One Piece: Path to Power - Chapter 76

[2305 words]

I don’t think I’ve buffed Zephyr. ​​

Zephyr is like Kakashi. He was really powerful till he lost his dear ones. He lost his wife, his child, his students and his justice. At 70, he lost his arm in a fight with a Warlord as he had greatly regressed in strength by then.

But before all that, in his glory days as an Admiral, a master Haki user and a master Rokushiki user, he should easily scale to Low-Tier Yonko by this timeline.

———————————————-

[3 Days Before the Clash]

(Damien POV)

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I had just wrapped up with my Empyrean Form, having reached a balance between Haki and Fruit Power.

And a little bird descended.

“Chirp! Tweet! Chirp!”

(Great One! I bear news from the purple girl! She has begun her quest!)

.

This naturally brought a furrow to my brows.

‘Oh, how interesting. I suppose it has been quite a few years since I have seen her. I wonder what level she has reached…’ I thought to myself.

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The Amethyst Kingdom was at the center of Paradise which is not too far away.

[Split] x1

My clone will stay with Kuzan and Toki while I make my way over to the girl, it should take 3 days to get there.

———————————————-

[20 Minutes Before the Clash]

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I was a few kilometers away as I sensed the battle.

I couldn’t see it, but I could feel it.

Aurora was surely the one that seemed quite nervous, the presence before her was quite powerful after all.

‘A marine… who though?’ I thought as the presence was unfamiliar to me.

I could get there faster but the marine would notice me so I rather go at this pace, he doesn’t seem to want to kill her so it should be okay.

—–

[10 Minutes Later]

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Oh wow, her strength has exploded since the last time I saw her.

Her Observation is quite high while her fruit mastery has definitely increased.

—–

[5 Minutes Later]

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Hmm, I guess this is the final attack eh?

I was close enough to see her and it was quite the spectacle.

The night energy gathering behind her was taking the shape of a rather beautiful curtain of the cosmos.

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Oh, Zephyr is the one eh… the Black Arm is rather powerful.

I then see both of them collide.

.

The result is obvious as she never had a chance, but I must say, it was definitely worth training her.

And since I’ve decided on her then I can’t let her get bullied anymore, now can I?

———————————————-

[Marineford]

[As Damien and Zephyr Clash]

(3rd POV)

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“NANDATO?!” A loud roar blasted the marine base as the officers nearby were too scared to even ask.

Well, all but one man.

.

“BWAHAHAHA! To get you to yell, ‘Nandato’, so loudly, it must have been big!” Garp laughed.

Kong grit his teeth, “Garp, you brat. I can’t believe this is happening!”

.

Kong then picked up a dial.

“Puru~ Puru~ Puru~”

“Katcha”

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“This is Admiral Kurowashi.” The voice replied.

“Are you free, Kurowashi?” Kong asked.

“No, Gensui-dono, the Golden Lion is currently duelling the Pirate Queen while the Evil Spirit is raging all over the island as her cake was destroyed by a stray attack.” The Admiral said.

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“…Alright, keep me updated.” Kong ended the call.

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Garp was picking his nose as he asked, “Ney, Kong-san, why don’t you ask me to go?”

“…”

“Puru~ Puru~ Puru~”

“Katcha”

.

“This is Sengoku.”

“Sengoku, are you finished with G-5?”

“No, Kong-san, Escanor has been acting up recently as I am forced to man this post lest we let loose all these pirates who await being washed,” The afroed man replied.

Kong hung up once more.

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“…Kong-san, Kong-san… I’m free here,” Garp said as he waved his hands.

.

“Puru~ Puru~ Puru~”

“Katcha”

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“This is John Wick.”

Kong frowned, “My apologies, wrong number.”

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“Kong-san! Just tell me who pissed you off and I’ll punch them to death!” Garp said as he stood up with a grin and brought his fist into his palm.

*SIGH*

“Go to the Amethyst Kingdom, I want you to ensure the survival of every Royal member present! Especially the 6 Reverie Members!” He ordered.

Garp huffed, “Nevermind, I just realized I have a fence to repair.”

.

Kong was not amused, “GO NOW!”

[A/N: It would take at least 4 days for him to get there (if he travels normally)]

———————————————-

[Plum Island] (Where they are clashing)

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BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

2 black fists collide with great strengths.

.

Damien was using his peak-Intermediate Armament Haki against the Black Arm himself.

Boom!

A secondary crash as Damien was pushed back a few meters.

.

“Your Busoshoku is impressive but it is not enough!” Zephyr said as he rushed forth.

*FWWWM*

Both his arms were shining black as they clashed against the red-eyed youth.

Boom! BAAM! Boom!

Clash by clash, shockwaves are sent out as they continue.

Even though Damien was being pushed back every hit, it still wasn’t enough to make a great difference.

Both men were flashing through the air, disappearing one place and reappearing at another.

BOOM!

Another explosion rattles the area as the two men land back, 80 meters apart.

‘Soru’

‘Flashstep’

The first real battle of strength pops off as Damien gets the win in this one as he appears behind the Vice Admiral before he could move.

BOOOM!

A black punch slams onto the purple-haired man’s face as he is blown back 12 meters.

*Spit*

Zephyr spits out a wad of blood as he squints his eyes.

‘Shigan.’

Damien sees the familiar stance and smiles.

‘Air Gun.’

2 condensed bullets of air fire off as they race at each other.

*Poof*

The former attack was popped as the latter rushed forth and drilled into the marine’s chest.

“Hmm,” Zephyr grunts as he wipes away the drop of blood from his chest.

.

‘Rankyaku’

‘Tempest Arc.’

Both men then slash diagonally with their legs, sending out arcs of energy.

*Poof*

Another collision occurs as Damien’s attack breaks through.

.

“Your Rokushiki is… odd. It builds even further than what we, the marines, have discovered. Impressive.” The man compliments.

Damien grins, “Hehe, you say that like it makes much of a difference.”

.

They both then rush forth once more.

BOOOOOOOM!

A great boom resounds as Damien’s fruit ability is added with his Haki as it clashes with the Vice Admiral.

The latter is surprised, “I have never seen such a volatile fruit ability flow in synergy with Haki… you are quite the genius!”

.

Damien was happy internally seeing his hard work, “Yes but your Haki alone is strong enough to hold against me.”

He then smiled, “Let us up the stakes…”

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“Field of Kings.”

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Damien’s energy bursts out as a red field of pulverization forms, covering a huge radius, compressing, shredding and tearing all in its range.

Zephyr cracks his shoulder as he feels the weight.

.

*FWWWWWWM*

His arm once again gleams black as he rushes ahead once more, this time with a more serious expression.

BOOOOOM!

Both collide once more, yet this time there was no repulsion, as neither Damien nor Zephyr were moved.

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Damien then wraps his arm with 2 strands of crimson energy.

The air around his left arm goes ablaze as streams of fire wrap around it.

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“Great Vanquish!”

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The arm coiling with a flaming snake blasts forth as it boils away the atmosphere around it.

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“Black Arm Suppression.”

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The inferno fist slams upon the ever-shining black as ripples of energy were sent out.

The nearby land which was already in ruins was now cracking apart as it was shredded in their clash.

.

The attacks cancel out once more as the 2 return to their original position, 80 meters apart.

———————————————-

[Back at Amethyst Island]

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6 hours have already passed since the duel began.

*Cough* *Cough*

A few droplets of blood are spat out from Aurora’s mouth as she looks up.

Before she sat a red-eyed youth with his eyes closed.

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“Damien!” She yells out as she slowly stands up, her body sore all over.

“Wait, no…you are not him…” Aurora says with confusion as she slowly steps back.

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The clone was shocked but then asked, “You can tell this isn’t my main body? How?”

The splitting fruit power replicates everything, not even with Observation Haki can you make out a difference between them.

Aurora replies, “Main body…? Oh! This is a clone or something? That makes sense.”

As for the question, she answers, “I don’t know how but I can just feel it.”

.

The clone surrenders and blames it on some anime logic and proceeds to speak.

“Your guess is correct, little girl. This is a clone while my main body is fighting Zephyr.”

The girl grows worried, “W-Will you be okay? I don’t want you to be hurt because of my failure.”

The clone smiles, “Hehe, don’t worry little girl, I’ll be fine. But before that, I have something I’d like to ask of you.”

The girl nods with a pretty smile, “Mhm?”

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“Back at Fishman Island you told me that your family was overthrown due to a forbidden relic, a Poneglyph, no?”

The purple-eyed girl nods right away, “Yes, I remember storing it in my Night Realm all those years ago and it is still there.”

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Damien’s clone nods then questions, “Can you take me there? I would like to read its contents.”

Aurora didn’t think anyone could read those words but she had reached the point where she would do anything the red-eyed youth asked as she replies,

“Of course!”

———————————————-

[Back to the Fight]

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Another 2 hours pass as they trade hits.

“I say it’s about time we stop the warmup,” Damien says as he seems to be in perfect condition.

“I concur.”

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Upon Zephyr’s words, Damien sees a change.

*Purrup*

A bubbling-like sound erupted around the Vice Admiral as it wrapped around his arm, turning it a dark crimson.

The air around the arm was displaced as it seemed to be an actual form of matter, neither gas, liquid, solid nor plasma.

.

‘This is Emission…’ Damien squints his eyes as he sees the familiar red energy.

Seeing this, Damien uses his own ability to counter.

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“Realm of Gods.”

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Damien releases his second domain ability as it mixes in his Conqueror’s Haki, furthering the attack’s suppressive ability.

BOOOOOOOM!

The ground beneath was literally dusted away and reduced to microscopic units as a crater forms in its place.

.

‘I wonder how much this will affect him…’ wonders Damien as the 2 charge at each other once more.

Zephyr’s Haki-clad fist crushes the air as it seems to grow in size within Damien’s mind as he returns the punch.

.

“True Vanquish!”

.

The air once again blazes into an inferno though a larger one than before as Damien was using Pulverization energy as a substitute for Ryou Haki, shooting in particles to destroy things from within.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

BAAAAAM!

A double explosion resounds as 2 different clashes take place.

One occurs outside the skin, the fist against fist.

The second is within the body as ripples of energy are sent in, destroying it from within.

Zephyr’s Ryou transferred into Damien’s arm as Damien’s fruit power did the same to the Vice Admiral.

.

“Ugh!” Damien groans as he feels his arm being destroyed from within as his muscles and tendons rip apart, all things except his bones being destroyed!

BOOM!

Damien is pushed back 30 meters as he digs his feet into the ground for support.

.

‘I guess my Ryou substitute just doesn’t measure up to the real thing…’ He thought as his body started to heal away all the injuries.

Damien just now was really glad that he maxed out his Black Bones, otherwise that attack would have destroyed his arm into meat paste.

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“I must say, you are quite impressive, boy. To make a substitute for Emission technique, truly impressive but not enough to measure up to the real thing.” Zephyr comments as he cracks his knuckles.

Damien just smiles, “You are correct, but your Emission won’t be enough if this is the highest it can reach…” He says in a cryptic tone.

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The Vice Admiral raises an eyebrow in confusion, “What do you mean?”

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“Well, there is this new technique I wish to test and your Haki is quite perfect for me to test it on,” Damien said as he stood straight, back to full health.

Zephyr wasn’t offended by the Sin Incarnate’s words, but rather interested.

“You have already impressed me with your Evolved Rokushiki and your fruit technique, are you saying you have yet to go all out?”

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“Actions speak louder than words, Zephyr-san. Please hold back no longer!” With that Damien’s body starts shaking all over.

Boom!

The ground that was ripped apart now starts shaking as the clouds above are ripped apart.

Crimson currents of energy are shot out from the youth’s body as they escape out of his pores. The original regal clothes had disappeared as the only thing remaining was a huge flux of red mist.

Damien was now completely releasing his fruit power as his eyes, including his sclera, started bubbling red making for a terrifying appearance.

Dark patches with red energy swirling around as sparks of red lightning rain down from above, causing tides of seawater to generate beyond the island’s coast.

*FWOOOOOOOOO*

The air starts howling as the remaining animals on land are forced to jump into the sea as the island is nearing its breaking point.

*FWWWWM*

And then something odd happened.

.

All the energy being blasted out had started to grow quieter and quieter as black armour surrounded the boy.

It was a full coating of Armament Haki that covered Damien from head to toe, it’s main purpose was to hold in his Pulverization energy and store it without working against it, but rather in synergy.

*Silence*

And it all stops.

The shaking, the quivering, the quaking, all halts.

The energy that was once raging all over the land has settled and stored within the mist of black and red.

The Sin Incarnate was plated in black and small cracks of red danced around his form with red mist steaming off him.

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Frightening scarlet eyes looked forth carrying the Will of a Supreme King as a black halo appeared above the youth’s head.

A crooked crimson smile formed as it speaks in a distorted voice,

.

“First Descent: Empyrean!”

.

[A/N: Image]

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A nice place to end the chapter.