After absorbing Brogy's experience, Maude instantly grasped the principles behind Hakoku Sovereignty.
However—
Maude hadn't anticipated the immense energy consumption that came with using Hakoku.
If both stamina and Haki had their own energy reserves, then the full-powered Hakoku he had just unleashed had drained 30% of his stamina and 20% of his Haki.
In other words, in a direct confrontation, Maude could only afford to use Hakoku four times at full strength.
Yet, despite such an exorbitant expenditure, he had failed to bring down Dorry.
At its core, this was because Maude was using Hakoku for the first time. When converting his output, he hadn't factored in the need to control its destructive range.
As a result, by expanding the attack's radius to its maximum limit, he had created an impressive spectacle, but in doing so, the power of Hakoku had been dispersed.
Coupled with Dorry's naturally formidable physique and endurance, he managed to withstand the attack head-on without sustaining critical injuries or losing consciousness.
In a way, this was the cost of Maude's lack of proficiency—wasting a considerable amount of stamina and Haki without maximizing the effect.
But now that he had used it once, Maude had a clearer understanding.
The truth was, there had been no need to go all out against Dorry just now.
If he could properly control the attack's range, he could likely replicate the same power while only using 10% of his stamina and 5% of his Haki.
That was perhaps the greatest advantage of Hakoku.
Just like how Dorry and Brogy infused their sword strikes with the principles of Hakoku to enhance their cutting power.
"Let's go again."
Maude wasn't just speaking to Dorry—he was also speaking to himself.
This time, he would focus on precision.
Dorry, his long beard stained with blood, trembled in shock as he stared at Maude, who had once again assumed the stance for Hakoku.
He didn't want to accept the cruel reality before him.
Elbaf's strongest spear should not be wielded so effortlessly!
Though shaken, Dorry instinctively mirrored Maude's stance.
In that silent confrontation, their auras surged, causing the dust around them to rise despite the absence of wind.
—Outside the battlefield—
Feeling the overwhelming presence radiating from Maude and Dorry, Gaya, Cavendish, and Philo solemnly took a few steps back.
"This should end soon…"
Gaya's amber eyes reflected the two figures locked in their standoff.
Judging by their equally matched auras, one might assume this would turn into a prolonged battle.
However, the moment Maude and Dorry both took their Hakoku stances, Gaya had a premonition.
This battle would conclude swiftly.
—Rumble—
The frequency of volcanic eruptions had increased noticeably.
Led by the dinosaurs, large land-dwelling creatures, driven by their primal fear of nature's wrath, stampeded through the forest, desperate to escape the violent eruptions.
Thick volcanic ash drifted into the sky, casting an ominous shadow over the land, forewarning an impending storm.
—On the battlefield—
Maude made the first move.
Hakoku!
With a single slash, a cylindrical shockwave materialized, piercing through the air as it charged toward Dorry.
"...!"
Dorry's expression shifted upon seeing that this Hakoku was noticeably smaller than the previous one.
He… he can already control its power and range?
His heart trembled. Without further thought, he swung his greatsword, unleashing a cylindrical shockwave of his own.
The two devastating shockwaves clashed in an instant, intertwining upon impact.
At the collision point, the air trembled violently, distorting and twisting as visible arcs of energy crackled erratically.
A heartbeat later, the convergence of power erupted into a blinding explosion.
The ensuing shockwave rippled outward like a raging tidal wave, sweeping across the battlefield.
Everything in its path—sand, grass, even small stones—was uprooted and sent spiraling through the air, forming a storm of debris that rapidly engulfed Maude and Dorry.
Despite the chaos, neither of them flinched.
They maintained their stances, allowing the violent gusts to swallow them whole.
Even though Gaya and the others had retreated to a safer distance, they were still affected by the residual force. Bracing themselves, they dug their heels into the ground to withstand the oncoming blast.
Then, with tense expressions, they turned their gaze back to the battlefield.
Moments later, the shockwave dissipated.
The once-flat grassland had been reduced to a shallow crater, stripped of all greenery.
Above, the drifting volcanic ash had been pierced through, leaving a massive hole dozens of meters wide.
At the forest's edge in the distance, towering trees had been violently uprooted, scattered haphazardly across the ground as if a hurricane had swept through.
—On the battlefield—
Maude and Dorry stood unharmed.
The former wore a faint smile, while the latter was struck speechless.
They stared at each other in silence.
Moments later, Dorry lowered his gaze to the greatsword in his hands.
A weapon that had endured countless battles… now bore fine, web-like cracks along its blade.
It had withstood the erosion of time, yet in this moment, it had failed to endure the strain of two direct Hakoku clashes.
Bitterness filled Dorry's heart as he turned his gaze back to Maude, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"How… how can you use Hakoku so proficiently?"
His question was an admission.
An admission that Maude had indeed wielded Hakoku.
If that were all, Dorry could have accepted it.
But Maude's mastery over it—his unnatural level of control—was utterly incomprehensible.
This was something no human should be capable of!
In response, Maude once again assumed the stance for Hakoku and said calmly:
"Is Hakoku really something worth clinging to so desperately? Enough for you to fixate on a meaningless answer at a time like this?"
"Answer me!!"
Dorry roared in frustration, mirroring Maude's stance once more.
To the giants, Hakoku was a technique that symbolized the pride of every Elbaf warrior.
Yet, he was now witnessing a mere human—someone so small—learn it on the spot and wield it with absurd proficiency…
It was a spiritual blow, an unspoken humiliation that trampled upon the pride of his entire race.
For centuries, aside from the hundred years he had spent in Little Garden, from the moment he set sail until now—
Never had a human stood before him like this.
And never before had a human mastered Elbaf's strongest spear—Hakoku!
Faced with Dorry's emotionally charged question, Maude answered not with words, but with another Hakoku imbued with even greater power.
The cylindrical shockwave surged toward Dorry.
"Answer me!!!"
Dorry roared, pouring every ounce of strength into a retaliatory Hakoku.
Once more, their attacks collided, triggering a world-shaking explosion.
But this time—
Amid the deafening roar, a distinct sound could be heard.
The sound of a blade breaking.
Dorry's greatsword—
Overwhelmed by the force, had finally met its end.
Bathed in the radiant glow of destruction, Dorry's face turned ashen.
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