Chapter 172

At this moment, he wasn't even thinking of standing up; he still cared about his hairstyle?

Ah, this...

Just as everyone was utterly speechless...

"No one can mess up my handsome hairstyle!"

Di Baru let out a roar, breaking through some kind of shackle; a surge of kingly aura erupted from within him, actually forcing open a small realm of his own!

Was the Conqueror's Haki awakened just like that?

Sima Di revealed an expression of understanding.

He had grasped the principle behind the awakening of Conqueror's Haki!

Perhaps...

It wasn't impossible for everyone to possess Conqueror's Haki!

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5000+ words! Celebrating Big Auntie's birthday; the next chapter will be later.

Thanks to the monthly votes from "Chaos Green Lotus is a Great Treasure" and "Hurry Up and Die →_→"!

59. Try the taste of merfolk? Demon God Wind Leg!

Perhaps...

It wasn't impossible for everyone to possess Conqueror's Haki?

But after thinking it over,

Sima Di simply shook his head and rejected the thought.

The conditions for awakening Conqueror's Haki are very harsh.

The strict requirements for talent and ability alone eliminate ninety-nine percent of the mediocre.

Aside from the one who runs fast being pending, the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates should qualify; everyone possesses their own unique specialties.

But the most core element, "Kingly Bearing," is the root reason why even someone as strong as a Navy Admiral cannot awaken Conqueror's Haki.

What is "Kingly Bearing"?

It is a temper that refuses to bow to common sense!

It is a domineering spirit that refuses to be ordinary!

And also...

It is a pride that refuses to submit to others!

Why can Navy Admirals not awaken Conqueror's Haki?

In fact, does the Navy have anyone who has awakened Conqueror's Haki at all?

The root lies in—

The Navy is essentially the World Government's blade, the Celestial Dragons' dog!

The so-called "Justice" of the Navy is a product of compromise.

They clearly know the Celestial Dragons are the source of all sins, yet they fight desperately to protect them, even if their efforts are belittled to nothing.

Even Navy Admirals can be casually ordered around and scolded by Celestial Dragons.

How can a king be born from this?

How is it possible to awaken Conqueror's Haki?

Therefore,

Those who usually awaken Conqueror's Haki are in the pirate camps, because they are wanderers pursuing freedom.

And they are usually captains, because they have more dreams.

—Such as becoming the Pirate King.

For subordinates like Lei Li or Katakuri to awaken Conqueror's Haki, their own captains must exist as companions and family.

There is no concept of submission.

When Di Baru received the Conqueror's Haki amplification, a passage of text had already explained it clearly—suffering immense stimulation caused his spiritual power to surge; with his resolve to set sail and take revenge strengthened, his Conqueror's Haki was already on the verge of awakening.

—Spiritual power surging, resolve to take revenge strengthened!

—Both high spiritual power and firm will are required!

As long as one has these two things,

even Di Baru, who was beaten up by Sanji, could awaken Conqueror's Haki.

Strength?

Young Ace awakened Conqueror's Haki unconsciously; back then, he couldn't even beat some strong adults.

Now,

Sima Di has figured out the conditions for awakening Conqueror's Haki.

Talent and ability are innate.

Sima Di can find a way for spiritual power.

But...

For willpower, he truly has no method.

Zoro and Sanji's willpower is naturally unquestionable; Usopp and the one who runs fast also have unquestionable willpower.

"Boom—"

Di Baru, having awakened Conqueror's Haki for the first time, collapsed from exhaustion and fell into unconsciousness.

This startled Sima Di from his deep thought, and shocked the Straw Hat Pirates.

"Heavens! He can actually awaken Conqueror's Haki?" Nami was shocked.

"Unbelievable! It truly scared my heart into pounding! Although skeletons don't have cakes..." Brook clutched his ribcage.

Only Crocus stared at Sima Di, his eyebrows twitching.

This youth always manages to give him more surprises!

"Boy Di, how did you know he could awaken the Conqueror's Haki?" Crocus asked.

No matter what, he could not believe Sima Di could make a designated person awaken the Conqueror's Haki.

The talent for Conqueror's Haki isn't that common yet!

To this day,

the famous awakeners of Conqueror's Haki on the Grand Line number only sixteen—including the deceased Luo Jie and Kozuki Oden.

So it can only be that Sima Di had some method to discover that Disbaru possessed the talent to awaken Conqueror's Haki.

"Hmm, I recently developed a new ability that can detect the amount of spiritual energy in others." Sima Di pointed to his head: "Spiritual communication was also developed based on this ability."

He then explained his reasoning regarding Conqueror's Haki.

Finally, he concluded: "At present, Zoro, Sanji, and Brook are the most likely to awaken Conqueror's Haki; as for the others... either their spiritual energy is too poor, or..."

Sima Di looked at Usopp and shook his head.

Who would have thought,

that the one with the highest spiritual energy in the Straw Hat Pirates would be this long-nosed coward?

If his willpower could keep up, awakening Conqueror's Haki would be as good as certain.

"Hey, hey, hey, what kind of look is that? It's hurtful, you know..." Usopp said weakly.

See,

if Zoro had been mocked by Sima Di as "incapable" like this, he would have at least retorted with a few words; once provoked, he'd draw his blade and attack in seconds.

Usopp, however, was all thunder and no rain, because he deeply understood he could never be Sima Di's match.

But...

could Sima Di even kill him?

At worst, he'd just get beaten up; if he can't even stand firm on this...

how can he become a king!

"Usopp is a bit cowardly... but isn't he still stronger than that Disbaru?" Nami voiced her doubt.

Sima Di looked at the unconscious Disbaru and sighed.

"Although Disbaru isn't strong, his first reaction when facing the Navy's capture was to set sail for revenge; even against a pirate with a bounty of 95 million Berries, he did not retreat."

"He fought alone from a small village to the Grand Line; because he couldn't find Sanji, he established a territory near the Sabaody Archipelago. His methods and courage were sufficient."

"He is not without talent; he simply wasted it in the small village."