King Punch! Grandfather and Grandson in Desperate Straits

At Marine Headquarters, Austin, still focused on developing multiple Devil Fruits and working alongside Vegapunk, had no idea that his own backyard had already been raided.

Whoosh—!!!

A violent storm swept across the ground, carrying huge swathes of debris as the entire earth was peeled upward in a fan-shaped arc.

And that terrifying power had come from a lightly clenched fist.

"Not bad. This kind of power..."

Within the Marine scientific research unit's dedicated grounds was a grassy clearing, specifically meant to let Vegapunk relax his mind, rest, and cool down.

Yet Austin had currently turned it into a training ground.

Steam faintly rose from his palm, which had turned slightly red.

Beyond a glass barrier some distance away, two figures were pressed against it as they watched. Only after Austin stopped moving did they approach, still shaken.

"Hey, hey, hey... What kind of monster is this? He just casually made a punching motion like it was a joke!!!"

Teach's tooth-gapped mouth hung slightly open, his small eyes trembling as beads of cold sweat ran down his forehead.

He stared fixedly at the utterly ravaged patch of ground before Austin.

Logically speaking, little Blackbeard had witnessed the battlefield of God Valley in his youth and sailed the seas with Whitebeard for so many years. He was hardly someone who had never seen the world.

What earth-shattering sights had he not seen? The sky splitting apart, tsunamis being unleashed—let alone a few craters spanning several dozen meters like these.

But...

"Just a playful punch could have this much power!"

Vegapunk's eyes gleamed as he casually recorded the relevant data and observations.

When Austin saw the two approaching, the last wisps of steam rising from his body dissipated as well, and his skin and condition returned to normal.

That was right.

That