One Piece: Wielder of the Void

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No one understood what had happened. Although Daiki believed in Anos, he was still stunned upon hearing these words.

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and get ready!" Anos yelled again.

It was only at this moment that everyone realized the situation had become very serious.

Even when attacking the Roya Kingdom, Level 1 combat readiness had never been called for.

Even Aokiji, as a Marine, felt a chill from what was hidden in the Royal Palace of the Roya Kingdom.

At this moment, all the guards of the Tru Kingdom, who had been surrounding the area, began to retreat quickly. Losta, now commanding these guards, ordered the people outside the palace to leave.

Nobody knew what was hidden in the palace, but the only certainty was that it wasn't something simple.

The release of powerful energy sent shivers down people's spines.

Daiki commanded all the guards to assist Losta in helping the people retreat.

However, at that moment, blue smoke began to emit from the palace, spreading in all directions. People inside the palace began running out in a frenzy as if their lives depended on it.

"Vice Admiral Aokiji, have you seen anything?" Anos asked seriously.

"It seems like a Devil Fruit power. The user hasn't mastered it yet. If it spreads among the Citizens, no one in the entire city will survive," Aokiji replied with a grim expression.

"I came here just to investigate, but the situation has escalated. I might have to step in."

"Daiki, Losta, hurry and arrange the retreat!" Anos shouted as he prepared to rush inside.

As the smoke thickened, those who hadn't yet escaped began collapsing to the ground, while those who had already started fleeing scrambled for the exits.

"King Tru, this situation is getting tricky. This is an issue between your two Kingdoms, so it's not convenient for me to get too involved," Aokiji said, preferring to observe from the sidelines. After all, inter-nation conflicts weren't something he could directly interfere with.

His main role now was to prevent suffering among the civilians. Beyond that, he couldn't do much.

Anos didn't push further but smiled, saying, "I hope Vice Admiral Aokiji will ensure the safety of these people. As for the rest, our Royal Guards can handle it."

Suddenly, a dog-like creature emerged from the palace. Calling it a dog, though, didn't quite capture its size this beast stood nearly as tall as a building, around 20 meters high.

Smoke billowed from its body, making it hard to describe it as merely a dog.

"Help!"

"Someone, help me!"

Those attempting to flee from the palace screamed as they ran.

"Damn it! What is the King of Roya thinking, feeding a Devil Fruit to a dog?" Anos said angrily.

Fortunately, the creature hadn't mastered the Devil Fruit powers, making it unable to fully utilize its abilities.

Anos didn't hesitate. The demon sword Muramasa appeared in his hand. Aokiji, watching with curiosity, wanted to see the strength of the person who had trained the Royal Guards to such a high level. What kind of power did their king possess?

When the demon sword appeared, Aokiji couldn't help but be impressed. As someone who had lived for decades, he could tell that the sword in Anos' hand was no ordinary weapon.

Anos used Geppo (Moonwalk) to swiftly close the distance, instantly appearing two hundred meters away from the massive dog.

A swift slash of his sword followed, but what happened next shocked everyone. The sword's light passed through the creature without harming it.

"A Logia-type?"

Anos was speechless. Without Haki, both the guards and the civilians would have been helpless against this creature.

The beast was using natural energy, emitting demonic energy uncontrollably. Normal attacks were useless!

At this moment, the only one in the entire Tru Kingdom who could properly wield Haki was Anos.

But even with Haki, approaching this massive beast seemed impossible, rendering any efforts futile.

Meanwhile, the people of the city had begun evacuating in an orderly manner, aided by the Royal Guards.

Yet, fear gripped them all as they saw the enormous creature. None could deny the terror they felt.

The Roya Kingdom had unleashed something unimaginable, and Anos was convinced that no one in the palace had survived the Devil Fruit's destructive power.

"I didn't expect him to be a swordsman. But without Haki..." Aokiji muttered, watching Anos battle.

Before he could finish speaking, he saw Anos's arms turn black as Haki infused into Muramasa.

"Zero Edge!"

A slash imbued with Haki flew straight toward the gigantic canine creature. The beast, sensing the threat, howled and moved to counterattack, sending smoke rolling toward Anos.

But the sword's energy struck first, and with a single blow, the massive creature fell to the ground.

With the beast's death, the Devil Fruit's power dissipated. The palace grounds fell into eerie silence. No one had survived, their faces frozen in the fear they had felt moments before.

Initially, there had been a great buildup of energy, possibly the result of the Devil Fruit, but now, there was no longer anything to fear.

The conflict between the Tru Kingdom and the Roya Kingdom had ended.

In the end, none of the Roya Kingdom's royal family had survived.

"A flying slash? Impressive!" Aokiji mused to himself.

Even though the creature had been unable to control the Devil Fruit's powers, the energy it radiated had been overwhelming.

For a swordsman to unleash such flying slashes, Anos was clearly beyond the ordinary.

To have reached this level at such a young age was an achievement most could only dream of.

Still, Aokiji didn't realize that Anos's strength was far greater than what he had shown.

After the battle, Anos descended from the sky. The Roya Kingdom was no longer a threat, they simply needed to annex the territory peacefully.

But for everyone involved, this battle had been a harrowing experience.

Fortunately, it was over now.

This incident would make headlines across the kingdom's newspapers.

"Thank you, Vice Admiral Aokiji, for everything you've done for us," Anos said, approaching Aokiji.

"Quite surprising. King Tru was right to be cautious. I didn't expect such skill from you," Aokiji responded calmly.

"I didn't expect the Vice Admiral to say such things. Wielding a sword is merely self-defence, nothing more," Anos replied with a smile.

"Your Majesty, now that the situation in the palace is resolved, do the people still need to evacuate?" Daiki asked, stepping forward respectfully.

"No need. You and Losta should take a headcount of the citizens in the Roya Kingdom. Follow Tru Kingdom's rules, counting each family. We'll also need to assess their living conditions, as these people will soon be our citizens. Treat them well," Anos instructed.

"Understood, Your Majesty."

"Now that your kingdom's matters are settled, I've learned what I needed, so I'll be heading back to Marine headquarters to report on the situation," Aokiji said.

Anos, respecting the formalities, still extended the offer, "Are you sure you won't stay for a while? As the Vice Admiral, it would be our pleasure to host you."

"It's not necessary. This place is too complicated right now. It's best for both of us if I leave quickly," Aokiji responded.

With that, Aokiji turned to leave, not giving Anos the chance to insist further.

As he walked away, a smile spread across Anos's lips. The real fun was just beginning.

"Losta, ensure the people know that Vice Admiral Aokiji came to the Tru Kingdom to assist us in saving Roya. Spread the word about our alliance with the Marines," Anos said.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. Everything is arranged," Losta replied, adjusting her glasses.

"Now, let's explore the Roya Kingdom's luxurious palace. Maybe we'll relocate here someday," Anos remarked, stepping toward the palace.

"Should we clean it up first?" Losta asked.

"Is that necessary? Let's explore the palace first" Anos replied.

"Understood, Your Majesty."

Losta followed as Anos led the way. Inside the palace, the wealth was evident. Despite the Roya Kingdom's poverty, the royal family had spared no expense in building this palace.

Anos didn't pay much attention to it. No one was going to clean up the remnants in King Roya's palace now, as most people had already gone to maintain order.

Although almost no one in the entire Roya Kingdom opposed the invasion by the Tru Kingdom, there were still many who sought to take advantage of the chaos.

Anos stepped over the corpses and strode toward the palace with a commanding presence.

With every step he took, the surroundings only reinforced a single impression: luxury.

For a place as impoverished as the Roya Kingdom, the construction of such a palace must have demanded significant sacrifice and labour from its people.

The highest point of the palace towered about a hundred meters into the air. Its facade bore a resemblance to European architectural styles, and the massive columns that lined the entrance were nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Upon stepping through the palace gates and seeing the marble laid out on the ground, even someone with little experience could sense how costly it was.

The floor gleamed, polished to a smoothness that mirrored one's reflection. No trees flanked the road on either side; instead, a vast expanse of neatly maintained lawn stretched out in front of the entrance.

The vibrant green of the grass was inviting, tempting anyone to lie down and rest upon it.

The road underfoot extended straight ahead, and every detail along the way was meticulously designed. This path led from the palace's main gate all the way to the grand hall.

The distance was at least three hundred meters, and due to the demonic power unleashed by the massive dog, the entire road was littered with corpses.

No one had taken the time to count them precisely, but there were undoubtedly at least a thousand bodies scattered across the grounds.

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