Chapter 117: My Haki Is Above Yours, Rokuogan and Collection (Patreon)

Others set sail for wealth, fame, or power.

Moren set sail for one reason only: to fill his damn Collection Compendium.

"The curve on this potato chip? Perfect. Collected."

"The shape of that wave? Rare. Collected."

After transmigrating into the world of One Piece, Link became the user of the Collection Fruit.

At first, people only saw him as a mobile warehouse, a receptacle for all kinds of useless "beautiful moments."

Until one day, when he turned a single bullet into a [Chambered Bullet] sticker glowing with a dangerous red light. A whole new world opened before his eyes.

The edge of a slash. The pressure of Haki. Even the power of a Devil Fruit itself. Every tangible or intangible thing on this sea was a potential addition to his Collection.

And then things got weird.

He "collected" the legendary execution platform in Loguetown.

He "collected" a Poneglyph right under Robin's stunned gaze.

"Whitebeard's tremor and the Gura Gura no Mi's power? Collected."

"Akainu's Hellhound and his magma abilities? Collected."

"Kizaru's lightspeed kick and the Pika Pika no Mi's power... that one's a bit fast. Hold on!"

Also known as:

[Fighting? I'm Just Filling Out My Collection Compendium]

[Oh No, This Guy's Stashing Even Conqueror's Coating in His Pocket!]

[All My Captain Wants to Do Is Pet His Collection]

"Tempest Kick: Barrage!"

Rhine's legs moved like two massive battle-axes, carving out wave after wave of razor-sharp slashes through the air, sealing off Moren's escape routes. At the same time, his fists, coated in Armament Haki, rained down like a storm on Moren's vital points.

He knew that Ella's death had thrown the situation into chaos. Norton, alone against two ability users, wouldn't last much longer. He had to take down the strongest enemy before him now, or the Foxhunt Squad would be completely wiped out here.

"Trying to end it quickly?"

Moren saw through his intent, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

With no more worries about Robin and the others, he could focus entirely on the fight at hand. That alone made him even stronger than before.

Facing Rhine's relentless assault, Moren didn't retreat. He advanced.

Yubashiri became a curtain of pitch-black light, deflecting every Tempest Kick and every punch in a rapid, ringing cascade of clashing steel.

His footwork was fluid and steady, weaving through Rhine's attacks with practiced ease.

After several exchanges, an opening appeared.

Rhine launched a "Finger Gun" straight at Moren's heart, but Moren sidestepped it.

"Now!"

A flash of sharpness gleamed in Moren's eyes. Without making a sound, he lightly tapped his left foot against the ground.

"Desert Swamp!"

The Sand-Sand Fruit's power activated silently.

The solid sand beneath Rhine's feet instantly transformed into a quicksand-like swamp. Its powerful suction pulled his feet and calves deep into the ground.

The sudden change threw Rhine off balance, twisting his stance and disrupting his movements.

"Damn it!"

Rhine's heart sank. He knew he was in trouble.

He struggled to break free, but the suction was overwhelming and relentless.

In that moment of struggle, Moren's attack arrived.

"Self-Intent: Moon-Cutter!"

Moren let out a low shout as his strength, his Haki, and his very will converged into the blade in his hands.

Yubashiri turned pitch-black, its edge forming a black arc that seemed capable of cutting through anything.

The next instant, the blade traced a black crescent through the air, slicing toward Rhine, who was trapped in the sand and unable to dodge.

The sense of death washed over Rhine like ice water.

Gritting his teeth, he knew he couldn't evade it. He had no choice but to take it head-on.

"Tekkai! Armament Haki: Full Hardening!"

Rhine roared as every muscle in his body tensed to its limit, becoming as hard as steel.

At the same time, he poured every ounce of his Armament Haki into his crossed arms, completely coating them in jet-black Haki with a metallic sheen.

This was his strongest defensive stance.

"CLANG!"

The black blade slammed into Rhine's crossed arms.

But instead of the expected clash of steel, there was only a dull, heavy thud, like a blade cutting into thick leather.

Rhine felt as if a mountain had crashed into his arms. The impossibly concentrated force pierced through his dual defenses, Tekkai and Armament Haki, driving deep into his bones and muscles.

"CRACK!"

A faint yet unmistakable sound of bone fracturing reached Rhine's ears.

The black blade only paused for the briefest instant against his defenses before continuing its unstoppable descent.

"SHLICK!"

A spray of blood erupted from Rhine's arms like a fountain.

His body flew backward as if struck head-on by a speeding train. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he crashed into the sand dozens of meters away, tumbling several more times before finally coming to a stop.

"Cough... Hack!"

Rhine struggled to rise, only to spit out another mouthful of blood.

He looked down at his arms. From wrist to elbow, two massive, bone-deep wounds were pouring blood.

The pain and blood loss made his arms tremble uncontrollably, leaving them almost completely devoid of strength.

"Impossible... How is this possible...?"

Rhine's face was filled with shock and disbelief.

This was his strongest defense!

Tekkai combined with full Armament Hardening. He had been confident it could withstand attacks from Marine Rear Admirals!

And yet, against that single slash, it had been so fragile.

Moren slowly walked over, Yubashiri still black as ink.

With a light flick of his wrist, the blood on the blade scattered into crimson droplets across the sand.

Looking at the stunned Rhine, he said calmly,

"Nothing is impossible. My Haki is simply above yours."

Rhine's face turned deathly pale.

He knew Moren was telling the truth.

The highly condensed Armament Haki that Moren possessed far surpassed his own.

This was not merely a difference in quantity. It was a complete crushing superiority in quality.

The outcome had already been decided.

Rhine's heart sank as he looked toward Norton.

Norton had just struggled out of the sand pit and barely regained his footing when Robin's arms sprouted once again and seized his ankles.

Baccarat had picked up a rock nearby and smashed it against the back of his head, sending him into a baby-like sleep.

Moren gave Rhine no more time to think.

With a twist of his wrist, he aimed the black blade at Rhine once again.

The desert wind carried the heavy scent of blood.

I can't let it end like this. At the very least, I'll drag this bastard down to hell with me!

A flash of desperate resolve ignited in Rhine's eyes.

He coughed up another mouthful of blood and, ignoring the tearing pain in his arms, charged toward Moren one final time.

Moren raised an eyebrow.

Despite being severely wounded, Rhine was deliberately closing the distance.

This was not an attempt to prolong the fight or escape.

He was betting everything on one final strike.

"Crack!"

Rhine's leg bones let out a sharp fracture under the overwhelming strain, yet the speed granted by Shave reached an unprecedented level.

At the same time, he poured every last ounce of his remaining strength into both fists.

His arms trembled violently from the overload, and fresh blood sprayed from his wounds, but he paid it no attention.

A terrifying force continued condensing and compressing around his fists.

He was using this suicidal charge to buy himself the brief moment needed to prepare his final attack.

"Rokuogan!"

With a desperate roar, an immensely condensed shockwave erupted from Rhine's fists.

This was a secret technique that could only be achieved by a master who had fully mastered the Six Powers and fused them into one.

It unleashed a close-range penetrating shockwave far beyond Finger Gun.

It was also his greatest trump card.

This attack contained his life's training and the desperate resolve of a man burning away his own existence.

Unfortunately, his charge was not perfect, and the severe injuries to his arms had greatly reduced its power.

Moreover, Rokuogan's ideal release distance was point-blank range. At this distance, part of the shockwave would inevitably dissipate through the air.

But Rhine no longer cared.

He burned away the last of his life force to compensate for those flaws, wagering everything on this single attack.

Either you die, or I do.

A crimson gleam flashed through Moren's eyes.

His Observation Haki had already sensed the terrifying energy the moment Rhine began gathering power.

"Not a bad attack. Definitely worth collecting."

A trace of anticipation flickered in Moren's eyes.

Then, facing the terrifying shockwave head-on, he calmly raised his right hand in front of himself.

Rhine froze for a moment before overwhelming excitement flooded his face.

"You're not dodging? You're actually going to take my Rokuogan head-on? Arrogant fool! Die!"

Yet in the very next instant, his excitement turned into utter shock and disbelief.

The Rokuogan shockwave, powerful enough to shatter stone and pierce steel, struck an invisible barrier the instant it reached Moren's raised hand.

Strange ripples spread through the air.

For the briefest moment, Rhine thought he saw the phantom image of a page flicker before Moren's palm.

Then his all-or-nothing attack disappeared without a sound, silently swallowed by that strange ripple without creating the slightest disturbance.

The attack condensed in Moren's palm into a small sticker covered with flowing shockwave patterns.

"Whew..."

Moren slowly exhaled.

Forcing his Collection ability to capture an attack of such exceptional quality had consumed a considerable amount of stamina and mental energy, but the reward was completely worth it.

"Not a bad attack."

He pinched the sticker containing Rokuogan between his fingers, carefully sensing the power and technique sealed within.

"It was definitely worth the effort."

"No... Impossible... My Rokuogan..."

Watching the strongest attack he had staked everything on being casually "collected," Rhine's fighting spirit completely shattered.

Overwhelming despair and unwillingness consumed him.

He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but only a few meaningless sounds escaped.

The final light in his eyes faded away as his life force was completely exhausted and his conviction collapsed.

His body, pushed beyond its limits, finally collapsed onto the sand, lifeless.

Moren looked at Rhine's fallen body, a hint of admiration flashing through his eyes.

He truly had been an opponent worthy of respect.

Powerful, unwavering, and determined until the very end.

It was a pity that he was a CP operative.

Then Moren's expression suddenly changed.

His head snapped toward another stretch of sand.

His Observation Haki had detected an extremely well-hidden killing intent rapidly approaching Robin.

"So there's another rat hiding."

Moren's eyes turned cold.

"BARK!"

A feral, frenzied bark rang out as the sand exploded. A figure lunged straight at Robin. It was Gale, the one responsible for guarding the members of the royal family.

He had already partially transformed into his Beast form. His hands had become razor-sharp claws, his fangs were bared, and the ridiculous patch still remained stuck to his nose. Yet the madness and killing intent in his eyes were enough to make anyone feel a chill.

He had been hiding beneath the sand from the very beginning, waiting for this perfect opportunity to strike.

Nico Robin! Die!

Gale roared inwardly.

All of his comrades were dead, but he still refused to give up.

His target was clear from the start: Nico Robin.

As long as he killed her, the mission would be considered complete.

As for whether the terrifying Collector would tear him apart afterward, he no longer cared.

At the very least, the Foxhunt Squad would not have failed completely.

Their reputation would not be tarnished.

His timing had been perfect.

Robin had just finished dealing with Norton. She was at her most exhausted, and her guard was at its weakest.

Moren had only just finished his battle with Rhine and was still some distance away. Even if he reacted as quickly as possible, he might not be able to save her in time.

"I got her!"

Triumph flashed in Gale's eyes as his claws approached Robin's neck.

"Desert Blade!"

Just as Gale's claws were about to reach Robin, the sand beneath him suddenly split open.

A condensed blade of sand shot upward diagonally, fiercely slashing toward his waist.

"What?!"

Gale's pupils shrank.

His entire attention had been focused on Robin. He had never expected the attack to come from beneath his feet.

He tried to twist his body to evade, but he was already in midair with nowhere to borrow strength from.

"SHLICK!"

The Desert Blade tore through his side.

Although he managed to twist his body at the final moment and barely avoided being cut in half, a massive wound was still ripped open across the left side of his abdomen.

Blood and fragments of his internal organs sprayed outward.

The unbearable pain forced a miserable scream from his throat. His charge instantly stopped, and his body fell helplessly toward the ground.

"No!"

Gale roared unwillingly.

Even after suffering such severe injuries, he still struggled to lunge toward Robin.

But Moren would not give him another chance.

"Sand Funeral!"

Moren's cold voice rang out.

At the same time, he raised his right hand and clenched his fist toward the place where Gale was falling.

In an instant, the sand beneath Gale came alive.

It surged upward and swallowed him completely, forming a massive sphere of sand several meters in diameter.

"No! Let me out!"

Gale's muffled screams filled with despair and pain, along with his frantic struggles, echoed from inside the enormous sand sphere.

Moren slowly tightened his fist.

"BOOM!"

The massive sand sphere suddenly collapsed inward with terrifying speed and force.

A series of dull, horrifying sounds of bones and flesh being crushed echoed from within, followed by one final short scream.

A few seconds later, the sand sphere dispersed, falling back into ordinary grains.

Inside, only a shattered and dried-out mass of remains was left, crushed beyond recognition by the terrifying pressure.

"Whew..."

Robin finally let out a breath of relief.

Her face was slightly pale as she stepped back.

For that brief moment, she had truly felt the threat of death.

"Are you alright, Robin?"

Moren walked over and looked at her pale expression.

"I'm fine. Thank you, Captain."

Robin shook her head and gave him a slightly exhausted smile.

Baccarat also hurried over, still shaken as she stared at the remains.

"These people are truly insane."

She patted her chest, still feeling frightened.

"They really are."

Moren glanced at the battlefield around them, which was covered in destruction and corpses.

"But it's over now," he said softly.