Moreover, what was most terrifying was the sight in the sky: Ashveil completely dominated Sword Saint Bickley.
Across the battlefield, the Holy Sword Dragon was obliterated instantly by Ashveil's attack.
A golden long dragon, roaring with thunderous force, surged toward Bickley.
Sword Saint Bickley's face turned pale, his pupils contracting as a look of sheer disbelief crossed his features.
"How… how could this be… My Haki-infused sword slash, guided by all my intent, was erased in a single blow by Ashveil?!" Bickley's voice trembled.
Even though his slash was powerful, he never expected it to be annihilated so easily. His technique should have outmatched Ashveil's, yet only one conclusion remained: Ashveil's Conqueror's Haki was overwhelmingly terrifying.
Absolute power alone could make his attack fail.
Beads of sweat formed on Bickley's forehead. This seemingly unassuming man was as fearsome as Imu. He had never imagined someone so young could rival the heights of Imu's power. The thought sent shivers down his spine, almost as if Ashveil were an otherworldly being.
It was hard to believe a human could possess such talent—he might even surpass.....no no.
As Bickley muttered to himself, the golden giant dragon surged toward him.
He dared not underestimate it. The Holy Sword in his hands radiated brilliantly as he infused it with Conqueror's Haki. The sword's light and Haki fused, forming a protective square barrier before him.
Ashveil raised an eyebrow. This defensive technique was truly a nuisance, yet it could only protect from attacks in one direction. Fully defending against him would have been far more challenging.
As the golden dragon neared Bickley's shield, its scales glowed with an intense yellow light.
Whoosh!
The attack vanished, leaving only an afterimage. Bickley's eyes widened. His shield had not absorbed the attack. He could feel the energy flowing through his sword, but the source of the strike was gone.
Before he could react, a roar resounded. The golden giant dragon reappeared behind him, moving even faster than before.
Bickley scrambled, raising his Holy Sword to form a barrier behind him.
But the golden light of Ashveil's Conqueror's Haki giant dragon intensified. In an instant, it slammed into Bickley.
Even with his immense physical defense and Haki armor, Bickley was sent flying, blood spewing from his mouth, his clothes shredded by the aftershock.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
He crashed onto a small island, buried beneath a heap of debris. The strike had been lightning-fast and devastating.
The Whitebeard Pirates could only watch, swallowing hard. Was Sword Saint Bickley really taken down so quickly?
He had seemed a match for Ashveil, but now it was clear: they were not even on the same level.
Members of the United Army widened their eyes. The Second Elder of the Gorosei was the most shocked, his mouth agape as he stared at the island.
"No… no… The Sword Saint was defeated?" he whispered, disbelief etched across his face.
The strongest Celestial Dragon in eight hundred years, Imu's designated successor, had fallen to Ashveil in a matter of moments. It was impossible to comprehend.
Sengoku's glasses reflected a blinding white light as he finally spoke.
"The Sword Saint… Even he cannot stand against Ashveil?"
Sengoku frowned. If even the Sword Saint was powerless against Ashveil, then in this world, only Imu could confront him.
And imagining that even Imu might fail… the implications were terrifying.
This era—this world—was entering an age unlike any before.
The worst era, perhaps the most dangerous in history.
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