"I... I won't tell you!!!"
The exploration team captain pressed his face firmly against the ground, gritting his teeth to hold on.
The Tremor-Tremor Fruit was Kast Kingdom's only chance to suppress the Romanov Kingdom. He absolutely could not reveal its location.
"Hmm???"
Whitebeard glared, killing intent surging.
He didn't expect this guy to be so stubborn. Even at this point, he still refused to speak.
The island was not small. Finding a Devil Fruit here without guidance would indeed be troublesome.
However, since he knew it was here, as long as he could find the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, he wouldn't hesitate to turn the entire island upside down.
"Boss, since these guys won't talk, let's kill them!!"
"Captain, we guarantee we'll help you find the Tremor-Tremor Fruit!!"
Several short-tempered pirates looked annoyed, the blades in their hands flashing coldly.
"Gurararararara.... I've already given you a chance. Since you want to die for your cause, don't blame me!"
Whitebeard waved his hand, deciding their fate amidst laughter.
Several pirates walked up, their faces ferocious and terrifying, laughing wildly: "A bunch of fools courting death! gave you a chance, but you're useless!!"
"Since you won't talk, then die!!!"
One pirate glared, raising his long sword high, poised to chop off the captain's head.
Whoosh—
In the nick of time, a figure flashed by, and the pirate's movement came to an abrupt halt.
"Bastard, who are you!!"
"Let go of me!!!"
The sudden appearance of the man startled the pirate. Reacting, he gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, trying to pull it free from the man's two fingers. But no matter how much force he used, it wouldn't budge.
"Killing my people... do you have the qualification??"
A calm voice rang out, reaching the pirate's ears and Whitebeard's ears simultaneously.
Whitebeard, who had been calm and composed just moments ago, tensed up upon seeing Raynor. As a fellow powerhouse, he felt immense pressure radiating from Raynor.
"Bastard, where the hell did you come from??"
"Let go immediately! Otherwise, when Boss Whitebeard makes his move, you won't have any chance!!"
Relying on Whitebeard's strength, the pirate continued to clamor.
"Noisy!"
Irritated, Raynor narrowed his eyes. High-density electricity surged through the blade into the pirate's body.
The pirate's internal bodily functions were instantly destroyed.
"You..."
The pirate, pupils dilated, opened his mouth but couldn't say a word before collapsing to the ground.
"Old Six! You bastard!!"
"Boss, he killed Old Six!!"
The remaining pirates angrily surrounded Raynor, but none dared to make a move.
They weren't fools; their eyes were sharp.
They knew nothing about how Raynor appeared in front of them or what method he used to kill Old Six.
This meant the opponent's strength far exceeded theirs. It definitely wasn't something they could handle.
They just needed to block Raynor's path; the rest could be left to Boss Whitebeard.
"Are you guys alright??"
Raynor ignored the pirates and helped up the exploration team members lying on the ground.
"Thank you."
"Are you... are you the Young Master???"
One of the older captains exclaimed after examining him carefully for a moment.
He hadn't seen him in over ten years; Raynor had changed a lot.
"It's me." Raynor glanced at him but had no recollection.
"Young Master, these guys are here to snatch the Tremor-Tremor Fruit!!"
A team member pointed at the pirates and said extremely unhappily.
Anyone forced to lie on the ground for that long would be unhappy.
"I understand. Leave the rest to me."
"Gurararararara..."
The hearty, booming laughter rang out again. The pirates who had formed an encirclement automatically cleared a path.
"Kid, are you their boss?!"
Thud!
Whitebeard slammed his naginata fiercely into the ground, sending an invisible wave of air sweeping in all directions.
"Whitebeard!!"
As Raynor turned around, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, feeling a sense of emotion.
His guess was correct; Whitebeard indeed obtained the Tremor-Tremor Fruit here.
But since Raynor was here now, Whitebeard was about to miss out on the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
After all, he certainly couldn't hand over such a god-tier Devil Fruit to someone else!
"Gurararararara.... Since you know my name, you still dare to come and ruin my good fortune?!"
"Have your men tell me the location of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. As long as I get the fruit, I guarantee I won't make things difficult for you!!"
Whitebeard waved his large hand, giving his assurance.
Since the other party could speak his name, they naturally knew how formidable he was.
Although the Tremor-Tremor Fruit was precious, one needed to be alive to enjoy it.
"The location of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, huh??" Raynor murmured softly.
At that moment, a virtual map panel appeared before him.
On the very edge of the map, a fixed red dot was blinking continuously.
Without a doubt, that was the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
Raynor stole an imperceptible glance at it before withdrawing his gaze.
"Hey, kid! Our Boss is talking to you! Why are you spacing out?!"
After a long silence without Raynor's response, an impatient underling waved his blade and scolded.
Snapping back to reality, Raynor met Whitebeard's gaze. With a faint smile on his face, he said calmly:
"I'm taking this Tremor-Tremor Fruit. If you have no other business, you should leave quickly."
Whitebeard: ????
Pirates: ?????
"Gurararararara... Kid, do you know what you're saying??"
After laughing, Whitebeard turned his Murakumogiri horizontally, his eyes suddenly becoming sharp.
"No one has ever been able to snatch away something I've set my sights on!!"
"Kid, don't think just because you have a little strength you can be arrogant in front of me. The current you isn't qualified yet!!"
"Hahahahahaha... Did you hear that, kid? You're not qualified!!"
"Hand over the Tremor-Tremor Fruit now! Otherwise, this place will be your burial ground!!"
The pirates jeered, waving their raised swords as if they had Raynor cornered.
"I return those same words to you, Whitebeard. Your strength is great, but as you are now, you truly aren't qualified to be arrogant in front of me."
Raynor retorted very seriously.
Raynor's single sentence froze the smile on Whitebeard's face, bringing his laughter to an abrupt halt.
"You ignorant brat who doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth!!" Whitebeard narrowed his eyes, exuding dominance.
"In that case, I'd like to see just what qualifications you have to talk big in front of me!"
"Everyone, back off!!"
Fighting was one thing, but he still had to look out for his brothers.
Raynor similarly signaled the exploration team to leave the area.
In a battle between powerhouses, cracking the earth and toppling mountains were minor consequences; destroying the entire island wouldn't be difficult.
If they were too close, the energy shockwaves alone could crush those lacking in strength.
Once everyone had retreated a significant distance, Whitebeard's aura changed abruptly. He held his naginata horizontally, sharp cold light flashing from the blade. Violent currents of air surged from his body.
A wave of dark red air rushed rapidly toward Raynor.
The power was terrifying!
The roasting spit between Raynor and Whitebeard shattered instantly, and cracks began to form in the ground.
"Conqueror's Haki, huh??"
Raynor was secretly impressed.
Everyone said Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit was powerful, but his Haki cultivation was equally impressive.
However, he didn't panic in the slightest. Facing the current of air, he took a step forward.
When his foot landed, it kicked up a red wave of air no less powerful than the former.
In the next second.
BOOM—
Two terrifying waves of Conqueror's Haki collided in mid-air, erupting with powerful energy fluctuations that shook the surroundings.
The pirates and exploration team members, who thought they had retreated to a safe distance, were all affected.
One by one, their eyes rolled back, and the weaker ones fainted outright.
"Kid, you have Conqueror's Haki too?! What is your name!!"
Whitebeard's gaze focused.
He thought he could easily instant-kill Raynor, but he didn't expect the opponent to have awakened Conqueror's Haki.
And it seemed no weaker than his own.
Seeing Raynor not responding, Whitebeard snorted coldly and took another step forward.
"If this is all you've got, it's not enough!!!"
Crackle, crackle—Crackle, crackle—
An even stronger wave of red air shot up into the sky, tearing through the heavens.
"Heheh... Whitebeard, I told you. The current you isn't qualified to be arrogant in front of me!!"
"Open!!!"
Raynor frowned slightly. A wave of Conqueror's Haki, countless times stronger than before, erupted from his body like a volcanic explosion, ruthlessly colliding with Whitebeard's Haki in the air.
Zzzzt—Zzzzt—
The collision of the two powerful Conqueror's Hakis produced ear-piercing sounds as they wrestled against each other, equally matched.
Seeing this, Whitebeard was somewhat surprised. He originally thought Raynor was a kid he could easily handle.
He didn't expect his proud Conqueror's Haki to be blocked so effortlessly by the opponent.
"This kid has limitless potential!!"
"If I could recruit him into my pirate crew..."
Whitebeard suddenly had other ideas in his heart.
Raynor was equally surprised by Whitebeard's strength.
Since arriving in this world, Whitebeard was the first person to give him such an exhilarating one-on-one fight.
"Gurararararara... Kid, let's go again!!!!"
As Whitebeard's hearty laughter fell, his Conqueror's Haki exploded completely.
Raynor, sharing the same tacit understanding, did the same. Since they were competing, they might as well go all out!!!
Two streams of red air capable of tearing the sky apart converged and collided at the center.
Zzzzt—Zzzzt—
High-density Conqueror's Haki clashed, sparking intense purple-red lightning.
BOOM!
With a loud bang, the two forces erupted completely. The ground within a hundred meters cracked instantly, and countless rocks fell into the abyss.
After this exchange, only one or two pirates were left standing.
As for the exploration team, they were completely wiped out—all lying on the ground, foaming at the mouth with their eyes rolled back.
"Exhilarating! Truly exhilarating!!!"
"Kid, join my pirate crew! Be my Vice-Captain!!!"
Thud!
Whitebeard stomped the ground and leapt high into the air with his naginata, smashing down a heavy, powerful blow directly at Raynor.
"Hahahahahaha.... Whitebeard, I have my own pirate crew too."
"How about you come be my Vice-Captain!!!"
Raynor laughed loudly, clenched his fists, crossed his arms, and rapidly gathered Armament Haki.
The strike, heavy enough to cleave a mountain, smashed directly onto Raynor's crossed arms.
Bang!Bang!
Armament Haki erupted violently. A powerful energy shockwave swept out, shaking the surroundings.
Surrounding boulders shattered instantly. The ground beneath Raynor's feet cracked layer by layer, sinking rapidly.
Raynor grinned, looking at Whitebeard with a wild smile.
"Whitebeard, this level isn't enough!!!"
"Open!!!"
Raynor projected his Armament Haki outward in a shockwave. Whitebeard's expression changed slightly, and he quickly retracted his force.
In the next second, a transparent shockwave brushed past his head.
If he had been a second slower, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Dodging the attack, Whitebeard breathed a secret sigh of relief, his eyes filled with seriousness.
"Kid, who exactly are you?!!"
Having roamed the New World for several years, Whitebeard considered himself knowledgeable. He basically knew of those stronger than him, those equal to him, and even those slightly weaker.
Yet the strength of this kid before him was at least on par with his, perhaps even superior.
But he had never seen this person before.
was he truly that ignorant??
"I am Raynor, Captain of the Raynor Pirates."
"Whitebeard, your strength is good. Join my pirate crew!!"
"As long as you join my crew, we can fight side by side in the future!!"
Raynor waved his hand expansively, extending an invitation to Whitebeard.
Without the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, all Whitebeard lost was the title of "World's Strongest Man."
But this doesn't mean that without the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, he isn't a top-tier powerhouse!
When Whitebeard truly reaches his peak, coupled with the Pure Gold, he will still be unstoppable!
Looking at Raynor's incredibly serious gaze, Whitebeard's eyes were complex, but eventually, he shook his head: "Kid, I already have my own pirate crew."
"Besides, although you are strong, it's not enough to make me submit!!"
Whitebeard's refusal made Raynor's eyes narrow instantly, a dangerous glint flashing within them.
He knew very well that the future Whitebeard would join the Rocks Pirates.
And Raynor, harboring similar ambitions, would sooner or later have to face Rocks. Only one of them could survive.
"What? You want to kill me?!"
Sensing the fleeting killing intent in Raynor's eyes, Whitebeard snorted coldly.
"Kid, our duel isn't over yet. As long as you can withstand this final move of mine, the Tremor-Tremor Fruit is yours!!"
Before Raynor could reply, Whitebeard gathered his strength again, leaping high into the air.
High-density Armament Haki and powerful Conqueror's Haki—two currents, one black and one red—intertwined and concentrated entirely on the Murakumogiri in his hands.
An extremely dangerous energy fluctuation radiated from the weapon.
Like a fierce tiger ready to devour a man.
"Come on then!!"
Instead of retreating, Raynor advanced. With a flip of his hand, a giant sword appeared out of thin air in his palm, causing Whitebeard to glance sideways slightly.
Holding the giant sword, Raynor similarly unleashed the Armament and Conqueror's Haki within his body without reservation. The giant sword hummed, seemingly overwhelmed by the power.
"Elbaf Spear!!!!"
From below, Raynor swung violently upwards.
A massive black-and-red energy blast, a hundred meters in size, tore through the air with a sonic boom.
BOOM—
"Break for me!!!!"
Whitebeard's eyes widened, his expression wild, as he smashed Murakumogiri down viciously.
BANG—
After a stalemate of mere seconds, the two attacks exploded completely. Terrifying energy vented frantically in all directions.
Everything tangible within a radius of several hundred meters was destroyed. Seizing this opportunity, Raynor's figure abruptly vanished.
Not long after, he reappeared in his original spot.
Suddenly, a sea breeze blew past, dispersing the sky-filling dust.
At the same time, Whitebeard's figure was revealed to Raynor again.
His coat was shredded, his pirate hat nowhere to be found. His face was pale, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Even the hand gripping Murakumogiri was trembling.
"Kid, I..."
"Cough, cough..."
Whitebeard coughed up a mouthful of blood uncontrollably, using Murakumogiri to prop himself up and prevent himself from falling.
"I lost. The Tremor-Tremor Fruit is yours!!"
After a long silence, Whitebeard finally let out a helpless sigh.
If he had the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, his strength would surely leap forward.
But he had been bested in skill; there was nothing to say.
"The Raynor Pirates, huh?? I'll remember that!"
Whitebeard wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, turned around, and left.
"Not interested in joining??"
Raynor shouted again.
Whitebeard waved his hand and soon disappeared from Raynor's sight.