The force from Rosinante's slash exploded like a detonated volcano—violent, majestic, and unstoppable. It wasn't just an ordinary attack; it carried all the power he had stored under his Body Restriction—Silent Mode, fused with the energy he'd absorbed from silencing Kaido's earlier strike. The result was a slash of unimaginable might—pure destruction refined into a single, precise edge.
Kaido's enormous body staggered backward under the impact. The air screamed as his heels gouged trenches into the earth. The shockwave from the blow rolled out like a tidal wave, shaking the entire archipelago.
And that slash—it was growing, expanding, intensifying. The condensed sword aura ripped through the air and tore at Kaido's flesh, reopening old wounds and carving new ones.
But Kaido's monstrous vitality refused to yield. His regenerative ability kicked in almost instantly; gashes sealed, torn skin knit itself together, and broken bones resisted the slash's penetration. His chest, reinforced like steel, stopped the sword's advance.
Even so, the pain was indescribable. The repeated tearing and healing would have driven any normal being insane—but Kaido didn't utter a sound. His grin only widened.
From a distant vantage point, Rayleigh took a calm sip of his drink. "Didn't expect Rosinante's burst power to be this strong. That kind of strike could rival even one of the legends from the New World."
"Legends…?" whispered a heavily injured assassin lying nearby, eyes wide with disbelief.
Rayleigh's words referred to the three titans who had once ruled the seas—Roger, Whitebeard, and Golden Lion Shiki. Was Rosinante truly at that level already?
The assassin's body trembled. They'd dared to cross such a being? That wasn't bravery—it was suicide. Their fate was nothing but self-inflicted doom.
"So he's already strong enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with the emperors of the New World?" Shakky exhaled a plume of smoke, her tone a mix of astonishment and admiration. "That's sooner than I expected. I thought he'd need a few more years at least."
Rayleigh chuckled. "Some people can't be measured by age."
Shakky gave a sly smile. "He's the greatest rival to your Straw Hat boy, you know."
Rayleigh's eyes gleamed with warmth. "Let them fight it out. Having a rival that strong… that's a blessing, not a curse."
Across the battlefield, Garp let out a booming laugh. "If only that slash had been a bit sharper—had his swordsmanship reached a higher level—Kaido might've been seriously wounded! Hahaha!"
Even the ever-laughing hero of the Marines couldn't hide his satisfaction at seeing the so-called "immortal beast" finally falter. After all, Kaido was a pirate too wild and bloodthirsty for anyone to pity.
Tsuru, standing beside him, spoke in a calm, analytical tone. "That strike contained Rosinante's full stored energy, plus the force he absorbed when he silenced Kaido's earlier blow. It was released through a technique similar to his 'Collapse Punch,' but in slash form. The power reached first-tier world levels. Even so, Kaido wouldn't normally end up in such a state unless he'd made a mistake. The truth is, Kaido underestimated him. He didn't place Rosinante at his level. Their last fight, Rosinante hadn't reached admiral class yet. Kaido judged him by old standards—and now he's paying for it. Just as Rosinante warned: if Kaido doesn't correct his view, he'll lose—and lose badly."
Garp nodded, grin widening. "Makes sense. Their last fight was short; Kaido never imagined Rosinante could grow so much in such a short time. No wonder he failed to take him seriously."
Kizaru tilted his head, that lazy tone slipping back into his voice. "Rosinante's power output is terrifying… early admiral-level at least, and his fruit pushes him into high admiral-class. Once he releases his self-limitation, he hits top admiral-tier. No wonder he could go toe-to-toe with Sengoku, eh?"
Garp crossed his arms. "I know Sengoku's strength better than anyone. 'Top admiral-tier' alone isn't enough to make him sweat."
Akainu, silent until now, finally spoke with a grave expression. "If Rosinante combines his Life Seal with his Devil Fruit Awakening, he'll go beyond top admiral—he'll reach peak admiral. His fruit's suppressive nature gives him an advantage against other Devil Fruit users. Add in his monstrous stamina… even you, Vice Admiral Garp, might struggle to put him down."
"Hah! Now that would be a sight worth seeing!" Garp barked out a laugh. "Didn't see it back then, but if we're lucky, maybe we'll get a glimpse of that power today!"
Meanwhile, Kaido had finally stopped sliding backward. His feet dug into the ground, halting his retreat after hundreds of meters. His body was battered, blood dripping from a deep gash across his chest, though the wound was already knitting together.
Slowly, Kaido raised his head and met Rosinante's gaze.
For the second time in this short battle, he truly saw Rosinante—not as an insect, not as a challenger, but as an equal.
A savage grin split his face. "Good. Very good. You've earned it. Now, I can finally place you at my level."
The entire battlefield froze.
Even though everyone had expected it—hearing Kaido say it aloud sent shockwaves through every heart.
"So… does this mean the fourth emperor has appeared?" one trembling reporter gasped.
"Think about it!" another stammered, eyes wide. "Rosinante commands twenty-four Sky Islands, tens of thousands of troops, and an elite core unit of BloodSworn Guards. He's already conquered countless nations and ports across the four seas! His influence rivals that of Whitebeard's and Big Mom's empires—maybe even Kaido's! And now, Kaido himself acknowledges him as an equal in strength… The Gray Dominion has everything it needs to stand among the Emperors!"
"Fufufufu…" Doflamingo let out a low, broken laugh, his usual composure replaced by something close to awe. "Rosinante, you've shattered my understanding of you again. You're… bottomless."
Kaido hefted his club, his grin turning feral. "Rosinante! Since I've placed you as my equal, I'll fight you with everything I've got. Don't you dare regret this!"
He took a massive step forward, the ground trembling under his weight. Then, with a savage roar, he hurled his kanabo at Rosinante like a meteor.
Rosinante's eyes flicked upward. His sword flashed once, cutting through the air with surgical precision—clang! The weapon spun away, deflected effortlessly. He drove his blade into the ground and released it.
"Let's see…" he murmured, his tone calm but his eyes burning with resolve. "Let's see how far I've climbed."
He raised his fist.
"Kaido—you'll be my touchstone. Through you, I'll measure my strength… and announce to the world that Rosinante stands at its very peak!"
He stepped forward—just one step.
The ground beneath him cracked. His body became a streak of light.
In an instant, he was in front of Kaido.
Both men drew back their fists—raw power gathering in each one.
And then—
They struck.
Two titans colliding head-on, fists meeting in an explosion that would shake the heavens themselves.