Chapter 15: Armament Haki

A chill swept across the port as Sharlo's eyes fixed on the approaching ship. He could sense the cold emanating from it, a clear sign that there was a Devil Fruit user onboard. As the ship drew closer, a thin layer of ice formed on the surface of the sea.

"Could it be the Ice-Ice Fruit from the Logia class?" Sharlo speculated. Considering the timeline, the future Admiral Aokiji hadn't eaten the fruit yet. Was this pirate captain the previous Ice-Ice Fruit user? If so, it would be problematic since Sharlo hadn't mastered Armament Haki yet.

As the pirate ship neared the port, pirates brandishing swords and guns leapt ashore, followed by their captain, who had previously blocked Sharlo's slash. The pirate captain, wearing a tricorn hat, noticed Sharlo standing alone, holding his sword.

"Kid! Was it you who launched that slash just now?" The captain's breath visible from the cold.

"Yes, it was me. Pirates are not welcome here," Sharlo declared, stepping forward.

The pirate captain looked stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Ha ha ha! Kid, are you joking? You, a little brat, unleashed a swordsman's slash? You must be dreaming!"

As the captain's laughter echoed, the fifty or so pirates joined in mockingly.

"Captain, this kid said pirates aren't welcome here! We go wherever we want, who's he to decide!" one pirate jeered.

Unfazed, Sharlo swung his sword, sending a 30-meter sword strike towards the laughing pirates.

Boom!

The laughter ceased abruptly as thirty pirates fell dead. The remaining pirates gulped audibly in the ensuing silence.

"Captain! He's really a swordsman!" they cried, hiding behind their leader.

"Damn it! I'm not blind!" The captain, having seen Sharlo's attack, frowned and approached him.

"Kid, how about joining our Cold Pirates? If you do, I'll forgive your previous actions. What do you say?" the captain offered.

Sharlo paused, then laughed loudly. "You think you can recruit me? Who do you think you are!" he roared, unleashing his Conqueror's Haki.

An invisible force erupted from Sharlo, sweeping towards the pirates. One by one, they fell unconscious, leaving the captain dumbfounded.

"This... this is Conqueror's Haki!" he exclaimed, realizing Sharlo's rare, kingly potential. Determined not to let Sharlo live, the captain's eyes filled with murderous intent as cold steam rose from his fists.

"Kid, you're asking for death!" he shouted, using the "Soru" technique from the Navy's Rokushiki to close the distance rapidly.

Sharlo, recognizing the move, remained calm and clashed swords with the captain's fists.

Clang!

"That's Armament Haki!" Sharlo identified the black aura covering the captain's fists.

"Ha ha ha! Good eyes, kid. This is Armament Haki! I'm Will Varner, a pirate with a 160 million berry bounty. Dying by my hands is an honor for you," Varner boasted.

Sharlo, undeterred, focused on Varner's earlier words: "cold?" His fruit wasn't the Ice-Ice Fruit but the Chill-Chill Fruit. Relieved, Sharlo launched another powerful sword strike, pushing Varner back and sending a ten-meter-long slash at him.

Varner blocked with his Armament Haki-covered arm, but the strike still cut him.

"Ha ha ha!" Sharlo laughed. He intended to capture Varner alive to learn Armament Haki. His physical strength was sufficient; he just needed the training method. Varner's appearance was the perfect opportunity.

With renewed vigor, Sharlo relentlessly attacked, not giving Varner a chance to close the distance, knowing the danger of his Devil Fruit abilities. Varner, overwhelmed by the barrage of sword strikes, struggled to defend, his Armament Haki insufficient for full-body coverage.

Eventually, a slash struck Varner's chest, forcing him to use his Chill-Chill Fruit powers to freeze the bleeding wound. Sharlo ceased his attacks, not wanting to accidentally kill Varner before extracting the Haki training method.

Desperate and surrounded by unconscious crew members, Varner resolved to a final charge, hoping for a miracle. But luck wasn't on his side. Sharlo easily severed his arms and hamstrung him, eliciting a pained scream.

Even Sharlo felt a pang of sympathy, influenced by his Observation Haki. Shaking off the emotion, he looked at the incapacitated Varner and smiled.

Armament Haki, here I come!

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(50 Advance chapters)