Chapter 55: Advanced Conqueror's Haki Infusion?

What a pity!

Even though a brief moment of powerlessness induced a state of self-doubting collapse, allowing the malicious mind-control technique to successfully activate.

Still, turning someone on the level of Kozuki Oden into an obedient thrall was simply beyond reach.

His willpower was too formidable.

In truth, the very moment he swung that frantic, vulnerability-laden blade, Kozuki Oden had already snapped back to full awareness.

Yet, it was already too late.

While sidestepping Kozuki Oden’s strike, Roa infused the crimson blade in his hand with swirling red currents, transforming the entire weapon into a scarlet spiral lance.

Pierce through!

Damn it, Spiral Gun Shot!

A crimson meteor flashed and vanished in an instant.

Kozuki Oden’s body trembled.

Swish!

A column of red spiral light shot forth, surging obliquely into the sky, and finally vanished into the distant depths of the firmament.

"Ugh—"

Kozuki Oden’s mouth opened and closed feebly.

"A truly delightful performance, Kozuki Oden,"

Roa tilted his head, slowly and cheerfully pulling out his cherished blade. "I suppose I shall never forget you for as long as I live."

What a shame; had he remembered that line a bit sooner, he should have cut him clean in half at the waist.

Kozuki Oden staggered backward. A hole the size of a human head now pierced his chest, turning him into a thoroughly transparent living being.

Everything before his eyes was rapidly plunging into darkness. He could no longer hear the enemy's voice, nor could he make out his appearance.

Kozuki Oden finally realized that he was going to die.

Oh no, what would become of this country from here on?

He ought to have been worrying about that.

However.

When the realization truly struck that this was his final moment, the last thought that surfaced in his heart was:

What on earth is the world beyond Wano Country like? I really would love to see it.

The man’s sturdy body tipped straight backward, crashing heavily onto the magma-scorched ground.

In the year 1490 of the Sea Circle Calendar, Kozuki Oden died in battle among the mountain forests on the outskirts of Wano Country's Flower Capital.

"Victory!"

Roa raised his left fist high.

A solo kill on one of the top five pirates recognized by the original Kaido Big Brother!

An authenticated battle record!

"Tch."

Up in the sky, Kaido clicked his tongue in displeasure.

It should have been a thoroughly exhilarating battle for him.

All because of that damned bastard!

He cast another glance at the corpse of Kozuki Oden lying on the ground.

What an absolute waste. Despite possessing such strength, he ended up dying in such an ugly manner.

Atop the giant snail, Roa’s subordinates were likewise celebrating wildly.

Their boss was as formidable as ever.

Fortunately, however, there was at least one person who felt grief-stricken over the death of Kozuki Oden.

Kozuki Sukiyaki, held hostage by Higurashi Kurozumi, was weeping uncontrollably, struggling desperately despite a sharp blade slicing across his neck, caring not in the least.

"Hahahaha! This is your end! Sukiyaki!"

Higurashi Kurozumi kicked the shogun sprawling onto the ground and burst into loud laughter. "The Kozuki family is finished!!"

"Guhahahaha!"

Orochi stopped faking his death, scrambling to his feet in a single fluid motion. Unmasked delight still plastered his face. "Finally dead! They're all finally dead!"

"What a pity."

Roa turned his head to look at the all-devouring sea of magma.

He had originally intended to spare those fellows.

The samurai of Wano Country possessed considerable strength; adding a few more thralls to his collection wouldn't have been bad.

However, he had gotten too carried away fighting Kozuki Oden and failed to notice that those who had been nearly pulverized by lightning strikes were already swallowed up by the surging magma.

Never mind. Few would have succeeded anyway.

Though their capabilities varied, those samurai possessed ironclad wills.

Even in such desperate straits in the original tale, they never once submitted.

"Well, brat, did you gain anything from this battle?"

Kaido drifted up above Roa, a deeply interested smile on his face.

"Now that you mention it!"

Roa clenched his left fist, the area from his wrist upward instantly turning pitch-black.

"It honestly feels much harder!"

Though perhaps it was just psychological.

"Wororororo! You're still far from ready!"

Kaido laughed heartily. "Only when you can coat your attacks in Conqueror's Haki will you truly be considered a master of Haki."

Conqueror's Haki coating?

A thought flashed through Roa's mind.

He walked over to Kozuki Oden’s corpse and picked up the sword with the three-lobed tsuba and purple hilt.

Enma, one of Kozuki Oden's two treasured swords, a Great Grade Twenty-One blade reputed to be capable of cutting down even the underworld.

As for why Roa, standing at one meter seventy, could casually wield a sword built for an Oden over three meters tall—don't ask. Just assume named swords automatically adapt to the wielder's physique.

The moment he picked up Enma, crimson currents began to spread outward from the Tiger Soul sword in his right hand.

"Quiet down, Tiger Soul."

Roa simply stated in a calm tone.

Instantly, the cursed blade grew docile, all of its red currents receding back into the blade itself.

A sword was merely a weapon; naturally, it could not rise above the one who wielded it.

Then, the sword in his left hand began to exert its power.

"Oh! This has some kick!"

Roa exclaimed in surprise.

The Haki within his body was being continuously sucked away by this weapon.

The previously calm blade grew restless, trembling as if eager to cleave something in twain.

"Could it be that you want to avenge your former master?"

Roa chuckled softly. "Interesting. Drink your fill! Let me flood you until you're completely full with my dark, hard power!"

His Haki was draining rapidly, and his modest Busoshoku Haki was almost unable to sustain it.

Fortunately, he still had Haoshoku Haki!

Though he couldn't coat his attacks with it yet, Roa's Haoshoku Haki was vastly superior to his Busoshoku Haki.

A surging aura erupted into the heavens, and in turn, it was likewise swallowed up by Enma.

A few seconds later, Enma's rate of devouring Haki finally slowed down.

Green flames emerged from the surface of Enma, followed by crackling, pitch-black lightning.

"Hmm?"

Kaido instantly lowered his head, staring in disbelief at the Enma in Roa's hand. "Are you kidding me? What is up with this sword?"

Yet the transformation was far from over.

Crimson currents spread outward from the Tiger Soul sword, and subsequently, the flames and lightning dancing across Enma's surface turned brilliantly scarlet, mirroring the identical energy surging from Tiger Soul.

"Ha! So it's finally molded completely to my shape, huh?"

Roa laughed out loud.

Overwhelming power!

A might far exceeding what he had wielded just moments ago!

"Big Brother Kaido,"

Roa looked up cheerfully, "Is this the Conqueror's Haki coating?"

"..."

Kaido didn't answer immediately. Instead, his body shrank down into his human form as he dropped to the ground right in front of Roa.

He casually drew his kanabo, whereupon crackling black lightning danced across the iron club. "Why don't you try it out and find out!"

"Right!"

Roa’s eyes lit up.

He had almost forgotten this world's other fundamental rule!

"Thunder Bagua!!"

The iron club, wreathed in dual-colored Haki, smashed down right toward him.

Roa swung his twin blades to meet the attack.

It had been many years since he last used two-sword style, but thankfully, he hadn't forgotten it.

"Lion's Song: Dust-Severing Annihilation!"

The twin blades clashed against the kanabo, and pitch-black lightning immediately shot forth in every direction.

The shockwave generated by the collision caused the nearby magma sea to churn with wave after wave of boiling surge.

Yet.

Roa tilted his head back, "It didn't split the sky."

As everyone knew, a clash of Conqueror's Haki between powerhouses would split the heavens apart.

This was the mandatory protocol for a meeting between Emperor-tier figures.

Yet right now, forget splitting the sky, he couldn't even manage a shockwave attack across a distance.

"You brat still have a long way to go."

Kaido snorted coldly, then added, "Still, that certainly counts as a Conqueror's Haki slash. It's just far too loose and rigid compared to the real coating. At best, it's merely blending Haoshoku Haki into a slash."

Roa nodded slowly. "Even so, the destructive power of the slash has increased quite a bit."

Understood.

Enma's ability was to absorb Haki and unleash an ultra-powerful slash.

Once Haoshoku Haki was absorbed, the resulting release was naturally a Conqueror's Haki slash.

Should he call it a half-step Conqueror's Haki coating?

No wonder Kozuki Oden had stood dumbstruck when he witnessed Roger and Whitebeard clash with true Haoshoku coatings.

After all, he had been using the adolescent version all along.

Well, that was fine too. At least his offensive power had soared once again.

Until he mastered the true coating, he would temporarily double as a two-sword-style swordsman.

Thanks a lot, Oden, for dropping a god-tier loot package for me.

Right, there was also Ame no Habakiri.

Roa looked down at Kozuki Oden's other blade.

"King!"

"Boss!"

King flew over.

Roa pointed at Ame no Habakiri on the ground. "Take this sword and use it."

As for Shusui, he would leave that for Gaban to study.

Perfect.

"Yes."

King nodded without the slightest hesitation, picking up Ame no Habakiri from the ground.

Compared to Enma, this blade was much more well-behaved. It seemed devoid of any special magical abilities, possessing only pure sharpness and durability, much like Wado Ichimonji.

King looked quite satisfied with it.

"Lord Roa! Lord Kaido!"

Higurashi Kurozumi, accompanied by a skeletal elder, dragged the grief-stricken Kozuki Sukiyaki along with Kurozumi Orochi as they cautiously skirted the magma zone and approached.

"The war has been won!"

The old crone of the Kurozumi family was brimming with eagerness and yearning. "In accordance with our agreement, the position of Shogun is ours! Please make Orochi the new Shogun!"

"I am Kurozumi Orochi!"

Orochi chimed in with even greater urgency, his breathing ragged. "Let me, let me be the Shogun!"

"Oh!"

Roa turned his head back with a meaningful look in his eyes. "I almost forgot about you lot."