Establishing Authority — Worshipped Like a God

No one felt the impact of Roya's blade-stealing move more than Squard himself.

Now frozen in place, Squard's mind looped over the same scene—

Roya's arm sliding unscathed through his whirlwind of strikes, effortlessly plucking the blade from his grasp.

He didn't even notice that the sword was now aimed at his own chest.

> But until he understood what just happened… he couldn't die in peace.

> "Each time my blade slipped off, I told myself it was Haki, just a dodge."

"But this—he reached through the flurry.

He was hit, but… he wasn't. How is that even possible?!"

No answer came.

And with each second, Squard's heart tightened under the pressure of his confusion.

Then—he heard the other division commanders whispering, also trying to make sense of it.

He saw Vista and Jozu running mock drills, trying to replicate the impossible.

But no one understood it.

And most unbearable of all…

was the faint, effortless smile on Roya's face—

a look that seemed to say:

> "You never stood a chance."

Squard's last shred of pride cracked.

His knees gave out, and he collapsed in front of Roya, head bowed.

> "Vice-Captain! I was blind—please punish me as you see fit!"

---

This was exactly what Roya wanted.

It wasn't enough to shatter a man's techniques.

You had to break his spirit—

root the idea of your invincibility into his soul.

Not just victory.

Worship.

This was the goal of the Observation Field's active ability.

Roya had already given it a name:

> "Heartsteal."

Its core effect was simple but terrifying—

Letting the enemy envision their worst failure before it happens...

...then making it real.

The psychological blow far outweighed any physical damage.

> "With a power that drains my life force each use," Roya thought,

"It better be worth it."

He quickly checked his vitality stats.

> "Only five points lost?"

"Basically negligible. I'll regen that naturally in a few minutes."

> "Plus, I can recover it through food or system returns anyway.

I might as well treat it like mana."

> "Later, I should consider dumping more points into vitality—might unlock something interesting."

Already, one point had regenerated.

Satisfied, he turned his focus back to Squard.

Squard's tone, posture, and even his soul had fully submitted.

Roya smirked.

> "Time to maximize the value of this newly tamed rooster."

---

Most of the 43 allied crews were just like Squard: brash, emotional, and not very bright.

To control them, raw power wasn't enough—

You had to offer rewards too.

A little carrot, a big stick—

that's how you ruled men like this.

---

Roya gave a casual glance toward Doma and Whitey Bay, who were still watching from nearby.

Then he sat back on the captain's throne.

> "These two blades are nice. One's heavy, one's fast.

Could be very useful for different situations."

> "It's a shame your training method is all wrong—

That's why your skill hasn't improved."

His voice echoed across the suddenly silent deck.

Everyone was confused.

> "Wait, what now?"

"Squard challenges the Vice-Captain, gets obliterated… and now Roya's giving sword lessons?!"

But Squard understood immediately.

With a loud thud, he slammed his forehead onto the deck in a full prostration.

> "Vice-Captain! Please grant me the right path to swordsmanship!"

> "From now on, I am your blade slave!

Your will is the edge of my sword!"

---

Roya knew this total submission was the lingering effect of Heartsteal.

> "Fine. Having a 'blade slave' will strengthen my influence."

He nodded.

> "Good. I accept you."

> "The best training method for you is actually quite simple."

> "Use your giant heavy sword to practice speed,

and your light blade to practice heavy strikes."

---

The deck went completely silent.

Then—shock rippled through the entire fleet.

Marco murmured:

> "Train speed with weight… and power with speed?"

"That's… genius."

> "Only someone at the very top would think like that."

> "No wonder he's the Vice-Captain."

Vista frowned, drawing his twin rapiers—staring at them, deep in thought.

Jozu's hands lit up with diamond shine as he stared at his fists.

Even Whitebeard, eavesdropping from his cabin, furrowed his brow and stroked his chin.

> "Use weight to master lightness…

Use lightness to master force…"

"That principle could be applied to all weapons, not just swords."

> "Roya's power isn't just his Haki. His mind is dangerous, too."

---

Even Doma and Whitey Bay had dropped their mocking attitude.

Now, they stared at Roya with serious respect.

Meanwhile, a few less educated pirates scratched their heads.

> "Hey bro, what did the Vice-Captain mean just now?"

> "I just wanna slash faster. Wouldn't a lighter blade help with that?"

> "You idiot! Didn't you hear?! That method is tailored for Squard!

It's not for guys like us!"

> "Damn... I wish the Vice-Captain would give me some pointers!"

> "Yeah, in your dreams."

---

Squard, still kneeling, couldn't contain his joy.

> "Thank you, Master!"

Roya laughed lightly and tossed the sword back.

Squard caught it reverently, carefully sheathing the blade.

Then, still kneeling, he shuffled backward to Roya's side—

maintaining the posture of a proper blade slave.

His crewmates, seeing this, finally found their confidence again.

One of them sneered at the previously smug core members:

> "Hey losers! Our boss is the Vice-Captain's blade slave now!"

"You better kneel and beg forgiveness, or get ready to scrub toilets on our ship!"

PS: Access advance chapters at

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