One Piece: I Maxed Out Conqueror's Haki First Because I Can't Die

"Both sides are within cannon range!"

"Quick, load the shells!"

"Fire!!"

As the distance closed, the roar of cannon fire rang out, and both sides began exchanging shots.

The deafening sound echoed beside their ears. Cannonballs struck the sea around them, splashing up great sprays of white water.

But after only five seconds, pressure and despair once again descended upon every marine.

The enemy had greater numbers, and naturally more cannonballs. The instant the exchange began, the stern of the Warship was struck and burst into flames.

"The stern's been hit."

"Prepare for boarding combat!"

Simboo drew the long sword at his waist and shouted.

Xia Le swept his gaze around. The officers had all drawn their weapons. Their expressions were solemn, but their eyes were sharp and fearless.

Clearly, they had all resolved themselves to die.

Pressing his lips together, he suddenly turned and walked toward the stern. Through the raging flames, he looked toward the pirates behind them, their faces twisted in madness as they grinned viciously.

One grim face after another drew closer. Their gleaming long swords reflected the light ahead.

His gaze shifted. The main force of the Flying Pirates was already far away from here, surrounding the gradually sharpening black specks in the distance.

"Whew!"

Xia Le took a deep breath and suddenly widened his eyes.

"Boom!"

An incomparably domineering and powerful aura abruptly burst forth, spreading forward in a fan shape and crashing toward the five pirate ships ahead.

Chapter 18: Clash of the Strong

"Vmmmm!"

Everything trembled. Space warped and ripples spread, while the violently surging sea suddenly fell still.

A wild, suffocating, domineering aura swept out at an incredible speed, covering a vast area ahead. It seemed endless as it spread toward regions even farther away.

"Crack, crack, crack!"

The sound of shattering rang out. Fine cracks appeared across the sturdy surface of the Warship's hull.

The expressions of Saron, Shinbu, and the other officers visibly changed to shock and astonishment.

They stared blankly ahead at the youth with his back to them, his white Justice Cloak fluttering in the wind. For a moment, none of them could react.

Beyond Xia Le, they could see that the pirates aboard the five pirate ships, who had been laughing arrogantly just moments before, now had frozen expressions. Their eyes had rolled white, and they had lost consciousness.

"Thud!"

The sound of bodies hitting the ground rang out one after another. The armed pirates fell like stalks of wheat, row after row.

Even the gale fell silent at that moment. The lightning in the heavens vanished without a sound, while the dark clouds above Xia Le's head began to twist and spin violently, forming a huge Vortex.

"This is?!"

"Conqueror's Haki!!"

Simboo spoke in shock.

The marines aboard the Warship were equally silent. Every gaze was focused on the youth ahead.

"Whew!"

Xia Le slowly exhaled. His eyes remained fixed on the front, sharp to the extreme.

Facing the vast, seemingly endless Flying Fleet, Xia Le, who had only mastered Conqueror's Haki, was still far from strong enough.

Unlike in the film, once the great battle began, he would have to face Shiki, who was at the true peak of his power and possessed unfathomable methods, along with countless elite pirates from the New World under his command.

Even after mastering Conqueror's Haki, he would not be able to accomplish much. Retreat was undoubtedly the best option.

But at this moment, facing five pirate ships, he was confident.

An invisible majesty spread across the entire sea.

The power of his nearly maxed-out Conqueror's Haki was unimaginable. Even weaker officers at the general level could not withstand it.

Yet what made Xia Le's heart sink was that more than a dozen figures still stood aboard the pirate ships ahead, having endured the impact of his Conqueror's Haki.

"This kid!?"

"He actually awakened Conqueror's Haki!"

The pirate holding a long sword and wearing a captain's hat spoke in shock.

That terrifying aura made him think of Boss Shiki.

Looking around, he saw that all his subordinates had fallen unconscious and were no longer capable of fighting.

In the next instant, two vast auras, carried by the sea wind, rapidly crashed into everyone present, leaving them stunned.

"Boss Shiki, we've found Roger!"

The captain inhaled and spoke in a low voice.

His eyes instantly locked onto the black-haired youth ahead, and his grip tightened around his long sword.

"This might be troublesome."

"But I'm not weak either!"

The next second, the captain waved his hand, and his eyes turned fierce.

"Kill them!"

Those who could remain conscious under the impact of Conqueror's Haki were undoubtedly elites—officer-level fighters.

When the pirate ships drew within several dozen meters, both sides let out a roar and moved at the same time.

At the same time.

The Oro Jackson slowly came to a stop, its massive hull rising and falling with the sea.

"Roger, this is really bad!"

"The Flying Pirates have come out in full force. They're truly determined to take us down!"

Rayleigh spoke with a grave expression.

"Hahahaha!"

"Relax, Rayleigh. We'll definitely be safe and sound!"

The man wearing a captain's hat and sporting a small handlebar mustache above his lips laughed loudly.

He slowly raised his head, stepped onto the bow, and looked at the golden figure above them, shaped like a lion.

"Shiki, we meet again!"

Golden Lion Shiki looked down and also burst into laughter. "Gyahahahaha!"

"Roger, join forces with me."

"If we combine our strength, the entire world will belong to us!"

Roger smiled when he heard this and slowly shook his head. "Then I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you!"

"Roger!"

"It seems you still don't understand your situation. You have only one path to choose!"

"That is to obey my commands!"

Golden Lion Shiki shouted.

A wild aura surged out in an instant, crashing toward every direction.

At the same time, Roger's aura erupted below.

"My goal has always been only one thing. I will never work under anyone else."

"Shiki, your ambition is too great!"

Their gazes collided. Their auras surged, instantly dividing the regions behind them into two halves.

Suddenly, a wave of Haki struck from the distant sea and collided with the domains formed by their auras. With a crack, it silently formed a third domain.

Almost simultaneously, the two men turned and looked toward where Xia Le stood.

Rayleigh, Scopper Gaban, and the others all wore looks of surprise.

The strength of this Conqueror's Haki was in no way inferior to that of the two men battling before them.

"Gyahahahaha!"

"Looks like I accidentally missed an interesting fellow just now!"

Golden Lion Shiki laughed loudly. The figures aboard the warship flashed through his mind before his gaze finally settled on the black-haired youth's face.

"But my target has always been only you!"

"Roger!"

Shiki's eyes suddenly sharpened, and his body leaped into the air, diving toward the sea below.

"Then come on, Shiki!!"

Roger roared as well, leaping high with both legs.

Lightning split the sky as the two figures rapidly collided.

"Divine Departure!"

"Crescent Moon Slash!"

A violent impact radiated rapidly outward from the two men, raising great howling tornadoes. The terrifying force even caused the sea below to cave inward, making the surrounding ships rock violently.

Then someone inadvertently looked up.

"My God!"

"The sky is splitting apart!"

Shock, horror, and fear appeared on everyone's faces in an instant.

"Gyahahahaha!"

Golden Lion Shiki laughed loudly.

"You're the only one, Roger!"

"In this era, you're the only one who can earn my recognition to such an extent—to make me want to conquer you completely!"

The two long swords in his hands, Oto and Kogarashi, swung rapidly, clashing repeatedly with his opponent and producing a string of metallic ringing sounds.

"Then I'm truly grateful for your appreciation!"

Roger laughed.

The two men battled, and the entire sea boiled.

Before long, the crews and officers of both sides began fighting one another.

"Whoosh!"

A fierce blade of light was merely a shock wave, yet it still drew out a chorus of screams as it cleaved through more than ten pirate ships.

It was an unimaginable battle. Its range of destruction soon swept across the entire sea.

It even reached Xia Le and the others in the distance.

"Boom!"

The warship exploded, and then raging flames surged into the sky.

The deck beneath their feet creaked. The ship rocked violently, and the wind howled like a low growl.