~ Support & Read 12 Advanced Chapters on Patreon
❁❁❁❁
Zzzzzzt!
The lightning beasts descended upon Roger, a furious stampede more terrifying than any tsunami.
"Roger—Show me what you've got! Show me how a washed-up, dying man can still rule the New World!!!" Arthur roared, his voice echoing through the storm, his control over the lightning beasts absolute.
The title of Pirate King wasn't simply about conquering the Grand Line, or finding Laugh Tale. It meant standing above all others, reigning supreme.
And Roger? He'd been declining for three years, his illness incurable, even by a world-renowned doctor like Crocus. How could a man past his prime, his strength fading—claim the title of King?
Roger, his face still creased with a smile, ignored Arthur's challenge and the roaring lightning beasts, turning his attention to Shanks, who stood behind Rayleigh, his face pale.
"Shanks—watch closely."
His grin widened, his eyes hardening, his gaze intense—an almost palpable pressure radiating outwards.
A visible ripple, like a shockwave—spread from where he stood, the onrushing lightning beasts freezing mid-stride, their momentum halted, as if held back by an invisible force.
Arthur, his hands outstretched, pushed with all his might—but the beasts wouldn't budge.
After a long, tense moment, his attack dissipated, his energy spent.
"Supreme King Haki?" Arthur muttered, his voice laced with surprise and a touch of awe. It felt like punching a giant, invisible cushion.
This power allowed its user to commune with nature, commanding its loyalty, bending the very laws of the world to their will.
Nature itself obeyed him—Which meant natural disasters posed no threat!
And Logia Devil Fruit users, their powers drawn from nature—were they completely countered by this ultimate form of Haki?
"No, that's not right—" Arthur realized.
There was no such thing as an invincible power. Every ability had a counter—a weakness. It was a fundamental law of the One Piece world.
His Rumble-Rumble Fruit, while incredibly versatile and powerful—wasn't without its limits.
And whether an ability was truly effective depended on its development, its mastery—Like ice and fire, each could overcome the other.
Roger's Haki could command nature, but Arthur's power wasn't fully developed. He hadn't reached his full potential.
His two hundred million volt output was his current limit. He couldn't push past it—not yet.
And Roger's Haki had limits as well. Otherwise, he would be truly invincible.
Garp had pushed Roger to the brink multiple times—while their battles always ended in a standstill. Garp wasn't affected by Conqueror's Haki—He was immune.
"Every power has its counter, I suppose." Arthur wasn't discouraged. He was simply dissatisfied with his own progress. He was strong, but not strong enough.
He hadn't reached Roger's level—not yet. And without decades of experience—catching up seemed like an impossible dream.
"You're strong, Roger—But how long can you maintain that power?" Arthur's frown eased as he considered this.
Stamina—it was a finite resource. Even Roger, with his legendary willpower—couldn't defy that limit. And his illness…it weakened him. Who knew how long he could last?
"Long enough to deal with you, kid." Roger grinned, his confidence unwavering.
His easygoing nature, his indomitable spirit—it was inspiring.
"Captain!" Shanks, his face pale, but his eyes shining with an almost feverish intensity, called out from behind Rayleigh.
Roger, even while facing Arthur's onslaught, had found time to instruct Shanks.
While Conqueror's Haki couldn't be trained—it had to be awakened—had Roger somehow imparted some of his own mastery to Shanks? How else could Shanks achieve such power in the future?
"Is that your successor, Roger?" Arthur, following Roger's gaze, understood now why the Pirate King had taken the young man under his wing.
Shanks's gaze met Arthur's—two rising stars, their paths destined to cross.
Roger's laughter boomed through the bar. "Isn't he more likeable than you, you brat? Wahahaha!"
Arthur scoffed.
"Enough small talk—You want to stop me from killing Whitebeard's sons? You'll have to defeat me first."
He vanished, reappearing instantly in front of Roger, his fist, charged with lightning, slamming downwards.
If lightning wouldn't work—he'd use his physical strength, his speed.
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit wasn't just about ranged lightning attacks—His speed, amplified by electricity, made him a formidable close-range fighter.
Roger commanded nature—But Arthur, even in his elemental form, wasn't a force of nature. He was a man—with his own will, his own consciousness. He wouldn't be controlled.
If Roger's Conqueror's Haki could control even Devil Fruit users—he'd rule the world.
Arthur's fist, a blur of motion, reached Roger.
"Hardening!" Roger roared, sheathing his sword, meeting Arthur's attack with a Haki-clad fist.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The impact reverberated through the air, the remaining walls of the bar collapsing under the pressure.
Roger's feet sank into the ground, the earth cracking beneath him, the fissures spreading like a spiderweb.
The force of the blow created a powerful gust of wind, whipping Arthur's greatcoat around him.
"Now that's a fight! Wahahaha!" Roger grinned, his eyes shining with excitement.
"Devil Fruit attacks from a distance—those are for cowards!"
"Fighting a man like you—I wouldn't have it any other way!" Arthur, equally excited, his fists a blur, unleashed a barrage of punches.
❁❁❁❁
~ 12 Advanced Chapters Available on my Patreon
https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)