Chapter 109 – [109] : Conqueror’s Haki Advances to Apex Gold! Nika! Drums of Liberation!

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DOOOONG! DOOOONG! DOOOONG!

Amplified by the Rumble-Rumble Fruit’s properties, the chimes of the Light of Shandora, the Golden Bell, thundered across the entire White-White Sea!

“Th-This is—!”

On Angel Island, the inhabitants, hearing the resonant bell, felt their panicked emotions swiftly calmed.

From the direction of Upper Yard, terrifying bolts of lightning had been visible even from Angel Island, accompanied by horrifying thunderclaps.

The Skypieans, having lived under Enel’s tyrannical rule for six years, immediately assumed their God had been angered.

Though they had witnessed many instances of divine retribution—individuals struck down by lightning for rejecting God’s will—this level of divine fury was unprecedented, like a precursor to total annihilation.

Angel Island had been thrown into chaos, only prevented from devolving into a disastrous stampede by the efforts of the White Beret peace-keeping force.

Until—THE SOUND OF THE GOLDEN BELL ARRIVED.

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“C-Could it be?! This is—the Legendary Bell from 400 years ago?!” McKinley, captain of the White Berets, stared, his eyes wide with disbelief.

The White Berets were composed entirely of former members of Gan Fall’s God’s Guard—after Enel defeated them and usurped the title of God, most of the unwilling Guards were forced to build the Ark Maxim, their families on Angel Island held hostage—

McKinley’s smaller faction feigned subservience, becoming the White Berets to maintain order under Enel’s rule, strictly enforcing his divine laws—

They did this not as true collaborators, but because they had witnessed Enel’s terrifying, invincible power and the horrific consequences of defiance—

They hoped that by ensuring the Skypieans obeyed Enel’s laws, they could at least preserve their lives. Though McKinley found their actions spineless, it was a means of survival.

Now, seeing the terrifying lightning from Upper Yard… and that unprecedented crimson-black Haki lightning that seemed to overpower even Enel’s thunder, and finally, an even more dazzling, terrifying display of lightning that blasted holes through the White-White Sea itself—McKinley had been filled with utter panic and confusion.

“Cheep!”

Just then, a creature resembling a cross between a horse and a bird flew towards them from the direction of Upper Yard.

“Lord Gan Fall’s steed!” McKinley, a former member of Gan Fall’s Guard, instantly recognized Pierre, the Sky Bird who had eaten the Horse-Horse Fruit.

“Chirp!” Pierre dropped a letter before McKinley.

“Th-This is—!” McKinley hastily opened it.

As he read, tears began to stream down his face…

“Captain McKinley! What’s wrong?” The anxious Skypieans gathered around.

“Everyone! Enel… ENEL HAS BEEN DEFEATED!!!!” McKinley looked up at the crowd, tears flowing freely.

If he didn’t recognize Gan Fall’s handwriting, if Pierre hadn’t delivered the letter himself, he wouldn’t have believed it.

The Skypieans didn’t react with excitement or joy at first.

Instead, they instinctively looked up at the sky, fearing divine retribution—the lightning from above. But the sky remained calm.

Previously, uttering such blasphemy against God would have brought instant judgment. Now—nothing happened.

“God Enel… is really defeated?!” The Skypieans murmured in disbelief.

“That’s right! Defeated by Mr. Rowen, who came from the Blue Sea! He’s an incredible man! And the God’s Guards forced to labor under Enel—they’ve all been saved by Mr. Rowen and his crew! Everyone! WE ARE FREE!” McKinley cheered, overcome with emotion.

(After ensuring the God’s Guards were safe, Gan Fall had Pierre deliver a letter to McKinley detailing the situation in Upper Yard. He knew the terrifying display of power earlier would have thrown Angel Island into chaos.)

“Mr. Rowen? Is that the name of the man from the Blue Sea?”

“He defeated Enel! ROWEN!”

“WE’RE FREE!”

The Skypieans looked at each other, then burst into joyous cheers, embracing one another.

McKinley watched the celebrating crowd, tears still streaming, but his smile was one of pure, heartfelt joy. ‘Though I don’t know who you truly are—THANK YOU! Thank you so much, Mr. Rowen!’

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“LET IT REACH HIM——!”

Rowen commanded, looking at the resonating Golden Bell, lightning flashing in his eyes. His Awakened Rumble-Rumble Fruit amplified the sound, channeling the properties of thunder itself into the chimes, guiding them further down through the White Sea, piercing the cloud layer, all the way to—the Blue Sea below.

DOOOOOONG! DOOOOOONG! DOOOOOONG!

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Jaya Island.

“Hm???” Cricket looked up towards the sky.

“Boss! It’s a bell! The sound of a Golden Bell—coming from the sky!” Shoujou and Masira rushed towards Cricket, yelling excitedly.

Ever since Rowen’s crew ascended on the Knock-Up Stream, Cricket had been sitting by the shore, gazing up at the sky.

“I-I hear it! What a beautiful sound… This is the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard,” Cricket whispered, tears streaming uncontrollably from his eyes.

“Mr. Rowen and his crew did it! Skypiea really exists! Boss—your ancestor Noland’s city of gold, that giant Golden Bell—it’s really on Skypiea! HOW ROMANTIC, BOSS!” Shoujou and Masira cheered, jumping up and down, hugging each other.

“Yes… romantic… So romantic,” Cricket murmured, slowly standing up. The next moment, he covered his face, his shoulders shaking.

“They’re alright… They actually made it… Thank goodness… Even a great pirate with a bounty over 1.1 billion Beri—if he fell from the sky, I couldn’t imagine… I’m so glad they reached Skypiea safely.” Cricket sobbed openly.

Shoujou and Masira looked at Cricket with understanding smiles.

Their boss, more than hearing the Golden Bell—had been consumed with worry for Mr. Rowen and his crew’s safety these past few days.

Why didn’t he say so earlier?

When they asked, Cricket had stubbornly replied, “IDIOTS! How can you speak such discouraging words to dreamers chasing a romantic adventure!”

Only when everything was settled did their boss finally reveal his true feelings. ‘Awkward, yes, but also very much like a true man of the sea!’

“Thank you… Thank you all so much,” Cricket whispered, looking up at the sky, tears still in his eyes, but his smile was one of profound relief and peace.

EVERYTHING—HAD BEEN WORTH IT…

The promise between his ancestor, Noland, and Kalgara the Great Warrior—after 400 years—today, ten thousand meters above the sea, resonating down to the Blue Sea—was fulfilled.

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——

—[Condition Met: Light of Shandora ignited, Golden Bell rung!]—

—[Condition Met: Noland’s descendant, Mont Blanc Cricket, has heard the Light of Shandora, the Golden Bell’s chime.]—

——

A notification appeared.

“Cricket heard the sound of the Golden Bell.” Rowen smiled.

Hearing Rowen’s confirmation, Luffy and the others cheered loudly.

They had absolute faith in Rowen’s words. If Rowen said Uncle Cricket in the Blue Sea heard it, then he definitely heard it!

“Noland’s descendant… has heard the Golden Bell of Shandora?!” Wyper trembled violently.

He too, had no doubt about Rowen’s words.

This Blue Sea man—Wyper had witnessed his incredible power firsthand. If this man said Noland’s descendant heard the bell—THEN IT WAS ABSOLUTE TRUTH!

“GREAT WARRIOR KALGARA! Noland’s descendant heard the Golden Bell! This is the place closest to Heaven—Noland must have heard it too! Your dying wish—IS FULFILLED!” Wyper roared towards the sky, tears streaming down his face.

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—[Final Condition Met: Kalgara the Great Warrior’s descendant, Wyper, acknowledges Noland’s descendant heard the Light of Shandora, the Golden Bell’s chime.]—

—[The 400-Year Promise! All conditions fulfilled!]—

—[The spiritual power knot, formed by Mont Blanc Noland and his descendants, Kalgara the Great Warrior and his descendants, and the Shandian people’s 400-year yearning to light the Light of Shandora and ring the Golden Bell—HAS BEEN UNRAVELED!]—

—[Extracting and Acquiring! All of the above Spiritual Power!]—

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An immense surge of spiritual power was extracted from the very fabric of the world by the Strongest Trait System!

Then, it was woven into a sphere of pure spiritual energy—almost like a special, conceptual Devil Fruit—and infused into Rowen’s body!

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—[Born of the Sea (Apex Gold) activated! Combined with the gratitude and acknowledgment inherent in the above spiritual power—All spiritual power perfectly digested!]—

——

A notification appeared!

Because Rowen had brought this 400-year promise to a perfect conclusion, this spiritual power inherently contained gratitude and acknowledgment towards him.

Just like the previous infusion of spiritual power, even this vast amount was instantly and perfectly assimilated by Born of the Sea (Apex Gold) and used to strengthen his Conqueror’s Haki!

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—[Conqueror’s Haki Enhanced! Advanced to: Conqueror’s Haki (Apex Gold)!]—

—[Born of the Sea (Apex Gold) activated! Armament Haki Enhanced!]—

—[Advanced to: Armament Haki (Apex Gold)!]—

——

This immense spiritual power—just as Rowen anticipated—was far greater than the previous surge from the Shandians’ 800-year mission of guarding the Poneglyph!

It yielded Haki strength equivalent to SIX Deep Gold Trait levels for Rowen!

Elevating his Conqueror’s Haki to the Apex Gold tier!

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Conqueror’s Haki (Apex Gold): ‘Complete mastery of Conqueror’s Haki – Infusion!

Can form a perfect Haōshoku Coating covering the entire body, providing all-around enhancement to defense and speed!’

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Conqueror’s Haki—finally reached Apex Gold!

The power of Haōshoku Coating—was now fully mastered by Rowen!

The Haōshoku Coating—was the crimson-black aura Kaido perfectly enveloped himself in during the Onigashima war—a power only usable after complete mastery of Haōshoku Coating.

Perfect utilization of Haōshoku Coating’s full power granted terrifying enhancements to defense and speed.

During Kaido’s first clash with Luffy in Onigashima, Luffy in Gear Fourth, using full-power Armament Haki, landed numerous blows on a drunken Kaido, yet Kaido remained unharmed, merely sobering up—

This was due not only to his Azure Dragon physique but also the defensive amplification from Haōshoku Coating!

Before a master of Haōshoku Coating, Yonko Commander level attacks couldn’t even breach their defense…

The speed boost from Haōshoku Coating was also terrifyingly immense! Garp’s speed during the Hachinosu battle shocked countless observers!

Shanks instantly appearing before Kid from his ship, felling him with a single Divine Departure—that almost instantaneous speed, appearing like teleportation to the naked eye—also stemmed from Haōshoku Coating

!

At the Deep Gold tier, Conqueror’s Haki primarily served as an offensive tool; its enhancement to speed and defense wasn’t as versatile.

But complete mastery, Apex Gold Conqueror’s Haki, was a terrifying all-around upgrade. Even against Devil Fruits granting incredible speed like the Glint-Glint Fruit, it wouldn’t fall short!

Speed, defense, attack—a trinity of power! A terrifying enhancement with no weaknesses!

This—was the true power of Haki that Kaido proclaimed could transcend all!

No weaknesses, no shortcomings—only then could it be called the Strongest power on these seas, capable of transcending everything!

And previously, Rowen’s Armament Haki, limited to Deep Gold (limit) due to insufficient spiritual power, now, under the influence of Born of the Sea (Apex Gold), directly advanced to Apex Gold as well!

Reaching the level of Zephyr ‘Black Arm’ in his prime!

Relying solely on Armament Haki and Hand-to-Hand Combat, Rowen could now exert combat power at the minimum Admiral threshold.

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After reaching the Apex Gold tier, a new progress bar appeared behind the Conqueror’s Haki Trait, displaying: “1/Infinity.”

The improvement of Conqueror’s Haki—had no upper limit!

As a manifestation of pure spiritual power, its strength was directly proportional to spiritual strength!

The physique Trait, Superhuman Demonic Physique (Apex Gold), also displayed such a progress bar.

The human body held infinite possibilities; physique improvement also had no theoretical limit. But, it was still a physique Trait.

Unlike Rowen, who could directly plunder other powerhouses’ physical energy, others had to build their physique bite by painstaking bite. Even natural monsters like Big Mom showed little significant physical improvement after reaching their peak.

Physique—became exponentially harder to improve at higher levels.

Traits like Observation Haki and Armament Haki, however, didn’t show such a progress bar after reaching Apex Gold.

They merely indicated their current tier was equivalent to ‘X’ number of Apex Gold Traits.

Rowen’s current Apex Gold Traits were all at the entry-level ‘1’ stage, still a considerable gap from veteran peak Emperors like Kaido.

This gap was primarily in Conqueror’s Haki and physique energy.

Observation Haki trained to its peak allowed briefly seeing the future; further improvement was unlikely to create a dimension-crushing advantage against another user of ultimate Observation Haki.

After his Conqueror’s Haki reached Apex Gold, Rowen also understood that ‘Observation Haki Nullification’ The ability to overwhelm another’s Observation Haki was also a function of supreme Conqueror’s Haki.

Armament Haki was similar; after reaching Apex Gold, significant further increases in its power became incredibly difficult.

Armament Haki, after all, wasn’t as violently tyrannical as Conqueror’s Haki. Further improvement at Apex Gold was possible but extremely hard, unlike Conqueror’s Haki, which still held vast room for growth even at Apex Gold.

To enter the final ‘championship round’ in the One Piece power system—Haōshoku Coating was the true entry ticket.

Rowen, at this moment, truly held that ticket. And his growth—had only just begun.

But the gains didn’t stop there!

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—[Defeated Enel. Liberated Skypiea.]—

—[Through the spiritual transmission channel with Monkey D. Luffy, obtained the essential ‘Drums of Liberation’—the power essential for Nika’s Awakening!]—

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A notification appeared!

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