Hundred Times Speed augmentation is already fast enough, and the tenfold weight amplification drives the power to stack, only making this speed even faster. In the air, it manifests as a tail streak with a white gap, cleaving downward like black thunderbolt.
Boom!!!
The thunderbolt descended, shaking the entire Augustine Castle. The already damaged ground cracked and sunk, expanding the original depression further outward by a significant margin.
Most of the destroyed North District's buildings were shaken and collapsed, even some parts of the Royal Palace in the Inner City didn't escape and crumbled.
Of the remaining three districts, only the buildings near the outer city wall were spared, losing at most a few planks or stones under the vibrations. The closer to the central plaza, the more thoroughly destroyed they were.
The violent tremors radiated outward from the plaza, demolished half the area of Augustine Castle, and created a chasm in the center like an abyss, connecting the entire Augustine. Seawater continually poured into this chasm, transforming it into a sea route.
Vajra Continent Splitting Slash, of course, is a strike capable of splitting a country.
This is indeed the combat application of the More-More Fruit — although its destructive power might not be as high as using cannonballs alone, the power against individuals has reached a completely different magnitude!
The spreading thunderbolt seemed to attempt to resist, as William maintained a defensive stance upward. In front of him, Sage's hand strike kept falling to the position of William's knee.
At this moment, his body seemed to have just entered a blood bath, becoming a bloody figure, with his whole hand like it exploded from the inside, tattered and unwatchable.
His physique couldn't keep up; even with Haki used for protection, the tenfold weight under Hundred Times Speed augmentation caused adverse side effects to his body.
The bones inside shattered completely, muscle tissues turned into pulp, and blood vessels all ruptured. Internal tissues suffered varying degrees of damage; in a normal state, he surely would be gravely injured.
But now, it's 100% within 100%!
Masses of white smoke vibrated along with the flame cloud, covering his whole body, reattaching those exploded blood vessels, and swiftly regenerating the shattered body tissues. That tattered arm was restored to its original state under the white smoke.
Buzz!
Sage's body trembled lightly, shaking off the bloodstains covering him. The terrifying body of over five meters in height shrunk to a normal height of 1.9 meters. He stood straight, not even glancing at William, who maintained a defensive stance, turning to walk forward, picking up the cloak from the ground, wearing it over his shoulder and retrieving a cigar.
"I haven't lost yet!"
William's body shuddered, immediately taking action. The flame cloak behind him formed wings, charging towards Sage's back, with his heavy sword held high.
Crack!
Sage lit the cigar, watching as the flame ignited the cigar tip. After taking a puff, he bit the cigar on the left side, exhaling a thick smoke.
"No, you are already dead."
"Nani?!"
The one who spoke wasn't the fake William Sod, but the flame cloak behind, the real William. In an evidently panicked voice, the flame cloak split into two and was about to fall off from 'William'.
But just then, William reached back, pulling the flame cloak to his front, forcing it to reintegrate.
From the forehead of that body, a blood line emerged, passing the brow, nasal bone, mouth, and then to the throat, all the way down.
His pupils gradually dispersed at this moment, the lifted hand slowly descending, his entire face lost all expression, sinking into silence.
Enough...
'William' weakly opened his eyes, hoarsely said, "I will protect you till the last moment."
Sizzle!
He split into two from middle, exploding into a mist of blood upon splitting, with bits of flesh falling to the ground. The flame cloak enveloping him floated down, transforming into a curled-up red-haired teenager, already lifeless.
That guy took on the damage meant for this teenager, bearing it to the extreme himself. Although a small overflow still couldn't keep him alive, his body remained intact.
Sage turned his head, disregarding the teenager's corpse, instead focusing on the fallen blood mist and flesh, shaking his head: "What a pity..."
The teenager's physique was poor, although his willpower was sufficiently tenacious, it couldn't compensate for the weakness in reality. Perhaps that knight stood forward voluntarily, borrowing that name, to wage war for the teenager's dream.
With such strength, confronting Kaido wouldn't be a problem, even directly attacking Augustine shouldn't be an issue. But why delay the action, allowing the war to drag on for so long...
Maybe he disagreed with that Desireless Realm, maybe for other reasons. During the battle, Sage distinctly felt the knight's exhaustion, a fatigue emanating from the heart, yet supported by a peculiar sensation.
Perhaps it was responsibility, perhaps something else... Sage wasn't particularly interested.
He only knew...
Sage exhaled a mouthful of smoke again, grinning: "I won!"
The final combination surprised Sage, but thanks to this guy, he got to test his ultimate combat prowess, finding it pretty satisfactory.
There are no fixed levels of combat power on the sea; only roughly at what level. People on the same level tend to battle endlessly.
Sage hadn't sparred with the Four Emperors or known their true power, but had encountered Admirals. If it were to be subdivided...
Based on his impression of the strong and battles with the Seven Warlords of the Sea and Admirals, the Seven Warlords and Emperor's Deputy are essentially similar, all on the same level.
Kizaru and Aokiji, at the Admiral level, are pillars belonging to the 'weak Four Emperors', akin to Big Mom over the sea.
That attack power from Akainu, Sage agrees with it, should belong to the 'strong Four Emperors'.
As for Kaido, although he hadn't encountered him, being the number one on sea, land, and air isn't just boasting; he's undoubtedly a 'strong Four Emperors'.
On this horizon, dividing it finely, an ordinary Sage can reach the level of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
A Sage at 100% can surpass both the Seven Warlords of the Sea and the Vice Emperors.
And 100% of the 100% roughly reaches the level of a 'Weak Grand Admiral.'
Compared to Kizaru and Aokiji, it's slightly lacking, but against the Seven Warlords of the Sea and the Vice Emperors, who need more time to reach the second stage, it can totally crush them!
Of course, as for how to fight, one can only know upon contact.
"Still need to keep training."
Sage clenched his fist; there's a lot to improve on.
Haki, physique, ability development, all need significant enhancement.
At 100%, he can sustain himself for a long time, maintaining that form, but 100% of the 100% still has significant side effects, as he's already quite hungry just from using it for a short while.
His physique needs to continue growing unless it's of adequate quality to use his fruit ability fully without relying on the third stage.
Stamina also needs to improve to maintain long-term endurance in the third stage.
And most importantly, the strength of his Haki needs to be further enhanced.
This 'William' is a rare strong opponent, but out at sea, there are many such guys; with just this level of Haki strength, it's far from enough.
To be the greatest landowner, one must ensure absolute dominance.
The More-More Fruit, in his developmental concept, as long as he has the physique to endure the triple hundredfold amplification of weight, volume, and speed, then...
No matter who it is, they can't be his match!
Currently, the Enhanced Cannonball is only developed to a double amplification, far from the limit.
Tenfold weight, hundredfold speed, combined with the strength of his third stage transformation, he can already become the landowner of this place!
"From now on, this country is mine, hahahaha, hohohohoho!" Sage laughed, looking up.
"Sage!"
On the eastern outer wall of Augustine Castle, Lily, with the remaining people, entered the city gate, first astonished at the city that looked destroyed, quickly ran to the plaza location, and found Sage.
Behind her, there were also the figures of Moriah and Hawkins. Although Lily was the last to finish, she was positioned at the front, and the remaining cadres took advantage of this time to catch up and reunite with Lily, returning to Augustine Castle together.
"How did it become like this? Who came to attack?" Lily frowned and asked.
Moriah's eyes revealed a hint of surprise, looking at Sage with a peculiar smile, "Hehehehehe, seems like a formidable guy, is it that 'William'?"
He looked towards the curled-up Red Hair corpse next to the trench that had formed at the center, "Is it this guy?"
So young?
Can such a physique really fight Sage to this extent?
Moriah also knew Sage's strength very clearly, and the clearer he was, the more shocked he became; in his impression, now only the Admirals and the Four Emperors could stop Sage.
To fight to this extent, indeed, he must be strong.
"Not him, well... maybe it is him, whatever, I'm too lazy to explain, anyway, I damn well won."
Sage swept his eyes across, glancing at the five hundred people behind Lily and paused for a moment, then clicked his tongue, "Is this all that's left?"
"There was an unforeseen event at the end."
Lily pressed her lips together, looked down, and said, "The enemy tied me up, resulting in not being able to use Supreme King immediately and having to fight by force."
"Did the plan succeed?" Sage asked.
"It did succeed."
"Then that's it."
Sage chuckled, "Pirates, right? Originally a high-risk industry, just settle with good benefits. Five thousand wipe out a hundred thousand, this cost is entirely bearable. No worries, Lily, with people, once we rule this country, we can recruit more!"
"No one in this country can stop us now, now... we call the shots!"
Sage spread his arms, "Announce to the sea, the World Desire City is in my hands, Free City State resumes access, I will rule Augustine Castle, becoming the new master here!"
The winner takes all!
As long as he wins, everything here belongs to him!
Since setting sail until now, enduring so many battles and hardships, constantly blown by storms, finally a small goal is achieved...
Occupied territory, became the landowner!
The dream has officially taken its first step!