CHAPTER 269: [269] : A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE! THE IMAGE OF ROWEN BECOMING KING!!

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"150,000."

Hearing the number, both Ace and Zoro fell silent, their eyes shaking with profound shock.

They had long known that Rowen’s combat strength was on a completely different level, a whole other dimension from their own. But to hear that astonishing figure spoken aloud still left them utterly stunned.

Their own power had finally entered the ranks of the absolute top-tier powerhouses of the sea—yet it wasn’t even a fraction of Rowen’s combat power??

Just hearing the number instilled in both Ace and Zoro a sense of insurmountable helplessness.

The gap... was simply too vast.

Rowen looked at Ace and Zoro and simply smiled.

The number 150,000 wasn’t something he had pulled out of thin air.

According to Rowen’s own scale, 10,000 was the baseline combat power for the Admiral-level threshold—equivalent to a ’1’ in the Apex Gold tier of Traits.

The limit of an Emperor/Admiral was a ’10’ in the Apex Gold tier, or 100,000 combat power.

Of course, this didn’t mean the Emperor/Admiral limit was ten times stronger than the Admiral-level threshold.

Because Rowen’s measurements were based on the computational ability of his enhanced intellect and the Strongest Trait System’s tier standards—the combat power scale was based on levels, not multiples.

And surpassing the Emperor/Admiral limit, reaching a ’11’ in the Apex Gold tier, meant reaching a new level—what Rowen had designated as Legendary-Class combat strength.

During the Summit War—after absorbing Whitebeard’s Emperor ’Fortune’, Rowen’s Conqueror’s Haki Trait had broken through the Emperor/Admiral limit, reaching a ’11’ in the Apex Gold tier, becoming Legendary-Class.

And after obtaining the strength Traits and Emperor ’Fortune’ from Kaido and Big Mom, Rowen’s Conqueror’s Haki Trait level had increased by another approximately 30%, reaching a level of ’14’ within the Apex Gold tier.

Combined with shoring up his final weakness, his physique, by absorbing the physique Traits and energy from Big Mom and Kaido, his physique Trait had also broken through to the Legendary-Class.

Plus his newly acquired powers of the Nika Fruit, the Azure Dragon Fruit, and the Soul-Soul Fruit

, and his training since then—a comprehensive combat power Trait level of ’15’ in the Apex Gold tier—or 150,000, was actually a rather conservative estimate.

This was the origin of the combat power reference number Rowen gave to Zoro and Ace.

"Phew... I never thought the gap would still be this great,"

Ace and Zoro exchanged glances, then smiled.

Though the 150,000 combat power figure was unbelievably shocking, on reflection, it made perfect sense.

After all, they had only just preliminarily mastered Haōshoku Coating. Though stronger than the Admiral-level threshold, compared to peak Emperors like Kaido, or even Kuzan in his prime with his Ice Gloves—which combined his Iron Fist techniques, Armament Haki, and Ice-Ice Fruit ability—there was still a considerable gap.

And Rowen—had utterly crushed the combined might of Kaido and Big Mom, killing two Emperors at once.

An Admiral-level threshold powerhouse, if facing Rowen alone, would not be a match for a single blow—and that was before Rowen had even obtained the powers of Big Mom and Kaido.

The current Rowen was even stronger than he was then.

Using the Admiral-level threshold as a standard of 10,000, Rowen’s 150,000 combat power was already a very conservative number.

"150,000! AMAZING! THEN WHAT’S KAIDO’S COMBAT POWER??"

Yamato first exclaimed in awe, then, after some thought, asked the question that was on her mind.

Though because of their ideological differences, she had even wanted to kill her father, Kaido, she still admired the man’s strength and was curious about what level Kaido’s combat power could reach.

"Approximately... 70,000."

Rowen recalled Kaido’s final blow, and using the enhanced intellect of his Human-Human Fruit to calculate, gave a reference number.

Kaido in his Flame Dragon Torch form, combined with Haōshoku Coating, his strongest attack, Rising Dragon: Flame Bagua—its combat power Trait level was equivalent to a ’7’ or higher in the Apex Gold tier.

He was very close to the Emperor/Admiral limit.

As expected of the man who, after Whitebeard’s decline, in an era where the Four Emperors, Marine HQ, and the Seven Warlords maintained a balance, was qualified to compete for the title of the Strongest.

According to Rowen’s rough calculations, a prime Whitebeard and Roger should have been able to reach a ’9’ in the Apex Gold tier, stronger than Kaido.

These two were the powerhouses closest to the Emperor/Admiral limit.

As for Rocks’s combat power, since it was never shown in the original story, it couldn’t be calculated.

But at most, he would be at the Emperor/Admiral limit—not reaching the Legendary-Class.

"70,000?"

Hearing this number, Ace and Zoro’s eyes flashed with an astonishing crimson-black light.

Rowen’s 150,000 was too outrageous; they didn’t even have the heart to chase it.

But 70,000... at least that was a number they could touch, a value they could pursue.

After all, they hadn’t yet fully mastered Haōshoku Coating

. Once they did, their combat power would take another great leap. The distance to Kaido’s 70,000 combat power was not so unreachable.

Zoro was filled with even more fighting spirit.

After getting Rowen’s combat power standard, Zoro also had a clear goal.

Though he didn’t know how strong Mihawk’s combat power was, it couldn’t possibly be stronger than Kaido’s!

Kaido, before Rowen’s rise, was hailed as the World’s Strongest Creature—the man who was likely the Strongest in a One-on-One!

This meant, as long as his combat power could reach 70,000, he could defeat Mihawk.

Become the World’s Greatest Swordsman!

His goal... was now within sight.

Zoro’s eyes burned like flames.

"Use Enma well. See if you can forge it into a Black Blade that belongs to you," Rowen said, smiling at Zoro’s determined expression.

He understood Zoro’s thoughts perfectly. Helping Zoro surpass Mihawk, fulfill his ambition, and become the World’s Greatest Swordsman was also one of Rowen’s goals.

Luffy, Zoro, Sanji... they all had their own dreams.

But now, they had all added another dream to their list: to make Rowen a King.

For this, they were willing to risk their lives, even if it meant their own dreams would end prematurely.

As their comrade, how could he forget their dreams?

Helping his comrades fulfill their respective dreams—was also Rowen’s dream!

For Zoro to defeat Mihawk, besides improving his Haki, he had to advance his swordsmanship.

In the One Piece world, forging one’s own Black Blade was a standard for measuring swordsmanship level.

There were too few Black Blades in the One Piece world.

The only known ones were the Supreme Grade Blade, Yoru, in Mihawk’s hands, and the national treasure of Wano, formerly Ryuma’s sword, Shusui.

Only by forging a Black Blade could one be qualified to sit on the throne of the World’s Greatest Swordsman, to be acknowledged by all other swordsmen.

As for Shanks, Whitebeard, Roger, these rulers who also possessed Supreme Grade Blades and were strong swordsmen—their fighting styles actually focused more on Haki—or in Whitebeard’s case, the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, rather than pure swordsmanship.

In terms of pure swordsmanship, they were certainly not as good as Mihawk.

This might also be why these three never forged their own Supreme Grade Blades into Black Blades.

"Forge it into a Black Blade??"

Zoro looked at Enma in his hand, then a feral grin spread across his face.

CLANG!

Wado Ichimonji and Enma were held simultaneously in Zoro’s hands.

"One Black Blade won’t be enough... I am a Three-Sword Style user!"

A surge of Haki erupted from Zoro’s entire body.

"Wado Ichimonji, Enma—I will forge them both into Black Blades that belong to me! My swordsmanship has already shown me this possibility!"

Zoro did not mention Sandai Kitetsu, but focused his gaze on Wado Ichimonji and Enma.

"Your swordsmanship has told you this is possible?"

Rowen smiled upon hearing this.

The method of forging a Black Blade in the One Piece world was never explicitly stated.

Besides the setting not being fully revealed—the more likely possibility was that forging one’s own Black Blade could only be achieved through one’s own swordsmanship!

The method of forging one’s own Black Blade was different for every person—there was naturally no standard.

This was also reasonable.

After all, though a Black Blade resembled a famed sword infused with Armament Haki, if it were based on Armament Haki—then Roger, Whitebeard, and Shanks, whose Armament Haki was stronger than Mihawk’s, should have been able to forge their own Supreme Grade Blades into Black Blades.

So the path to forging a Black Blade could only be through the swordsman’s own swordsmanship.

And now, under Rowen’s intervention, Zoro’s swordsmanship, far stronger than in the original story at this time, had told him the possibility of forging a Black Blade.

The rest—was up to Zoro himself.

"Hey, Zoro."

Rowen’s voice made Zoro look up.

"I have already seen it... The image of you—becoming the World’s Greatest Swordsman."

Rowen’s words made Zoro’s mind flash back.

It was as if he had returned to the East Blue, a fledgling swordsman who knew not the vastness of the sea, blindly challenging Mihawk and being crushingly defeated.

Before Rowen clashed his Conqueror’s Haki against Mihawk’s, he had laughed and declared—

’Zoro—is the man who will become the World’s Greatest Swordsman!’

"HAHAHAHA!"

Rowen and Zoro burst into laughter at the same time.

Hey, Rowen... I’ve seen it too.

After this war... the image of you—becoming a King!

Zoro laughed, and the crimson-black light in his eyes grew even more astonishing.

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