"Observation Haki."
Seeing that Katen Kyōkotsu had successfully stolen Ben Beckman's Conqueror's Haki and Armament Haki, Dol pressed her advantage. She continued to harness the power of the Op-Op Fruit, slashing a heart-shaped, glowing red substance from Ben Beckman's body from a distance.
This represented Ben Beckman's Observation Haki—the ability to foresee the future.
Whoosh.
As the red heart-shaped substance entered Katen, the Observation Haki originally belonging to Shanks' right-hand man, along with the previously acquired Conqueror's and Armament Haki, all became Katen Kyōkotsu's possession.
Just as Katen had predicted, Ben Beckman's three forms of Haki were now hers.
"Is this what it feels like to use Observation Haki?" Katen murmured, a red light flashing in her eyes. "I can see the future."
The world unfolded before her not in seconds, but in clear, distinct possibilities. Though the vision lasted less than five seconds, the sheer potential was terrifying.
No wonder Haki can rival Devil Fruits.
While Kyo remained silent, Katen tirelessly scanned the future again and again, drinking in the sensation.
She turned to the crucified Ben Beckman. "Thank you for your gift, First Mate."
Her voice was gentle, but her tone was as cold as a blade.
The Haki bullet that had pierced her left heart. The ugly wound that would never heal on its own. If Admiral Rosen hadn't intervened to repair it, that gunshot wound would have haunted her for life. Even after killing Ben Beckman, she couldn't swallow the insult.
As someone capable of controlling so many materialized Zanpakutō within the Judge's Forbidden Zone, she wasn't a woman of mercy—except for Rosen and Kyō.
"In return," she said, "I will use all three forms of Haki to utterly bury the Red-Haired Pirates. Not a single one will survive."
Kyō remained silent, holding Hana's hand in one grip and a Zanpakutō in the other, her eyes flashing with cold fury.
It wasn't just Katen who intended to bury the Red-Haired Pirates.
During the battle in the Judge's Forbidden Zone, Kyō had also been wounded by Ben Beckman's Haki bullets. Now, with the First Mate dead, they would settle the debt with his crew.
---
"Are you alright, Dol?"
Rosen stepped forward. The physical toll of transplanting three types of Haki into two different targets had left Dol pale, her breathing ragged.
"I'm fine," she shook her head. "Just exhausted. As you know, the Op-Op Fruit is powerful in every way—except it's incredibly physically demanding."
Her mind was exhilarated, her heart pounding with excitement. She knew she had reached her current position solely through Rosen's support. The Op-Op Fruit was his gift. Her status—comparable to the three Admirals—was his gift. Her wealth and fame were his gifts.
But this time, transplanting Haki into his materialized Zanpakutō... she could finally give something back to her king.
"I refuse."
Rosen raised his arm, palm facing Dol. An orange-yellow barrier enveloped her—Double Heaven Return Shield.
"My stamina is recovering!" Dol gasped.
Basked in the light, the stamina she had depleted was recovering at an impossible speed. Like a cup refilled the moment it was emptied.
After the initial shock, she calmed. Rosen had once used the Six Flowers of the Shield to revive hundreds of dead Marines. Restoring her stamina was trivial by comparison.
When Rosen dispelled the barrier, Dol was fully recovered. Her breathing was steady, her skin rosy and radiant.
"Thank you, Admiral Rosen."
She turned her gaze to the pirate corpses sealed in different containers: Edward Newgate, Charlotte Linlin, Shiki, and Dracule Mihawk. These were kings Rosen had personally slain.
"Admiral Rosen," she asked, "what do you intend to do with them?"
She knew Rosen had brought these Conqueror's Haki wielders here so she could experiment with Haki transplantation. Now that the experiment had succeeded, the next step was rewarding those who had contributed.
"Edward Newgate. Charlotte Linlin. Shiki," Rosen stated. "Transplant their Conqueror's Haki and related genes into Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan. Retain their Observation and Armament Haki genes and transplant them into their Zanpakutō."
Rosen paused before continuing.
"The three Admirals were born with Observation and Armament Haki genes, cultivating them to the pinnacle of Admiral level. They don't need transplanted Observation or Armament Haki from kings. What they need is the window God closed for them—the Conqueror's Haki bloodline factor."
He analyzed the current generation: "These three Admirals, even without Conqueror's Haki, are enough to contend with the Four Emperors. Swordsmanship, physical skills, dual-type Haki, Devil Fruit abilities, health, and defense—all maxed out. If they supplement their innate lack of Conqueror's Haki..."
Rosen's gaze was cold. "Unless it's Whitebeard at his peak, or Kaido who has awakened his Devil Fruit and further enhanced his three Haki forms, the Admirals and Emperors will no longer be on the same level."
"And Dracule Mihawk?" Dol asked, noting his arrangement.
"Leave him to Gion," Rosen decided. "Leave Mihawk's Observation and Armament Haki bloodline factors. Everything else—his Conqueror's Haki bloodline factor and all the Haki he cultivated—for Gion."
Gion, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward. "Admiral, I only need the Conqueror's Haki bloodline factor."
Her voice was firm. The three Admirals had only received Conqueror's Haki to complete their trio. But she would receive all of Mihawk's remaining power.
"I worry such generous rewards will attract criticism," she said. "I don't care, but I don't want to tarnish your reputation."
"Settled," Rosen replied, ignoring her protest.
"But—"
Dol pulled Gion aside. "I know what you're afraid of," she whispered. "You think Admiral Rosen is unfair, allowing you—who aren't even an Admiral—to receive rewards surpassing them."
She shook her head. "Such thoughts are unnecessary. The Marine Headquarters is now under Admiral Rosen's absolute power. Nominally, he is an Admiral, but in reality, the three Admirals, the Fleet Admiral, and the Marine Heroes regard him as a king. All Marines below Vice Admiral rank worship him as a god."
Dol's words silenced Gion.
"Anyone else would weigh options, consider rules," Dol continued. "But Admiral Rosen doesn't need to. He can decide unilaterally, do whatever he wants—even act recklessly—because he can refuse death itself."
Gion listened, thoughtful.
"You were the first person he met after choosing the Marines," Dol said softly. "His first classmate, his first friend. In his heart, you hold a unique, irreplaceable weight."
She had served as Rosen's adjutant long enough to understand. "He hoped you would always be by his side, inseparable. Like a shadow."
Gion's breath caught. She turned to look at Rosen—always moving forward, always alone at the summit.
"Never falling behind. Always following closely," Dol said. "Isn't that what you've always strived for?"
"Gion," she added, her voice firm. "You know how fast Admiral Rosen progresses. If you want to keep up, you must accept everything he gives you. For the other Admirals, it's a reward. For you, it's support."
She looked Gion in the eye. "Whether it's me, Judge, Tesoro, or T. Bone—those of us who followed him from the beginning understand that no matter how hard we try, no matter how much Admiral Rosen helps us, our achievements are limited. We can only ever stay halfway up the mountain."
Dol's voice dropped to a whisper. "Only you have the possibility of chasing his shadow. Please, you must follow him again and again, tirelessly, until you reach the summit with him."
She gripped Gion's shoulder. "Never leave him alone in this cruel world of pirates, feeling loneliness and isolation."
The words struck Gion's heart like a hammer imbued with Conqueror's Haki.
"I understand," Gion said quietly. She gave Dol a deep look. "Ms. Doll. I assure you, I will absolutely not leave him alone in this pirate world."
She didn't address Dol by her title this time. It was a promise between equals.
"I believe you," Dol replied, a relieved smile spreading across her face. "I know you will."
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