"So you're saying those villagers died tragically because of us?" Baichuan asked through gritted teeth.
"That's right. It was because of you. So now, you can go join them," Rogger replied coldly.
"But they were your citizens!"
"Hmph. A bunch of lowly peasants. Isn't it their duty to sacrifice for the nation?" Rogger said this with not a hint of remorse, only a tone of self-righteous justification.
"Shanks, Buggy, take Katherine and run when you get a chance. I'll try to hold him off."
"Run? It's already too late."
In the blink of an eye, Rogger turned into a blur. Baichuan crossed his blades in front of his chest.
Bang!
His blades cracked under the force. Rogger's fist smashed straight through Baichuan's guard and landed squarely on his body.
"Armament Haki!"
Seeing Rogger's arm turn pitch black, Baichuan knew he couldn't block it. He had no time to dodge either; he could only take the hit head-on.
"So much pain…"
Baichuan's vision went dark. He rolled across the ground several times before finally coming to a stop.
"Baichuan!"
Shanks, Buggy, and Katherine all cried out in panic. Tears welled up in Katherine's eyes.
"Damn you, bastard! I'll fight you with everything I've got!"
Shanks charged without thinking, completely forgetting whether or not he could win.
But reckless courage wouldn't help here; Shanks couldn't even take one hit. He was knocked unconscious immediately.
"Shanks!"
Buggy forgot his fear and was about to rush forward as well.
"Stop, Buggy. Don't act on impulse!"
Baichuan had barely regained his senses but still managed to speak. Though his voice was weak, it carried unusual firmness.
"Oh? Still not dead?" Rogger seemed surprised to see Baichuan standing again.
"Dead? I will never die."
Baichuan took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
"Is that so?"
Rogger dashed toward him again. His speed was so overwhelming that Baichuan couldn't even react. All he could do was feel the blows land on his body, like a punching bag.
"Damn it!"
With a furious roar, a surge of Conqueror's Haki exploded from Baichuan, wild and overwhelming.
It was the first time Baichuan had ever unleashed his Conqueror's Haki at full force.
The impact shattered nearby trees. Even Buggy and Katherine, despite Baichuan deliberately avoiding their direction, felt its overwhelming presence. Had he not held back, they likely would've fainted on the spot, or even died.
"Conqueror's Haki, huh? Interesting."
Rogger's lips curled into a smile. "Still… this level of strength is pretty intense, it's even making me feel suppressed."
Then, Roger's own Conqueror's Haki burst forth.
The clash between the two overwhelming auras was so strong that even the protected Buggy and Katherine were instantly knocked unconscious.
"So, you have Conqueror's Haki too," Baichuan said, his expression growing more serious.
"Oh? You knew?"
"I guessed. As the strongest man in a kingdom, it's not surprising you'd have Conqueror's Haki. Besides, this is the New World."
"Hahahaha!"
Rogger laughed, clearly proud of Baichuan's recognition.
"But I don't feel like dragging this out with you," he added.
Though they had clashed equally in Haki, Rogger seemed to lose ground slightly, perhaps due to pride; he didn't want to continue this way.
The two then simultaneously withdrew their Haki, and the atmosphere immediately returned to stillness.
"I don't think we need to fight to the death," Rogger said unexpectedly. "Just let me take Katherine. How about that?"
"Not," Baichuan replied without hesitation.
"In that case," Rogger's voice suddenly turned ice-cold, "I'll end this quickly."
Baichuan could feel the killing intent radiating from Rogger; it was suffocating.
With his sword shattered, Baichuan had no choice but to use his fists.
To his surprise, he managed to punch Rogger in the face, but it did no damage at all. Rogger had defended using Armament Haki.
Before Baichuan could react, Rogger's Haki-covered fist slammed into his stomach like a rising uppercut, launching him into the air.
But Rogger wasn't done. He leapt up after Baichuan, and just as Baichuan reached the peak of his flight, Rogger clenched both hands and smashed downward in a hammer-like blow.
Boom!
Baichuan crashed to the ground, creating a massive crater.
"Not dead? How could anyone be immortal?"
As Rogger turned to take Katherine away, he suddenly froze. He sensed Baichuan's life force… rising again.
"What…? You're still alive?"
Rogger turned sharply, stunned.
"I told you… I won't die,"
Baichuan said haltingly, wiping nonexistent blood from the corner of his mouth.
"I see… some kind of regeneration-type Devil Fruit? Interesting."
Rogger's eyes glinted dangerously. He now looked at Baichuan like he was a test subject, something rare to experiment on.
"Let's see just how much that fruit of yours can endure."
He drove a knee into Baichuan's chin, sending several of his teeth flying.
Not stopping there, Rogger grabbed Baichuan's head and pried his mouth open, watching as the shattered teeth began to regrow.
"How fascinating… fascinating."
He knocked more teeth out again just to watch them regenerate.
"Damn you…"
Baichuan clenched his fists, filled with unwillingness, but he couldn't fight back.
He already knew the torment that awaited him would be unbearable.
"Let me go…"
Every time he healed, he used up tremendous energy. His regeneration was now slowing down.
"Oh, I'll let you go if you beg me. Just like those pitiful villagers did. Beg for mercy."
"Tooey!"
Baichuan spat in his face.
Feeling the filth land on him, Rogger flew into a rage. He grabbed Baichuan's head and smashed it into the ground.
"You want to die that badly? Fine, I'll make it happen," Rogger growled.
"Didn't you say you were immortal? Let's see if you can survive decapitation."
He picked up a broadsword, probably from a nearby bandit's corpse, stepped onto Baichuan's chest, and prepared to strike down.
Just then
A figure suddenly appeared beside him and sent Rogger flying with a single punch.
Baichuan looked up at the silhouette and gave a relieved smile, then passed out.