Sabo had long idolized Ashveil, and the man before them had mastered his idol's method of controlling Conqueror's Haki, leaving Sabo momentarily speechless.
Ivankov, Crow, and the other Revolutionary Army members were equally stunned. The sheer power displayed by the Sword Saint far surpassed anything they had imagined. The mastery over Conqueror's Haki, akin to Ashveil's, left everyone solemn, their expressions heavy with unease.
"If he wields Ashveil's strength… even together, we might not match him," Crow muttered, sweat beading on his forehead.
Dragon seized an opening during his allies' attack, disengaging from the Sword Saint. Using Moonwalk, he retreated several steps, creating distance while keeping his eyes narrowed. The man before him clearly shared the same precise control over Conqueror's Haki as Ashveil.
"He's a formidable opponent. Time to implement Plan B," Dragon said, his brow furrowed.
The Revolutionary Army had long prepared contingency plans for Imu, and Plan B was among them. That Dragon was willing to apply a strategy designed for Imu against the Sword Saint revealed how much he valued him as a warrior.
The Sword Saint responded with disdain, a playful smirk curving his lips.
"Show me everything you've got. Then… I can enjoy myself, hehehe."
Even the Revolutionary Army—the most formidable organization the World Government feared—seemed fragile in his presence. The Sword Saint had barely tapped thirty percent of his power in the battle so far.
"Do not underestimate us! The Revolutionary Army's teamwork fears no force in this world!" Crow roared, his body fracturing into countless Crows that swarmed in all directions.
"Another illusion? How tedious," the Sword Saint remarked. His Holy Sword glowed brightly as Armament Haki surged along its blade. With a swing, he struck at the ground forces.
Boom!
A sky-shattering blow erupted. The Crows turned into pools of blood. Cannons fired, but even their combined explosions could not hinder the sword's path.
Dragon and his allies escalated their offensive. Two rapidly spinning tornadoes appeared in Dragon's hands, crackling with lightning.
"Go! Only a fully powered strike can break his shield!" Dragon roared, sending the tornadoes surging toward the Sword Saint.
Sabo and the South Army Commander unleashed streams of Armament Haki Ryou, which merged into the tornadoes, distorting space itself. Cracks appeared in the air as reality seemed to strain against the assault.
The East Army Commander waved her flag, channeling lightning through it. The energy fused with Dragon's attacks, forming a devastating barrage rivaling even the combined forces of the Marines, Kaido, and Big Mom during the Marineford War.
The Sword Saint frowned. Even as the strongest being after Imu in centuries, he acknowledged the severity of the coordinated assault.
"You brats, I recognize your strength," he said, his eyes hardening.
He swung the Holy Sword heavily, but instead of a destructive slash, a soft, radiant light emerged. It combined with his Conqueror's Haki to form a square barrier before his chest.
The attacks that collided with it were absorbed and nullified. Confidence radiated from him.
"My Conqueror's Haki defense surpasses that brat's," he said.
"I can withstand any attack."
"Infused with the Holy Sword's divine power, no force in this world can breach it."
"This is a higher level than Ashveil's absolute defense."
It was clear why the Sword Saint had pledged lifelong loyalty to Imu. The Holy Sword, a relic bestowed by Imu herself, had once been claimed from a demon she defeated before the Celestial Dragons even rose to power.
A weapon of this caliber was unrivaled; even Supreme Grade Swords could not compare.
Through this sword, the Sword Saint had maintained his dominance for eight centuries, second only to Imu. Countless peerless foes had fallen before him in her name, his skill and weapon making him a living legend.
Even now, as the attacks rained upon him, the Sword Saint's barrier emitted a soft hum, the sound reverberating like the voice of an ancient deity. The very air around him thickened, shimmering with divine energy, warning all who dared approach.
Below, the Revolutionary Army soldiers felt the oppressive presence of the barrier. It was as if time itself slowed near him, every movement becoming a struggle against an unseen weight pressing down.
Sabo gritted his teeth. "No matter how strong we are… even with all of us together, this… this is beyond anything we've faced!"
Ivankov's eyes widened. "He isn't just defending… he's asserting absolute dominion over the battlefield. Every attack, every strategy… futile!"
Dragon's jaw tightened. He knew the Sword Saint's divine barrier was not just a shield—it was a statement. To breach it would require not only overwhelming power but a precision and unity of execution the Revolutionary Army had rarely demonstrated.
The storm above the battlefield intensified, lightning slicing across the clouds, thunder shaking the mountains. Yet even nature itself seemed to bow before the Sword Saint's might, echoing the ancient legend of a warrior whose very existence had shaped the fate of the world.
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Milestone
100 Powerstones = 1 Bonus chapter.
I've been getting little to no Powerstones, don't be greedy with them 😪
