One Piece: Awaken The Replication System

Cold winds blew across the frozen sea.

Leno and Kuzan faced each other in silence, both gasping for breath.

The nearly all-night battle had revealed both their strengths and weaknesses. They tried to recover their Haki, strategizing their next moves.

"My Armament Haki is stronger than Kuzan's, but my Observation Haki is too weak. My sword skills, wind control, and his Devil Fruit abilities are evenly matched."

"Our physical abilities are almost the same."

"If this continues, we will exhaust our Haki."

Leno's mind raced, searching for a way to defeat Kuzan.

His A-level Observation Haki had become a glaring weakness, a factor that could decide the outcome, something Leno hadn't anticipated.

He was reminded of the battle between Luffy and Katakuri, where Luffy's Observation Haki was suppressed, nearly costing him the fight. Though Katakuri was ultimately shaken by Luffy's resolve, leading him to surrender, Luffy had to endure numerous hardships.

"What should I do?"

Leno thought rapidly, determined to win this battle.

Even with Garp's SSS-level Armament Haki, Leno knew he wasn't invincible. It wasn't enough to crush the Four Emperors or Admirals, as even Garp himself couldn't easily accomplish that.

But it did give him the strength to stand against someone of Kuzan's caliber.

Still, it wasn't enough to win.

Leno's weaknesses were clear. He needed to draw out more potential from within himself.

Should he seek a temporary breakthrough like Luffy?

No!

The gap between Luffy's Observation Haki and Katakuri's was not insurmountable. However, the gap between his own Haki and Kuzan's was two levels—A-grade versus SS-grade.

Even with a breakthrough, it wouldn't be enough.

The solution had to be something else...

When Luffy fought Enel, he used "no thinking, no strategy," relying purely on instinct, even surprising himself with his next move. But that wouldn't work here; Kuzan was no Enel. He was a battle-hardened Vice Admiral, while Enel had almost no combat experience.

Range attacks could also counter Observation Haki effectively. However, Leno's group attack technique, [Wind's Blessing], combined with his swordsmanship, was countered by Kuzan's Logia fruit, making their exchanges evenly matched.

Leno's eyes scanned through his talents.

If only Kuzan's Observation Haki could be temporarily disabled...

Lose it?

Suddenly, a light flashed in Leno's mind.

"Ice: Two Thorny Spears!"

Ice armor formed on Kuzan's joints, cold air escaping from his mouth.

Dozens of ice spears appeared around his body.

With a wave of Kuzan's hand, the sharp ice tridents shot through the air, aimed straight at Leno.

With Kuzan's attack, the battle resumed.

"One Sword Style: Blaster of Absolute Breath!"

Leno remained calm.

Dragon Sparrow sword in his hand swung forward with precision and speed, the wind and the sword merging flawlessly.

Fierce wind-infused slashes rolled through the air, seemingly chaotic, yet their frequency was suffocating.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The wind slashes collided with the ice spears in mid-air, exploding with force.

Kuzan's ice spears seemed endless, one shattering only for another to follow. Leno's wind slashes were relentless.

The two continued their confrontation, neither backing down.

At this point, it wasn't just about who was smarter or could seize the opportunity better, but about whose spirit and will were stronger.

Like Kuzan and Sakazuki, who fought for the title of Admiral for ten days and nights without rest.

Kuzan wanted to win!

Leno wanted to win too!

The purpose of the battle didn't matter anymore.

As the sun rose, the fierce battle churned the sea, sending three to four meters of spray crashing towards the coast of Liming Island.

At that moment, the island's residents finally noticed them.

"My God! Are those humans?"

"Come and see!"

More and more people ran to the beach, pulling out binoculars.

From the island, they were just two small black dots, but the light and shockwaves caused constant exclamations.

Some even fished up several tons of ice from the sea.

"Hiss, no wonder it was so cold last night!"

Some brave souls tried to sail closer to get a better view, but the turbulent waves, mixed with shattered ice, quickly destroyed their boats.

"Big news, big news!"

A local reporter, using a high-powered telescope, recognized the world-renowned figures involved in the battle.

His face flushed with excitement, eyes wide as he realized he was witnessing a story that could make him famous.

He tried to capture the scene with his Den Den Mushi, but it was too far away, and the photos were all blurry.

"Hurry, find a way to get closer! This is first-hand news, big enough to shock the world!"

He was frantic.

To be so close to news that could make you famous, yet unable to capture it, was unbearable.

It was worse than being killed.

Barry and Hogg also arrived.

"Is that Leno?!"

Barry was shocked.

Last year, Leno was just a minion who killed Higuma, and now he had grown to such heights?

Hogg looked dumbfounded.

God!

Was my brain eaten by a pig yesterday? Did I not check the calendar when I left the house, only to run into these monsters?

Terrifying!

Is that really a battle between humans?

Dadan's family, Ace, and Luffy had been watching since last night, awed by the ferocity of the battle.

East Blue had always been peaceful, so most residents had never witnessed such a large-scale conflict.

Their excitement was like watching a world-class blockbuster for the first time.

From early morning to noon, the intense battle raged on without pause.

Boom!

After another violent collision, Leno, who had never retreated, suddenly took a step back, his Haki wavering.

Kuzan, panting heavily and drenched in sweat, noticed the shift with a strange glint in his eyes.

Finally, has he reached his limit?

By now, both were covered in scars, their physical strength, Haki, and energy continually draining.

"It's time to decide the winner!"

Kuzan saw his chance.

The Armament Haki that Leno had relied on was finally faltering.

Kuzan's aura surged, his body becoming heavily elementalized as he loomed over Leno like a flowing glacier.

"Absolute Zero: Ice Mausoleum!"

An enormous ice mausoleum descended from the sky, freezing everything around it, aiming to entomb Leno!

Leno, who had retreated, suddenly raised his head, dark purple strands of Conqueror's Haki radiating from his eyes.

"What?!" Kuzan was horrified.

But it was too late!

Like a lightning bolt, Conqueror's Haki spread instantly, enveloping Kuzan and assaulting his mind with a spiritual shock.

Kuzan's eyes widened as Leno suddenly appeared right before him. Why? His Observation Haki hadn't sensed him!

Leno raised his sword and struck down.

Every inch of space around him was filled with Armament Haki, making Kuzan feel as if he were trapped in quicksand.

Under the pressure of Haki, Kuzan's elementalized body was forced into its solid form, unable to fight back as the blade cut through him.

Blood splattered, the ice mausoleum shattered, and Kuzan, shocked, fell backwards, plunging into the sea with a resounding splash.

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+30 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg

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