One Piece: Path to Power

[2985 words]

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Damien and Rayleigh stood side by side, Sol remained 30 meters away, just slightly above the ground.

"Another one joins the fray," Sol said. "You will all fall under my might."

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*Fwmmm!*

The sounds of metal echoed as Damien's body was armoured up in Empyrean Form once more as Rayleigh coated his saber and arms in it as well.

The 2 were at nigh-equal strength, with Rayleigh having a very slight edge over Damien.

Yet with the 2 together, a Top-Tier Yonko enemy was not a problem..

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Boom!

The ground blew up as the 2 pirates exploded from their positions and whizzed towards the Sunbird.

*CLANG!*

The talons of the Overlord collided with Rayleigh's saber as Damien flashed 10 meters in the sky.

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"Armageddon."

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Damien slammed his Ryushi that swam with Haki onto Sol's giant torso, black lightning dancing all around.

It was like a gong slammed with a large club. It sent powerful vibrations down the Overlord.

Booom!

Sol gave out a loud screech as he held the 2 attacks.

*Fwoooo!*

Sol was then shot back like a rocket as a streak of golden flames followed.

The Sunbird was momentarily stunned!

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Damien and Rayleigh capitalized immediately as they closed the distance between them and the enemy.

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Rayleigh raised his saber as it thundered with Infusion and swiped downwards with great power.

Damien spun Ryushi around masterfully as he generated some momentum and drove it down in a diagonal slash at the Overlord.

2 power arcs of blade energy made of condensed air whittled onwards at the Zoan.

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Sol regained composure and struck back.

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"Solar Burst!"

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Like a sun in the void of space, Sol's 20-meter long body shone with incredible luminosity as the ultimate flames blazed out. The attacks made by Rayleigh and Damien had been destroyed.

Damien gestured to Rayleigh to buy him some time as he cooked up a thought, the latter nodded at the request.

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The Dark King launched forth, his trusty saber in hand.

Rayleigh bent down slightly as his sword was held in both hands, the blade pointing out.

He became a road of silver energy as his Haki shot forth in perfect synergy.

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"The Night Sky!"

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Boom!

While Rayleigh clashed with the Overlord, Damien finished his move.

"RAAAAWWR!"

A loud roar erupted as a 50-meter tall dragon of black and red colours stood behind Damien.

*Fwoooo!*

The air started to rumble as it whirled around the open maw of the dragon.

A red glob of energy pulsed in its mouth as it roared out once more, a powerful tunnel of crimson destruction sent out.

Damien unleashed his fruit power as his body became one with the attack, his Ryushi trembled in power as it was fueled by the dragon.

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"Extinction Calamity!"

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With the added momentum of the dragon blast and Damien's own strength, this attack would surely be quite powerful.

*FWOOOO!*

The air exploded as the bright-red beam continued.

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Rayleigh who was on the losing end against Sol used the latter's flame attack to launch himself away from the fight.

Damien, with an open shot at Sol, finished the attack.

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BOOOOOOOOOOM!

*Screeeth!*

Sol, in his Sunbird form, cried out in pain as his body took the full force of Damien's attack.

*Crack!*

"Augh!" Sol groaned as 3 of his ribs cracked, his entire 20-meter size shot out into the horizon away.

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Damien landed on the ground, free of injuries as Rayleigh joined him by his side.

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"That should leave a mark," The Dark King muttered as he saw the clouds of dust afar.

Damien gave a small nod, "Yes… but it is not enough."

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Sol woke up to see his body stuck in the ground, his Zoan form has collapsed.

He ground his teeth as his eyes grew dark.

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"I, the almighty, in such a state… how dare they!"

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*SCREECH!*

A shrill cry thunder over the horizon as the ground shook from its intensity. Waves of water blew outwards from the nearby sea.

A golden flame burst out as Sol went back in his Zoan form, 20 meters in size.

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Yet this time, something else happened.

The flames started to swell around the bird once more as a familiar scene occurred once more…

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"Coming of Pride!"

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The figure imploded on itself like before, entirely destroyed by the atoms!

A scar on the world remained as slowly but surely, the pieces of flesh came back together to form something greater!

The magnificent Sunbird started to glow once more as it was reduced in size.

The bright-gold pieces were slowly sucked into a small orb that floated in the air.

*Vwooo!*

An ominous wind rained down as a new sight stood proud.

It was a humanoid figure that glowed as bright as the sun in the sky!

2 glass-like wings extended out of its back as a halo formed behind the being's back.

*Shing*

A golden sword came into being that rested in the hands of the Overlord.

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Damien saw it from afar and narrowed his eyes, 'Not only did he explode himself and greatly increase his power but he also changed into the strongest form of a Zoan… the Hybrid between the user and the animal.'

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Sol stood 5 meters tall in his majestic Hybrid form, power coursed through his veins.

[A/N: Sol's Hybrid Form - Image]

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His golden irises carried a touch of supremacy.

"It is time to end this!" He exclaimed.

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[Pryde D. Sol's Strength: Early Stages of Top-Tier Yonko → Peak of Yonko]

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[At Another Battle]

[A Few Moments Prior to Sol going Hybrid]

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Shiki and Redfield have been clashing for 3 hours now.

Redfield, a grandmaster of Observation, was able to see the slightest of flaws in any movement and took advantage of them with quick and clean strikes.

Shiki raised both his swords into the sky as they shined a sharp light.

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"Golden Paradise!"

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He spun into a golden tornado and flowed down towards the elegantly dressed pirate.

Redfield smiled.

*FWWMM*

His umbrella-turned-polearm shined black with Haki.

Seeing the single concentration point of Shiki's attack, Redfield struck his polearm forwards.

*CLANG!*

A loud bang resounded as both of the Golden Lion's swords were stopped in mid-air!

"JIHAHAHA!"

Shiki used his Float-Float Fruit to retreat, his hands quickly tapping the ground along the way.

*FWOOOO*

The air rumbled as large boulders of earth were raised above.

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"Lion's Threat: Imperial Earth Bind!"

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The hundreds of flying boulders suddenly swirled around like a belt of rocks as they were shot forth mercilessly at the pirate below.

Redfield exploded in a purple mist as he flashed through the flurry of attack, dodged most, cut a few while he inched closer to the man in the sky.

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Shiki responded by slashing tens of times in the sky, an equal amount of sword arcs were generated.

Yet that was not all, these arcs of energy did not rage out, rather they floated in space.

Shiki combined his powerful swordsmanship with his fruit power!

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"Lion Majesty: Scattering Valley!"

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It was a flurry of sword slashes that rained down with absolute dominance!

[A/N: Image of the attack]

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[Nearby]

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Roger and Whitebeard laughed and clashed with great zeal.

"Oye, Newgate," Roger called out in midst of the battle. "Is that kid going to be alright with Sol?"

"Gurarara," Whitebeard laughed. "The kid will be fine… you should be worried about Rayleigh, wouldn't want your right-hand man to die, now would you, Roger!"

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Whitebeard twirled his giant weapon around in the air with little difficulty as streams of air currents followed behind.

BOOM!

The powerful Murakumogiri slashed once more upon Roger's Ace.

"WAHAHA!"

As if it were the cue, Roger's eye sharpened as his Haki blew around.

The weather upon was now whirling around to his desire as he used the wind to his advantage.

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Whitebeard saw the change and attacked.

*Purrup*

A white bubble formed around the tip of his glaive as it pulsed with power.

The earth-shaking weapon then descended with unseen power as Whitebeard's muscles popped in great strength.

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Roger was a master of Haki and swordsmanship.

He used his Supreme Grade Weapon with his overwhelming Haki and brought them together!

*FWOOOO*

He used an ascending-diagonal slash which buzzed around with such thick and pure Infusion that it made a full-blown arc of black lightning in its wake!

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BOOOOOOOM!

The tremor bubble popped with extreme bursts of power as the entire region was cracked like glass and shattered so.

Roger just gave out a crazy grin as his Haki flooded forth and pushed back the natural disaster.

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[Upon the Raised Platform]

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A lone figure sat in the center of the once-raised platform, which had already collapsed from earthquakes and whatnot.

*Gurrug*

The man inhaled his alcohol as if it were oxygen, empty gourds of saké could be seen nearby.

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"Xahaha! I knew that fruit of his was as special as mine," Xebec muttered.

His eyes were fixed at the scene 3 kilometers away.

The Great Sin's eyes then glowed red.

*Shatter*

The gourd in his hand smashed on the ground as Xebec growled in frustration, "That Sol better be stronger than this otherwise I won't have anyone to play around with!"

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Xebec's hunger for a duel after Awakening his fruit was quite heavy, if Sol couldn't satiate his appetite then the world is damned.

The Rocks' Captain then smirked in interest, "Though that brat Damien always brings out something new… XAHAHA! Just like his old man!"

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"How far can that power of yours go, Sol?" Rayleigh questioned as he saw the Overlord.

The man smirked, "My powers are infinite. You should just bow down like the hundreds of thousands around the world."

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Damien spoke up with a mocking tone, "You mean the ridiculous legend about your powers that they fear?"

The Sin Incarnate laughed, "Your fruit may have some relations to the legendary 'Sun God Nika', but your morals are null, your motives, void, and your strength, fake and temporary."

"Nika has been worshiped since ancient times by slaves who believed that he would eventually come to free them from their suffering," Damien said. "After the tyranny of the Celestial Dragons and the Era of the World Government, the figure of Nika has been idolized and treated like a saviour."

He then pointed out Ryushi as a gesture, "You, Pryde D. Sol, are nothing but a fool destined to be forgotten. And just like your great kingdom, you will fall here, and now!"

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Sol, a man of infinite pride, usually felt pity for others. Now, he felt a rage that fuelled his very core.

His body exploded with strength, touching the powers of those beyond Yonko, yet just a little way from it.

Booom!

The heat of the sun rushed out as Sol, like light, appeared right next to the 2 pirates.

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His sword slashed down and met Ryushi.

*CLANG!*

The twin-blades of Ryushi rumbled as the weight of tens of mountains crashed upon it. The pulverizing energy swam around, trying to hold it back.

Yet to no avail.

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Boom!

Damien's body was shot back at great speeds as he coughed volumes of blood, his body stressed with great force.

Rayleigh coated himself with impressive Haki as he spun around in a silver spectacle, his saber collided with Sol.

The same scene repeated as if it were a broken record. Rayleigh too was rocketed back, his saber shook with excess energy.

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Sol did not stop.

His wings flapped as he flew up.

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"Solar Storm!"

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Small balls of golden-red flames formed, thousands of them.

*Pew!* *Vooo!* *Zing!*

The wind howled at multiple frequencies as the attack raged onwards to the area where Damien and Rayleigh crashed upon.

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The Sin Incarnate had healed from his injuries, all but his stamina, that is.

His eyes shone red as his Futuresight kicked in.

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The thousands of mini suns showered down as if it rained from a thunderstorm.

Damien and Rayleigh both struggled to shield themselves as the endless attacks continued.

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Sol flew at great speeds as he appeared before the two.

The large golden halo that floated behind his back moved.

It spun, generated winds and rose into the sky.

It was directly in between the sun above and Damien.

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"Amaterasu's Mirror!"

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The halo acted like a magnifying glass as the sunbeams from above converged upon the body of the Sin Incarnate, greatly concentrating their effect.

Damien felt the raging heat as his Empyrean Body had begun to melt, his Haki ravaged!

"Ugh!" He groaned out.

The halo then spun incredibly fast, the sunbeams came together as they delivered another powerful attack.

BOOM!

Damien was sent back kilometers away, pain rushed his very nerves as his body struggled to hold up, yet refused to fall apart.

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Rayleigh breathed heavily as the heat from the Overlord was getting to the point that the Dark King's body failed to hold up.

Sol then raised his magnificent sword into the sky as it reflected the arcs of light in a divine flair.

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"Los Helios!"

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The sword exploded with strength as it arcked down at Dark King.

Rayleigh gritted his teeth as his Haki went into overdrive, his saber rushed with power.

*CLANG!*

The weight of the sun seemed to fall upon Roger's right-hand man as his saber creaked in pain.

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"SOHOHO! DIE!"

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The solar sword pushed Rayleigh's last line of defence as it slashed upon the open body of the Dark King.

"Ugh!" The pirate groaned as he, once again, rammed through the destroyed island.

---

*Cough* *Cough*

Under the huge volume of dust was a broken-armoured man.

His mouth leaked with blood as his body was caved in a boulder.

Pieces of armour fell off his body as drops of blood fell to the ground.

*Crack*

His bones moved in painful bursts of action. They realigned themselves as the ripped muscles then regrew.

Damien's eyes were slightly lost as he slowly rose from the ground.

His beautiful attire slowly started to put itself back together, his Empyrean has collapsed.

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"That hurt quite a bit," He mumbled.

*Click*

He set his dislocated shoulder back into place as the muscle fibers regenerated swiftly.

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Crashed not far from the youth, was Rayleigh.

"*Cough* Quite the monster he is…" He mumbled as his beard shined red from the blood flowing down his lips.

His clothes were ripped, his upper-right torso had a deep scar that was caused by Sol's attack.

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Damien looked over with a serious expression, "Rayleigh… might wanna have that eye of yours checked out."

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Rayleigh touched his right eye and as Damien said, there was a large vertical cut upon it. Yet his eyeball was miraculously intact.

The Dark laughed, "Huhaehahaha! I got quite lucky there, isn't that right, young man?"

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Damien rolled his eyes, "You seem quite cheery for a man that was shot a thousand meters by a flaming turkey."

Rayleigh smiled as he wiped the blood off his face, "I guess we're in the same boat then."

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"Hmm, let's agree not to let this boat sink any further, no, old man?" Damien replied with a grin.

Rayleigh froze with a flabbergasted expression, "I'm only 39, young man… don't make me sound so gray."

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They both then looked into the distant lands, Sol slowly walked towards them, as if trying to seem menacing.

"If our captains remain so laid-back then I'm afraid this will be rather difficult," Rayleigh chuckled.

Damien then saw Rayleigh concentrate.

*FWWWWM*

The air flooded around his entire body as both arms and legs were covered in Haki, rather detailed lines extended over his chest and back, all the while it formed a black crown of sorts upon his forehead.

Sparks of black lightning arcked around him as he stood in majesty.

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A Dark King, so to speak.

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Seeing Rayleigh ready, Damien prepared as well.

'Let's change things up a bit.'

*VWOOOO*

Ryushi that was held in his grasp suddenly shook as Damien channelled his powers into it.

The 2 clawed blades started to boil and warp into a fluid-like shape.

The metal then flowed around as the wooden staff shifted in size, the blade was changing forms!

Knowing that the Vanquisher's brute strength and overwhelming power were not enough, Damien went towards a quick and swift attack form.

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[Ravager Configuration]

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The changed Ryushi was a little calmer than before but just as powerful.

The shape was that of a staff mixed with a sword. It had a wide, wooden grip that led to a beautifully designed guard. The metal was then connected to a thin yet incredibly sharp blade that was swimming with crimson energy.

It was 10 feet long.

[A/N: Ravager Image]

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*Fwwwm*

He then resumed Empyrean Form as the Haki plated over his body like armour.

Yet that wasn't all…

Damien had noticed both his weapon and body were simply too slow to keep up with Sol, a master of the sky.

Thus Damien decided to change his approach.

BOOOM!

The cracked parts of his Empyrean release started to warp around as they extended out, the excess energy swam towards Damien's shoulderblades.

*FWOOOO*

The air raged around his back as the crimson energy boiled out, it slowly took shape of crackling, unstable wings!

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*FWWWWWM*

The full-body Armament suddenly shook as it started to grow and fully seal the gaps as it was coated all around.

It then took a physical form due to Damien's near-grandmastery over Armament as his body was dawned in black attire.

The crimson wings then swam around with Haki as they too were covered in spiritual armour.

The initial volatile form of Empyrean had shifted to a more calm yet frightening appearance with demonic horns protruding out from the head and crimson mist exuding from the pure-red eyes.

The wings took the shape of razor-sharp feathers as the entire region around him burst into flames from the sheer density of pulverizing energy that emanated from Damien.

A hue of red fell all over the lands as the youth muttered,

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"Second Descent: Hadean."

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[A/N: Hadean Image]

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Author's Corner:

'Hadean' is pronounced: "Hay-dee-ihn." The same flow as the name 'Damien'.

As for Rayleigh's scars, it was never shown how he got them so I had Sol bestow it to him.

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