~ Support & Read 13 Advanced Chapters on Patreon!
❁❁❁❁
Arthur raised his right hand, the brilliant purple lightning completely converging, all its ferocious power condensed into his fist, and he punched out fiercely to meet Whitebeard's attack.
The plain, unremarkable fist, in that instant, was like a flash flood. The condensed lightning gushed out, like a blazing sun, incomparably dazzling.
The pillar of lightning and the crack in the atmosphere collided...
"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!"
A massive roar, loud enough to shatter eardrums, was like a nuclear explosion. The wanton, sweeping air currents formed a gale in the outer sea.
The battle area itself was unharmed, but the entire outer sea of the Sabaody Archipelago was thrown into a monstrous tsunami by the attacks of the two men. Countless ships, unable to escape in time, were buried at the bottom of the sea.
The innocent are always caught in the battles of the strong. A person with such immense destructive power would inevitably have their hands stained with sin. Destroying islands and annihilating nations were small matters. Whether they were Marines or pirates, as long as they were a pinnacle power, almost all had accidentally killed civilians.
It wasn't that they couldn't control their power; there was no such thing as "returning to simplicity" for a Devil Fruit user.
Therefore, before the Marines arrested a powerhouse, they had to make preparations in advance, to evacuate the public to avoid disaster.
————————
"A battle between the World's Strongest!"
Watching the live broadcast, some were trembling with excitement, some even fainted from the thrill, watching the terrifying scene with a shock that was beyond words.
Despite countless overestimations, they had still underestimated them. For those seeing such a scene for the first time, it was hard to imagine why such terrifying people existed in the world.
Those with weak wills immediately gave up the idea of setting out to sea. With such an unclimbable mountain looming over their heads, how could they possibly hope to defeat or surpass it? In their dreams?
"Although Whitebeard hasn't grown weaker, he has stagnated, and is even beginning to decline. The older generation is almost all in retirement. But Captain Arthur is still continuously advancing! The World's Strongest... that title will change hands sooner or later!"
In the New World, the commanders who were continuously conquering territory for the Thunder God Pirates sighed as they watched the broadcast. They all knew in their hearts that Arthur's ascent to the top of the world was unstoppable.
The only question was when he himself would decide to take that throne.
Kaido? Big Mom? They were still a cut below.
————————
On the Sabaody Archipelago, in the worldwide live broadcast.
Almost everyone's attention was involuntarily drawn to Whitebeard and Arthur, ignoring the three highest powers of the Marines and Redfield. It was as if the two opposing figures were everything in the world.
The momentary duel between the two had overshadowed everything else. It was so eye-catching, so dazzling.
After the earth-shattering blow, they both stopped and sized each other up.
This extremely oppressive atmosphere was even more unbearable than when they were fighting.
"Not playing house with me?" Whitebeard was clearly enraged by Arthur's words. "Brat, do you know what you're saying? The grudge for Squard will end today!"
"Do I need you telling me what to say? Whether we fight or not isn't your call—it's mine," Arthur said with ice-cold ruthlessness.
His eyes blazed purple, filled with a terrifying indifference that seemed to judge all existence. No one could meet that gaze. In his Thunder God and Thunder Emperor modes, even his own mindset shifted, as if he'd become an actual God.
This indifference was not looking down on others, but seeing everything as ants.
"Thunder Emperor... what is he planning to do?"
Among the people watching the world broadcast, there was no shortage of smart people. Like Doflamingo, Mihawk, and others, many began to try and figure out Arthur's intentions. However, this capricious personality was a headache.
Unless absolutely necessary, who would be willing to face an irrational person who was as strong as a monster?
But there was no choice. The Thunder God Pirates had already occupied nearly a quarter of the New World's territory. When this new batch of rookies entered the New World, they would definitely have to deal with the Thunder God Pirates. It was unavoidable.
Most pirates had to pass through Arthur's territory to enter the New World.
Therefore, Arthur's every word and action would be remembered by those with ulterior motives, trying to discern some deeper meaning.
No one knew that he was simply doing it because he wanted to, acting on a whim, completely as he pleased.
————————
"Fuffuffuffuffu! How embarrassing..."
On an island in the first half of the Grand Line, Doflamingo of the Donquixote Family laughed, but his smile was a bit strained. The other family members also sat beside him, sighing helplessly.
Dressrosa—this island was a territory that Doflamingo absolutely had to take. But not long ago, Arthur's flag had been planted on it.
What kind of helplessness was this?
"Fuffuffuffu, it seems I must face the situation I wanted to avoid the most," Doflamingo said, covering his forehead and laughing, having made up his mind.
Even if he was unwilling to face Arthur, he had to try and communicate with him.
————————
"'THUNDER EMPEROR' ARTHUR! WHITEBEARD! I'LL GIVE YOU A FEW MINUTES TO LEAVE! IF YOU DON'T, YOU CAN ENTER THE GREAT UNDERWATER PRISON ALONG WITH REDFIELD!"
Watching the two of them talk and fight as if they were the only two people in the world, Kong finally couldn't stand it anymore and roared.
This was a worldwide broadcast!
To let two pirates fight without stopping them—the authority of the Marines would be swept away.
If he had a choice, Kong naturally wouldn't want to face Arthur and Whitebeard, two of the world's strongest men, while also trying to arrest Redfield.
"Hm?"
Whitebeard, whose eyes could hold nothing else, heard Kong's roar and came back to his senses from his standoff with Arthur.
"The Fleet Admiral of the Marines, Kong? You want me to leave? Are you joking?"
"Then you're staying put—permanently!" Kong's anger had reached its peak. "Sengoku, hold off Whitebeard! Garp, Arthur is yours!"
"AS FOR REDFIELD, I WILL PERSONALLY END HIS JOURNEY ON THE SEAS!!"
No longer able to tolerate the pirates acting as they pleased in front of him, Kong roared. His robust body was instantly covered in Armament Haki, as if he had turned to steel, and he charged towards Redfield with a terrifying aura.
"So this is what you meant by 'using' me?" Redfield suddenly showed a sinister smile. "Even if I know I'm being used, I have to accept it, don't I? Ahahahaha!"
The moment he attacked, it was an earth-shattering killing move. The two who had been enemies for decades were going to end their entanglement on the Sabaody Archipelago.
On the other side.
"Whitebeard, we haven't clashed in years. Let me see if you still deserve that title of World's Strongest Man," Sengoku said coldly, each word deliberate and measured. Golden light exploded from his body as he instantly transformed into his Great Buddha form.
"So that's it... This was your plan?" Whitebeard glanced at Arthur, who was floating in mid-air. "It's not too late to take your head after I've dealt with the Marines!!"
"QUAKE SHOCK!!"
"HAHAHAHAHA! THIS IS THE WORLD'S GREATEST WAR! THE THING THAT IDIOT KAIDO HAS BEEN DREAMING OF!" Finally seeing the scene he had wanted to see, Arthur couldn't stop himself from laughing wildly.
❁❁❁❁
~ 13 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)