Ace felt a jolt but quickly recovered.
Hancock's Conqueror's Haki was refined; it targeted individuals.
Logia-types were at a disadvantage against Conqueror's Haki.
It was like an offensive Observation Haki; the attack was instantaneous.
Conqueror's Haki was rare, like Logia-type Devil Fruits; Enel couldn't have imagined that Alistair's crew had at least three potential Conqueror's Haki users.
Alistair, Ace, and Hancock.
Conqueror's Haki seemed like a wide-range attack, but it was incredibly useful in combat.
Especially against Logia-types; having it made a huge difference.
But Conqueror's Haki was rarer than Logia-type Devil Fruits; few mastered it. Logia users rarely encountered it, lacking countermeasures.
Seeing Enel petrified by Hancock's Captive Arrow, Ace realized his fate would have been similar!
Enel focused on Mantra, not martial arts; his precognitive abilities and Logia powers made Armament Haki unnecessary.
But against other Logia types, he was at a disadvantage—against Aokiji's ice, but also fire, light, magma, rubber, slow-slow fruit, and stone-stone fruit.
What did other Logia users do?
Armament Haki or martial arts.
But Enel couldn't defeat Hancock or Ace.
He needed another method.
Alistair, the leader, was weak; Enel was the fastest.
Grabbing Alistair would be a good strategy.
But Enel's speed didn't equal lightning's speed.
Before becoming lightning, he was human.
Human actions could be anticipated by Observation Haki.
Hancock, mastering all three types of Haki, anticipated his actions.
When he became lightning, Hancock used Conqueror's Haki.
Their thinking speeds were equal; it became a contest between Conqueror's Haki and lightning speed.
Hancock used a spreading, not targeted, Conqueror's Haki attack, fearing it wouldn't reach Enel.
This was a master's quick judgment.
She was right.
Even Enel couldn't maintain consciousness under Conqueror's Haki; he was briefly materialized, revealing his form.
Hancock, ready with the Captive Arrow, petrified him.
The battle was over.
Ace shook his head, realizing this was a high-level battle; he was still inexperienced!
He noticed something else.
Of the pirates, revolutionaries, and Shandorians, only five Shandorians, Robin, Lafitte, and Van Augur remained conscious.
Dalton's survival was expected.
But Alistair was fine?
He was weaker than the fainted pirates.
This meant…
Lafitte, Robin, Van Augur, and Mihar noticed this.
Unlike the physically strong, the frail Alistair, seemingly unaffected… also had Conqueror's Haki potential?
"The sea is vast," Ace exclaimed.
He thought his grandfather was the strongest, but the Grand Line was full of surprises; strong individuals were everywhere.
Unknown Logia users were on Sky Islands; Hancock ruled the Calm Belt…
Setting sail was amazing.
Ace's eyes shone; Lafitte and Van Augur felt the same.
Conqueror's Haki was a king's mark, a key to the throne.
They were glad they chose well.
"Good!" Alistair clapped. "Leave Enel; let's have a post-battle summary! Then, we attack Shandora!"
Alistair shouted.
It was good that the Spade Pirates and Van Augur were present.
Otherwise, waking everyone would have fallen to him.
Robin used the Hana Hana no Mi; countless hands slapped the pirates' faces, waking them.
This was her limit.
It was enough.
The pirates woke, disoriented; the Shandorians received the same treatment, but Wyper, awestruck, didn't object.
They were still captivated by the battle.
"This… is the world?!" Wyper trembled.
Even for a strong Shandorian warrior, this battle was a revelation.
This was why Alistair brought Ace and others to battle.
Battles foster growth—this is the iron rule in the world of One Piece!
____________________
for more advance chapters visit my p@treon
[email protected]/kane45
Casual Reader - 20 Advance Chapters
Intermediate Reader - 40 Advance Chapters
Expert Reader - 60 Advance Chapters