"Sure enough, a man like you can't possess Conqueror's Haki without ambition."
Despite unleashing immense pressure with his Haki, Kaelen still spoke with ease.
He had absorbed Whitebeard's Conqueror's Haki, the Golden Lion's overwhelming will, and even the incomplete will left behind by Ace.
At this point, there was hardly anyone in the world whose Conqueror's Haki could match Kaelen's intensity.
Not even Red-Haired Shanks.
Aside from a few monsters like Aokiji, most present were being completely suppressed.
"Zehahaha, I underestimated you. With Haki that powerful, your ambition might be greater than anyone else's in this sea," Blackbeard admitted, his voice low.
Their Haki clash had ended in his defeat.
His own Conqueror's Haki was far weaker than Kaelen's. He could barely maintain its presence and certainly couldn't talk while holding it steady.
If he opened his mouth mid-clash, his Haki would collapse.
"Heh, think what you want," Kaelen said indifferently.
He didn't confirm or deny it. There was no need to explain himself.
Ambition? Yes, but his goals were far beyond what this sea could hold or comprehend.
As the words fell, Kaelen raised his right fist, activating the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
"Enough talking. Let's settle this."
Whummmm—
As Kaelen swung his fist, the entire island trembled. An oppressive aura spread outward like an ancient beast awakening from slumber.
"Zehahaha! A duel between two users of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit—this has never happened before, and may never happen again!"
"My blood's boiling!"
BOOM!
Blackbeard released his own Tremor-Tremor power, slamming a shockwave directly toward Kaelen. His face twisted in excitement, his whole body vibrating with adrenaline.
This was unprecedented.
All the spectators who had backed far away were now glued to the unfolding scene, eyes wide with anticipation.
BOOOOOM!!
The collision of their powers echoed like the heavens cracking open. White fractures tore across the sky above the island, branching outward like a giant web.
Hundreds of meters of space shattered. Silver cracks slithered through the air as a shrill, bone-rattling roar erupted.
The concussive infrasound was devastating. It blasted outward like a category 12 hurricane.
Most of the onlookers clutched their heads, their balance thrown off, eyes spinning, stomachs lurching.
Only a few remained clear-headed, focused on Kaelen and Blackbeard.
After the initial shockwave, both of them rushed forward without hesitation.
The Tremor-Tremor Fruit, when paired with close-quarters combat, was a brutal combination.
Kaelen's fists were wrapped in glowing white energy. He lunged forward, each strike carving through the air, the sheer force distorting space.
A single punch could level a mountain.
If Blackbeard took the hit directly, even his resilient body—which took double damage thanks to the Dark-Dark Fruit—wouldn't survive unscathed.
"Zehahaha! You think I only have one power?"
One of Blackbeard's hands glowed white from the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, while the other was cloaked in pitch-black darkness—the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit.
One hand to defend, one to destroy.
The dual fruits complemented each other perfectly.
Unfortunately for him, Kaelen was a different beast.
This time, the result was already decided.
"Wha—?! Why isn't your ability affected by the Dark-Dark Fruit?!"
As their fists collided, Blackbeard's eyes widened in shock. His grin faded, replaced by disbelief.
He'd expected the Dark-Dark Fruit to nullify Kaelen's Tremor power.
Then, he would strike back and dominate the fight.
But reality betrayed him.
His darkness had no effect on Kaelen's tremors.
And in that moment—he paid the price.
"Aaaaaaagh!"
Kaelen's crushing force surged from his fists into Blackbeard's arm and body, exploding inward.
A destructive torrent of energy flooded his core.
Blackbeard was launched back like a ragdoll, tumbling across the ground in a blur, dozens of meters away.
It was a pathetic sight.
Even Kaelen didn't expect him to fall so quickly. For a so-called Yonko, Blackbeard was embarrassingly fragile in that moment.
Still, Kaelen had to admit—Blackbeard was strong.
The man's reflexes were sharp. The moment danger struck, he instinctively pulled away before the damage could fully detonate.
Treacherous. Cunning. Alert.
That's how he'd survived this long.
---
"Captain! I'll cover you!"
Seeing Blackbeard down, his ever-loyal underling, Jesus Burgess, leapt forward.
But before he could move an inch—
BOOM!
Aokiji appeared like a ghost and landed a brutal kick to Burgess' chest, launching him like a cannonball.
The admiral-turned-rogue gently lowered his right leg.
"Sorry, your opponent is me."
His calm voice swept across the battlefield, directed at every remaining member of Blackbeard's crew.
"Jozu, Vista. Let's go!"
Across the field, Marco signaled his comrades. He, Jozu, and Vista leapt forward, intercepting Shiryu and the rest of Blackbeard's forces.
They weren't about to let anyone interfere.
Kaelen had the advantage. The last thing they needed was someone ruining it.
The tide of battle shifted once again.
__
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