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In the white-hot inferno of a true life-or-death battle with Akainu, Rowen had to admit—he had underestimated these true powerhouses, forged in the crucible of countless iron-blooded wars.
Akainu's 'Absolute Justice' was extreme, yes, but it was precisely this extremity that had forged his terrifyingly resilient will.
Under this Indomitable will, even after suffering so many of Rowen's attacks, he could still fight back.
In a life-or-death struggle, human potential is pushed to its absolute limit. And in a battle between powerhouses of this caliber, the outcome was so unpredictable because, in such extreme states, human potential was almost infinite—
Who possessed the more tenacious will, the richer combat experience—these were the crucial factors that determined the final victor.
And this—was what Rowen lacked most...
He had been in this world for less than a year.
Even relying on his plundered Traits to become one of the sea's top-tier powerhouses, Rowen had never truly experienced the tempering of real combat.
Whether against Arlong, Crocodile, or Enel—it had always been a dimensional beatdown, defeating them with overwhelming power.
Calling them 'Battles' was a stretch; in reality, it was simply crushing them with superior energy!
They weren't true life-or-death struggles—some barely even qualified as fights.
Even his great battle with Aokiji was the same...
Aokiji's Ice-Ice Fruit lacked offensive power; it couldn't break through Rowen's Haōshoku Coating—He could never pose a true mortal threat to Rowen—and during that fight, Rowen's trump card, the Awakened Human-Human Fruit ability, had yet to be revealed.
By using its enhanced intellect to pinpoint Aokiji's weakness in close combat, Rowen had held victory firmly in his grasp. The battle with Aokiji was also a dimensional beatdown—just a beatdown in intelligence and strategy.
But Akainu—was different!
Though Rowen disliked Akainu as a person, the man's strength and will stood at the absolute pinnacle of this sea!
The Magma-Magma Fruit's destructive energy, derived from one of the One Piece world's three great natural disasters, the volcanic eruption—could pierce Rowen's Haōshoku Coating.
If his physical body were struck directly by this destructive force, he truly would be maimed or killed. Akainu's attacks posed a genuine mortal threat to Rowen!
And this—was a sensation Rowen had never experienced before.
Back on Earth, Rowen lived in an era of absolute peace; even brawls were rare, let alone life-or-death struggles—and since coming to the One Piece world, with the Strongest Trait System, Rowen had always held a dimensional advantage, constantly growing stronger, becoming the man hailed as the Fifth Emperor.
This battle with Akainu—was Rowen's first, true, LIFE-OR-DEATH STRUGGLE!
This wasn't a PK match in a video game; it was a genuine kill-or-be-killed fight!
And this kind of kill-or-be-killed struggle—Akainu, who had climbed the ranks from a common Marine to an Admiral, had experienced many times.
Combat experience—was an abstract concept.
Previously, Rowen hadn't fully understood its value. But after truly experiencing a life-or-death struggle, he now understood its preciousness.
Humans—or rather, all living beings—naturally feared death.
It was an instinct ingrained in their very genes, impossible to change.
But a powerhouse who had endured countless tests of life and death, step by step climbing to the pinnacle—could, when facing true mortality, overcome this genetic fear to the greatest extent.
And even use this fear—to fight even more fiercely.
Just like Akainu was doing now!
Combat experience—the one thing Rowen lacked most—at this moment, forced Rowen to taste the bitterness of it.
But just then—
The shouts of Usopp, Sanji, Luffy, Nami, Vivi, and Robin—reached Rowen's ears!
Rowen's eyes began to blaze with a ferocious light.
THAT'S RIGHT!
HE WAS NOT ALONE!
He had these precious comrades!
And Nami, Vivi, and Robin—his women!
In the One Piece power system—comrades—were also a crucial source of spiritual support!
That saying in the One Piece world—"Only by cherishing your comrades can you become a true King!"—wasn't just a catchy slogan.
What was a King???
Could a lone individual be called a King?? Of course not!
Since ancient times, whether in the history of Earth or in the One Piece world, a King—was someone supported by the masses, who reached the true pinnacle!
Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Chopper, Usopp... Nami, Vivi, Robin...
His precious comrades and women—at this moment, became his source of strength!
Power began to surge from every cell in his body!
Haki began to boil anew from within his spirit!
Only now did Rowen truly understand why, in the original story, Luffy, in moments of life and death, hearing the shouts of his comrades, could stand up again and again, unleashing power beyond his limits, defeating his enemies!
Comrades were never a burden!
They were the ultimate spiritual support!
——
—[Anthem of Courage (Special) equipping complete!]—
—[Singing the Anthem of Humanity!]—
——
Usopp's Special Trait—Anthem of Courage—completed equipping at this very moment.
Facing death, fear was a biological instinct. It wasn't shameful! On the contrary, it was key to a species' survival through generations of environmental change! Without this fear, life would have long since been extinguished by the ever-changing environment!
But facing death Is Courage!
The shouts of his comrades—made Rowen's wavering spirit, at the crossroads of life and death—become even more resolute than before!
Rowen's spirit—underwent a metamorphosis at this moment!
He now possessed the truly tenacious spirit befitting a true powerhouse of the One Piece world!
Without this spirit, how could he talk of standing above all, of becoming the final King??
This battle was the best nourishment on his path to Kingship!
THUD!
Rowen's retreating legs slammed firmly onto the ground!
VMM!
The Haōshoku Coating energy, which had begun to wane, now roared back to life with ferocious intensity. The violent, tyrannical energy coiled around all three of Rowen's pairs of fists!
"OOOOOOHHHH!!" Rowen bellowed!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
A terrifying surge of Conqueror's Haki erupted—
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On the distant warships, the Marine Rear Admirals and Commodores instantly went white-eyed and collapsed unconscious!
THUD!
Momonga fell heavily to one knee, sweat pouring down like rain, his eyes wide with horror!
HOW???
Just the pressure of his Conqueror's Haki—even he, a top-tier Vice Admiral, can barely withstand it?!
How did Sky Sovereign Rowen's Haki suddenly become so strong?!
BOOOOOOM!
The roar of Conqueror's Haki formed a tangible, violent storm on the main island of Enies Lobby.
Above, the sky churned with dissipating crimson-black Haki lightning, the air currents roiling violently—From afar, the sky itself seemed to be trembling!
Enies Lobby's main island could no longer withstand this terrifying power and began to completely collapse...
The sea, under the roar of Rowen's Conqueror's Haki, also began to churn violently, raising terrifying giant waves, as if wailing in agony!
Anthem of Courage! Anthem of Humanity!
The Roar—of Conqueror's Haki!
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"AKAINU——!!!" Rowen roared, channeling the surging stamina from every cell into his Devil Fruit and physique energy!
Channeling the spiritual power emerging from his brave, tenacious heart, now supported by his comrades, into his Haki!
All of it—at this moment—was unleashed madly by Rowen!
"MEIGO——!!!" Akainu's eyes were also bloodshot!
Sky Sovereign Rowen—in the midst of a life-or-death battle—his spirit had undergone a metamorphosis!
Was it because of his comrades' shouts?!
WHY??!
Akainu didn't understand...
Akainu, who adhered to Absolute Justice, even at the cost of his comrades' lives—couldn't understand why such a metamorphosis could occur.
His iron-blooded heart, forged by his willingness to sacrifice comrades for Absolute Justice, had granted him super-strong Armament Haki!
But likewise—it had cost him the power to use his true comrades as a source of spiritual strength in battle!
All power—has its pros and cons—this was the ironclad rule of this sea!
Akainu roared, his magma arm extending violently, unleashing his strongest power—Meigo!
He met Rowen's descending six-armed fists head-on!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
Under the amplification of the Anthem of Courage—Akainu's Meigo—was violently shattered by Rowen's six-armed assault!
The power contained within those six arms rained down furiously on Akainu's body!
Under this violent, tyrannical power—Akainu couldn't stop the blood spraying from his mouth, his eyes gradually rolling white!
His elementalization constantly tried to disperse the incoming force—But...
This wasn't land!
This was Enies Lobby's main island!
Enies Lobby's main island—was a special island floating above the sea—its thickness had a limit!
BOOM!
CRACK!
The horrifying energy from Rowen's countless attacks—smashed clean through the island of Enies Lobby, the place representing the World Government's Absolute Justice, a fortress unbreached for 800 years!
Enies Lobby's main island—under this violent, tyrannical power—completely disintegrated into countless fragments, plummeting towards the sea below.
And Akainu's body was caught amidst these countless island fragments.
Endless streams of blood poured from Akainu's mouth and nose, his body falling limply towards the sea.
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"ROWEN!!!"
Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Chopper, Nami, Vivi, and Robin stared at this scene, their faces breaking into smiles!
HE WON! ROWEN WON!
Franky, and the two giants, Kashii and Oimo, stared blankly at the scene before them.
Marine HQ Admiral, Akainu Defeated??
Enies Lobby utterly shattered!
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"ADMIRAL AKAINU!"
Momonga, the only Vice Admiral not unconscious, struggled to his feet on the deck of a warship, staring in horror as Akainu plummeted towards the sea!
"Moonwalk!" Momonga used all his remaining strength, ignoring the falling island fragments, and shot towards Akainu!
....
"Damn it... reached my limit?"
VMM!
After unleashing that final blow, Rowen's Haki and stamina both reached their absolute limit.
The giant form of the Human-Human Fruit dissipated. The Asura Aura power subsided. The three heads and six arms vanished.
FWOOSH!
"Hah..."
Rowen's body, now uncontrolled, began to fall towards the sea below. Haki, stamina—all at their limit. Rowen couldn't even move properly now.
"ROWEN!" Seeing Rowen begin to fall, everyone cried out in alarm!
"GOMU GOMU NO..." Luffy roared, using all his just-recovered stamina for his Devil Fruit ability. His rubber arm shot out, catching Rowen's falling body.
"EVERYONE! HELP ME PULL!" Luffy yelled, gritting his teeth, his eyes bloodshot.
Everyone immediately grabbed Luffy's outstretched rubber arm, pulling with all their might!
WHOOSH!
Under their combined effort, Luffy's rubber arm snapped back violently!
"ROWEN!"
Seeing Rowen pulled back onto the deck of the Ark Maxim, everyone rushed towards him!
"I'm fine... just can't really move," Rowen said with a wry smile, looking at Nami, Vivi, and even Robin hugging him tightly.
"You guys... are heavy," Rowen joked weakly.
"Hmph! We're not heavy at all!" Seeing Rowen was okay, Nami and Vivi, their eyes still filled with tears, retorted poutily.
Robin, too, had tears in her eyes.
"Everyone... I won," Rowen stated, looking at his comrades, a tired smile on his face.
"OHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Hearing Rowen's victory declaration, Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, Sanji, and Chopper all raised their fists high, letting out thunderous cheers!
"Usopp! Your shout was crucial," Rowen said, looking at the cheering Usopp with a smile.
With his excellent eyesight and observation skills, Usopp was the first to notice Rowen was in trouble.
After personally experiencing the effects of the Anthem of Courage Trait, Rowen could appreciate even more the preciousness of Usopp, a naturally timid person, being able to sing humanity's anthem of courage.
"As expected of my reliable right-hand man," Rowen chuckled.
"Hahaha! Of course! I am the reliable right-hand man of the Fifth Emperor, acknowledged by Sky Sovereign Rowen himself—Usopp the Brave!" Usopp declared, his face filled with ecstatic pride.
"I heard all your shouts... It was you guys... who let me win," Rowen said, looking at everyone, a genuine, heartfelt smile on his face.
"The path to stand above all... is too lonely to walk alone. You'll all accompany me on this journey, right? You bastards!" Rowen laughed heartily.
"HAHAHA! OF COURSE!"
"WE'RE COMRADES, AFTER ALL!"
Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp all roared with laughter, their joyous shouts echoing across the sky.
Though Chopper was also excited, he immediately began examining Rowen's condition.
Nami, Vivi, and Robin also smiled brightly. Of course, they would accompany Rowen on his journey—all the way to the end of their lives.
"UWAAAAAH! I SUPER LOVE YOU GUYS, YOU BASTARDS!" Franky, the self-proclaimed pervert, was moved to tears, wiping them away dramatically.
"Help me up... Where's Akainu?" After laughing heartily with his comrades, Rowen looked towards Nami.
Nami and Vivi carefully helped Rowen up, supporting him on their shoulders. Robin also supported him from the other side.
They led Rowen to the edge of the Ark Maxim.
"Akainu's over there!" Usopp, with his superior eyesight, yelled, pointing in a direction.
Rowen, supported by Nami and Vivi, looked towards where Usopp was pointing.
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