Orion's sudden draw of his sword caught everyone present completely off guard.
By the time they realized what was happening, a dazzling blade light had already left its sheath, tearing through the void along its trajectory and instantly arriving at the most conspicuous skull mountain on Hachinosu Island.
The blade light was slender at first, but the moment it left the sheath, it erupted with a radiance brighter than the sun, bleaching the entire sky above Hachinosu Island a stark white.
Then, an even more shocking scene unfolded.
The moment the blade light struck the skull mountain, it acted like a fuse igniting a force capable of annihilating the world.
The next second.
BOOM—An even more dazzling radiance erupted without warning from within the skull-shaped mountain.
The black-and-red Conqueror's Haki detonated like millions of tons of high explosives, its shockwave spreading madly outward from the mountain's epicenter.
Amid earth-shaking tremors, the hundreds-of-meters-tall skull mountain couldn't withstand this power for even a second. It twisted silently before disintegrating into dust.
Immediately after, the entire Hachinosu Island tore apart under violent convulsions.
In mere moments, a bottomless chasm ripped across the whole island.
Before seawater could flood in from both sides, the Conqueror's Haki radiating from the skull mountain grew even more ferocious.
Black-and-red lightning surged upward like unshackled apocalyptic dragons, roaring as they pierced the heavens.
The blinding light illuminated sky and earth, striking everyone present with indescribable visual impact that left them aghast.
Whether it was the world's greatest swordsman Mihawk or the interns who had just survived life-and-death battles, all now stared upward with blank minds, their pupils reflecting the doomsday-like scene.
Under the horrified gazes of all, the Conqueror's Haki detonated from the skull mountain continued expanding, devouring everything on the island with overwhelming force.
Buildings, streets, jungles...
Everything was flattened and vaporized before this power.
The upward-surging Conqueror's Haki provoked thunderous roars in the high heavens.
Its soul-crushing imposing aura made even the interns standing beside Orion tremble inwardly, their eyes wide with shock that nearly made their jaws drop.
"What... what is this..." Nami unconsciously gripped Orion's sleeve, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Yamato, who had been carrying her spiked club, now shed all excitement and fighting spirit.
Gazing at the soaring black-and-red pillar while sensing its supreme dominating will, she realized for the first time how insignificant she was—the gap between her and Fleet Admiral Orion was like fireflies compared to the bright moon.
Denjiro rested his hand on his sword hilt, knuckles whitening from the force.
His proud swordsmanship seemed like a joke before this divine punishment-like spectacle.
As everyone stared dumbfounded, an enormous black-and-red mushroom cloud rose above Hachinosu Island, blotting out the sky.
The mushroom cloud persisted for dozens of seconds before gradually dispersing in the fierce winds.
When the light faded, when the mushroom cloud vanished, when everything returned to calm...
Everyone present was once again deeply shocked by the scene before them.
The unparalleled visual impact made their very eyeballs tremble.
Apart from the intact Rocky Port where they stood, the entire Hachinosu Island had completely vanished, replaced by a massive abyss.
Seawater from three directions poured into the chasm with deafening roars like three galloping dragons, spraying mist everywhere.
Within moments, the abyss was completely filled with seawater.
Hachinosu Island had been utterly erased.
Erasing an entire island with one strike?
Mihawk's facial muscles twitched uncontrollably as he watched the turbulent newborn sea, his mind experiencing unprecedented turmoil.
Could power of this magnitude still be called swordsmanship?
If this is swordsmanship, then what is the pinnacle of the sword path he had pursued his entire life?
His title as the world's greatest swordsman was nothing but a joke in the face of this single strike.
Zoro's expression was the most exaggerated, his mouth agape and eyes wide as copper bells, stammering.
"F-Fleet Admiral... is... is that swordsmanship?"
Orion sheathed his blade, turning with his ever-present gentle smile. "Not entirely. The slash was merely an ignition switch. What truly destroyed Hachinosu Island was the Nuclear Explosion generated by Conqueror's Haki and sword aura shockwaves."
"Nu...clear...?" Zoro looked utterly bewildered. "What's that?"
Robin, standing beside Perona, provided a timely explanation: "Nuclear explosion translates to... nuclear explosion."
Though Zoro still didn't fully understand, his eyes—usually only interested in swordsmanship and combat—instantly lit up.
Nuclear explosion?
That sounded incredibly cool!
Stroking his chin, he muttered seriously to himself: "I must give my Three-Sword Style a similar name... let's call it Three-Sword Style Secret Skill: Nuclear Explosion Slash!"
"Wow! Amazing!" Luffy's eyes sparkled as he waved his fists excitedly. "I want one too! Gum-Gum Nuclear Explosion Gun!"
...
Elbaf, Walrus School square.
The moment Orion erased Hachinosu Island with a single slash, Gaban, Ripley, Elder Jarul and others clearly felt the ground beneath them tremble violently.
"What's happening?!" Jarul was the first to stand, his aged face full of shock and confusion. "What occurred? Why is The Sunny World shaking!"
Before anyone could react, an apocalyptic scene abruptly unfolded before their eyes.
From the direction of Hachinosu Island at the horizon, a black-red lightning bolt pierced through heaven and earth, followed by rolling thunder that reached them distantly.
Gaban's face paled as he exclaimed: "Impossible! That's... that's Conqueror's Haki!"
Ripley was also terrified, her voice trembling: "Such terrifying Conqueror's Haki... even the legendary Sun God's couldn't surpass this!"
Just then, a giant warrior rushed over in panic, stammering.
"E-Elder! Terrible news! Fresh reports just arrived—Hachinosu Island... Hachinosu Island has been... wiped out!"
"What did you say?!" Jarul's eyes widened as he grabbed the warrior's shoulders. "Say that again! Choose your words carefully—what do you mean wiped out?"
The giant warrior gasped for breath, voice shaking.
"It's Orion! Fleet Admiral Orion! He Destroyed Hachinosu with one slash! Now only Rocky Port remains, the rest... completely submerged by seawater!"
Hiss—
Jarul drew a sharp breath.
Erasing Hachinosu Island with one slash?
Was this something humanly possible?