Facing Abu's axe, Ghost Hand Rowan showed no sign of fear or retreat. His calm, indifferent gaze met the descending blade as he lifted his left hand to intercept.
Abu, inwardly scoffing at the audacity, tightened his grip and swung with maximum force, aiming to cleave both Rowan and his hand in a single strike.
Yet the expected spray of blood never came. The axe was halted mid-air by an invisible, twisting force.
Rowan's fingers closed around the steel blade. With a sharp twist, the axe bent like bamboo, the metal creaking and spiraling along its length.
"Impossible!" Abu gasped, abandoning the weapon and swinging a fist instead, channelling a terrifying, concentrated impact.
"It's here!"
"Lord Abu's Eight Rush Fist!"
The distant members of the Eight Treasures Water Army froze in shock. Ordinary members could never learn this techniqueit was exclusive to the core officers and leaders. Recently, Abu had used it to incapacitate a Grand Line pirate worth over 40 million Berries with a single blow.
Rowan's expression remained unchanged. He discarded the twisted axe, formed his fist, and met Abu's strike directly, Warp Power surging through his arm.
Boom!
The collision unleashed a deafening roar, like a cannon exploding mid-air. Abu's Eight Rush Fist, designed to manipulate impact force and bypass defenses, clashed against the Warp-Warp Fruit, a power capable of bending steel and overwhelming almost any physical attack.
While Abu's technique was refined and disciplined, Rowan's Warp Power, amplified by the Talent System, surpassed it with ease.
The stalemate lasted only a fraction of a second. Rowan's Warp Power surged along Abu's arm, twisting it grotesquely until the limb formed a rigid, broken spiral.
"Aaaah!" Abu screamed, his eyes wide with shock. The Eight Rush Fist had failed completely; Rowan's strength had not only resisted it but utterly dominated.
The Water Army members watched in disbelief. "How… how can Abu's Eight Rush Fist be defeated head-on?!"
Old Cai, gripping his long sword, watched in grim silence. He had expected Rowan to challenge Abu's strength, but the speed and decisiveness of Abu's defeat unsettled him.
"Vicious methods," Old Cai muttered, stepping forward with his blade. "Those who attack my subordinates must pay the price."
Rowan's tone remained flat. "Those who dare steal from me must be ready to face the consequences." He stomped the deck, sending another surge of Warp Power rippling through the ship.
Old Cai clenched his sword, ignoring the warped planks. "The weak fall to the strong… but I will not let my subordinates suffer in vain!"
With a swift lunge, Old Cai swung his blade in a storm of steel, aiming directly at Rowan.
Rowan sidestepped effortlessly, as if his body were paper, and countered with a Warp-powered punch.
Bang!
The Warp Power erupted, clashing against Old Cai's Armament Haki. The sword trembled under the force, twisting slightly but holding firm.
The Water Army stared in awe. Abu's strength had been formidable; Old Cai's was leagues beyond. Recently, Old Cai had even defeated a 100 million Berry pirate on the Grand Line.
Rowan narrowed his eyes, sensing the Haki's unusual resistance. "Armament Haki…" he muttered.
"Recognizing Haki as a West Blue pirate? Not bad," Old Cai chuckled, rotating his sword and swinging again like a violent storm.
"Your Devil Fruit won't work on me!" Old Cai shouted.
"Is that so?" Rowan's calm demeanor never faltered.
Armament Haki could indeed resist Devil Fruit abilities, but only up to a point. Weak Haki could not oppose a well-trained Devil Fruit, and Rowan's Warp Power, strengthened by Talent Proficiency, far exceeded Abu's capacity.
Rowan focused, gathering all Warp Power into his fist. "Warp… Impact!"
He struck directly into the swirling storm of sword shadows. The Warp Power tore through the air like a miniature Tremor-Tremor Fruit shockwave, sending ripples across the already damaged deck.
The concentrated force hit the center of Old Cai's sword. Despite all his Haki, the handle shuddered violently under the Warp surge.
Bang!
The long sword cracked, splintering in pieces, and Old Cai was hurled backward. His sleeves shredded, his fingers trembled slightly, minor injuries marking his fall.
Rowan's expression remained composed.
Old Cai's eyes darkened. "So… this is your full power… I underestimated you." He clenched his hands and prepared to escalate.
"Then I will take you seriously as well."
"Eight Rush Fist… Martial Heel!"
Old Cai launched into the air, spinning mid-flight, his heel glinting with Armament Haki. He aimed a crushing strike at Rowan's head.
Rowan raised his fist, channeling every ounce of Warp Power.
Boom!
The impact of fist against heel tore through the air, the shockwave radiating outward like the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. Spiderweb cracks spread across the warped deck, centered at the collision, while the remaining planks groaned and buckled.