Whitebeard stood at the bow of the Moby Dick, his towering frame like an unshakable mountain.
His fist was clenched, and the air was filled with a suffocating pressure.
His gaze locked onto Hashirama Senju in the distance, and the corners of his mouth curled into a bold smile.
"Kulalala! Boy, show me what you've got!" Whitebeard let out a booming laugh and swung his fist, "Air Quake!"
With his movement, the sky seemed to tear apart, and a piercing cracking sound echoed through the air.
A terrifying shockwave spread at visible speed, hurtling straight toward Hashirama's Wood Dragons.
The several Wood Dragons that had just been rampaging looked fragile in the face of that shockwave.
"Boom—!"
The shockwave collided with the Wood Dragons, unleashing a deafening roar.
The bodies of the Wood Dragons shattered instantly under the shockwave, scattering countless splinters that drifted down to the ground.
The Wood Dragons, which had required Ace and Marco to join forces to barely defeat moments ago, were completely obliterated by a single strike from Whitebeard.
"This is the Old Man's power." Ace's eyes were filled with awe.
Though he knew Whitebeard's strength was unfathomable, witnessing it still left him utterly shaken.
Marco folded his flaming wings, his expression serious: "The Old Man's Tremor-Tremor Fruit is the most fearsome power in this world."
In the distance, Hashirama Senju stood on the shoulder of a Wood Golem, a flicker of excitement in his eyes.
He pressed his palms together, chakra surging wildly within his body: "Interesting! Power like this is worthy of a fight with me!"
"Wood Release: Wood Golem Technique!"
With his low chant, the Wood Golem swung its massive fist, directly meeting Whitebeard's attack.
The wooden fist collided with the shockwave, unleashing an earth-shattering explosion.
The entire island trembled under their power, waves surged dozens of meters high, and the surrounding air seemed to tear apart.
"Boom—!"
The clash between the wooden fist and the shockwave generated a massive energy fluctuation.
The Wood Golem's fist cracked under the shockwave but quickly regenerated.
Though Whitebeard's shockwave was immense, the Wood Golem's regenerative ability was equally astonishing.
Whitebeard let out a roar, swinging his naginata: "Kulalala! Boy, you've got real skill!"
His voice carried undisguised admiration.
It had been a long time since he'd faced an opponent who could match him head-on, and the man before him, Hashirama Senju, was clearly an enemy worthy of his full strength.
Hashirama smiled, pressing his palms together again: "Your power has completely surpassed Kage level. So this is what they call the strongest man in this world?"
Excitement shone in his eyes as the Wood Golem's fist swung again, clashing with Whitebeard's naginata.
Every clash between them unleashed vast energy fluctuations, the entire sea trembling under their might.
"Boom—!"
The wooden fist met the naginata, bursting into blinding light.
Whitebeard's naginata was wrapped in the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, each swing carrying the force to tear through space. Meanwhile, Hashirama's Wood Golem, relying on its massive frame and incredible regenerative ability, engaged in a fierce exchange of blows.
"Kulalala! What a thrill!" Whitebeard laughed heartily, swinging his fist again, "Earthquake!"
The ground began to shake violently, countless cracks appearing on the island's surface, with seawater erupting from the fissures.
The Wood Golem wobbled under the quake's impact, but Hashirama's chakra poured into it ceaselessly, keeping it upright.
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
Hashirama pressed his palms together once more, and countless colossal trees burst from the ground, transforming the sea into a primeval forest in an instant.
The trees' branches snaked toward Whitebeard like living things, trying to restrict his movements.
Whitebeard snorted, swinging his naginata: "Air Quake!"
An invisible shockwave shattered the giant trees, but more of them grew relentlessly, seemingly endless.
The battle reached a fever pitch, each clash generating massive energy fluctuations.
The crew aboard the Moby Dick watched in stunned silence, and even formidable fighters like Marco and Ace were left in awe.
"This is… a battle between the world's top-class fighters?" Ace muttered to himself, longing in his eyes.
Marco stood beside him, his blue flame wings slightly spread, his expression grave.
"It's been a long time since the Old Man has gone all out like this. This Hashirama Senju is truly a terrifying opponent."
Out on the battlefield, the fight between Whitebeard and Hashirama Senju had lasted half a day.
The island lay shattered under their power, half of it already collapsed, rubble and dust filling the air.
Seawater gushed from the cracks, forming massive pillars of water.
Whitebeard wielded his giant naginata, each swing tearing through space.
"Kulalala! What a thrill! What a thrill! Boy, you really are something else!"
Hashirama Senju stood atop the Wood Golem, palms pressed together, chakra surging around him.
A smile crossed his face, excitement blazing in his eyes: "You're not bad either! This is the first time I've met someone who can overpower my Wood Golem Technique!"
The Wood Golem's fist collided with Whitebeard's naginata again, unleashing a deafening explosion.
The Wood Golem's body kept shattering under the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power, but Hashirama's chakra flowed into it continuously, restoring it instantly.
Though Whitebeard's quaking force was mighty, the Wood Golem's regenerative ability was equally formidable, and their fight fell into a stalemate.
In the distance, the Whitebeard Pirates' crew wore solemn expressions, awe in their eyes.
Even a Marine Admiral could probably only achieve this much.
Hidden among the crowd, Teach watched the battlefield with a complex gaze.
A flicker of greed flashed in his eyes as he glanced at Thatch standing not far away.
A delicate wooden box hung at Thatch's waist, containing the Dark-Dark Fruit he so desperately coveted.
"If I can just get it… if I can just get it, I can have power like that!"
Ambition surged uncontrollably within Teach.
His gaze returned to the battlefield, watching the clash between Hashirama and Whitebeard with a mix of shock and yearning.
"To think he can fight the Old Man to this extent…" Teach murmured to himself, a tremor in his voice.
His ambition boiled over in that moment. He craved power, power that would make the world fear him, just like Hashirama Senju and Whitebeard.
"Just wait… one day, I'll stand at the top of this world!" Teach's fists clenched tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms.
His gaze swept over Thatch again, his resolve now set.
Just then, Whitebeard's voice rang out again, snapping Teach from his thoughts: "Kulalala! Boy, if this is all you've got, it's time to fall."
---