[107] Dawn of Pride (I)

[2660 words]

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[To the Clash]

As of now, almost all the extra forces on Glint Island had been either killed or knocked unconscious as their bodies were laid out everywhere. Going from the rambunctious Festival littered with pirates to a war-torn plain caked in dust and debris. 

"Gurarara! Roger, you better make this boring event fun for me!" Whitebeard declared as his Naginata shone black.

The future Pirate King grinned, "Newgate, I thought you died since I didn't see you for months!"

The words out, the two pirates raced out in greeting.

Roger's weapon burst with a beautiful shine of dense Haki as bubbles of Emission boiled around. Both men and their Supreme Weapons laced with Haki clashed.

BOOM!

It started with a blinding light followed by a thunderous gong. And the most unbelievable thing was that their weapons weren't even touching!

…

"Redfield, why is someone like you here?" Shiki questioned. His two swords were drawn, gleaming with a dangerous black light.

The Red Count chuckled in return, "How could I miss such an occasion? The event itself bores me but the outcome draws my very attention."

A sharp blade suddenly shot out of Redfield's umbrella, turning it into a polearm. 

*Hiss* *Crackle* A purple mist of red sparks danced around the weapon, conveying the intent of its master.

The bladed umbrella crashed onto the Golden Lion's twin swords, evoking a hellish result. Once again, a clash so spectacular that the air itself screamed in its wake as the blades refused to touch.

…

"You dare get in Lord Sol's way!?" one of the Vices roared out.

"Ma-Ma-Mam-Ma! Just a few flies! I'll break you just like that girl Kaido destroyed!" Big Mom laughed with her flintlock in hand. 

.

"Maiser Shot!"

.

*Bang!* A single bullet left the chamber. Under its mundane veil was a collection of dense, masterful Haki.

'She imbued Emission and Infusion to her bullet?' Damien thought to himself. 

Gobbler, who was on the side, suddenly turned into a 20-foot-long boar-zoan as the thick body glowed in Haki.

It was a special fruit, the Boar-Boar Fruit: Ancient Model Entelodont!

[Entelodont Image (in Discord)]

He opened up his maw that stretched wide enough to inhale humans. Surprisingly enough, the coming attack began dissolving away.

.

"Vacuum Maw!"

.

Ignavi steeled his twin swords as he crashed down upon the single bullet with his might.

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"Slash of Fate!"

.

Two coils of orange strings burst out of Osca's hand and wrapped around the bullet like a cowboy tugging a horse. 

"Speed Swipe!"

"Momentum Swipe!"

"Acceleration Swipe!"

Slowly, the bullet lost its speed, momentum and acceleration.

Alas, the projectile fell to the ground with a clatter under three of the Capital Vices' attacks.

"What a babe, a single bullet needed three of us to stop!" Jello said as he saw the huffing trio.

"You overgrown hag! I'll eat your limbs off!" Gobbler roared out from his zoan form.

"Hag!?" Big Mom grimaced. "I'll kill you all!" 

Linlin then switched to her Napoleon, her eyes burst orange as he raged forward like a berserk beast.

…

"WORORORO! Take my club!"

Kaido roared out as his boiling-black kanabo club smashed into a smaller shadow before him.

Ripples of force screeched out as the club was being pushed back by two axes, sinking both men's feet into the ground.

"You're Kaido… Rayleigh warned me about your crazy ass!" Scopper Gaban, Roger's left-hand man, laughed while his axes went on with a flurry of attacks.

Clang! Bang! Clang!

The mighty club was rained down upon with the attacks while the wielder could only grin in impatience.

…

Damien hummed at the catastrophe surrounding him, casually walking away from Linlin's rampage and toward a clear area at the back of the hillside, meeting another presence.

He was on the shorter end of the spectrum, barely nine feet tall. Yet his strength was apparent.

"Sohohoho! I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that Rocks sent the only D under his banner to me," the Overlord, Pryde D. Sol, laughed. 

The Sin Incarnate shrugged in reply. "The Captain won't join until you can show the strength to interest him; you'll have to make do with me till then."

Sol smirked, unaffected by Rocks' stance.

"I don't understand why you would go under that madman's banner. Do you wish to see him sit upon the World's Throne?"

Damien shook his head, "I'd rather Rocks fall dead right now."

Sol raised his head with a knowing smile, "Now you sound like a D. Say, young pirate, why not join me in my crusade?" he offered with a magnetic voice. "We can destroy the Rocks together. With him gone, the Titans he's collected will go their ways, opening a window for you to do as you wish with this broken world."

"Rahahaha!" The Sin Incarnate could only laugh, "they call you the strongest of the Three Overlords… but at the end of the day, you three will share the same fate and be forgotten. Why would I ever work with you?"

The Sin of Pride narrowed his eyes yet his smile stayed, "If you cannot be an ally… then you will be a rival!" The Holy Terror extended both arms out in a graceful way, his eyes shining like two suns floating about.

His smile deepened as a burst of unbelievable heat was released in all directions. The ruined ground below turn took upon a red hue as it melted into a molten mess, liquifying it to oblivion.

*Szzzzz*

The molten flames were beyond hot, they left even Damien's skin sizzling from the heat, not by inflicting any damage but rather by boiling the moisture in his pores to release a hazy steam.

Nearby terrains were reduced to a hellish mess, bursting into an inferno of mass proportions, liquifying into a molten mess.

.

"Sohohoho, the news was correct, you have tough skin."

Sol didn't reduce his attack, continuously sending out waves of boiling heat like a volcano. Meanwhile, Damien eyed the Overlord, thinking over some things.

"Even our Head of Intelligence failed to fully nail the specifics of your power," he muttered. "This heat goes beyond any fire I've felt, even beyond Basara's lava…"

Sol haughtily laughed, enjoying the curiosity of the young pirate.

"Considering your deep desire to align your image with that of the Sun God Nika…" Damien slowly spoke, his words drawing a sharp gaze from Sol, "These flames must originate from the sun itself."

Sol narrowed his eyes, revealing a dangerous glint. "Your comments make it seem that you do not agree with my 'claims'." The man's voice started indifferent though warping into audible malice by the end.

Damien scoffed, "I've never been much of a believer in myths and legends, but even I know that someone like you could never be put in the same light as one reputed as the 'Warrior of Liberation'."

An angered huff exited the Overlord's mouth. "I have seen the weakness of humans, congregating together and praying to magical figures, hoping to free them from their miserable lives…"

"I will liberate them as they so deeply desire—liberate them from their suffering," Sol declared. "This broken world will be saved by me!"

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"Solar Flare!"

.

Boom!

The heat doubled, exploding out from the famed pirate and rushing onto anything within a hundred meters.

The air was turned into a liquid while the surrounding area melted into a deep red from the heat, right before dissolving into nothingness.

"It stings," Damien mumbled, feeling pins and needles over his skin and echoing down his spinal cord.

The Overlord Sol saw the little effect and took the fight up a notch.

Gently, the famed pirate was overtaken by flames and lifted to the sky, overlooking the hellish landscape below.

A loud screech erupted all over the broken island as globs of golden flames swirled around, they formed giant balls of fire—from tens to hundreds of basketball-sized rocks floated around him.

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"Solar Storm!"

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The hundreds of balls swam with flames from the sun and they rained down in a world-ending sight.

*Fwooo!* The wind quaked in their fiery presence and the air howled as the atmosphere was left in shambles.

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"Devoured Space."

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A crimson curtain, nearly 20 meters in size, opened up before Damien. All matter beyond its protection was turned into an absolute void, crushing space!

The raining hell clashed down upon the net that was void of matter—there was no sound of the actual collision.

Although Damien was safe from the fiery rain, the same could not be said for the area around him. *Rumble* The fire melted through the ground and made its way down to the very roots of the island, seeping deep down like rainwater.

.

"Sohoho! Not bad, child," The Overlord's voice bellowed out. "Let m–"

"!!!" Sol's eyes widened as he saw a black figure flicker in front of him, it resembled the stance of a man about to throw a punch.

BAM!

The fist shot out and nailed the Overlord in the stomach. "Auugh!" he howled, glaring daggers at his enemy while being shot through the skies and drilling into the ruined earth, leaving behind a steamy trail.

"..."

"It's odd," Damien muttered, reining in the Ryuo Haki from his fist. "The flames are molten-hot but they rage around without control, it's almost like Sol can't even use them properly."

But the small exchange was enough for Damien to draft his enemy's strength and it wasn't impressive. 

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

[Pryde D. Sol]

[Age: 93]

[Height: 9'1"] (2.77 m)

[Devil Fruit: Sun-Sun Fruit (Grandmastery (I))]

[Fruit Rating: 7 Stars (Ultimate-Class Fruit)]

[Skills: Unique Strength, Excessive Pride, Will of D, Eternal Youth]

[Haki: Intermediate Mastery of Observation Haki, Advanced Mastery of Armament Haki, Advanced Mastery of Conqueror's Haki]

[Strength: Bottom Tier Yonko]

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

"Really odd… Hmm!?"

Any further thoughts were shaken away by a burst of light at the crater, followed by a deep voice.

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"Radiance Reborn!"

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Damien looked at the emerging human sun with narrowed eyes. His pupils flashed red, opting him to cross both arms in solid defense.

*Clang!* It was the sound of metal clanking against metal, born from a fiery fist crashing onto the Sin Incarnate's arms.

The younger pirate winced under the creaking of his bones. A ding in his mind shed some much needed light.

[Pryde D. Sol's Strength: Bottom Tier Yonko → Middle Tier Yonko.]

Boom!

The two suddenly shot back, carrying enough momentum to break a giant hill. Damien grinned at the odd scenario, welcoming the Overlord's rebirth.

Meanwhile, Sol gave a dull chuckle, his flames taking on a more mellow colour, from fiery red to a warm orange. "You're not the only one who can flow their Haki!"

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"Solar Gauntlets!"

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The liquid heat warped around, soon forming an orange metal glove over Sol's hands. The Overlord shot out once more, his arms exploded with pure heat.

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"Fury Road!"

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Damien responded with an equally terrifying punch, one greatly boosted by his crushing powers.

BOOM!

Suddenly a spectacle broke out and orange flames struck the skies, combating a crimson force filled with pulverizing particles.

Explosions followed as the flames were crushed apart, but not before burning up the crimson energy from the younger pirate.

Damien leaned into the fight, his eyes staring into the twin suns of Sol. "Rahaha! Your strength went up even though your flames went colder, it really is a weird power."

"Hmph, your end is already decided."

The two didn't speak more, choosing to continue their chat with their fists.

Boom!

*Crash!*

BAM!

*Fwooo*

Kaboom!

…

An hour went on as the island was bathed with the endless assaults of the pirates, spreading across Glint Island.

On one side was a man who could release earthquakes from his fists all the while clashing with a man with a sword.

In the sky was the clash between a man who could pick and throw islands with ease, clashing with an elegant pirate with an umbrella.

Down below was the mess between two gigantic figures meeting the attacks of five well-versed pirates.

And then there was the chaotic hillside where a literal sun was going against the primal force of pulverization.

…

Damien's eyes narrowed in Observation, ducking at a hook. He followed it with a punch to the enemy's liver, sending both Haki and crushing energy to tear from within.

Sol grimaced only to have his head grabbed by Damien's hands and pulled into a knee. *Bam!* The Overlord's mind shook in the skull with blood dripping from his broken nose.

With a simple leap came a left foot, swatting Sol aside, shooting him dozens of meters back.

"What a vulgar ability you have… almost as unimaginative as Newgate's," Sol cursed, spitting a wad of blood.

He glared at the opposing pirate and roared once more:

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"Radiance Reborn!"

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Damien watched once more as the Overlord grew in strength and rose to the sky, becoming a second sun!

"Am I supposed to sit tight while you grow stronger?"

Ryushi was held up like a spear and launched with a thunderous sonic boom. The weapon left a broken trail of black and red, aiming at the heart of the flame 50 meters in the sky.

"Don't insult me," Sol's voice came from the collection of fire. The blazing weapon was swatted back to its sender, crashing into Damien's hands.

"I guess it can't be that easy to interrupt an anime power-up," the younger pirate muttered, clicking his tongue.

*Hiss* Damien's eyes fell on the Pulverizing Blade, seeing remnants of the deflection. "The flames got colder but they're more dense and controlled than before…"

He watched with some clarity, the orange flames getting lighter and lighter, picking up on hints, "Your fruit isn't documented in the Encyclopedia but I think I figured it out—a fruit that allows its user to personify each layer of the sun."

'Sibyl, draft the details of his Devil Fruit.'

[Okay… done.]

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[Sun-Sun Fruit (Taiyo Taiyo no Mi)]

[Paramecia Fruit]

[Fruit Rating: 7 Stars (Ultimate-Class Fruit)]

[Allows the user to personify the sun, granting them the ability to embody the different layers of the sun's anatomy, as the layers go deeper, the strength increases, making them a Celestial Human.]

[Grants the user the lifespan of the Sun when Awakened and endless energy during the day.]

[Expanded: The Sun has six main regions: The Corona, The Chromosphere, The Photosphere, The Convection Zone, The Radiative Zone and The Core.]

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

"Last I recall the Corona is much hotter than even the Photosphere, no wonder his flames have been getting colder," Damien murmured to himself.

The pirate frowned, opting for another attack to interrupt the transformation.

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"Utter Ruin."

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The stream of crushing energy streamed out from his open palm, crumpling everything in its path.

*Screech!* A loud cry of a bird echoed in the muddy horizon waves of heat pulsed all over. The incoming attack dissolved away with ease, unveiling the reborn enemy.

"Behold, my power," Sol's voice boomed.

The Overlord was bathed in orange flames as they took the shape of razor-sharp feathers with sharp talons for feet.

The beast was enough to warrant the eyes of everyone; they all gave a glance at the creature that spanned at least 20 meters wide in its mythical glory.

Composed of blazing flames and soaring through a sky filled with bubbling hot air, it was a divine sight as the sun itself seemed to revel in its majesty; a magnificent creature.

Sol eyed the pirate far below him, looking down with great arrogance.

"Don't mistake me for the inferior Phoenix Fruit that can only use restorative flames," he declared.

He waved a wing as a huge torrent of solar fire shuttled out, crashing onto the sea far away.

BOOM!

The seawater exploded to a sizable height, right before boiling into a cloud of steam that covered half of Glint Island.

"I prefer the term, 'Sun Bird', it gets the point across better," Sol said with a defined smile hidden under the massive creature bathed in hellfire.

[Creature Image (in Discord)]

To Be Continued…

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Author's Corner.

His original Devil Fruit was the Mythical Sun Bird but I altered it. Now the Sun Bird form is just a piece of his power at the third layer of six.

It is a bit complicated; simply put, Sol can take on each layer of the Sun, boosting the control over his flames and overall strength as he goes deeper towards the Core.

Images are available on Discord alongside other niche details: https://discord.gg/aJHHHPvb6q