A massive fist collided with a smaller one, and the impact echoed like a thunderclap across the sky.
The ground trembled violently; the air itself seemed to roar. The very earth beneath their feet cracked and collapsed inch by inch under the sheer force of their clash.
Yet what stunned everyone the most was that the power in their fists was astonishingly equal. Neither showed any sign of retreating!
"Rosinante, your strength has certainly improved, but if you're comparing raw power with me, you're still far too early in your growth!" Kaido bellowed, his fists erupting with even greater force, aiming to hurl Rosinante away.
"Someone said the exact same thing to me not long ago… you should know her, Charlotte Linlin, that insane woman!" Rosinante calmly replied, channeling Silent Power from within, compressing it to neutralize Kaido's brutal strike. Kaido's raw, destructive force couldn't budge him even an inch.
"Linlin?!" Kaido's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
He had served on the same pirate ship as Charlotte Linlin once. Their captain was the infamous Rocks D. Xebec. Before the era of Roger and his crew, they had been the undisputed emperors of the seas. But for some unknown reason, they had lost their captain, and the crew disbanded.
Having shared that past, Kaido knew Linlin well—and was intimately familiar with her character.
"Yes, Charlotte Linlin once said the same thing," Rosinante teased, a faint smile on his lips. "But in the end, her cake castle collapsed halfway—guess why she let me leave?"
Kaido's expression darkened, then he chuckled coldly. "Those women… either you gave her what she wanted, or she couldn't take you. Only two reasons exist. But for her to be compared to me? I am Kaido, the Beasts' King!"
In the next instant, Kaido retracted his fist—but it didn't stop there. Like a meteor shower, his massive fists rained down on Rosinante.
Every punch had the force to shatter mountains, break the air itself. The ground beneath Rosinante exploded with each strike. Massive fissures spread outward, tearing apart the roots of the world's largest red tree, Yarichiman, inch by inch. Dust and debris spiraled into the air as sheer power radiated from every blow.
"The 15th Island has been shattered!"
"Rosinante is being overpowered! Unsurprising, coming from Kaido—the Beasts' King who battled Whitebeard for three days and nights!"
"Even facing Kaido, Rosinante seems too weak! Does he have no counterattack? Is he about to die?"
"His slash is impressive—Kaido shouldn't be able to endure that. But he abandoned his sword! Is he out of his mind?"
"If he still had his blade, he'd at least have a chance. Abandoning it is just asking for death!" The crowd murmured anxiously, fear and awe mixing in their voices.
Even Enel and Bins' faces darkened with concern. They trusted Rosinante's strength—but Kaido's fists were terrifying beyond comprehension.
From their vantage point, they could almost feel the raw power of Kaido's blows. If Rosinante weren't absorbing the energy, even a single punch could have demolished the entire 15th District.
Observing the murmurs, Sakazuki's face hardened with contempt.
"Fools," he muttered. "Rosinante is at his most dangerous when he abandons his sword."
Borsalino, ever casual, shrugged. "Can't blame them. His slash earlier was truly impressive. Now he's being overpowered without it—no wonder they're confused."
Garp's gaze was sharp. "He's gaining momentum! He's absorbing Kaido's strength. Once he unleashes it, even Kaido will struggle to withstand it!"
Sakazuki's expression darkened, recalling the blow that erased Ohara.
"Kaido knows this too," Tsuru explained calmly. "That's why he's attacking with such ferocity—trying to overwhelm Rosinante before the silent power builds further. It isn't limitless; too much force could crush him."
Garp's lips curled into a grin. "Now, it's a question of whether Kaido will crush Rosinante, or Rosinante will erupt and defeat Kaido. The outcome will be decided in an instant."
Even Doflamingo, watching nearby, looked puzzled. Rosinante was being overpowered—but his aura was only growing stronger, nearly surpassing Kaido's!
"Rosinante… come! Kill me! Let's see who will crush whom!" Kaido roared, his dragon scales gleaming. With the roar of a hundred beasts, he swung a fist toward Rosinante.
"As you wish," Rosinante replied coldly, matching him blow for blow.
The massive fists collided with a deafening explosion that drowned out all other sound. The earth shattered beneath their impact, chunks of soil and stone flying into the air. The roots of the 15th District's colossal tree were pulverized.
The shockwave hurled civilians, reporters, and Marines alike into the air. Even Doflamingo, suspended above, had to retreat from the force.
The echo of the explosion lingered, then slowly faded.
When the smoke cleared and people regained their footing, all eyes turned to the epicenter.
The 15th District was gone—obliterated. Trees, roots, stone—all blasted outward by a terrifying power. Thankfully, the nearby regions of the Sabaody Archipelago were separate; otherwise, this punch could have destroyed much more than one district.
"Where's Rosinante? Was he defeated?"
"No sign of him… but surviving an explosion like that must mean he's seriously injured, right?"
Amid the lingering smoke, only one enormous figure could be seen clearly—Kaido, still massive, still standing, unaffected by the shrapnel.
But then, to everyone's shock, Rosinante was revealed—hovering in midair.
Compared to Kaido, Rosinante looked worse for wear. His clothing was shredded, stained with blood. Yet the strangest thing was his expression: joyful. Blood covered him, yet not a single wound remained.
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