His Conqueror's Haki, the power that could shake the very foundations of the world, had awakened in a moment of utter despair. It was during the darkest hour, when his entire family was pinned against a wall, their eyes covered, and their lives on the brink of extinction, that this dormant power surged within him.
Even Ace and Luffy, had experienced a similar awakening, their Conqueror's Haki erupting from within as they faced imminent death.
Upon returning to the North Blue, they began recruiting followers, establishing the infamous Donquixote Family.
Doflamingo, driven by his ambition, sent Vergo, the original Corazon, to infiltrate the Marines as a spy.
He intended for his younger brother, Rosinante, to succeed Vergo as the second Corazon. However, Rosinante had been taken in by Sengoku, the Buddha, becoming a Marine and a loyal follower of justice. His continued presence in the Donquixote Family was a ruse, a desperate attempt to curb his brother's nefarious activities from within.
It was during the war in Flevance, the "White Town," that Rosinante encountered Trafalgar Law, a lone survivor stricken with the deadly Amber Lead Syndrome. He took Law under his wing, embarking on a journey to find a cure for the boy's illness.
When Doflamingo learned of his brother's actions through his subordinates, he was enraged, suspecting Rosinante's true motives. His suspicions were confirmed when he discovered Rosinante was a Marine spy.
Six months later, Doflamingo contacted Rosinante, informing him of a planned transaction between the Marines and a pirate crew possessing the Op-Op Fruit.
Driven by his desire to save Law's life, Rosinante intervened, attempting to steal the Devil Fruit and secure a cure for the boy's worsening condition. However, Vergo, his former comrade and fellow spy within the Marines, exposed Rosinante's true allegiance, reporting his actions to Doflamingo.
Doflamingo seized the opportunity to eliminate his brother, whom he now considered a traitor. He dispatched his top executives to deal with both Rosinante and Law.
Rosinante, gravely wounded, was ultimately shot and killed by Doflamingo himself. Law managed to escape in the ensuing chaos. Following Rosinante's death, Law inherited the mantle of Corazon, becoming the third to bear the title.
This was the origin of the Heart Pirates' name. After losing his entire family, Doflamingo's only companions were the high-ranking members of the Donquixote Family. He viewed them as his true family, fiercely protective and loyal.
He wouldn't tolerate anyone harming them. These were the individuals who had given him strength during his darkest hour, who had recognized him as their king. Coincidentally, Law's swordsmanship instructor was Diamante, one of Doflamingo's most trusted executives. Doflamingo's life had been shaped by tragedy.
He had killed his father and his brother, a testament to the harsh reality that those who hadn't experienced his suffering couldn't judge his actions. He might have appeared cruel and heartless, but perhaps he was simply a product of his environment, a broken soul twisted by the weight of his past. He had been born into nobility, yet his father's foolish actions had condemned him to a life of hardship and suffering.
"Are you an idiot? Doffy is chosen by heaven! He possesses the qualities of a king…"
Diamante's face contorted in anger. "Mythical Zoan might be stronger than Paramecia, but it depends on the user. We've followed Doffy willingly since he was ten years old. Do you know why?"
He laughed maniacally, his expression filled with disdain, as if looking upon a fool.
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Ian responded with a surge of overwhelming aura, his spiritual pressure, amplified by his growing power, reaching new heights.
It was no longer a force that merely incapacitated weaker individuals. The ground trembled, cracks spider-webbing across the surface.
While he couldn't yet manifest his Conqueror's Haki as a tangible force, like Red-Haired Shanks, faint black tendrils intertwined with his aura, overwhelming his opponents with a wave of raw power.
Conqueror's Haki, unlike Armament and Observation Haki, couldn't be learned through training. It was an innate ability, a mark of those destined for greatness, the "qualities of a king."
Powerful individuals didn't necessarily possess Conqueror's Haki, but those who did were often incredibly strong. It was a force of pure dominance, capable of rendering opponents unconscious without a single blow.
"Conqueror's Haki… This power… it's more than just Aura."
Ian, empowered by the Ulquiorra template and his ability to endlessly devour souls, possessed a level of mental fortitude that surpassed most individuals in this world. He perceived Conqueror's Haki differently.
Aura, in essence, was a force emanating from the spirit. Those in positions of power, or those with immense strength, often developed a natural aura of dominance.
individuals would feel intimidated and uneasy in their presence. However, this aura was insufficient to render someone unconscious. The ability to knock someone out with sheer willpower was not simply a projection of dominance; it was a manifestation of raw spiritual energy.
In this world, it was known as Conqueror's Haki. But to Ian, it resembled… spiritual pressure.
Spiritual pressure was the density of one's soul, a measure of its strength. In the world of Bleach, it was a key determinant of a Shinigami's power. Strong individuals could overwhelm and subdue their opponents with their spiritual pressure alone.
It was similar to chakra in Naruto and magic power in Fairy Tail, a force imbued with spiritual energy. After all, Conqueror's Haki in One Piece could not only inflict spiritual damage but also manifest as tangible attacks.
It resembled a fusion of Armament and Observation Haki, further evidenced by the ability of individuals like Shanks and Kaido to imbue their weapons with Conqueror's Haki in the later stages of the story. This confirmed his suspicions.
Doflamingo, born into the World Nobles, had been cast down to the world of pirates due to his father's foolish actions. He possessed immense potential, a ruthless nature, and a tragic backstory, the makings of a compelling protagonist in a different story. However, this was a tale of adventure and unwavering idealism, and he was destined to be defeated by Monkey D. Luffy.
"Conqueror's Haki? The qualities of a king? Does he possess it too?" Crocodile and Mr. 1 muttered, though they weren't particularly surprised. While not commonplace, Conqueror's Haki wasn't exactly rare in the New World, where powerful individuals congregated.
Moreover, those vying for power in the New World had developed a certain resistance to its effects.
"..." Diamante didn't believe it. As one of the four who had followed Doflamingo since childhood, accepting this truth would mean admitting he had been a fool all along.
"I took your sword. Now it's my turn." Ian observed Diamante, his faith shattered.
He wasn't one to flaunt his power, but against true villains, he preferred to shatter their beliefs, to break their spirits.
Or he would crush them with overwhelming force, leaving them to die with their convictions intact, a fitting end for those who refused to acknowledge the truth. He drew his Zanpakuto, his movements swift and precise.
"Half Moon… Funeral!" Diamante raised his sword high above his head and brought it down in a powerful arc.
A massive wave of emerald green energy erupted from his blade, sharp and unrelenting, capable of cleaving anything in its path.
The sea below churned violently under the pressure of his attack, a deep chasm forming in its wake.
"Interesting." Ian commented, a hint of admiration in his voice.
Diamante, a true warrior, had recovered from his momentary lapse in faith, his resolve strengthened. If others possessed the same power, he would simply defeat them all, proving that his convictions were the only truth.
BOOM! A silvery white wave of energy, resembling a crescent moon falling from the heavens, erupted from Ian's blade, its brilliance illuminating the night sky.
It clashed against Diamante's emerald green attack, the two forces colliding with a deafening roar, their energies intertwining like ribbons of opposing colors, each seeking to annihilate the other.
The clash culminated in a blinding explosion, a shockwave rippling outward, engulfing the surroundings in a maelstrom of chaotic energy…