One Piece:Becoming the King of the World from the Rocks Era

As Branton's fist approached, Li Yuan raised the Seven Stars Sword to block it. Branton's other fist targeted Li Yuan's heart, but Li Yuan, already anticipating Branton's moves, sidestepped, avoiding both punches. Seizing the opportunity, he redirected his sword to slash at Branton's thigh.

Branton bent forward, deflecting the sword's trajectory with a punch to its blade, then closed the gap with greater speed, launching a barrage of punches at Li Yuan.

The advantage of having a weapon is distance, but in close combat, a martial artist's shorter reach can be deadly. Branton, a martial arts expert, knew his strength lay in close quarters, so he pressed in to suppress Li Yuan's sword.

However, what Branton didn't realize was that Li Yuan had faced similar tactics before, especially from Garp, a martial artist even stronger than Branton. If Li Yuan could handle Garp, Branton posed no threat.

"Slash!"

Li Yuan deftly avoided Branton's punches, the Seven Stars Sword free from Branton's suppression. Seizing a momentary opening, Li Yuan slashed at Branton's shoulder.

The sword absorbed the bright red blood, its blade appearing even more sinister, as if it were a demon hungry for flesh.

The battle was fierce and fast, with hundreds of exchanges in mere moments. Branton found himself unable to gain any advantage, accumulating numerous sword wounds instead.

"Exploding Kill Fist!"

In a sudden shift, Branton focused all his killing intent into one punch. He appeared as a demon from hell, his punch embodying the will to kill all in its path.

But Li Yuan, unfazed by Branton's sudden assault, had prepared his own counter.

"Trinity Unification: Conqueror's Blood Dragon Slash!"

A blood-red Asura appeared behind Li Yuan, the sword's blade twining with a blood dragon.

As the sword swung, the blood dragon seemed to break free, soaring skyward, shattering the heavens.

Branton believed his meticulously prepared punch could turn the tide.

Yet, as he saw the sword, his eyes filled with blood. His killing-intent-powered punch, before that blood dragon, seemed child's play, easily shattered.

The Seven Stars Sword, like a charging dragon, collided with Branton's fist.

Instantly, Branton felt his fist bones shatter, pain flooding his body as if struck by a sledgehammer. He was flung back hundreds of meters, his legs carving deep furrows in the ground.

"Hahaha, Branton, didn't I say you're not as good as Silver Axe? Silver Axe could withstand that strike!" Li Yuan taunted, pressing the attack with another sword slash.

Branton, silent, dodged and countered with a punch to Li Yuan's abdomen. Li Yuan evaded, slashing at Branton's head.

The two resumed their melee, Branton now feeling the same frustration Silver Axe had.

Fighting Li Yuan was infuriating; it seemed Li Yuan could read his every move, nullifying his attacks.

Li Yuan's sword struck with pinpoint accuracy, exploiting weaknesses with minimal effort, dismantling Branton's offense while maximizing damage.

It was a familiar frustration for Branton, reminiscent of his past battles.

"The captain has grown stronger!" Barrett and the others remarked, observing the island fight.

They knew Branton's strength from their own battles. Without Barrett and Ashura Doji's Zoan resilience, they'd have lost long ago.

Even so, they'd been defeated multiple times, retreating in disgrace and losing five islands.

Now, Branton was outmatched by Li Yuan, who seemed even stronger than before.

"Of course, Senior Brother is only 23, at the peak of his growth. He's getting stronger every year," Kano admired.

Having known Li Yuan for years, Kano believed in his unparalleled strength and potential.

"Indeed, the captain grows stronger, but we must also strive to not hold him back," Ashura Doji said seriously.

Though in his twenties, Ashura Doji felt his progress slowing. Having surpassed his initial rapid growth, his strength improved gradually.

Only by honing his swordsmanship, Haki, and fruit ability could he continue to grow.

Three days passed since the battle began, Branton's body covered in terrifying sword wounds.

His greatest concern was his rapidly depleting stamina, feeling his energy nearly gone.

Branton understood the cause: Li Yuan's Seven Stars Sword, a bloodthirsty demon, had drained his blood, sapping his strength.

"Branton, it's over!" Li Yuan declared, raising the Seven Stars Sword overhead, compressing air around it.

Red lightning crackled, enveloping the sword like a stormy sea.

Behind Li Yuan, a 30-meter-tall giant mirage appeared, mirroring him, gathering power with a giant sword.

"Trinity Unification: Conqueror's Kingdom!"

As the sword descended, air rushed away, the trinity of sword intents, Conqueror's Haki, and Conqueror's Kingdom fusing into a shockwave aimed at Branton.

"I am the Violent King Branton! I won't fall!" Branton roared, channeling his fruit power, his muscles bulging to the limit.

In this state, he had endured an Admiral-level assault until Li Yuan killed the CP0 chief.

"Seven Wounds Fist!"

Ignoring the self-destructive strain, Branton unleashed his ultimate punch, a technique developed through his ability, but never before used.

His punch, tearing the air, rippled through space.

Yet, against the island-destroying shockwave, his punch was but a leaf in a storm.

His punch disintegrated, the shockwave shattering his body, deflating his bulging muscles.

His body, like debris, was flung skyward, blood spraying as he crashed among the rubble. 

"Trinity Unification: Conqueror's Heaven-Shattering Slash!"

Anticipating Branton's trajectory, Li Yuan ascended, descending like a meteor.

Red lightning wrapped around the Seven Stars Sword, like a true meteor about to crash.

The destructive aura threatened to collapse the sky and obliterate the earth.

The apocalyptic momentum terrified Branton as he fell, frantically using Moonwalk to stabilize himself.

Li Yuan, descending, left Branton no time to escape. Branton, covering himself in Armament Haki, crossed his fists to block.

"Boom!!!"

The island shook violently, triggering tsunamis hundreds of meters high.

Dust swirled like dragons, the island's center sinking into a massive crater.

At the crater's heart, blood-red lightning erupted, an endless shockwave reaching for the sky.

Branton, bloodied, muscles and organs damaged, hands slashed open, his bones holding the Seven Stars Sword at bay.

"Fall!"

Li Yuan suddenly withdrew, stabbing at Branton's abdomen.

Branton, caught off guard, couldn't dodge. Severely injured, he could only block with Haki.

"Thud!!!"

But Branton's Haki couldn't stop the sword's edge, piercing his abdomen, the tip emerging from his back.

Branton's eyes filled with blood, fists flying towards Li Yuan's face and heart.

"Screech!"

Li Yuan retreated, dodging Branton's fists, withdrawing the sword from his abdomen.

"Cough, cough!"

Branton spewed blood, clutching his wounds, pale and drained, collapsing to his knees.

He had lost, utterly defeated.

Defeated by Rocks, imprisoned by the Navy, now beaten by Li Yuan, a rising star.

This defeat might be his end.

He consoled himself: if even Silver Axe fell to Li Yuan, his own defeat wasn't shameful.

Exhausted, Branton awaited death.

Yet, after a moment, death didn't come. Using Life Return and his fruit power, he stemmed his bleeding.

Gaining some strength, he looked up at Li Yuan's commanding, world-conquering gaze.

"You're not going to kill me?"

Branton echoed Silver Axe's question.

"I don't have to kill you. Do you want to die?"

Li Yuan replied calmly.

"If I can live, I don't want to die!" Branton grimaced. Given the chance, he'd choose life over death.

"After defeating Silver Axe, I spared him."

"And you, I won't kill either, but you must relinquish half your territory."

"Never oppose the Infinity Pirates, and come to my aid thrice if summoned."

"Finally, hand over all your Devil Fruits."

Li Yuan stated his conditions.

Branton could lose, but Li Yuan saw his potential value.

"No problem, I agree!" Branton accepted without hesitation. Survival outweighed the conditions.

Losers couldn't bargain; they accepted the victor's terms. As an experienced pirate, Branton knew this well.

"In that case, go. In three days, I'll send someone for your territory. Don't give me worthless islands," Li Yuan admonished.

Branton, though irritated by Li Yuan's tone and condescension, accepted his role as the defeated.

"Don't worry, I, Branton, can take a loss!"

With that, Branton rose, walking off the island.

"Once a great pirate, now defeated. But I, will never fall!" Li Yuan's confidence surged as he watched Branton's retreating figure.

Others might fall, but against him, they would always lose.

He wouldn't fail; only he could defeat himself.

"Captain is amazing!"

"Captain is invincible!"

"Long live the captain!"

As Li Yuan returned to the Hades, his pirates cheered.

Having defeated Silver Axe and Branton, the Infinity Pirates now stood above their rivals.

"Rest for three days, then claim the Violence Pirates' territory, our spoils!"

"Now, let's feast and celebrate our victories over the Violence and Silver Axe Pirates!"

Li Yuan announced to his cheering crew.

"Hahaha, the Infinity Pirates are the strongest!!"

"I love a good feast!"

"Finally, a feast again!"

The crew cheered, starting a celebration on the ship.

"Ashura Doji, Barrett, Howard, join me for a drink. Thanks for holding off Branton!"

Li Yuan called to his commanders as the feast began.

"Captain, it was our duty. When we're stronger, we'll handle Branton ourselves!"

Ashura Doji, fond of drinking, exclaimed excitedly after downing his drink.

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