Pirates: Usurping a Kingdom Is Surprisingly Easy

"The Emperor's power?!"

"Such strong Haoshoku!" The Seven Star Sword Spirit exclaimed, its consciousness rippling with disbelief.

Kael gripped the Seven Stars Sword's hilt. The evil power on it furiously corroded Kael's Armament Haki, making a sizzling sound like something being seared.

"Not bad, you still know about Conqueror's Haki. It seems your former master wasn't too bad in strength."

Kael remembered that in the original plot, when Zoro picked up this cursed sword, his palm was burned by the hilt. It seemed that after this cursed sword recognized a master, others could not easily use it. Renowned swords of the cursed sword series all needed to recognize a master, otherwise, an ominous aura would corrode the user. Like the Supreme Grade Sword Enma, it could even arbitrarily drain the user's Haki, potentially sucking a person dry.

"My master? I am the master of you sword slaves!"

"Eh? You can actually understand my words?" The Seven Star Sword Spirit's consciousness muttered to itself, refuting Kael, the wielder of the sword. But the next moment, it suddenly realized, how did this man know it mentioned Conqueror's Haki?

"As an Emperor who can hear the voice of all things, hearing your voice is but a small matter." Kael tightened his grip on the Seven Stars Sword's hilt. His Conqueror's Haki grew even more massive, almost tangible, striking directly at the Seven Star Sword Spirit's conscious soul.

"Hearing the voice of all things?"

"Stop, stop! My consciousness... my consciousness is going to scatter!" The Seven Star Sword Spirit's conscious voice roared frantically, its entire spiritual body trembling.

"Submit! Or I will extinguish your consciousness!"

"Although it's extremely rare for a sword to produce a sword spirit, if it cannot be used by me, then it can only be destroyed." Kael continued to unleash Conqueror's Haki, crushing the Seven Star Sword Spirit's consciousness. His Armament Haki forcefully covered the sword from the hilt to the blade, suppressing the Seven Stars Sword's eerie green light and malevolent aura.

"You want to extinguish my consciousness?" The Seven Star Sword Spirit became terrified. In truth, its true body was its sword spirit. Even if the Seven Stars Sword's blade shattered, it could forcibly possess the wielder, becoming a 'sword person'. But doing so would be full of unknowns. It might have to compete with the wielder for control of the body and merge souls and consciousness, and perhaps even its lifespan could become like a human's. Moreover, only by shattering the Seven Stars Sword's blade could it break free from the sword's restraints and possess the wielder's consciousness. Unless absolutely forced, it would not become a 'sword person'. It was still safer to control sword slaves to slaughter lives and strengthen itself. After all, these sword slaves could be replaced generation after generation.

"It's not easy to find a master with whom one can communicate. Seven Stars Sword, will you be extinguished or submit? You only have 3 seconds to decide."

"3, 2..." Kael unleashed his Conqueror's Haki without any emotion, shaking the Seven Star Sword's spirit uncontrollably and causing its consciousness to disperse.

"Wait, wait! I submit, I submit, isn't that enough?!" The Seven Star Sword Spirit felt a fatal threat of annihilation and immediately cried out. The resisting aura on the sword body instantly vanished, and the evil power obediently allowed Kael to use it. Kael felt that he could completely control all of the Seven Stars Sword's powers: manipulating hearts, sharp sword energy, devouring vitality...

"You're sensible. Following me won't bury your potential; I'll even make you stronger!" Kael smiled faintly, and with a casual wave, a terrifying sword energy roared out, cutting a clean slice through the altar shrine.

"Then thank you, Master~" The Seven Star Sword Spirit's respectful conscious voice rang out. After recognizing a master, its consciousness was linked to Kael and received the protection of Kael's Conqueror's Haki will. In the future, when facing other Conqueror's Haki enemies, it would no longer fear their power. This was the fundamental difference between a mastered cursed sword and an unmastered one; a mastered cursed sword's power would become even stronger. When Kael used its innate power, it could also use Kael's Conqueror's Haki will to temper its own sword spirit consciousness.

In fact, the Seven Star Sword Spirit now recognized this ruthless new master. To destroy what one cannot obtain, this perfectly matched the temperament of an evil sword spirit. So, it would follow this man who possessed the ability to hear the voice of all things and Conqueror's Haki, to kill and grow stronger. Anyway, human lifespans are only a few decades. When this master passed away, it, now much stronger, would once again become a free cursed sword, continuing to control those sword slaves and live out endless years with abandon.

...

Below the altar ruins, Issho, Aramaki, and the others felt Kael's Conqueror's Haki erupting repeatedly, as if he were fighting some monster. However, there wasn't much worry on their faces. They believed Kael could overcome anything. On the other hand, Reiju, Baby5, Nami, Nojiko, Kaya, and the others looked quite nervous, worried about any accidents.

"Why don't you stop your Emperor? That's the legendary Cursed Sword!"

"If the Cursed Sword controls Emperor Kael, he will become a terrifying demon." Maya, the shamaness bound by vines, struggled desperately and shouted anxiously. This was a terrifying legend passed down through generations of her family. Why did these people just refuse to believe it? Did they really have to wait until their Emperor became a demon before they realized their mistake?!

"Quick, let me down!"

"If you don't stop it now, it will be too late." Maya was still struggling and shouting, her face growing more anxious and worried.

"For Emperor Kael's safety, please let me down. Our family has 3 precious orbs that suppress the Cursed Sword. They can protect Emperor Kael and prevent any accidents." Maya could only approach Reiju and Baby5, the two Empresses, from the perspective of Kael's safety, offering her advice.

"Orbs that suppress the curse?"

"Aramaki, release her." Reiju thought for a moment, then spoke to Aramaki. It wasn't that she didn't believe in Kael's abilities, but she felt that an extra safeguard wouldn't hurt.

"Does the Empress believe this weakling's orbs more than His Majesty's strength?" Aramaki grumbled, then loosened the vines on Maya.

Maya looked worriedly at the altar shrine above and was about to run home to bring the 3 orbs. But she suddenly saw a terrifying eerie green sword energy slash out from the altar shrine.

"It's over, the Cursed Sword is about to emerge!"

"Quick, quickly snatch the Cursed Sword back from Emperor Kael's hands!" Maya anxiously pleaded with these seemingly strong nobles. If Kael went on a rampage, it would be another huge disaster for the sea, perhaps no less than the Blood Moon War of that year.

"Little girl, take a good look up there."

"What Cursed Sword? That's all just wishful rumors and fantasies from you Star City commoners and useless weaklings." Aramaki grinned, speaking playfully to Maya, who was almost in tears.

"It seems His Majesty has already subdued this so-called Cursed Sword." Issho, not sensing any unexpected developments with Kael, spoke calmly to reassure everyone.

"I knew it. What Cursed Sword? It's probably just an evil cursed sword. It's nothing for Emperor Kael to subdue a cursed sword." White-haired Saga glanced at the beautiful Maya, smiling with a relaxed tone. However, a cursed sword that even Kael valued must be very powerful. It must be better than his Ryō Wazamono, Shūsui, and might even compare to Issho's Supreme Grade Sword, Kitetsu.