Boom!!!
A massive fist and a comparatively smaller one clashed violently in midair, one coming down from above, the other rising to meet it.
The impact of their collision sent sand and gravel scattering in all directions across the beach.
Tengetsu Ares, his prominent brow furrowed and his dark eyes flashing with a flicker of surprise, grinned wildly. Even in the face of an enemy, he didn't hesitate to offer genuine praise.
"The power of a giant... now this is fierce! Strong as hell!"
"This is exhilarating!"
The shockwave from their fists colliding though partially absorbed by Ares's hardened physique still surpassed the sensation he usually got when beating himself with iron rods. It was pure, visceral satisfaction.
Force meets force. Even in the world of One Piece, the laws of physics held true.
"You're not bad either!" Silka, the giant warrior, grinned with mutual respect. "Your strength is the greatest I've ever seen in a human!"
That said.
Silka flexed the bulging muscles of his left arm, then drove his fist forward with terrifying force, punching directly at Ares without an ounce of restraint.
Recognition of Ares's power didn't mean he'd go easy on him.
A storm-like blast of air roared toward Ares. His eyes gleamed with excitement as he stepped forward to meet the blow head-on.
Boom!
The muffled sound of flesh slamming into flesh echoed across the battlefield.
The raw clash of strength ignited Ares's competitive spirit.
"Azure Dragon Fist, Five-Strike Lightning Barrage!"
His legs dug deep into the sand. The taut, muscular thighs beneath his shorts bulged as he assumed his stance. With his arms pulled back, Ares launched a flurry of punches at Silka, striking like a storm.
In the blink of an eye, a dozen crimson fist shadows filled the air.
Compared to him, the giant's swings were significantly slower. Silka was bombarded repeatedly blows raining down on his chest and gut.
His massive feet thudded backward with each impact.
Ares's overwhelming strength sent Silka's organs churning. His chest tightened. Blood surged into his throat and trickled from the corner of his mouth.
At this moment, Silka, warrior of the proud Giant Tribe had become nothing more than a massive punching bag.
The giants were renowned for their strength and stamina, but with their hulking frames came the cost of agility and speed.
Silka's brow lowered. His massive frame exuded an aura of danger.
What is with that strange arm…? So that's what they mean by "Bloodhand Ares"? Is it that arm of his?
Not only was Ares's punch force terrifying, but the heat radiating from it was also relentless, scorching like flames enough to cause serious trouble.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Fists flew in a chaotic frenzy. Ares and Silka collided again and again, the air thick with the sound of clashing punches.
But Silka was being pushed back. Step by step, meter by meter.
He had already been forced back more than ten meters. In this brutal exchange of fists, he was thoroughly on the losing end.
From afar, Kaido, who was still locked in battle with the wounded Fishman Sunbell, suddenly shouted in glee.
"Boss Ares is a beast!!"
"He's overpowering a giant... with brute strength alone!"
"Oro oro oro!!"
Kaido burst into loud laughter, swinging his spiked club with abandon toward Sunbell. The Fishman caught it with his trident.
Clang!
Sparks flew as steel clashed against steel.
Sunbell's expression was grave. Even he hadn't expected Silka who was famed for his immense power to be overwhelmed by Ares in raw strength.
His heart pounded with disbelief.
What kind of monster is that guy...?!
He's even stronger than a giant?!
But what shocked Sunbell even more was the monstrous strength of Kaido, the one currently fighting him. Both of these guys—Ares and Kaido—were absolute freaks of nature.
Just what kind of monsters are these people?!
Kaido's exuberant shouting caught the attention of many on the battlefield, including Silvers Rayleigh, who was fighting against Wang Zhi.
Out of the corner of his eye, Rayleigh caught sight of Silka being relentlessly pummeled by Ares's storm of fists. His normally composed expression narrowed slightly.
"…It's him?!"
"That rookie with the 220 million bounty Bloodhand Ares!"
Rayleigh knew that any pirate with a bounty that high had to be formidable. But he hadn't expected this rising star to gain the upper hand against a Giant in a direct contest of strength.
Silka was no stranger. He'd been Rayleigh's companion on many voyages, a loyal crewmate with terrifying physical power.
Wang Zhi, clad in golden armor, swung his gleaming greatsword like a blend between Arthur and Garen.
With smug satisfaction, he taunted Rayleigh from across their blades.
"Surprised that Ares is suppressing a Giant's strength?"
"Because I'm not."
"In fact... I'm not surprised at all."
"That guy's strength... will one day surpass everyone!"
As he spoke, Wang Zhi recalled the countless days and nights he had watched Ares train like a madman.
He remembered the images clearly Ares smashing his body with thick iron rods, lifting ten-ton boulders for practice, constantly pushing himself beyond human limits.
And with the power of a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit added to the mix, Ares's physical might had become utterly monstrous.
"Don't get cocky too soon!" Rayleigh shot back, parrying with his slender longsword as it collided once more with Wang Zhi's massive blade in a shower of sparks.
But on his face, there was a trace of deep trust.
He trusted his comrade.
Cool and composed, Rayleigh calmly said,
"The Giants are not just about brute strength."
"Their combat techniques are fearsome too!"
Clang!
The two swords clashed again. Rayleigh and Wang Zhi locked eyes across the blades.
Wang Zhi let out a snort.
"Combat techniques?"
"Do you even know why the Navy put a 220 million bounty on that brat Ares?"
"Heh..."
He chuckled darkly, then dropped the truth.
"It's because that kid not only fought Vice Admiral Zephyr…"
"He actually learned quite a few techniques from him!"
"That's why the Navy offered such a high bounty!"
Rayleigh's composed face flickered with subtle change. Even his eyes trembled slightly.
Just then.
A voice thundered in his ear, one he knew all too well.
"Hakoku!!!"
The moment Rayleigh heard that word, his heart clenched instinctively.
Hakoku, Silka's ultimate technique. A secret martial art of the Giants, with terrifying destructive power.
And it meant one thing.
Silka had been forced to use his trump card!
He threw a punch.
A shockwave exploded from his fist visible to the naked eye. A thick, roaring blast of energy surged forward.
The very air rippled like crashing waves in the sea.
Reality itself warped.
Silka's face was locked in absolute determination as he roared at Ares.
"Brat!!!"
"THIS IS THE TRUE POWER OF THE GIANTS!!!"
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