Chapter 156

The reason was simple:

Because he was more powerful.

And because of that, he could destroy the Third Generation Kitetsu at any time.

So... the Third Generation Kitetsu had become very self-aware.

"After fusing with Cong Yunqi, the spirit of the Third Generation Kitetsu has expanded significantly," Kairos observed.

"And..."

Kairos could sense the ghostly aura now radiating from the sword—deep and unsettling.

But in his eyes?

That was it.

Still, now that the fusion with Cong Yunqi had succeeded and the blade had been upgraded, he couldn't resist testing its power—seeing what new abilities had awakened in the Third Generation Kitetsu after being elevated to a Supreme Grade sword.

From Kairos Flint's perspective, it seemed the sword had gained some special abilities...

He just wasn't sure what they were yet.

Only one way to find out.

He stepped out of his room.

Then, with a swift motion, he drew the Third Generation Kitetsu.

Buzz!

The sword trembled in his grasp—as if trying to communicate.

"I see," Kairos murmured, responding to the blade.

In the next instant, he felt it:

His Haki was being drained.

"Absorbing Haki?"

"Isn't that the ability of Enma, that sword once wielded by that fool Kozuki Oden?" Kairos muttered inwardly.

But then he noticed something different.

It wasn't just regular Armament Haki being absorbed—like Enma did.

It was Conqueror's Haki.

The Third Generation Kitetsu was absorbing his Conqueror's Haki.

"Interesting…"

He gave the sword a casual swing—no force, no intent behind it.

Just a motion.

Yet, even that was enough to release a sharp slash of sword energy that carved a wide, visible gouge into the island's surface.

It wasn't his full power—far from it—but the sword energy was strong enough to be comparable to a serious strike from a Marine admiral.

"So... this is the ability it awakened after becoming a Supreme Grade Sword?" Kairos muttered, his tone slightly disappointed.

He had been hoping for something more... earth-shattering.

To say he wasn't let down would've been a lie.

But then again, this kind of power would already be jaw-dropping for most people.

A Supreme Grade Sword that can absorb Conqueror's Haki and convert it into devastating sword energy?

That's the dream of swordsmen across the world.

If a master swordsman with Conqueror's Haki wielded this version of the Third Generation Kitetsu, they might even be able to stand toe-to-toe with someone at the Yonko level.

So really—it wasn't that this ability was weak.

It's just that Kairos Flint was too strong.

To him, something extraordinary could feel mundane.

Buzz!

The blade trembled again in his hand, vibrating with energy.

It was still trying to communicate.

Even though he couldn't fully understand what the sword was trying to say, Kairos had wielded it long enough to grasp the general idea.

"You're saying... if you absorb more of my Conqueror's Haki, you'll be able to unleash even stronger sword energy attacks?"

The Third Generation Kitetsu buzzed again—anxious now, as if afraid he hadn't understood.

"Alright," Kairos said, raising the blade slightly. "Then show me your limits."

With his permission, the sword began pulling in his Conqueror's Haki at an accelerated rate.

Where it had once absorbed cautiously, now it devoured the Haki greedily—like a beast starved for power.

Kairos could feel it.

His Conqueror's Haki was flowing into the blade like a rushing tide.

Mist-like ghostly energy began to swirl around the blade—growing denser, darker, and colder with every passing second.

Eventually, the blade reached its limit.

It stopped absorbing.

It couldn't handle any more for now.

"About one-fifth of my Conqueror's Haki," Kairos estimated, calculating the energy he had lost.

That wasn't much to him.

But if the sword absorbed this much energy five times in a row, he'd be completely drained.

"Now then—show me your ultimate power."

Kairos casually swung the blade toward the island.

SWOOSH!!!

An explosive wave of sword energy burst from the blade—this time far more intense than before.

The impact was devastating.

The ground quaked.

And just like that...

The entire island was split in two.

From the middle.

Cleanly.

Like a cake cut down the center.

One attack—casual, unforced—had cleaved a whole island apart.

"This power… it's already at the emperor level," Kairos remarked quietly.

"So you do have some use after all."

"Still… you burn through my Conqueror's Haki way too fast."

His first remark made the sword tremble joyfully, as if proud of itself.

But the second?

It made the blade buzz in frustration—almost like it was pouting.

"Of course it takes a ton of Haki!" the sword seemed to say. "What do you expect from a move that can split an island in half?! Give me a break, man!"

MD, Kairos thought, smirking to himself.

Being a weapon these days is rough.