Harald eats it! Join forces with me, Annus! If you and I work together, we can definitely defeat that bastard Harald! I'm going to beat some sense into him!!"

Rocks would not have proposed such a plan without absolute confidence.

Relying on his own strength, he could only match Harald evenly and could not defeat him. But with Annus, it was different.

Annus was one of the few masters whose strength came infinitely close to his own, possessing power greater than that of a Marine Admiral.

If the two joined forces, Harald would be no match for them.

"It's useless, Rocks. You should understand just how stubborn Harald is."

Yet, facing Rocks' proposal, Annus calmly shook his head.

On this sea, anyone capable of becoming a top-tier powerhouse was a terrifyingly stubborn madman. Once they had their own ideas, no one could change them no matter what they did.

Even within the Rocks Pirates, where betrayals came one after another, dreams were something none of the officers would betray.

Everyone stubbornly clung to what they believed was "right," unwaveringly marching toward their dreams and never looking back until the very end. That was the core reason they could become strong.

"What! Even you don't agree with my plan!?"

Rejected by Annus, Rocks displayed the same irritation as Shiki.

Rocks truly could not understand why Annus would refuse. Was Annus not his most trusted companion?

But Annus gave no reason and only intended to see him out.

That angered Rocks.

"Annus! Fight me!"

"Huh?"

"You're just like Harald, you're far too disappointing! If I don't beat you up, I won't be able to vent the fire in my heart!"

Rather than cause a huge commotion inside the Heaven-Piercing Tower, Annus and Rocks tacitly chose a barren island outside Hachinosu as their battlefield.

News of their impending fight also drew the officers to watch.

"Jihahaha! Who do you think will win this time?"

Shiki asked Whitebeard, Kaido, Linlin, and the others beside him with a waggling brow.

"Who knows? It'll probably be another draw, right? As far as I remember, Annus has hardly lost in recent years." Linlin thought for a moment before speaking.

It's a pity Annus won't agree to have a child with me...

"Then I'll bet on Annus!" Kaido grinned. "What about you? Who are you betting on?"

"Gurarara! Then I'll bet on Rocks! After all, I owe that guy quite a bit in booze money!" Whitebeard laughed.

As the officers talked, Annus and Rocks had already begun their battle in the center of the island.

"Take this, Annus! Let me see how much you've improved!"

Enraged, Rocks immediately unleashed a fierce offensive, swinging his saber and sending out slashes powerful enough to blast away everything around him.

This was Rocks' unique "swordsmanship."

Unlike ordinary swordsmen, Rocks' slashes were famed for their sledgehammer-like weight. Though they were clearly slashes, their effects resembled cannon bombardments. Put simply, overwhelming strength crushed everything.

This slash targeted Annus' chest and was coated in powerful Armament Haki. If Annus tried to evade with simple elementalization, the blade's force would instantly smash through his chest!

But Annus did not dodge. He chose to meet it head-on! The golden scepter in his hand softened under the refinement of lightning, transforming into a blazing spear.

"Lightning Metallurgy."

By injecting electric current into metal he touched and heating it until it melted, Annus could reshape the golden scepter in his hand into any form.

Ten years of using the Rumble-Rumble Fruit had allowed Annus to perfectly master this technique.

But that was not all. As Annus poured Armament Haki into the spear, the weapon gleaming with lightning reflected the jet-black luster unique to Armament Haki.

"Rumble!"

The instant the spear met the sword's edge, the air exploded. The calm sea churned violently under the aftershock, and the entire barren island seemed unable to withstand the force as it began to tremble.

The two had fought countless times before and knew each other's strength well. Thus, this battle skipped all probing from the very start, every move brimming with killing intent.

"Is that all, Rocks? Attacks of this level won't be enough to make me look foolish."

Framed by lightning flashing around him, Annus, holding his golden spear, seemed like a god descended upon the world.

"Don't get cocky, you disappointing bastard!"

Rocks' voice was full of grievance, as though Annus had betrayed his sincerity.

"That's because you're too self-righteous."

Annus swung his golden spear and thrust at Rocks. Lightning surged like an ocean, instantly swallowing the entire barren island. Violent currents traveled through the earth and into the sea, and countless charred sea creatures floated to the surface.

"This is the one thing I hate about you, Annus! You always stand above everyone else and judge them!"

Terrifying Conqueror's Haki burst through the sea of lightning!

Rocks' figure emerged from the blazing light. His saber was wrapped in tangible Conqueror's Haki, radiating a palpitating aura.

Those born with the potential for Conqueror's Haki were said to appear only once in a million people. Yet among those with that potential, only a tiny handful could comprehend the power of Conqueror's Haki Coating.

This power was practically an admission ticket to the summit of the path of Haki.

Unlike ordinary Conqueror's Haki users, who could only use this power to intimidate enemies and knock out fodder, advanced users who had mastered Conqueror's Haki Coating could wield it just as they wielded Armament Haki.

When the gap in strength was overwhelming, enemies could not even break through the invisible defense formed by Conqueror's Haki.

In terms of appearance, this effect was similar to protective aura.

And when Conqueror's Haki was coated onto a weapon for an attack, it displayed power and effects far beyond Armament Haki coating.

"Abyss... Curse!"

Rocks gripped the saber coated in Conqueror's Haki with both hands and brought it down heavily, its power enough to split mountains and tear apart seas.

But Annus had no intention of avoiding it. He clenched the golden spear in his hand as a terrifying Conqueror's Haki no weaker than Rocks' erupted from within him, coiling around the golden spear like dragons and serpents.

"Eternal... Chaos!"

The golden spear thrust forward, clashing with the saber across empty space. The two terrifying Conqueror's Hakis collided. Even the sky above the barren island seemed frightened by the spreading force, the light dimming as dark clouds slowly split apart to either side, revealing a massive gap.

The surrounding sea also surged violently under the clash of the two forces.

Beneath their feet, the ground of the barren island began to crack, as though it would collapse from being unable to bear the impact.

"Hey, hey, hey, has that bastard Annus gotten stronger again?" Shiki cursed as he flew into the air. The ground where he had been standing had already caved in.

"Mamamahaha! Annus! You still have room to improve?" Linlin stared greedily at Annus' back.

No matter what, I have to find a way to have a child who inherits that bastard Annus' bloodline!

That child would definitely be incredibly strong, right?

Watching the fight, Kaido revealed an envious look. Even now, he had yet to master the power of Conqueror's Haki Coating.

Those two are truly powerful... Haki really is what transcends everything else!

The figures of Annus and Rocks were reflected in Kaido's pupils. With the blazing flash of lightning, they were deeply etched into the depths of Kaido's memories.