Chapter 94: Death is Like the Wind, Always By My Side!

Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Death is Like the Wind, Always By My Side!

Claudius finished pouring his wine. Doflamingo took a sip, then murmured, "Conqueror's Haki... you think Kong has it too?"

"What, is that surprising?" Claudius replied with a grin.

"Well," Doflamingo began, "I've always thought of Marines as subservient to the World Government, especially the higher-ups like the Fleet Admiral. How could someone who 'follows orders' have the spirit of a conqueror?"

Claudius chuckled. "Conqueror's Haki isn't some mystical power that's only reserved for kings and tyrants. It's about having an unbreakable will, a refusal to bend, even if you work within a hierarchy. Conqueror's Haki is about ruling yourself, being the king of your own heart."

He took a thoughtful sip, "Think about it Sengoku, the future Marine Fleet Admiral, has Conqueror's Haki. Ace, who was once just a son under Whitebeard, had it too. Rayleigh was Roger's right-hand man, yet he possessed it. Even Katakuri, who never led the Big Mom Pirates, has it. Conqueror's Haki isn't about rank. It's about your heart's refusal to submit."

Doflamingo looked at him with genuine surprise. "Cousin, you've clearly put a lot of thought into this. Do you... have it too?"

Claudius's face went a bit red, and he waved a dismissive hand. "Who, me? No, I just understand it a bit. Conqueror's Haki... yeah, that's one thing I haven't awakened."

Doflamingo burst into laughter. "Fufufufufu! After all these years, I finally have something over you, cousin!"

Claudius shot him an irritated look. "You smug bastard! Of all the things you could bring up, you had to pick my one weakness?"

Doflamingo just grinned, then added with a mischievous glint in his eye, "Don't worry, cousin. I'm sure you'll awaken it eventually. I believe in you."

"Sure you do," Claudius replied, rolling his eyes. They both shared a laugh, the tension between them easing.

Doflamingo's expression then shifted to curiosity. "So, what's the plan? Are we really just here to 'get some experience,' like you said? Are we really just going to sit back and watch the show as the Fleet Admiral delivers justice to the infamous Red Earl?"

"That's the idea. But..." Claudius took a slow sip from his glass. "My gut tells me things won't go that smoothly."

Doflamingo raised an eyebrow. "You think Kong might... lose?"

Before Doflamingo could reply, Claudius unleashed a burst of wind, propelling himself forward. His figure blurred, disappearing into the shadows as he soared toward the mountain.

Watching his cousin vanish, Doflamingo muttered to himself, "Looks like I'm not the only one who can fly. Maybe I should work on that, too."

As Claudius approached the battlefield, he took in the scene. Fleet Admiral Kong was clearly struggling, his chest bore a deep slash, blood seeping from the wound. His left eye was swollen shut, blood dripping down his face from a particularly brutal cut. Meanwhile, Redfield was also injured; his chest was visibly dented, likely from one of Kong's powerful punches, and his once-neat hair was now disheveled. Still, he appeared to be holding up better than Kong.

"Invisible..." Claudius whispered, activating one of his newest abilities.

In an instant, his body began to blend with the air around him, becoming completely invisible. It was a technique he'd developed from his Nitrogen-Nitrogen Fruit abilities, using nitrogen's colorless properties to mask his presence entirely.

"Move with the wind..." Claudius murmured as he drifted forward, blending seamlessly into the night air.

He knew Redfield's Observation Haki was exceptional, and that it wouldn't take long before the Red Count sensed his presence. But he needed to get as close as possible before making his move.

On the battlefield, Redfield smirked at his wounded opponent. "Kong, you should've known better than to come here alone. Today, I'll add the head of a Marine Fleet Admiral to my legacy!"

Kong ignored the taunt, gritting his teeth as he steadied himself. With a powerful stomp, he launched himself forward, muscles bulging, his fist crackling with Armament Haki. "Justice will never fall to the likes of you, Redfield!"

He threw a massive punch, the air itself splitting under its force. "Fist of Justice!"

Redfield's eyes narrowed, and he raised his sword, prepared to counter. "Your justice ends here!" He swung his blade, unleashing a slicing wave of energy aimed directly at Kong's chest.

But suddenly, Redfield's expression shifted. Sensing a new presence closing in fast, he tried to pull his sword back to defend himself, but it was too late.

Claudius materialized in midair, his sword Shindō drawn and ready. With a fierce cry, he unleashed his attack. "Death is like the wind, always by my side! One-Sword Style—Secret Art: Blizzard!"

A blinding white slash burst from Claudius's blade, a concentrated line of compressed air that shot straight toward Redfield.

Redfield, acting on instinct, managed to raise his sword horizontally, preparing to intercept the strike. The two attacks collided in a storm of raw energy, sending shockwaves rippling across the mountainside.