A Difficult Choice and the Awakening of Conqueror's Haki
Supporting himself on his knees, Yang Ning slowly stood up, chest aching.
He checked his panel:
Health Points: 468/2860
Fangsi Ge was formidable—his punch had nearly reduced Yang Ning to a sliver of health. Without the system digitizing his body, that single blow would have left him crippled, if not dead.
After a few heavy breaths, he lifted his head and looked up through the shattered cabin roof. His eyes held no fear—only burning fury toward the Celestial Dragons.
In his past life, he'd never seen such monsters. Among the skinned figures hanging like meat, some were clearly children .
"Celestial Dragons…"
He gritted his teeth, pushed off the ground with both legs, and charged forward, Kotetsu in hand.
On deck, Esdeath—now fighting in his place—was barely holding on.
Though Fangsi Ge was grievously wounded, Esdeath was exhausted from prolonged combat, and the gap in raw strength was undeniable.
A brief clash? She could manage.
A life-or-death duel? Not yet.
She'd just been slammed onto the deck, coughing blood that stained her black greatsword a haunting crimson.
Willie, meanwhile, was still tangled in a swarm of lower-tier CP agents. His fists were hard, his technique solid—but his inexperience showed. The agents surrounded him, pulling, tripping, trapping him like flies on honey.
He roared in helpless rage, watching his captain vanish into the cabin and his cook get battered—but he couldn't break free.
From all appearances, the pirates were finished.
Clutching his own wounds, Fangsi Ge staggered toward Esdeath, face grim, no trace of arrogance—only cold intent.
"There is a proper order of rank and status. It is ordained by fate. You pirates are merely stubborn fools."
He raised his right hand. With a soft poof , it turned black with Armament Haki.
"Look closely. This is your destiny."
"Pistol – Four-Handed Strike!"
His hand shot forward like a spear, aimed to pierce Esdeath's heart.
She lay calmly, eyes open.
"Perhaps dying here is my fate. But I believe my captain will avenge me. And dying by his hand—that is your fate."
"Ridiculous!"
Fangsi Ge's form blurred—only his blackened palm remained sharp and lethal.
Willie, ignoring knives and bullets, charged like a mad bull—but he was too far.
At the last second, the ship exploded from below.
"Bang!"
Yang Ning, bloodied but alive, burst from the cabin, Kotetsu raised—blocking Fangsi Ge's strike perfectly.
"Clang!"
Black palm met white-hot blade.
This time, Fangsi Ge was stunned. Yang Ning was furious.
Seeing her captain's back, Esdeath smiled—a quiet, spring-like relief. She'd known he wouldn't die so easily.
Willie, ever the simple soul, whooped in joy:
"Whoa! Captain! This guy just tried to kill Esdeath!"
Yang Ning and Fangsi Ge stood locked in stalemate, smirks on both faces.
"Anyone who wants to kill me," Yang Ning said coolly, "has to get through me first."
They leapt apart—then collided again in a storm of steel and flesh.
Fangsi Ge burned his life force.
Yang Ning burned health points like water.
Then—a shout cut through the chaos.
"My lord! Saint Charmaz has successfully evacuated!"
Fangsi Ge's tense expression relaxed. He exhaled, his usual contempt returning.
"Remember—your fate is sealed. Enjoy your remaining days."
With that, he turned to leave.
Yang Ning stared.
He fights when he wants. Runs when he wants. Talks nonsense like he's auditioning for a play. What is this—graduate school prep?
Without a word, Yang Ning lunged, Kotetsu slashing down.
Fangsi Ge blocked, then snapped in disbelief:
"Pirate, do you truly wish to become an enemy of the Celestial Dragons? Do you even understand what I'm doing?!"
"You've made enough of a scene. Stop bothering me. Without my protection, if anything happens to Saint Charmaz, you'll beg for death—and not get it!"
"Heh."
Yang Ning stood sword in hand, forehead twitching in disbelief.
So this CP0 thought he was just making a fuss ? That this was some kind of tantrum?
"Enough of making a scene"?
You ram ships. You murder. You skin people alive.
And when you're done playing—you just walk away ?
"When you start a fight is your choice," Yang Ning said, voice low and cold.
"But when it ends… is mine ."
Fangsi Ge laughed bitterly—and pointed to a small boat speeding away from the stern.
"That's a Celestial Dragon!"
Yang Ning frowned. "Oh? Is that supposed to impress me?"
"That boat costs more than entire islands—"
Before he could finish, Kotetsu slammed into his face .
Fangsi Ge, already at his limit, could only stare—wide-eyed, whimpering—as the blade descended.
One slash. One head.
Fangsi Ge's upper half and unfinished sentence flew into the sky together.
His death sent shockwaves through the remaining CP agents. They trembled—but none fled. None surrendered.
The World Government's grip was stronger than fear of death.
At the stern, the escape boats accelerated, thrusters flaring, cutting through waves with unnatural speed.
"You think you can run, you beast?"
Yang Ning grinned, gripping the railing—ready to dive in. He wasn't a Devil Fruit user; the sea was no barrier.
But just as he prepared to leap, a voice froze him in place.
"Do you still want to save your men?!"
My men?
Yang Ning turned—expecting to see Esdeath or Willie captured.
Instead, he saw them supporting each other, surrounded but unharmed.
Before him stood an old man in a black suit, clapping his hands.
From the cabin, several agents emerged—carrying Nami and Sylvester .
The old man pointed at Sylvester.
"Your subordinate is dying. I know where he can be saved. But you have six hours —after that, he's gone."
"Our boats have impact thrusters. Even at full speed, you won't catch us. And even if you do… your man will be dead by the time you return."
"Heh… hehe…"
Yang Ning slowly stepped down from the railing. His grip loosened on the bent metal.
He looked at Sylvester. At the old man. At the escape boat shrinking on the horizon.
The choice wasn't hard.
He hated it—every fiber of his being screamed to chase them down.
But he couldn't let Sylvester die.
His lips curled into a cold, downward arc.
Inside, fury burned like a supernova.
And then—something awakened .
An invisible, intangible force erupted from Yang Ning—rippling outward, silent and overwhelming.
" Celestial Dragons! "
He roared, slashing Kotetsu downward.
White sword energy, laced with black lightning, tore through the sea—striking the escape boat.
The vessel jerked—but didn't sink. Like a startled rabbit, it surged forward, faster than before.
And when the aura faded…
Everyone on deck—Esdeath, Willie, the CP agents—lay unconscious, eyes rolled back, breath shallow.
Only Yang Ning remained standing.
Conqueror's Haki had awakened.