Note: The chapter 71 was missing please check that first and then come back.
As soon as Kai's words fell—
Bogard froze.
What?
What did he just say?
He wanted… to fight him?
Why?
Bogard's mind went blank. He simply couldn't wrap his head around it.
Kai had come to find him on purpose—just to have a fight?
After a long moment, Bogard finally blinked, his face full of confusion.
"Why?" he couldn't help but ask.
Hearing this, Kai answered plainly,
"These past days of training have made me wonder—right now, with the strength I possess, where exactly do I stand on this vast sea?"
"I've spent days fighting Sea Kings, but I still don't have a clear idea of my own true level."
"So…"
"I want to spar with you, Lieutenant Commander Bogard."
"I want to test myself, to see just how far my power has reached."
"Surely, you won't refuse, will you?"
When his words landed, Bogard finally understood.
Then, the corner of his mouth twitched, a bitter smile surfacing.
So… he was being used as a benchmark?
He had no way to refuse. With a helpless sigh, he nodded.
"Alright."
And so—
That morning, a piece of news swept across the entire Marine warship like wildfire!
Hundreds of sailors shook off their morning drowsiness. Their faces were full of excitement as they rushed toward the deck.
"Big news!"
"Lieutenant Commander Bogard has been challenged—by Mr. Kai himself!"
"Mr. Kai is about to face off against Lieutenant Commander Bogard!"
"A fight of this level doesn't come around every day!"
"Who do you think is stronger? Bogard might only hold the rank of lieutenant commander, but his actual strength is said to be on par with a Headquarters Commander!''
"I personally think Bogard's stronger."
"Mr. Kai is still too young."
"Not necessarily!"
…
Chatter filled the air as Marine s flooded the deck.
In less than half a quarter-hour, the area was surrounded by hundreds of sailors, all eagerly waiting to witness the upcoming spar.
Voices buzzed through the crowd.
Some were confident in Bogard—after all, he was a Headquarters officer who had followed Vice Admiral Garp for years and possessed the power of a full commander.
Of course, some favored Kai instead.
The image of Kai tearing a Sea King apart with his bare hands only days ago still burned vividly in everyone's memory.
No matter which side they took, excitement ran high.
But overall, more Marine s leaned toward Bogard.
Even if Kai had torn a Sea King apart with his bare hands…
In their hearts, Bogard—whose combat power rivaled a Headquarters Commander—seemed the more reliable bet.
The commotion quickly reached Vice Admiral Garp, who came to the deck himself to act as referee.
If things got out of hand, he would step in to stop the fight before either side got seriously injured.
"You two, remember—keep it to a spar~" Garp warned solemnly, scanning both men.
"Understood."
The two nodded in unison.
Kai's gaze sharpened, his eyes burning with fighting spirit as he looked at Bogard.
This battle—
would be the perfect test of his true strength!
A Headquarters Commander-level opponent shouldn't be weak, after all.
Before the fight began, Bogard drew in a deep breath and spoke gravely.
"Mr. Kai, you'd better be careful. I won't be holding back."
"Although I'm only a Headquarters lieutenant commander, I can tell you honestly—some of the Commanders at Headquarters aren't as strong as I am."
"If you treat me like an ordinary lieutenant commander, I'm afraid you'll lose badly."
"So I hope you'll give it everything you've got!"
He knew all too well how strong Kai was.
Anyone who could tear a Sea King apart with his bare hands—a creature of the deep that even Vice Admirals treated cautiously—was no ordinary person.
That was why Bogard dared not take him lightly.
From the very start, he made it clear:
He would not hold back.
Because even he wasn't a hundred percent sure he could win if he did.
And he refused to lose.
As a Headquarters lieutenant commander, he had his pride.
He absolutely couldn't—
Wouldn't—
Lose to a four-year-old child.
Just the thought of it made his blood run cold.
A dignified lieutenant commander, defeated by a four-year-old?
Even if that child was a once-in-a-century prodigy, Bogard could never accept it!
"Lieutenant Commander Bogard, are you sure you want me to go all out?"
Kai's eyes narrowed slightly, a playful smile on his lips.
Go all out?
Even he didn't know what his full power truly was.
"Of course," Bogard said seriously, nodding.
"In that case…"
Kai smiled faintly.
"As you wish."
Before the eyes of hundreds of Marine s—
Kai reached for his collar, grabbed it—
and tore it apart.
Rip—!
The sound was crisp and sharp.
Fragments of his shirt fluttered down like snow, scattering around his feet.
The golden sunlight poured across his body, highlighting every ridge of muscle.
Thick veins like crawling serpents traced his skin, and a faint scar across his chest only made his physique look more fearsome.
Every muscle bulged with explosive power—
a terrifying beauty of raw strength.
His back was like that of a demon carved in flesh.
It was intimidating.
Chilling.
A wave of overwhelming pressure rolled out from him, covering the entire deck.
The air turned heavy.
All the Marine s felt it—
that suffocating sense of oppression radiating from Kai.
Their scalps tingled as their eyes widened in awe and disbelief.
Especially when they saw the demonic tattoo-like muscles on his back—
reverence rose unbidden in their hearts.
"Wh-what terrifying presence!"
"Mr. Kai's aura… it's even more frightening than Lieutenant Commander Bogard's!"
Indeed, though Bogard's physique was that of a full-grown man, the aura emanating from the four-year-old boy before him was far stronger.
Kai flexed his arm lazily and smiled.
"Lieutenant Commander Bogard, are you ready?"
The atmosphere turned tense in an instant.
A killing intent filled the air.
Even the battle-hardened Bogard felt his heart shudder.
He exhaled heavily, forcing down the tremor inside.
His eyes sharpened, and he uttered a single word—
"Fight!"
And thus—
A great battle was about to erupt!
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