Chapter 291: [291] : [BONUS] – Shodai Kitetsu, Clash of Conqueror’s Haki, Rowen vs. Imu!

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“Oh? You can recognize the origin of this sword.”

Nusjuro’s forehead veins twitched slightly, then he seemed to sense something, looking towards the sword in Zoro’s left hand.

“I see. You are also a Cursed Sword user.”

Nusjuro’s demonic eyes, at this moment, shone with a chilling underworld light.

“A pity… it’s just a Skillful Grade Sword,”

Nusjuro’s tone was dismissive.

Cursed swords, even among the many famed blades, were a special existence.

A swordsman who possessed one would be drawn into terrible perils by its influence, eventually disappearing from the world entirely. Cursed swords were also known as “cursed famed blades.”

To break this curse, one had to completely subdue the cursed sword, make it acknowledge its master. But swordsmen who could do this were extremely rare in history.

Otherwise, the Nidai Kitetsu and Sandai Kitetsu would not have made so many of their wielders vanish from the world, forging their terrifying reputation as cursed swords.

And now, two Cursed Sword users, Zoro and Nusjuro, were facing off here—

Though Zoro was also a Cursed Sword user, in Nusjuro’s eyes, he was insignificant.

A mere Skillful Grade Sword, Sandai Kitetsu, the gap between it and his Shodai Kitetsu was like the difference between clouds and mud.

His other two famed blades, the Great Grade Enma and Wado Ichimonji, were at least worth a look. Especially Enma, with its ability to absorb and amplify Haki, it was top-tier even among Great Grade Swords.

But compared to his Supreme Grade Sword, Shodai Kitetsu… it was still not enough.

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“The Sandai Kitetsu isn’t strong enough yet. But as long as I kill you and take that sword from you… my Sandai Kitetsu can be upgraded to a Supreme Grade Sword.”

Zoro said, his expression grim.

He had no intention of replacing this Sandai Kitetsu.

After all, this cursed sword had completely acknowledged him as its master—and it had done so because of his Asura Aura. Under the effect of his Asura Aura—this sword was already gradually moving towards becoming a Black Blade.

To replace it now would be a greater loss than a gain.

But as a Skillful Grade Sword, the Sandai Kitetsu’s power was indeed struggling to keep up with his swordsmanship and combat strength.

This had become especially obvious after he became a Great Swordsman and mastered Haōshoku Coating.

Both Wado Ichimonji and Enma could completely withstand his Haki and swordsmanship. And Enma, because of its special nature, could even make his Haki exert stronger power.

But Sandai Kitetsu, as a Skillful Grade Sword, was already struggling to bear his Haki and swordsmanship. Even if it eventually became a Black Blade, it would still be limited by its original grade, affecting his performance.

For other swordsmen, if they encountered such a situation, only by replacing it with a better famed sword could they solve this problem.

But behind him, there was Rowen!

On these seas, there were the 50 Skillful Grade Swords, the 21 Great Grade Swords, and the strongest 12 Supreme Grade Swords.

Even the weakest of these, the Skillful Grade Sword, could cut through steel like mud and were extremely rare weapons.

And among the Great Grade Swords, Shusui, which had been forged into a Black Blade, was so strong that even a dinosaur standing on it couldn’t bend its blade in the slightest.

Not to mention the Strongest 12 Supreme Grade Swords.

Even the most powerful Haki couldn’t possibly damage a Supreme Grade Sword!

But Rowen had the power of Kamui.

He could even crush the legendary Treasure Tree Adam, which was said to be indestructible, and fuse it with the Merry’s keel to create a new—ultimate pirate ship.

That was a power on the level of space!

Even a Supreme Grade Sword, as long as it existed within this space, could not withstand the power of Kamui.

If he could completely crush the Shodai Kitetsu, and then use the power of the Munch-Munch Fruit—

He could re-forge the Sandai Kitetsu into a Supreme Grade Sword!

Rowen had already run this idea through his enhanced intellect from the Human-Human Fruit and had gotten a positive answer.

The Kitetsu series were all from the same source, all cursed swords.

By completely crushing the Shodai Kitetsu and then using the Munch-Munch Fruit to fuse it into Zoro’s Sandai Kitetsu. He could evolve Zoro’s Sandai Kitetsu to the level of the Shodai Kitetsu, reaching the realm of a Supreme Grade Sword.

It would be a Supreme Grade Sword that completely belonged to Zoro, that acknowledged Zoro as its master—

It wouldn’t affect Zoro’s progress in forging this Kitetsu into a Black Blade in any way.

Zoro looked at the Shodai Kitetsu in Nusjuro’s hand like a beast that had found its favorite prey. His eyes were like those of a demon from hell.

The Sandai Kitetsu in Zoro’s hand also seemed to sense this, letting out a series of hums.

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“YOU WANT TO MAKE MY SHODAI KITETSU… FOOD FOR YOUR SANDAI KITETSU?”

Nusjuro was about to sneer, but then he thought of the man behind the swordsman before him.

Sky Sovereign Rowen!

What others couldn’t do, didn’t mean this man couldn’t do.

Devil Fruits abilities were something that even the World Government coveted. The treasures of the sea, capable of granting unbelievable power.

The Five Elders and the God’s Knights were all ability users. Even the highest prize in the hunting games of the Celestial Dragons in God Valley was a Devil Fruit, which spoke volumes.

But Sky Sovereign Rowen was a man who could make Devil Fruits exert power beyond their limits—

With that power, it was no surprise that he could achieve such incredible feats.

Everything he had done on his path to becoming the undisputed strongest hegemon of this era proved it.

The swordsman before him—relying on Sky Sovereign Rowen behind him—had already marked his Shodai Kitetsu as prey.

“Interesting! Then let’s see which of us two Cursed Sword users can survive!”

Nusjuro’s voice was icy cold.

CRACKLE!

A horrifying cold aura covered Shodai Kitetsu.

“Cold aura? This isn’t the chill from the Ice-Ice Fruit—it’s something else. More like the deathly cold that comes from the Revive-Revive Fruit.”

Zoro smiled.

“Asura Aura——!”

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

A Demonic Asura Aura—fused with Zoro’s Haōshoku Coating—completely engulfed his three blades. Behind him, the towering form of a demon god materialized.

“Asura Aura??” Nusjuro snorted coldly.

It was this power that had elevated Sky Sovereign Rowen’s combat strength to a new level.

CLANG!

Zoro and Nusjuro instantly clashed.

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“Imu-sama, our forces are insufficient to complete the mission.”

At this moment, Saturn’s mind was communicating with Imu, who was far away in the Holy Land Mariejois.

The addition of Kaido and Moria had increased the number of Admiral-level or higher fighters under Sky Sovereign Rowen to a terrifying eight.

So many Admiral-level fighters—even with their immortality, the Five Elders were being completely overwhelmed. Beaten into a sorry state.

They could only rely on their undying bodies to keep regenerating, barely staying in the fight. For completing the mission, the combined strength of the Five Elders and Akainu was no longer enough.

Sky Sovereign Rowen’s forces were far stronger than they’d ever imagined.

Deploying additional combat units was one thing—the Five Elders had that authority. But mobilizing the God’s Knights? That required Imu’s personal approval.

Suddenly—

WHOOSH!

Gunko, a member of the God’s Knights, materialized through a teleportation circle. But in that instant, two demonic wings erupted from her back, her eyes shifting to an eerie, blood-red glow.

Those eyes carried a chill more bone-deep than even Hawk-Eyes Mihawk’s legendary stare.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Violent, tyrannical crimson-black lightning instantly tore the sky apart!

Encompassing the entire Egghead—

A horrifying Conqueror’s Haki made the entire Egghead begin to shake violently.

Zoro, Sanji, Ace, Moria, Enel, Kuzan, and Crocodile’s foreheads broke out in cold sweat, struggling to withstand the impact of this Conqueror’s Haki.

A Haki more powerful than both Luffy’s and Kaido’s—this overwhelming presence had completely locked down their movements—

—An Island-Piercing Conqueror’s Haki!

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“Such strong Haki… it’s not weaker than Rowen’s Haki!”

Cold sweat beaded on Zoro’s forehead, his expression grim. This Haki had broken through the Emperor and Admiral threshold—reaching Rowen’s level, the Legendary tier with combat power exceeding 100,000!

Zoro had only witnessed Haki this overwhelming once before—from Rowen himself. Now, someone else possessed that same terrifying power.

This had to be the person Rowen had mentioned—the true ruler behind the World Government, and the greatest obstacle standing between Rowen and his goal.

The King of the World, Imu.

“WORORORO! WHAT INCREDIBLE HAKI! INTERESTING!”

Despite being unable to move freely, Kaido remained composed. Making a powerhouse of his caliber lose his composure through Conqueror’s Haki alone was virtually impossible.

Before his death, Kaido’s Conqueror’s Haki had reached level 7 in the Apex Gold tier according to Rowen’s calculations.

Now, having experienced death and resurrection, his Conqueror’s Haki had grown even stronger—reaching level 9. Even a resurrected Roger would, at best, be on par with the current Kaido in terms of Haki.

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“Hmph. So the Five Elders have someone pulling their strings. You think we don’t have backup of our own??”

Sanji’s forehead broke out in cold sweat, but he showed a smile.

Zoro and the others also smiled.

The Five Elders had the King of the World behind them.

But they had their own King too!

BECAUSE AT THIS MOMENT—

WHOOSH!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Violent crimson-black lightning tore through the sky, forming a terrifying storm of crackling energy.

It instantly collided with the Conqueror’s Haki unleashed by Gunko, who was possessed by Imu, in the sky.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

An unbelievably horrifying Haki storm sent shockwaves across the entire sea. Countless Marines collapsed instantly, their eyes rolling back as they lost consciousness.

Even powerhouses like Admiral Candidates Gion and Chaton couldn’t withstand the pressure—they too fell unconscious under the overwhelming force.

Crocodile was also overwhelmed, but fortunately, Rowen’s Revive-Revive Fruit and Soul-Soul Fruit abilities kept his soul from immediately departing to the underworld.

This was a Haki collision between Legendary-Class powerhouses—as Rowen defined it, beings who had transcended the Emperor threshold.

Below the Admiral level, staying conscious during this Haki collision was impossible—they could only collapse completely.

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“This Haki… is that Sky Sovereign Rowen?? How is it this overwhelming??”

The Five Elders were the first to experience Sky Sovereign Rowen’s Haki firsthand—and feel its true, crushing weight.

In that moment, these highest authorities of the World Government looked nothing like their usual selves. Their faces twisted with horror, cold sweat beading on their foreheads—gone was any trace of their typical arrogance.

TOO STRONG!!

So overwhelming that even with their immortality, they felt like they were about to be torn apart! Haki at this level didn’t need any special techniques—it could temporarily suppress their immortal bodies!

THEY COULDN’T REGENERATE!

At this moment, the wounded Five Elders couldn’t heal themselves—they could only endure the crushing Haki storm unleashed by this devastating collision.

“DAMN IT!!”

Akainu was also drenched in a fine cold sweat. Before this Haki, he also couldn’t move freely..

Without the aptitude for Conqueror’s Haki, even though his Magma-Magma Fruit put him at the top tier of Admiral level power, he was completely outclassed when faced with this Conqueror’s Haki collision.

His resistance was far weaker than true Conqueror’s users like Luffy and Kaido.

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BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!

After the two waves of Conqueror’s Haki tore at each other and were expended, the Haki storm dissipated.

Zoro and the others, who weren’t at top-tier Admiral level, along with most of the Five Elders and Akainu, were all breathing heavily.

Only Warcury, with his superior Haki, fared better. Even Conqueror’s users like Luffy and Kaido had beads of sweat dripping down their foreheads.

At this moment, only Admiral-level powerhouses and above could remain standing on the battlefield.

The Conqueror’s Haki clash between Rowen and Imu had wiped the field clean. Without an Admiral level combat strength, one didn’t even have a ticket to this war.

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