"Observation Haki? Looks like you really did learn quite a few things out there over the years. But do you think this is the true power of my Shadowless Life-Taking Blade?"
Feiluo gave a proud sneer, reached toward Zesi, and made a grabbing motion. Instantly, the flying blades accelerated to several times their previous speed.
The force behind the flying blades also increased considerably.
"Not bad. At this speed, even a pirate with a bounty over a hundred million would be scrambling for a while!" Zesi had no choice but to pick up speed. His feet vibrated rapidly, and waves of recoil carried him about like a ghost.
Wave-Stepping Flash!
Once he used this move, every attack missed.
"Impossible! I don't believe it!" Feiluo's expression finally changed. He frantically waved his hands, controlling the eleven flying blades as they attacked Zesi relentlessly.
But in the end, they failed to so much as touch the hem of Zesi's clothes.
"Your flying blades aren't just slow, they're feeble too. Can blades like these really kill anyone? And you call it the Shadowless Life-Taking Blade. Whose life are you trying to take? Your own?"
Just then, Zesi reached out with one hand and flicked an incoming flying blade.
The blade shot back toward Feiluo like lightning, passing right beside his cheek.
The flying blade did not touch Feiluo's cheek, but it sliced off a lock of hair beside his face.
Only after the flying blade passed his cheek did Feiluo snap out of his daze, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead in fright.
At that moment, Zesi flicked his outstretched finger repeatedly, sending all ten remaining flying blades back.
"Impossible! I paid a fortune to have those flying blades forged. During the process, I even used my ability to help control the arrangement of the metal. The resulting blades are incomparably sharp. With that speed on top of it, how could you meet their edges with flesh and blood and flick them all back?"
Feiluo had seen it clearly: Zesi's finger had struck the edges of his flying blades.
With the flying blades' speed and sharpness, his finger should have been sliced open the instant it touched them.
Yet not only had Zesi's finger remained uncut, he had easily flicked the blades back.
"Hehe, nothing is impossible on the sea. This is another kind of Haki. It's called Armament Haki. It can cover your body in a layer of invisible armor, granting extremely powerful defense. And once that defense reaches a certain level, it naturally translates into offensive power."
"With those feeble flying blades of yours, you couldn't hurt me in the slightest even if I stood right here without moving!"
"I don't believe it! Impossible!"
Feiluo spoke angrily and waved his hand, sending the flying blades shooting toward Zesi again.
This time, Zesi did not dodge. He stood there without moving, letting the flying blades strike his body.
Clang, clang, clang! The flying blades struck Zesi's body, but their impacts sent sparks flying.
"How is that possible?" Disbelief filled Feiluo's eyes.
"Oh, right. Didn't you just ask how I knocked those three down? You might as well experience it yourself!" Zesi said calmly.
As Zesi spoke, terrifying, incomparably overbearing Conqueror's Haki surged from his body.
Feiluo felt as though an utterly terrifying being was staring at him, its overbearing spiritual pressure striking straight at his mind.
At that moment, his mind was like a little boat amid the sea's raging waves in a storm.
Feiluo's body involuntarily went limp. Unable to keep himself steady, he fell straight out of the air onto the ground.
"What is this?"
"Oh, you didn't pass out right away? Looks like you have a decent will. That's worth some praise. This is the last of the Three Types of Haki, called Conqueror's Haki. It's said to be the disposition of a king found in only one person in a million, and it's the only one of the Three Types of Haki that can't be acquired through training. It possesses the force of spirit to intimidate and knock people unconscious. Against ordinary small fry, I don't even need to lift a finger. One burst of Conqueror's Haki can frighten a whole crowd!"
Hearing Zesi's words, Feiluo fell completely silent.
Before this, Feiluo had been very proud.
He had thought he was strong.
With his Control-Control Fruit ability and his Shadowless Life-Taking Blade, he could slaughter enemies on all sides.
He had even felt that the great pirates renowned throughout the New World might not be his match.
Even among the Big Mom Pirates, who cooperated with the Brunei Family.
Aside from Big Mom, he took all the others seriously.
Their lives were merely a matter of a single thought from him.
But now, Zesi had truly dealt him a blow.
Observation Haki, which could easily perceive the speed of his flying blades.
Armament Haki, which let Zesi stand there and take his attacks without suffering any harm.
Conqueror's Haki, which had frightened him into immobility with its presence alone and made Biggs and the others pass out.
Feiluo felt a profound sense of helplessness.
The powerful figures on the sea were actually this strong.
He really had been far too arrogant before.
"It seems you've realized just how insignificant you are. Then, starting today, I'll take over the Brunei Family. You have no objections, do you?"
"What use would it be even if I did? Strength has always done the talking in this world. Since I'm weaker than you, kill me or carve me up as you please!"
"Hehehe, very good. It seems you've come to understand the nature of this world quite well. Then go and get stronger. Strong enough that one day, you can take back what you want from me!"
"I will!" Feiluo said with unwavering determination.