Among the cadres of the Disaster Pirates, the three women who initially followed Sage each emulated his powers.
Lily mimicked his ability to see through all things' Secret Holes and his use of Supreme King Haki.
Marika imitated his Haki power, capable of piercing anything, as well as his body control.
As for Renedia, although she hasn't formally learned yet, her ability development has gradually strengthened by being in contact with Sage.
Because Sage's ability development is also versatile, before him, no one dared claim to have developed abilities to the extent of enlarging and increasing the weight of their body.
The previous ability users couldn't achieve this.
But Sage did, and this variability in abilities and increased tolerance limits are what Renedia has always observed and subconsciously followed.
In the future, Renedia intends to learn the expansion of Observation Haki and ability development from Sage.
Unlike Sugar under Doflamingo, that girl was just restricted by her ability, but her actual age was already significant.
Renedia is a standard child who, at this age, has already developed her abilities significantly. In Sage's eyes, she is stronger than Sugar, and by a great margin.
When it comes to learning, these three haven't learned all of his techniques. Some powers based on the fusion of North Star Divine Fist are beyond their grasp, but imitating Sage's use of these powers sometimes yields miraculous effects.
Like now, Marika, through Haki control refined to every single hair strand, and that sudden burst of power, crushed Jekai.
Whether he compared himself to an Admiral or a Seven Warlords of the Sea, he was crushed just the same.
At sea, having confidence is sometimes useless; one must be able to support one's own capacity.
As Jekai died, Sage was slightly startled, and the power that interfered with his Observation Haki was gone,
"The Jekai old man died just like that? I said long ago that his set wasn't very useful!"
Aramaki swung the giant tree that formed his arm, rising from the ground, the gigantic mass pressing down, creating a shadow on the ground.
"It has to be a real fight; don't blame me, old man, it's not that I didn't save you, it's just how the world works!"
"The strong casually torment the weak, whether individual or nation, that's the way of things! Because of strength, there is differentiation, and because some suffer, others can be happy!"
Boom!!
"Galaxy Impact!"
Column-like Haki followed Sage's fist upward, blasting a hole in the tree hand pressing down, along with disintegrating the surrounding trees.
Upon throwing the punch, Sage immediately swung a foot, releasing a black crescent slash, swiftly striking the tree-man's body, slicing it in half at the waist. The upper half of the giant tree-man fell, quickly rooting into the ground, while the lower half reformed into Aramaki's shape.
"What's the matter? Don't agree? My intel shows you guys do the same thing, don't you?"
Aramaki said, "Your food, your weapons, your warships, they're all sold to those who need them, and those in need use these to force others who are not as good to pay more resources and money. There's no difference, how are you different from them?"
"Who cares about that."
Sage withdrew his leg, "Something even the World Government can't manage, you want a pirate like me to handle?"
Differentiation?
It's all too normal, differentiation exists everywhere, unavoidable and unchangeable.
Moreover, Sage had no intention to change it; he was merely a pirate.
"The territories I rule, it's just because I want them to live better, so they can pay more taxes, that's all I care about."
Sage exhaled white breath from his nose and took two steps forward, "Instead of worrying about that, you should think about how you won't die under my attack."
"Don't underestimate me, my General title isn't for nothing!"
Aramaki lifted his tree-arm again, stabbing it vigorously into the ground, "Sea of Trees descending!"
Rumble...
The surface was upheaved by large roots, continually rising, forming a massive dense forest before Sage, and these woods, as if conscious, surged just like waves forward.
"Without a Nine-tailed in hand, isn't this a bit unimpressive?"
Sage snorted coldly, raising his hand with a Golden Bracelet, "Forget it, this will do, Thunder Metallurgy."
Lightning appeared on the Golden Bracelet, gradually molding it into a golden curved blade.
"Enlarge!"
As Sage reached out and grasped, the palm-sized golden curved blade abruptly transformed into a large scimitar.
The golden blade whipped up a whirlwind, filled with thunder.
Hoo!
With just a swing, the energy mixed with wind blades and thunder, forming a sky that could rival the Sea of Trees, slicing forward, first splitting the foremost trees, and then the thunder struck the ground, igniting flames, forming a burning firewall between the two.
But this firewall was soon pressed down by more trees, twisting and tightening roots to smother the flames.
All things must follow a certain amount, like paper cannot cover fire, but with a vast amount of paper and a finger-sized flame, it can be covered as long as the applied force is adequate.
The one applying the force was Aramaki.
He might be restrained by other Logia-type existences, but the fire born from thunder was still beyond his control.
An Admiral isn't so weak.
Sage swung his blade again, sweeping up the same wind and thunder, slicing several gaps in the incoming Sea of Trees, but these gaps seemed insignificant against the wave-like woods.
"Burning Giant Tree!"
Furthermore, those burning trees were no longer suppressed but instead activated, turning into giant flaming tree branches, fiercely bombing towards Sage.
From an aerial view, half of the island was like a tide of trees, with the foremost flaming red, displaying a formidable might.
Powerful Logia-users are all grand scene players.
"Hmph... such means, still not enough!"
Sage swung the golden blade, creating an array of crescent Haki slashes, densely cutting apart the flaming branches swinging towards him.
"Hundred Ghosts Assault Slash!"
Great Sword Master?
Sage doesn't wield a sword.
But sending out external Haki is effortlessly simple; with his nearly infinite Haki, each strike is remarkably destructive.
Before long, the surging forest was chaotically sliced, forming a field of broken wood on the ground.
Yet the continually rising trees in the background suggested limited utility for this move also.
"With this level of resilience, an Admiral's strength is evident, let's see how far you can go."
Sage discarded the golden blade, a white cocoon enveloping his body, swirling tightly before breaking open in an instant, scattering into fluttering white strands.
A head of white hair fluttered, brilliantly white as flames.
Haki battle scars appeared on his cheeks, his shirt transformed into a 'skin' made of black and red solidified Haki, from the back of his neck up to his upper body, leaving only his chest exposed.
White fiery clouds encircled from his shoulders down to his arms.
Like an Awakening of Zoan-type.
Rumble!
The clear sky once more covered with heavy clouds, stirred up a muffled thunder.
"So do you resemble Aokiji and Kizaru, or are you saying the World Government couldn't recruit such strong individuals."
Sage grinned fiercely, "Let me gauge it then!"