On the surface, Elior's slash left no visible wounds on Hawkeye's body — and that was precisely what made it so terrifying.
The name of that technique was:
One Blade to the Underworld — Asura Path.
This was not a physical attack at all.
That slash directly drained Hawkeye's life force and reaped his soul itself.
Rather than damaging flesh or bone, it struck something far more abstract — something nihilistic.
And that made it infinitely more frightening than any attack on the body.
At that moment, Hawkeye collapsed onto the ice. His life had reached its end, and his entire being fell into complete silence.
When the ice blade in Elior's hand dissipated, Shiryu stepped closer to Hawkeye's corpse.
"There are no new wounds… yet he's dead."
Shiryu's voice was low, filled with disbelief.
"Captain… what kind of attack was that?"
Hawkeye's death itself did not surprise Shiryu. After all, Elior possessed more than enough power to kill him.
What truly horrified Shiryu was the nature of the attack.
He could clearly feel that the slash Elior unleashed should have been powerful enough to tear Hawkeye's body apart.
Yet there was nothing.
No gashes.
No blood.
No external damage.
And still — Hawkeye was dead.
"Captain… did that slash attack his soul?"
Shiryu turned to Elior, his tone filled with awe and uncertainty.
An attack on the soul was undoubtedly far more terrifying than one that targeted the body.
Invisible — yet absolutely lethal.
But soul-based attacks were extraordinarily mysterious.
The soul itself was an intangible existence. Normally, it vanished upon death.
Only a very small number of people with special powers could perceive it — let alone control it.
For example… Big Mom.
Elior replied calmly,
"It harvested his soul and drained his life force. You could also say that I stripped away his lifespan and soul simultaneously."
Shiryu's eyes widened.
"So that's it…!"
"As expected of my captain. You even drained his lifespan!"
Shock was unmistakable in his voice.
At this point, Elior had already become Shiryu's absolute idol — the ultimate goal he would pursue for the rest of his life on the path of the sword.
Elior walked toward Hawkeye's body.
Unlike the others Elior had killed, Hawkeye had not died peacefully.
Elior bent down and picked up the jet-black greatsword.
Yoru.
The moment it entered his hand, Elior felt the overwhelming power contained within it.
Its weight far exceeded that of Enma or Ame no Habakiri.
And its craftsmanship resonated with him even more.
"The Supreme Grade Sword, Yoru" Shiryu muttered, sounding almost like a commentator.
"The jet-black blade is the result of Hawkeye's decades of Armament Haki cultivation. All black blades are born from extreme mastery of Armament Haki. That is why this sword is black."
"One of the Twelve Supreme Grade Blades… Yoru."
"This blade suits me better," Elior said quietly.
He then coated Yoru entirely in ice.
Immediately after, torrents of thunder and lightning surged over the blade, tempering it again.
When the energy faded, a newly reforged Black Blade Yoru appeared.
Dark crimson energy flowed around it, its aura even more terrifying than before.
"Yoru… became stronger?"
Shiryu was visibly shaken.
At that moment, Elior turned his gaze toward him.
"By the way," Elior said calmly, "I have something important to give you."
What Elior intended to give Shiryu was the ability of Black Viper.
A power perfectly suited for someone who lived to kill.
"…What?" Shiryu asked instinctively.
Elior didn't answer.
He stepped forward and grabbed Shiryu's left arm with his right hand.
Instantly, dark energy spread outward from Elior's palm.
At first, Shiryu was confused.
Then — his expression changed completely.
Shock flooded his face.
At that moment, he finally understood what Elior was giving him.
An ability.
A terrifying, decaying power.
"The ability once possessed by Black Viper" Elior said coldly.
"A Special Paramecia—the Wither-Wither Fruit. It allows the user to wither all things."
"As for how you use it… you'll discover that yourself."
"And because I plunder abilities directly," Elior continued, "you will not suffer the usual Devil Fruit weaknesses. No fear of seawater. No SeaStone."
After transferring the power, Elior said nothing more and turned away.
He had no fear of others knowing he could plunder Devil Fruit abilities.
With a single thought, he could reclaim that power at any time.
As long as Shiryu ever betrayed him, Elior could take his life—let alone reclaim the Wither-Wither Fruit.
But betrayal was impossible.
At this moment, Shiryu's loyalty was absolute.
If Elior did not draw his blade, Shiryu would never even think of turning against him.
Because Elior was simply… too powerful.
"My captain…" Shiryu murmured.
The power surging within his body was overwhelming — yet he somehow managed to remain composed.
"A Special Paramecia capable of withering all things…"
"Three months ago, Black Viper passed through a pirate-controlled island. An hour later, the entire island became more horrifying than a battlefield."
"No life remained. Humans, animals, plants… even insects were drained dry."
"That is the power of the Wither-Wither Fruit."
"Captain… you truly deserve to be captain."
"To plunder Devil Fruit powers…"
"Someone as strong as you—"
"You are the one I will chase for the rest of my life."
"My captain… will become the King of the World."
Elsewhere—
The death of Hawkeye once again plunged countless people into silence.
Even someone as powerful as Mihawk had fallen to Elior.
How many Marines could remain calm?
Terrifying.
Unstoppable.
Invincible.
Countless Marines trembled.
At that moment, an enormous icicle rose beneath Elior's feet, lifting him into the air.
A black silhouette descended from above.
It was Fujitora.
"If the Marine were to disappear," Fujitora asked gravely, "have you ever thought about what kind of world would remain, Elior?"
Fujitora's blade clashed with Yoru, the two weapons locked in a stalemate.
"If the Marine falls, order will collapse completely."
"Pirates will lose all restraint."
"The world will sink into deeper darkness."
Elior replied calmly,
"Before a new order is born, chaos is inevitable."
"And Fujitora—your Marine only protects civilians in allied nations."
"What about those outside?"
"In my territory, pirates don't dare to intrude."
"Civilians don't pay outrageous protection fees."
"How many people have been crushed by Heavenly Tribute? Have you ever truly thought about that?"
Heavenly Tribute was nothing more than an astronomical tax.
Most nations couldn't afford it.
And after reaching Mary Geoise, only a fraction was used for governance—the rest became indulgence for the Celestial Dragons.
"You…" Fujitora fell silent.
"Sooner or later," Elior said coldly, "this world will belong to me."
"You can't stop me."
"So, Fujitora—just watch."
In the next instant, Elior swept forward.
His kick slammed into Fujitora's body, sending him flying once more.