Zzzzzzz!
A brilliant bolt of lightning ripped across the sky, filling every pirate's eyes with terror and dread.
A massive, twisting chasm materialized between the dense storm clouds, cleaving the heavens and earth in two.
Marco's pupils constricted as he stared intently at the two figures. He could clearly see:
Where their blades clashed, arcs of electricity crackled, and violent winds erupted from the center, shaking the very fabric of space.
Even more terrifyingly, the blades never actually touched each other; they intersected through the air.
"Gulalala! Your formidable Haki makes you a truly worthy opponent!" Whitebeard roared with laughter as he spoke.
"The World's Strongest Man. The blood in my veins is boiling!" Kojin grinned fiercely.
Their eyes locked, and crackling electricity arced between them in the void.
Immediately afterwards, both figures retreated to create distance between them. Yet from that moment onward, the atmosphere between them became even tenser and more oppressive.
Undoubtedly, their brief exchange had ignited their battle intent.
As individuals at the pinnacle of the world, their combat prowess could be said to dominate all beneath them, leaving them with virtually no worthy opponents.
Such individuals inevitably feel isolated at times.
"That blade... It's Roger's, isn't it?" Whitebeard narrowed his eyes and fixed his gaze on the blade in Kojin's hand before asking in a deep voice.
"Indeed," Kojin nodded.
Hearing this, a thoughtful glint flashed in Whitebeard's eyes as he spoke. "He certainly held you in high regard."
He sighed deeply and gazed at the man standing before him with a sword in hand. For a moment, he seemed to see Roger's ghost reappear behind Kojin.
"This battle... should bring me great joy!" Whitebeard roared with laughter, gripping the hilt of Murakumogiri with his right hand.
Whitebeard's enormous frame shook as he swung his naginata, Murakumogiri, above his head, unleashing a howling wind. Two breaths later, he vanished in a sudden flash.
"So fast!" Kojin's pupils constricted as Whitebeard ruthlessly slashed his weapon through the air.
Clang!
Almost simultaneously, a shadow loomed overhead as the massive naginata crashed down with tremendous force. The sheer power behind the strike was terrifying; the blade crackled with lightning.
Beneath Whitebeard's colossal bulk lay terrifying speed and explosive power, leaving his opponent virtually no time to react.
Kojin gripped his sword with a grave expression on his face.
The blades clashed, unleashing an explosive collision of raw power, and after a single breath, Kojin's figure flickered and vanished into lightning.
"Ugh!"
Whitebeard sheathed his naginata, his eyes gleaming as a wide grin spread across his face. Behind him, Kojin materialized amidst crackling lightning and slashed down with his sword.
"Oyaji!"
"Watch out!"
Marco and the others were horrified.
The brief exchange had happened too quickly for them to react.
"Gulalala!"
A thunderous laugh erupted.
Somehow, Whitebeard had turned around; his towering frame was unshaken, but his crescent-shaped white mustache trembled slightly. Veins bulged on his right arm as he slashed a streak of lightning with his naginata, meeting the attack head-on.
Bang!
The blades clashed again, a blinding light distorting the space around them and sending tremors through everyone's hearts.
A violent torrent of air erupted from the Moby Dick like a tornado, unleashing a devastating shockwave that roared over their heads.
"Is this what it means to witness the clash of the World's Strongest?"
"It's terrifying!"
"The aftershock alone blew our ship back a thousand meters!"
Even standing at the edge, their Haki made me tremble all over.'
The Whitebeard Pirates were shaking uncontrollably, their faces contorted in fear.
With wide eyes, they stared at the two figures on the massive ship ahead, as if they were witnessing a battle between God and Demon.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A violent gale swept through the air, whipping their robes around them.
After what felt like an eternity, the storm finally subsided.
Whitebeard chuckled as he sheathed Murakumogiri, the hilt striking the deck with a resounding clang. His gaze locked onto the figure before him.
"You're trying to rescue that kid?" His crescent-shaped mustache twitched as he smiled, his eyes drifting to Marco and the others. "Well, that depends on whether you have the skill for it."
Kojin slowly straightened and sheathed his sword, angling the tip against the deck.
His eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in Marco, Vista, and the other officers, all of whom were glaring at him with tense, excited glints in their eyes.
Kojin recognized that glint in their eyes instantly... it was Battle Intent.
Clearly, every officer on the Whitebeard Pirates' ship was now intensely focused on him. Having infiltrated the enemy camp alone, he was now facing their entire force.
"Boy, you're standing before the world's strongest pirate crew!" Whitebeard boomed. "Don't get too cocky!"
"Then you're severely underestimating me!" Kojin replied with a faint smile.
He expanded his domain, instantly becoming aware of everything within a ten-kilometer radius.
The next instant, ten thousand bolts of blindingly brilliant light erupted from his body. Marco and the others couldn't help but squint.
In that split second, his figure twisted and vanished.
"Hmm?" Whitebeard's gaze sharpened as he gripped Murakumogiri.
But he relaxed his grip almost immediately.
Marco moved, his body erupting in blue flames. In an instant, he was standing before Crocodile, spinning and slashing down with his right foot at the figure flickering with Thunderlight.
"Hey, hey, hey! We're all still here! How dare you act so recklessly!" Marco's eyes burned with intensity as he roared.
Ahead, Kojin crackled with lightning as he reached down with his right hand to seize Crocodile on the ground.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew in from behind, causing him to furrow his brow slightly.
The Whitebeard Pirates' officer was clearly stronger than he had expected.
With a swift twist, Kojin spun around and extended his right hand.
"Phoenix Seal!"
"Shigen (Finger Gun)!"
The two ruthless attacks collided, causing the void to pause momentarily before black-red lightning erupted outward. Marco staggered, his face contorted in pain. After two seconds, he was sent hurtling backwards like a cannon shell.
"Marco!" Diamond Jozu's expression changed as he roared and charged forward with his massive frame.
Kojin raised his hand, spreading his fingers wide. Electricity crackled between them.
"Billion Volt: Heavenly Punishment!"
Bang!
A searing, blinding pillar of thunder erupted and hurtled towards Diamond Jozu. It reached its peak of speed and destructive force in an instant, causing the other Officers to pale in alarm.
Diamond Jozu roared, and his body was instantly encased in diamond armor.
The thunder pillar collided with him, engulfing him completely. With overwhelming force, it blasted through the air for over ten kilometers. In a fraction of a second, the pillar slammed into a pirate ship, cleaving it in half and igniting a towering inferno.
"Jozu!" Vista roared in fury, brandishing his twin swords as he lunged forward.
"Enough!" Whitebeard's thunderous voice cut through the chaos. "He's beyond your capabilities!"
He clenched his right hand around Murakumogiri. His towering frame swayed as he slowly bent his legs, entering a stance of coiled power. His tiger-like eyes locked onto Kojin.
"You dare act so recklessly and arrogantly on my ship, brat?!" Whitebeard bellowed.
Meanwhile, Kojin glanced at Crocodile and swung his sword in an arc, bringing it crashing down.
Clang!
Sparks flew as the shackles on Crocodile's wrists shattered. He surged to his feet, his face lighting up with wild elation.
"Vice Admiral Kojin!"
But the words were barely out of his mouth when his body stiffened and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Behind Kojin stood a massive, imposing figure, looming like a mountain.
Clang!
The naginata rang out with a metallic clang, its oppressive aura making hearts tremble. The weapon seemed to defy time and space as it swung down with deceptive slowness, its true speed blurring the senses.
Kojin had just severed his shackles with his right hand and had no time to recover his strength.
BOOM!
Thunder roared and the sky blazed with light, forming a dazzling backdrop of countless lightning bolts.
Suddenly, Crocodile was plunged into complete darkness and lost his vision.
At that very instant, a deep, resonating voice echoed:
"Fist Bone Impact!"
An overwhelming aura erupted, filling the air above the Moby Dick with crackling electricity and deafening thunder. Whitebeard's pupils constricted as he pressed down with all his might on his weapon.
BANG!
The Void trembled, unleashing a cataclysmic shockwave that shattered the deck beneath their feet, inch by inch. The entire Moby Dick plunged into the sea.
Instantly, a tsunami of seawater surged upwards, roaring with violent fury.
Crocodile's vision returned. Before him stood Kojin, his right hand gripping his sword and his left hand firmly blocking the naginata above his head.
"Find a way out of here," Kojin commanded.
His eyes remained fixed on Whitebeard, every muscle in his body tense. Against such a formidable opponent, even a moment's lapse in concentration could be fatal.
"Garp's fists!"
"Roger's blade!"
"Brat, the power you possess truly surprises me!" Whitebeard roared.
With a sudden movement, he retracted his weapon and his gaze swept towards Crocodile.
"I have no interest in greenhorn brats like you. But you, brat... you're different!" After a pause, he turned his attention to Kojin. "This place is too cramped to fight properly. Let's find a wide-open space and have a proper battle!"
Battle intent blazed in his eyes as the blood in his veins surged.
He had long heard tales of Kojin, the formidable Marine whose strength even Roger had warned him about. The brief clash earlier had indeed sent a chill down his spine.
Whether in raw power, reflexes, or Haki, Kojin's capabilities reached the pinnacle of the world.
This opponent reminded him of his former rival, Roger, in his prime.
Kojin's own battle intent burned fiercely. He had prepared himself for this encounter long before arriving.
"To fight Whitebeard at his peak… This is an honor."
Whitebeard raised an eyebrow slightly and let out a hearty laugh.
Fifteen minutes later, the two stood on a desolate island. Marco was covered in scrapes and bruises, while Diamond Jozu's entire body was charred black, both staring intently at the two figures ahead.
They knew a world-shaking, climactic battle was about to erupt.
(End of Chapter)
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