May 17, 1503, Age of the Sea Circle
"Hahahaha! Watch out below!" Gloriosa shouted joyfully as she dashed across the battlefield and hurled herself at one of the enemy soldiers, catching him off guard with a powerful, exaggerated uppercut.
Once she finished her flashy attack, she landed gracefully with the help of her companion serpent, Yara, which—aside from serving as a weapon—could also take on a variety of very versatile roles during combat.
Immediately afterward, a group of enemy soldiers rushed toward her, intent on eliminating her before she could continue inflicting heavy losses on their ranks. Yet before they could even get close, Gloriosa transformed her snake into a bow and fired several arrows that knocked her foes out of commission.
"Finally, something fun to do!" Gloriosa laughed lightly, sounding quite out of place in the middle of the battlefield, even though very few people noticed this small corner far away from the main clash, since the confrontation today was truly massive.
Two weeks had passed since Orion and Gloriosa had arrived in this country, and during that time there had been several small-scale skirmishes between both sides, but the situation had never escalated into a massive, all-out battle until today.
Once the final confrontation between the two factions involved in this civil war of nobles began, Orion allowed Gloriosa to fight freely, though not using her full power. This would be the battle that decided the final outcome of the conflict, and Orion was not overly concerned about how things would end.
Gloriosa, on the other hand, was absolutely ecstatic, since after weeks of holding back her impulses to fight, she had finally found a chance to release all the tension that had been building up. She was a restless and hyperactive girl, so the last few weeks had been somewhat torturous for her, as Orion had forced her to maintain a low profile.
The only reason she had managed to endure so long without exploding was because she had been able to enjoy Orion's company in tender, romantic moments, which satisfied her tremendously. Even so, she was naturally energetic, and only in moments like these—when she was running freely like a maniac across the battlefield while eliminating enemies—could she feel truly fulfilled.
Orion didn't know whether this was a permanent trait of Gloriosa's or something that would soften over the years as she gained a more mature mindset, but at least for now, this was who she was, and he had no intention of trying to change her.
In any case, he believed her personality would gradually become "softer" and calmer with time, since even now she was far more tranquil than she had been years ago when he first met her in Guanhao.
Although the beautiful pink-haired girl would likely always remain somewhat hyperactive, it was reasonable to expect that her personality would eventually grow a little more stable.
In a nearby sector, close to where Gloriosa was happily pummeling her enemies, Orion was walking with his eyes closed while effortlessly dodging the swords and spears of the soldiers around him.
Even though a battle of this level was far too low for someone of his current ability to gain any real benefit, he could still take advantage of the unique opportunity of being on a battlefield to train.
While Orion had no intention of taking this civil war seriously—since he had only come here to look for information about the Ope Ope no Mi—he could still use the war to improve his Observation Haki.
Normally, he trained his Observation Haki through meditation and perception exercises, but now he was adding the chaos of battle to his old training method. On this bloody battlefield, countless people were experiencing all kinds of emotions, putting their lives on the line and even dying with every passing moment.
When Orion focused his Observation Haki on his surroundings, he was overwhelmed by an enormous amount of information. This kind of training could only be done in situations like this one, and he was trying to take full advantage of it.
Concentrating intensely, he not only had to stay aware of his enemies' attacks but also had to keep himself from being overwhelmed by the multitude of "voices" and presences around him.
At the start of the battle—some hours earlier—it had been impossible for Orion to use his Observation Haki effectively in this environment. But after several hours of practice, he had finally managed to reach a moderately decent performance with it.
Suddenly, an arrow shot through the sky at high speed and struck Orion in the chest. However, when it hit him, it caused no harm at all; it simply shattered completely upon rebounding off him.
"Tch! I still can't avoid every attack. I need more practice!" Orion muttered under his breath, slightly irritated by his inability to control his Observation Haki perfectly.
The attacks launched by the soldiers on this battlefield were incapable of harming him due to the combination of his passive abilities and the low level of his opponents, so being struck directly by arrows, swords, or spears was not a real problem for him.
Even so, Orion had imposed a strict rule upon himself: he had to dodge every attack thrown his way, and although he did not suffer any damage from them, it was considered a failure if he was hit by any of the strikes from the enemies present.
After all, if the soldiers' level had been higher, or if they were capable of using Armament Haki in their attacks, he would have received potentially fatal blows if he failed to perceive them with his Observation Haki.
Of course, in an actual battle Orion would not simply stand around passively dodging attacks with his Observation Haki, but within the self-imposed scenario he had created for this particular training session, those were the rules he had decided to follow.
Three more arrows shot through the air at high speed, and Orion swayed his head in a pendulum-like motion, dodging them at the very last instant. At present, his Observation Haki was only at Level 3, meaning he couldn't predict future attacks the way other monstrously gifted individuals such as Shanks could.
He was merely sensing the presence of his enemies and the movements of their attacks in real time, so he needed an enormous amount of concentration to avoid making a mistake and taking a hit. After all, he had only a brief window to react between the moment he perceived the attack and the moment it connected with his body.
In the middle of this vast battlefield, there was a beautiful pink-haired girl running freely while laughing and cutting down large numbers of enemies with her serpent companion, and there was also a strange man walking slowly with his eyes closed, dodging attacks with the slightest of movements.
Fortunately for them, the fight was so chaotic that not many people noticed how bizarre the scene truly was. However, there was someone who definitely had noticed, and that was the teenage mercenary Daz Bonez.
For the past two weeks, Orion had been attempting to recruit Daz Bonez in a rather direct manner, yet the young mercenary had refused, as his pride was far too great for him to willingly become someone else's subordinate.
Even though he currently belonged to a mercenary company, he didn't take orders from anyone there, and merely used the company as a means to obtain jobs. One could say that his relationship with the company was one of mutual benefit, and the leaders of that mercenary group had reached an agreement with him granting him total freedom of movement in exchange for his services.
Orion's proposal, on the other hand, had been far more restrictive. He wouldn't have the freedom to do whatever he pleased, since Orion had told him he would have to submit to a harsh training regimen in order to sharpen his abilities.
In the mind of the proud young man, he was already strong enough and didn't need a meddler like Orion to teach him anything, so he had simply rejected the offer each time Orion invited him to join his forces as a subordinate.
Even though Orion had promised him a considerable amount of money and resources for training, Daz Bonez's pride would not allow him to accept.
Now, seeing the strange movements of Orion and his girlfriend Gloriosa, Daz Bonez had finally begun to feel a spark of curiosity for the first time regarding Orion's recruitment proposal.
...
After several more minutes of training, Orion opened his eyes, feeling somewhat exhausted and aware that his energy was nearly depleted. Even though he had only been using his Observation Haki and had not delivered a single offensive move against his enemies, the mental fatigue he felt now was far greater than what he had experienced even during past life-or-death battles.
Even so, Orion was quite pleased with the results, since his Observation Haki had improved dramatically in a short span of time. He had never received any sort of instruction on how to train his Observation Haki, having instead deduced the process on his own, and now he had discovered a new training method that was remarkably effective.
Still, Orion knew that the great effectiveness of this method stemmed from how novel it was to him; once he became accustomed to using Haki in this kind of scenario, he would likely be unable to draw substantial benefits from it—unless he were to experience a war of truly high level.
Even so, even if it wasn't a method that remained effective forever, it was more than sufficient to push his Observation Haki to the next level in a short amount of time, which was truly wonderful news for him!
Massaging his tense brow, Orion looked around without using his Haki, noticing that the battle was reaching its final moments and would likely conclude before the sun dipped below the horizon.
With his eyes, he scanned the area, observing Gloriosa who, despite fighting in such a reckless manner, still remained close to him almost involuntarily.
Then he looked toward Daz Bonez, the new boy he wanted to recruit into his forces, who was fighting against a large group of enemy soldiers while using the powers of his Devil Fruit, which allowed him to turn his body into blades.
Orion had to admit that this power was truly interesting, although it seemed that the boy relied too much on it, which had caused him to neglect his training. According to the system's evaluation, Daz Bonez possessed enough talent to eventually reach the level of a high-ranking Vice Admiral, meaning that in theory he could become stronger than Orion was at this moment.
However, if he maintained his current arrogant and careless attitude, he would likely never manage to unleash that potential, and would end up as nothing more than a minor figure in this world filled with monstrously talented individuals.
With a thoughtful look, Orion observed Daz Bonez, analyzing his fighting style. With his hands and legs transformed into blades, the boy sliced down two enemies with ease, paying no attention at all to another soldier behind him who swung a sword at his back.
Clang!
The enemy soldier's sword struck Daz Bonez's back, but did not cause any injury, since the boy's back was itself a blade that could not be pierced by such a weak attack.
Then, without any real difficulty, Daz Bonez finished off the enemy soldiers around him, cutting them down mercilessly with the numerous blades emerging from different parts of his body.
Finally, after observing the boy for several minutes, Orion used Soru and appeared in front of Daz Bonez, saying with a smile,
"You seem quite pleased with yourself for taking down a group of weak soldiers."
Daz Bonez stopped his advance through the battlefield, and looking at Orion with seriousness, said,
"There's nothing wrong with showing my superiority. It's simply an undeniable fact," the boy answered, believing that Orion was criticizing him for taking advantage of his enemies' weakness to bully them.
"Don't misunderstand me, I'm not telling you to hold back your power so you don't hurt the weak. The moment they stepped onto the battlefield, they lost that right—though it's also true that there's no need to take their lives indiscriminately," Orion said while shaking his head lightly.
Evidently, Daz Bonez had misunderstood his words. What Orion was trying to convey was not that he should show mercy, but that feeling satisfied with performing well against enemies of such a low level was dangerous.
"What I'm trying to tell you is that you shouldn't think you're strong just because you can shine in a place like this. On the global stage, you're nothing more than an insect that can be crushed at any moment by someone truly powerful."
Orion's blunt words struck directly at Daz Bonez's pride, because he knew they were true. Ever since he had obtained his Devil Fruit, he had felt invincible, and his ego had grown rapidly along with his notoriety.
It wasn't until he had encountered Orion during this mission that he began questioning whether he was truly as strong as he believed. Still, it was one thing to harbor doubts within himself, and something entirely different to have someone else say to his face that he was weak.
For that reason, the proud young man immediately transformed his arms into blades and charged at Orion with a powerful attack.
Unfortunately for him, Orion was on a completely different level of combat than Daz Bonez, and it was impossible for him to be harmed by such a weak strike. Extending only a single finger coated in Armament Haki, Orion stopped the young mercenary's powerful attack, leaving him staring in disbelief with his eyes wide open.
He knew Orion was strong, but since he had never seen him fight seriously, he didn't know how strong he truly was. Now, seeing his own attack brushed aside so effortlessly, the enormous pride he carried began to crack, and Orion was fully prepared to widen those cracks and shatter that pride completely!
"In reality, your problem is quite common among Logia users. They think that just because they obtain incredible powers, they're invincible—but most people who think like that end up meeting a tragic end," Orion said solemnly.
If he wanted to teach Daz Bonez a meaningful lesson, he would have to be somewhat harsh; otherwise, the proud boy would never truly understand his words.
"You think that just because your body is made of blades you're indestructible? You're gravely mistaken, and I can show you right now."
"Un Fleur."
Orion materialized a single finger in front of Daz Bonez, and before he had time to react, he unleashed a powerful Shigan coated in Armament Haki, which pierced through the boy's shoulder with no difficulty, tearing straight through the blades covering his body—those very blades he took such pride in.
Feeling a pain he hadn't experienced in a long time, Daz Bonez fell to his knees, clutching his bleeding shoulder. Then he looked up and saw an image that would be burned into his mind forever.
There, right in front of him, Orion stood looking at him with an eerie calm.
The eyes of the mysterious man who was staring at him like he was an insect glowed with multiple colors—but it wasn't a beautiful sight; it was utterly terrifying. At this moment, the sun was shining behind Orion, casting a long shadow that engulfed the kneeling Daz Bonez, and the boy could only think that if Orion wished it, he could end his life in a single instant.
Orion didn't know it, but right now Daz Bonez was experiencing the same thing Orion himself had felt the first time the red-eyed entity had appeared before him years ago: the terror of being at the mercy of a superior power.
Smiling faintly, Orion deactivated his Prism Eyes, and looking at the trembling young mercenary before him, said
"If I had aimed just a few centimeters lower with my attack, you would be dead right now. Do you understand now why I'm telling you that you're walking down a path that will lead you to your ruin?"
Suddenly, enemy soldiers rushed toward Orion, attacking him violently from behind. After all, they were still right in the middle of the battlefield.
However, Orion didn't move a single muscle, and the soldiers simply collapsed to the ground unconscious, foam spilling from their mouths. Daz Bonez also felt the impact of an invisible energy hitting his body, and for a moment his heart seemed to stop, though he managed to hold on just enough not to faint like the rest of the soldiers around him.
"Sorry, I'm a bit tired, so I can't control my Haki very well. Still, congratulations on remaining conscious," Orion said with a smile, the sun shining brightly behind him.
At that moment, the last trace of stubborn pride in Daz Bonez shattered completely, and he accepted how insignificant he was in front of the man standing before him.
Orion looked at the downcast young man and finally exhaled in relief. It seemed his words had finally gotten through. There was only one thing left to say, and the rest would no longer depend on him. After all, every person was responsible for their own future, and he couldn't make decisions for Daz Bonez if the boy truly didn't wish to grow stronger.
"This will be the last time I tell you this," Orion said in a calm tone.
"Come back with me to my kingdom. I promise you that you'll be able to grow stronger in the future if you follow me. Besides, you won't lack wealth or opportunities to prove your worth."
Daz Bonez lifted his head and looked at Orion with his final decision already made, but before he could answer, he saw Orion's expression suddenly change to one of concern, and using Soru, he vanished without leaving a trace.
Only Orion's final words echoed in the place, proof that he had been standing there just a moment earlier.
"I'll come find you after the battle so you can tell me your decision!"
Daz Bonez stared into the empty space before him, then slowly pushed himself back to his feet, still feeling the lingering effects of Orion's Conqueror's Haki. After that, he tore a strip from his shirt and used it to bandage his bleeding shoulder.
Thinking about the decision he had made, he showed a satisfied smile and wondered what kind of challenges he would experience in the future. Could he really have a stage on which to shine, just like Orion had said?
Shaking his head lightly, Daz Bonez jumped back into the battlefield, intending to continue tearing down his enemies. However, before he could eliminate the nearest group, a whirlwind of pink hair flashed by at full speed, taking down the enemy soldiers before he even had the chance.
Looking at Orion's eccentric fiancée, Daz Bonez thought he still had a long way to go. Even if he couldn't become as strong as Orion in the future, he at least had to be the strongest among his subordinates!
The poor boy had no idea what kind of monsters existed within Orion's ranks, for if he did, he would never have dared to make such an ambitious proclamation.