Chapter 106

<What does it mean to be alive?>

A doppelganger of Rowan with purple-coloured eyes, whom Rowan decided to call 'Bob,' stated as he turned his head up.

<We were originally one, and we still are. However, the moment the baby was born with a memory from his past life—the unconscious part of the mind within the baby's life... became separated from the mature part of the mind.>

Rowan stared at Bob solemnly, "So all along, you were trapped here?"

Bob chuckled and shook his head,

<Yes and no. I am still you, and you are still me. Just as how you experienced everything and grew over time, so did I. However, it was you, with a mature mind, who controlled our soul and body. I was more of a 'spectator.'

That's why I hated you. I hated you for fearing and cowering when our family was murdered. I hated you when you decided to act out of kindness, act in a thoughtless manner, even though you already had a mature mind unlike mine.

Then, after a lucky rescue from Carina, you decide to venture out. But with what purpose? Naught but to escape from the marines, since the fact that such a 'strong' pirate is roaming in the Weakest Sea and continuously ruining their reputation, would turn their eyes upon you. I hated that. It wasn't to become the Pirate King, or to find One Piece, or to overthrow the World Government, nothing of those sorts. Just a petty reason... I felt as if I became someone worthless.>

"Haha..." Rowan made a helpless laugh as he placed his hand on his forehead, "I can't deny that I was naive. Trying to restore my so-called 'peaceful' life, after having earned myself a bounty—but it was because I have experienced 25 years of a comfortable life in the past, that I pursued such a naive goal."

<But you changed.>

Bob grinned,

<Your resolve to meet any threat head-on, your will to protect and encourage your close ones, and your determination to become strong to achieve those means... you gained my respect, Rowan.>

Rowan simply gave an uncertain smile, before asking, "So, why did you call me here?"

Pursing his lips with a conflicted expression, Bob slowly spoke up,

<We've reached the end, Rowan.

The final step for us to become whole—for you to fully become a legitimate person within this world.>

Bob's eyes flashed in purple, before-

*BOOOOOOOOOOM*

An inconceivable wave of willpower, which Rowan recognized as the Conqueror's Haki just like Ace has done in the past, burst out of Bob.

The only difference was, that Bob's Conqueror's was much much more potent than Ace.

<You see, this is another side-effect of incomplete reincarnation. We, the being named as 'Youchiha Bob,' is the heir to Vasilia's will. Along with this special ocular ability that we managed to seize, if there was one thing that we were granted, it was this: Conqeuror's Haki. Yet...>

Rowan shook his head knowingly, "I already know. I don't have it."

<...Conqueror's Haki is something that is inherent from one's birth. However, you, who maintained the memory from the previous life... weren't considered to have been 'born' within this world, and therefore, I, the recessive part of mind, came to be the only one who acquired this ability.>

"And that's why our eye-colour differ, I assume."

<From what I can judge, the ocular ability of ours revolves around Conqueror's Haki. However, you, who doesn't have such Haki within yourself, but have the eyes... the ocular power tapped into a different area. Instead of Conqueror's Haki, it was your Observation Haki that received the benefit. And it will continue to do so, as your eyes gain more prowess.>

At the next moment, Bob's Conqueror's Haki, which was pressuring Rowan from all sides, suddenly retracted back to him, before through an unknown mechanism, condensing on his right hand, forming a crackling red-black-coloured sword.

<The true ability of these eyes... is the 'manifestation' of Conqueror's Haki. The moment I was able to utilize this, I've understood why Vasilia was known to be the strongest among all twenty-one kingdoms.>

Lifting up the sword to Rowan, Bob said in a cold tone,

<You only have one job left: defeat me. Only then, will we return back to one.>

"…Just as I thought." Rowan grimaced as he clenched his right fist, "It seems that I can't use my devil fruit ability here. A pure clash of will, huh."

His amber-coloured eyes began to glow brilliantly, and began to sense everything around him at an inconceivable degree of accuracy and precision.

"Though I've never given it a name, guess I'll call it 'Hyper Sense.'"

Rowan and Bob simultaneously blasted off of their spot, ready to clash against one another with all their might.

And thus, the battle between two wills, the battle that shouldn't be possible by any logic, has begun within Rowan.

_________________

[Marineford]

*SLAM*

Garp gritted his teeth as he slammed his fist onto the table, "Damn it!! I don't see why it's necessary!!!"

Sengoku, who was sitting on his chair with his arms crossed, replied in a reserved tone, "I understand your reservations, but this isn't some simple execution of a pirate, Garp."

Garp, with the veins popping out of his forehead, continued to glare at Sengoku, unable to conceal his fury.

"You have to think about what's at stake here. The significance it has of the future of the world! That's why it's necessary." Nonetheless, Sengoku calmly finished his words. "I know that it must be hard for you, but remember that the responsibility lies upon your shoulders."

Unable to face Sengoku any longer, Garp, with a deep frown, turned around and walked away.

While Sengoku and Garp had their short dispute in Sengoku's office, the whole Marineford seemed to be in an emergency. All the residents, who are the families of the marine soldiers, were evacuated to Enies Lobby through the water current of the Gates of Justice, while at its crescent-shaped bay, the cannons were loaded and the countless marine soldiers were stationed in a regular order.

After Garp left the room, Sengoku's gaze turned down to many sets of reports on his desk.

"Red Hair Shanks intervened Kaido of the Beast, who was daring to approach Marineford." Sengoku stated to himself, "All the powerful forces are moving at once. They too are feeling it... the end to the Great Age of Pirates!!!"

_________________

[Impel Down, Level 6: Infinite Hell]

"Portagus D. Ace." A very tall man with huge black horns atop of his head, Chief Warden Magellan, said strictly, "Move out."

*Creak*

Upon one jailer unlocking the door into Ace's cell, Jinbe, who was on a neighbouring cell of Ace, stared at Ace, who was silently sitting by, with concern.

"Jinbe." Upon the chains that prevented the movement of his arms having been freed by the jailers, Ace spoke up in a low tone as he stood up from his spot, "When Rowan wakes up, send him my regard."

*Tap* *Tap*

The sounds from Ace's steps echoed throughout the whole proximity, gaining the attentions of many prisoners nearby.

"Oi!!! Why not set me free as well? Kekeke!!!"

"Look who it is, the 2nd Division Commander of the Whitebeard pirates!!! His end is coming, hahaha!!!"

As the nearby cells began to get rowdy, Magellan clicked his tongue before the large mass of purple-coloured poison was expelled out of his body, ready to strike them at any time.

"Do know that I have no qualms in killing all of you filths." Magellan glared at the prisoners, "If you wish to preserve your pathetic lives for a second longer, shut your mouth."

"Heh, you think you are scary?" Although the noise instantly died down, one prisoner continued, "That's nothing compared to what I'm-"

"Hydra." Complying to Magellan's control, the poison instantly formed a shape that resembled that of a three-headed dragon, before devouring the prisoner in one go.

"AHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

As the prisoner cried in the scorching pain he felt all over his body, Magellan impassively turned back and faced Ace, who was now standing in front of him.

Ace turned and gave one final gaze to Rowan and Jinbe, before walking forth, surrounded by the jailers and Magellan in front of him.

________________

*SWOOOOSH*

Rowan found himself in a cold sweat as Bob's sword scrapped his side.

The sword on Bob's hand was indeed, very unique. Every time it was brought near Rowan, Rowan felt a heavy sensation trying to push him down onto the ground, and found it increasingly difficult to dodge Bob's attack, even after having predicted Bob's movement ages ago.

He felt as if he was trapped in an endless pit.

<Tell me, Rowan.>

Raising his sword up once more, Bob said coldly,

<Who are you? The conqueror? The king? The one above everyone else?>

*SWOOOOOOSH*

Mustering all his strength to twist his body, Rowan barely evaded Bob's slash once more.

<If I was the one to dictate our life, that's who we would've been.>

Bob stated in seriousness.

<Kill Arlong pirates and Cocoyasi Marine branch to revenge my family. Destroy the World Government and revenge Vasilia. Become the Pirate King myself and seize the most precious treasure in this world. This is who I would've been.>

*SWOOOOSH*

Rowan found his eyes widened as this time, Bob's sword managed to slash through him, before blasting backward due to the crushing amount of will behind Bob's attack.

<But that's not me from the previous life.>

Bob shook his head with his eyes momentarily closed.

"Heh, you aren't wrong there." With shaky arms, Rowan slowly pushed himself back up on his feet. Surprisingly, there seemed to be no injury on him.

"I've never wished to conquer anything. I didn't really wish for a great adventure or freedom either."

A weird force began to swirl around Rowan,

"I just wanted one thing: a peaceful life with my family. Ironically enough, in this Greate Age of Pirates, it isn't as easy as it sounds." The wisps of orange-coloured energy began to emanate from Rowan's eyes, "I'm not a conqueror. If anything, I favour being a 'protector.'"

*Click*

"Whether if it's to become stronger than this so-called 'Immortal,' than the Four Emperors, than the Marine, than anyone else, in order to live the life free of concern—being strongest is what I seek for."

At the next moment, as if a key has unlocked a door somewhere within Rowan,

*Swoooooosh*

Like a gentle breeze, the enigmatic force began to spread out from him, before adamantly clashing against Bob's Conqueror's Haki.

*BOOOOOOOOOM*

To be precise, it was one-sided clash. The wisp of will from Rowan was stationary. It didn't budge, but firmly defended against the ferocious blast of Bob's Conqueror's Haki.

<Bofakfak... you've done it.>

Bob stated in a peaceful smile,

<Although you are unable to utilize Conqueror's Haki, the fact that you've clashed your will against both worlds—you may not be a conqueror, but you surely aren't a conquered either.>

As if entranced by his newfound ability, Rowan slowly raised his right arm. Neither Rowan nor Bob could see the force, for it wasn't supposed to exist in this world.

Yet, they could feel it.

*VROOOOOOOOOM*

The whole void around them began to shake as Rowan's invisible will began to condense around his right hand—bringing something impossible into its existence—and upon him clenching it into a fist,

A transparent, liquid-like substance encased it. If not for its unique feature, Rowan could have mistaken it for the emission of Armament Haki. The difference was the following: If Armament Haki was meant to protect him from the physical harms, this Haki... was meant to protect him on the spiritual level.

"This is the end, Bob." Staring at Bob with a slight sadness in his eyes, Rowan stated. The moment this new type of Haki manifested, he instinctively knew what it was meant to do: the suppression of one's will to 'conquer.'

No one, under his eyes, shall ever attempt to conquer and take what belongs to him.

Bob smiled gently, <No. This is just the beginning. After all these years, one will is going to take whole control of one soul, just as how it should have been all along.>

Propelling himself, Bob flew towards Rowan with his red-black-sword crackling ferociously.

Cocking back his right fist, at the precise timing, Rowan blasted it forward, meeting Bob's slash with his punch.

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

As the crushing forces collided against one another, Bob's figure began to disintegrate slowly,

<Thank you, Rowan.>

Bob smiled peacefully under Rowan's eyes,

<...I'll leave the rest to you.>

With complex emotion, Rowan watched as Bob withered away into the bright energy-like particles, before spreading throughout the whole surroundings.

The dark void around him began to brighten up, and replace the hollow and endless void with bright atmosphere.

The land, full of grass and other lively plants on top, began to appear underneath his feet, and the blue sky began to appear on top as the sun began to rise from the empty void.

Rowan's eyes widened, for this was just the imagination he held within his head. This indicated one thing: Rowan's full control over his mind. The entity known as 'Youchiha Bob' was no more.

And now,

"I see that you are finally awake."

A deep voice was heard as Rowan found himself blinking his amber-coloured eyes in a prison cell.

"Some time has passed by since Ace was sent to the execution platform. Unfortunately, I am not aware of how much."

Upon hearing the familiar name, Rowan's eyes narrowed as he turned to the source of the voice.

All Rowan could perceive, was the fact that he was a fish-man.

"Nice to meet you, Rowan-san." Jinbe said as he stared at Rowan with conflicted eyes, "I'm Jinbe."

Although Rowan doesn't know, the man in front of him, was the one partially related to the tragedy of Cocoyasi.