[send power stones please]
Hachinosu
Inside a stone room carved into Skull Rock—
"Romu."
"Where've you been these past days? I wanted to drink with you, but I couldn't find you anywhere."
Whitebeard sat on a stool, smiling as he asked.
He sounded casual, but if you looked closely, it was obvious he had something on his mind.
"I went to the Calm Belt."
Romu noticed the oddness in Whitebeard's mood, but didn't ask.
If Whitebeard wanted to say it, he wouldn't need to be prompted.
So Romu simply answered.
"The Calm Belt?"
"That's Impel Down's jurisdiction."
Whitebeard frowned.
Impel Down was a place every pirate hated—no matter how strong.
"Yeah."
"I got tired of the island food. Went to find some Sea Kings and change the flavor."
"And while I was there…"
"I fought Roger."
Romu said it lightly.
Anything connected to his own abilities—he'd never reveal to anyone.
But a scuffle with Roger? No need to hide that.
"Roger?"
Whitebeard blinked, then laughed.
"Gurararara…"
"Funny enough, I'm not exactly enemies with Roger. That guy's strength really is something."
"Didn't expect you two to clash."
"So?"
"Who won? Who lost?"
The excitement in his eyes flared up.
His gossip instincts were burning.
"Neither of us went all-out."
"We tested each other. Call it a draw."
Romu fiddled with a plant in his hand, speaking casually.
"A draw?!"
"Gurararara…!"
Whitebeard's mood shot up instantly, and whatever heaviness he'd shown earlier was tossed aside like it never existed.
He stood, grabbed Murakumogiri—
"Just hearing you two fought has my hands itching."
"Romu."
"Come with me. Let's scratch that itch!"
His voice boomed, eyes practically glowing.
A born battle maniac.
Romu rubbed his nose, thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Fine."
"Let's spar a bit. I want to test my Armament Haki anyway."
They exchanged a grin and walked out together.
Romu's Territory — An Island Beside Hachinosu
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
Each blast made the entire island quake.
In moments, Whitebeard and Romu had already exchanged nearly a hundred blows.
The commotion was so huge that even on Hachinosu, pirates could feel it clearly.
They gathered, staring toward the island as they argued excitedly.
"Didn't Captain Rocks order everyone back to Hachinosu and ban infighting? Who the hell is that—aren't they scared he'll toss them into the sea?!"
"Idiot! That's Captain Newgate and Captain Romu sparring. As long as it doesn't go too far, the captain won't care."
"I'm jealous. They can ignore the captain's orders."
"Jealous my ass. That kind of strength—the kind that changes the sky—what are you jealous for? You'll never reach it!"
"—Huh? Look over there. Someone's flying that way."
"Are you blind? That's Captain Shiki!!"
Above the Clouds
Shiki—gold hair blazing—floated toward Romu's island.
Ever since losing to Romu, his authority inside the crew had plunged.
Some loudmouths even decided that beating Shiki would be the "shortcut" to becoming a division captain.
They challenged him one after another.
It only stopped when Shiki finally snapped and killed a few of them.
To Shiki, it was humiliation.
He swore he'd defeat Romu.
He trained like a man possessed, day and night.
Today was supposed to be the day he reclaimed his pride—
Only to find Newgate got there first.
"Fine…"
"Then I'll watch. Let's see how much you've grown."
Shiki hid behind the cloud layer and began observing.
But after only a few minutes—
His brows knit into a deep scowl.
He blurted out,
"This brat…"
"He can use Conqueror's coating?! He didn't use that last time!"
"No—"
"And that Armament isn't right either. Newgate's Murakumogiri got bounced away?!"
"…"
Less than ten minutes in, Shiki's eyes were wide as plates.
From his senses alone—
Romu was at least a step stronger than he'd been in their fight.
"How is that possible…?"
"Was he holding back then?"
"No!"
Shiki shook his head hard.
"That can't be it…!"
"Then that means…"
"He improved in just a few days…"
"No… no…!"
He shook his head even harder.
Because compared to "he held back,"
this explanation was far more terrifying.
"Ha…"
Shiki shut his eyes and pressed his fingers into his temples.
His thoughts were a mess.
Below, the battle only intensified—shockwaves growing wilder, heavier.
"Damn it…!"
"Romu, just you wait!"
"Next time, I'll be stronger than you!!"
Shiki crushed a hole through the nearby cloud with one hand.
Then he turned and stormed off—cursing as he flew.
At Skull Rock's Peak
Rocks stood at the highest level, wearing a satisfied smile.
He wasn't angry that the two had "broken" his order.
Instead, he murmured softly—
"I wonder…"
"How strong you'll be in a little over two months, Romu…"
Sunset
The sky bled red.
Whitebeard and Romu's sparring reached its end.
"BOOM—!"
After one last clash, both men leapt back at the same time, ending it.
"Romu…"
"I don't know how you train, but you're getting stronger too fast."
Whitebeard put away Murakumogiri and walked toward him.
"They call me a monster."
"But looking at you…"
"What am I?"
"You're the real monster."
He stared at Romu's absurdly young face, genuinely shaken.
"Monster?"
Romu shook his head, steadied his slightly disturbed breathing, and nodded his chin toward Rocks' direction.
"That one…"
"That's the real monster."
"Since I set out to sea, he's the strongest man I've ever met."
"And…"
"He might be the strongest man in the world right now."
Whitebeard's expression tightened.
The post-battle joy vanished instantly.
The unease from earlier surfaced again.
In a low voice, he agreed—
"Yeah."
"He's at least a whole level above us."
"I've never seen anyone stronger."
After that, Whitebeard fell silent.
He dragged Murakumogiri behind him and began walking back toward Hachinosu.
Slowly.
No swagger.
No laughter.
Like his heart was wrestling with something.
Romu frowned, but didn't press.
He snapped his fingers.
A red flower rose behind him.
He relaxed and fell backward onto it, letting it lift him into the air.
But then—
Whitebeard's voice called out again.
"Romu!"
"There's something… I need to talk to you about."
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