Magnus's Observation Haki spread across the entire Sabaody Archipelago. The moment enemies appeared, he sensed them instantly.
Counting the so-called Vice Captain of the Holy Knights before him—
The Celestial Dragons had dispatched three Holy Knights to deal with them.
The powers of these knights were visibly troublesome.
Though Magnus couldn't see the details, from the flow of battle he could feel it: Rocks and Ripley's groups were already locked in hard struggles.
But just that. Struggles, not defeat.
Magnus thought to himself—if they had sent more, he might have considered retreating the moment they appeared.
"Unfortunately, even though the Five Elders gave the order, we could only gather three on such short notice."
Seeing through his thoughts, Figarland Granreed Saint shrugged.
"But to handle a mere pirate? I alone am enough!"
He smiled with overflowing confidence. For generations, the Figarland family had commanded the Holy Knights. Though he was only the Vice Captain, Granreed believed his strength rivaled that of his brother, the current Captain.
"Admiral Ortega, those two giants are yours. Don't tell me you can't handle them."
Ortega dipped his head. He wanted to say they should draw Magnus into a melee and wear him down with all three together. But a Celestial Dragon's order was law. Best to fight the giants rather than face Magnus head-on.
"Kyahaha, Magnus, that guy wants to duel you?"
"Gababababa, then we'll take the other one. As long as you don't lose!"
Having unleashed Elbaf's Spear: Hakoku twice, Dorry and Brogy had drained themselves, but they knew: one would stall, one would strike. That was their only chance.
Magnus laughed. He was no longer the dying old man who had once disbanded his crew to wait for death.
He exuded force like a mountain rising from the earth. If this Celestial Dragon wanted a duel—he would grant it.
"Do you even deserve it?"
The ground cracked underfoot. Magnus blurred forward like an arrow loosed.
He raised his blade, unleashing Elbaf's mightiest technique—
The range was smaller than the giants', but the force was more focused—more destructive.
Granreed's eyes narrowed. He admitted—Magnus was indeed a foe worth full strength.
Unlike most nobles, he was no Devil Fruit user. Though he could have any fruit he wished, his Figarland pride scorned such shortcuts. He relied only on the clan's martial and sword techniques.
And lightning leapt skyward, black and red sparks of Conqueror's Haki.
Of course Granreed possessed it—he was a Celestial Dragon.
Yet in their clash, his will faltered.
His Conqueror's was being overpowered by a pirate!
Magnus laughed, contempt in his eyes.
"If this is your spirit, don't embarrass yourself by standing here!"
With a roar, Magnus's Haki crushed Granreed back, hurling him hundreds of meters.
He didn't pause—he charged after.
Ortega moved to intervene, but two massive shadows blocked him.
"Kyahaha, your fight is with us!"
"Gababa! For Elbaf's honor, you won't pass!"
Though they longed to test themselves against Magnus, Dorry and Brogy bore gratitude as well as rage. Magnus had saved their homeland from slavery. Now, with giants freed as slaves beside them, their pride burned hot.
"Elbaf's warriors never bow!"
Ortega sighed. He could push through if he truly tried—but he knew the temper of Celestial Dragons. If he interfered, Granreed might scorn him for it.
Better to focus on the giants.
Magnus's second clash with Granreed came fast.
He had already gauged him.
Admiral-level, comparable to Rona, a swordsman.
But he had beaten Rona two years ago, when he'd first awakened Conqueror's Haki.
Since then, battles at Sphinx and Elbaf had honed him further.
Against a "true" Admiral like Ortega, he might still struggle alone.
But against someone barely past the threshold—
Magnus felt confident.
Steel rang out. Granreed blocked, but Magnus's words stabbed sharper.
One-handed, Magnus pressed down, disdain plain.
"You're weaker than the Admirals."
Rona and Kong had grown through blood-soaked battle. This pampered Celestial Dragon? He knew nothing of true killing fields.
Unless he relied on that rumored gift.
The "immortality" of the Holy Knights.
"Don't get cocky, White Wolf!"
Granreed snarled, abandoning defense. Magnus's strike shattered half his body, but with his other arm he slashed Magnus's side.
Blood splattered. Both men staggered back.
Then—before Magnus's eyes—Granreed's shattered flesh knitted back together in seconds.
"See? I am divine! Immortal! How can a mere man wound me?"
"But you—your wound still bleeds, doesn't it?"
Magnus arched a brow.
"Funny. I heard the same line earlier."
Across the battlefield, Ortega's face darkened.
He had once developed Armament "embedding"—the ability to drive Haki into an enemy's wounds to stop their regeneration. He had created it to counter the so-called "immortality" of the Knights. Find the newest release on novel⸺fire.net
He had never dared test it on them. But now Magnus wielded the same technique.
Each time Magnus shattered Granreed's body, he counted aloud. And each time, the knight's recovery grew slower.
Granreed laughed, forcing bravado.
"Pointless! I cannot die! Submit, and perhaps I'll spare you—"
Magnus's cold voice cut him off.
Granreed froze. His arm—severed in the last exchange—still hadn't grown back.
"What—where's my hand?"
For the first time, panic twisted his features.
Magnus grinned, cruel and wolfish.
"Seems your immortality—"
He raised his blade again.
"—isn't working so well after all."
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