The Gap!

So, let's begin.

In the plaza outside the palace, Roa and Kaido stood facing each other.

"A year has passed in the blink of an eye."

Luo Ya said with some sigh, "Brother Kaido, time flies so fast."

"Enough with the nonsense,"

Kaido, wielding his black spiked club, his face still flushed from drunkenness, roared, "Don't let me down!"

Roa smiled.

Well, how should I put it?

Big Brother Kaido, you seem to have a little misjudged your own strength.

You, who were no longer a match for me a year ago, can you still keep up with my speed?

Meanwhile, at the edge of the plaza, members of the Beasts Pirates and executives of the Calamity Company were watching the battle.

"Step back a little further!"

Dylan raised his voice, "If you don't want to get caught up in this!"

"Isn't it far enough?"

Because he was so excited about the battle that he had even temporarily put aside his grudge against Judge, Sain complained somewhat impatiently, "We're already hundreds of meters apart!"

"Several hundred meters?"

Bullet snorted coldly.

"What Boss and Mr. Kaido said,"

Abel laughed and said, "Even retreating several kilometers isn't enough!"

The little girl with white hair waved her chubby arms happily, Yamato soft little face full of joyful smiles, "Brother Roa!"

Although the child, who was not yet two years old, was exceptionally gifted, she didn't understand anything; she was simply cheering for Roa instinctively.

The person holding her was Kozuki Toki.

Although he was already twenty-six years old, he was second only to Dylan among all the executives of the Calamity Company.

However, Kozuki Toki was still a virgin and had no idea how to take care of a child.

So when Roa abruptly placed the child in her arms and asked her to take care of him, Kozuki Toki was caught completely off guard.

In particular, this little girl's strength is almost exaggerated!

She simply wiggled her body happily, which made it difficult for Kozuki Toki to resist.

However, at this moment, Kozuki Toki's gaze was also drawn to the two people on the field.

This man named Kaido must be the one Roa came to find.

Aren't they partners? Then why are they fighting?

Kozuki Toki didn't understand, so he could only watch.

Unlike her, Teach was standing not far away, had excitement in her eyes.

Roa and Kaido! A battle between former apprentices of the Rocks Pirates!

I can't wait!

And so, to everyone's anticipation.

Roa twisted his neck slightly. "Then let's do it, Big Brother Kaido. Let's finish this quickly."

"Thunderclap Eight Trigrams!"

Without any hesitation, Kaido's massive body transformed into lightning, and the iron rod wrapped in thick black lightning smashed directly towards Roa's head.

Then.

Roa raised the corners of his mouth, raised his right hand, his palm had turned pitch black, and a thick, black Haki Inazuma energy leaped up.

He pushed.

Boom!!

The world seemed to freeze for a moment, then was torn to shreds by a violent force!

The atmosphere is mourning!

The pitch-black iron rod collided with the pitch-black palm in mid-air!

Space itself seemed to be distorted as two terrifying forces, powerful enough to shake heaven and earth, squeezed and crushed each other, and a small black dot appeared in the center, from which bolts of Haki black lightning shot into the sky.

Above the sky, the thick clouds were instantly shattered by this violent Haki Inazuma, revealing a huge hole!

On the ground, the spectators felt the earth beneath their feet tremble!

The invisible air, compressed to its limit, suddenly exploded, transforming into a destructive wave of air that crashed towards us like a massive tsunami!

"Waaaaaah--!"

The Beasts Pirates screamed in agony as they were swept away in droves by the devastating shockwave, their voices drowned out by the deafening roar.

Only top players like Sion and Hanafusa managed to maintain their composure.

The Calamity Company was fine. Dylan raised his hands, and the domineering Haki he exuded transformed into an invisible barrier that blocked the oncoming storm.

He was a master of Armament Haki, having long since mastered the flow of Armament Haki. He was now very close to using Armament Haki that could cause internal destruction, so such a shockwave was naturally not something that could be difficult for him to stop.

"This!"

Kozuki Toki's face was pale.

Despite possessing the great power to travel through time, she is not skilled in combat.

What unfolded before her eyes was an epic battle, straight out of a myth!

The earth shattered, the sky wailed!

Roa is so young, how could he possess such power?

The roaring sound stopped abruptly.

The two people who collided violently were both pushed back.

Kaido looked somewhat displeased. "Conqueror's Haki Entanglement! You finally managed to learn it, didn't you?"

No wonder he managed to escape unscathed from Newgate!

This kid is only fifteen!

That Rocks is way too old for that!

"After all, they've been cultivating for so long."

Roa raised the corners of his mouth. "Not bad, right?"

"It's still a long way off!!"

Kaido's roar was like a thunderclap. Before he finished speaking, his ancient beast-like body tore through the air and shot forward again with an even more ferocious aura than before!

"And why didn't you draw your sword?!"

With a roar, the enormous figure suddenly leaped into the air, and the iron rod in its hand, wrapped in black lightning, crashed down like a divine punishment, with a terrifying force that would smash the entire island into the abyss!

"The Third World Descent -Pulling into Hell!!"

The trajectory of the swinging iron bar seemed to scorch and distort even the space itself!

"Of course it's because..."

Despite the devastating blow that seemed capable of shattering the heavens and earth, the smile on Roa's face did not fade in the slightest.

He didn't even move his feet; he simply swung his right fist slowly towards the black iron rod that was pressing down on him!

"Big Brother Kaido, you haven't used your abilities yet either."

The moment he finished speaking, a powerful and domineering Haki surged forth from his body like a flood bursting its banks!

Under the control of his willpower, this invisible Haki solidified into a tangible form in an instant, transforming into a gigantic, seemingly forged fist of boiling black lightning!

Boom--!!!

The pitch-black doomsday iron rod and the equally pitch-black, yet terrifyingly powerful fist, imbued with a completely different will, collided fiercely once again in mid-air at the critical moment!

Visible shockwaves spread instantly, and wherever they passed, the earth cracked and collapsed like a fragile eggshell!

The violent shockwaves mixed with the Haki black lightning were like invisible hammers, smashing in all directions!

The good news is that the Beasts Pirates were blown away earlier haven't had time to return yet; they've escaped unscathed.

At the same time, Kaido, who appeared as if a demon god had descended to earth, was forcefully pushed back by Roa's Haki punch.

His expression grew increasingly grim. "Ochoku's moves?"

Roa leisurely withdrew his fist, his fingertips still crackling with lingering arcs of Haki electricity. His smile deepened. "Pretty interesting, right? A personal instruction from Uncle Ochoku."

"Alright, Big Brother Kaido, it's time to get serious."

"You brat!"

A deafening roar tore through the air!

Tough, sharp blue dragon scales grew rapidly from under Kaido's skin as if they were alive!

Click!

With a crackling sound, his body expanded again in the blink of an eye, and in the blink of an eye, the majestic dragonman had arrived!

The ground beneath Kaido's dragon form exploded with a deafening roar, and his figure transformed into a streak of dark blue Inazuma that tore through space, propelling him forward once more at a terrifying speed several times greater than before!

"Kundali Longsheng Army!"

Quick!

The heavy iron Hassaikai conjured countless phantoms, seemingly about to crush Roa into mincemeat in an instant.

But.

Roa roared and slammed his fists forward with all his might.

One after another, jet-black, Haki arms materialized and swung wildly forward, colliding violently with Kaido's iron rod.

"Wood big wood big wood big wood big!"

It was as if the film set had changed instantly; the intense battle once again shook the heavens and earth!

Every time a fist clashed with an iron bar, it exploded into a burst of dark lightning!

Such power!!

A glint of light flashed in Teach's eyes.

The aftershocks alone made him feel like he was being torn apart!

This is what they mean by power!

"You brat, don't look down on me!"

Kaido's rage erupted like a volcano, his eyes burning with a molten ferocity!

But his roar couldn't drown out the howl of the iron rod in his hand, "Roaring Thunder Eight Trigrams!!"

The iron rod swept through the air, leaving a distorted trail in its wake; as the black lightning crackled, space itself seemed to be torn apart!

"Ha ha!"

Roa laughed wildly, and finally drew his sword.

The moment the scarlet blade was drawn, a thick stench of blood spread out, and scarlet Inazuma crackled and leaped from the blade.

Roa gripped the knife with both hands and swung it with all his might.

The Blood Qi released by Tiger Soul mixed with the Haki wrapped around the blade, and was then "thrown" away in that instant.

A massive shockwave, condensed to its extreme, crimson red as blood, and crackling with red lightning, roared out from the Tiger Soul Blade like a floodgate bursting open!

The iron rod collided violently with the shockwave.

The earth turned to dust in an instant, the palace not far away was shaking violently, and the nearby buildings were like sand sculptures hit by ocean waves, instantly shattering into pieces.

"Forehead!!"

Amidst the deafening roar, Kaido's towering and resilient dragon-man body, as tall as a mountain, was actually blasted off the ground and sent flying backward by the terrifying shockwave that combined Blood Qi and Conqueror's Haki!

Dragon's Eyes widened, filled with astonishment and resentment. "This is... that Rocks Rocks's swordsmanship?"

"After learning Conqueror's Haki's Entangling Technique, I can finally use it!"

With a slight twist of his wrist, Roa casually slung his beloved Tiger Soul sword over his shoulder, the crimson blade reflecting the radiant smile on his face. His tone was relaxed.

"Not bad, right?"

Rocks' fighting style was quite aggressive and wide-ranging.

His swordsmanship is simply and brutally unleashing his Haki with his sword.

It's similar to Roger's Divine Departure, but even more ferocious and unrestrained; it's less like swinging a sword and more like firing a cannon!

Teach's expression turned somewhat strange upon hearing the name Rocks.

That guy's moves?

Sure enough, Roa is the disciple he acknowledges!

At this moment, Kaido's expression was quite gloomy.

Has that brat Roa gotten this strong?

He was already somewhat helpless before he even used his abilities!

Taking a deep breath, Kaido suddenly picked up his sake gourd and began gulping down the wine.

Why did you suddenly start drinking?

Teach was quite puzzled.

He didn't understand, but the two executives of the Beasts Pirates did.

"It's actually that strong!"

Hanafusa's tone was extremely grave, "Lord Roa hasn't used his abilities yet!"

Big Brother Kaido drinks, it means he's truly getting serious!

Meanwhile, his opponent, Roa, who was known throughout the world for his calamity-like abilities, was still in human form!

No wonder he's the fourth highest-bounty pirate in the world! He's even stronger than Big Brother Kaido, and by a significant margin!

"Drunken Slaughter!!"

Kaido's blush deepened, and his eyes were filled with madness.

Its body size further increased, and the color of its scales became even darker.

The ground beneath his feet shattered in an instant, and he transformed into a dazzling shooting star!

The intense, domineering Haki emanating from the jet-black iron rod had even begun to radiate a dazzling light!

Thick, Haki Inazuma shot out in all directions, shattering the earth and churning the air!

"Great Powerful One Thunderclap Eight Trigrams!!"

An iron rod came hurtling towards him.

Roa's lips curled up even higher.

He suddenly gripped the hilt of his beloved knife with both hands, channeling his Haki power into it while the shockwave of his Hasshoken also clung to it!

The Inazuma that had been leaping across the scarlet blade instantly converged inside, causing the entire blade to flash with a dazzling red light! It seemed to transform into a lightsaber!

The moment he swung his sword, a bright red light erupted from the blade, the light surging out in a spiral, like the exhaust plume of a rocket.

"Tiger Roar!"

Boom!!

The red wave transformed into a beam of light, instantly colliding with Kaido.

In that instant, heaven and earth lost their color.

The torrent of red light roared forward, but crashed into Kaido, this unyielding rock, and was forced to shatter into tributaries.

But.

"Ugh!!!"

Kaido gritted his teeth, his muscular arms trembling uncontrollably.

How could the power be so great!

That brat, his Conqueror's Haki is stronger than mine!

Boom!!

The Haki of the violent conflict finally exploded, transforming into a ring-shaped shockwave that swept away everything.

This time, even Dylan and the others were unable to withstand the impact and were forced to retreat repeatedly.

"Wow!"

Sain let out a scream as he was blown away.

We definitely should have retreated further!

How could human warfare possibly escalate to this extent!

Hanafusa staggered backward, unable to resist at all.

The palace not far away finally succumbed to the pressure and began to collapse with a rumble.

Whoosh!

A dark shadow flew out and smashed a large hole in the already partially collapsed palace.

"Call--"

Roa flew backward, his feet leaving two deep tracks on the ground, and slowly let out a sigh of relief. His crimson sword pointed diagonally at the ground.

"Now, my Haki is also stronger."

The strength of Conqueror's Haki depends on the power of its user.

Therefore, it's no surprise that Roa's Conqueror's Haki is stronger than Kaido's.

Although his skills were much less refined, his superior strength was enough to give him the upper hand.

Call!

A strong gust of hot wind suddenly hit me in the face.

A massive Flame Dragon rose from the ruins of the castle, baring its fangs and claws as it charged directly at Roa.

"Flame Eight Trigrams!!"

Finally, they unleashed their ultimate move.

"Well then, let's leave it at that! I'm going to get serious now!"

Black fur finally grew from Roa's body, and with a sudden flap of its large wings, Roa soared into the sky.

That is, Roa's ability?

Somewhat disheveled, Kozuki Toki tried his best to hold the little girl in his arms, who was laughing even more happily, but his eyes were fixed on Roa soaring into the sky.

Tiger?

Dragon and Tiger?

What that samurai said earlier!

Teach was equally excited.

Roa! Let me see your abilities!

"Tiger Devour!"

Roa laughed loudly.

A crimson light emanated from the surface of the Tiger Soul, instantly transforming it into a colossal giant sword hundreds of meters long!

Thunder, flames, gale!

Various elements are wrapped around it!

Roa gripped the sword; compared to it, he was as insignificant as a speck of dust, ready to be swept away by a gust of wind at any moment.

But this very "dust" was used to gently swing the sword hilt.

That colossal sword, capable of blotting out the sky, moved with incredible speed, tearing through the air!

There wasn't even a sound of wind in my ears; I only caught a glimpse of a scarlet afterimage slicing through the sky. It was so fast that my vision felt like it was being torn apart, as if it wasn't a sword that was moving, but rather the entire sky that had been cleaved in two by this red light!

Boom!!

The greatsword slammed heavily down on the head of the black Flame Dragon.

In an instant, Inazuma of both pitch black and scarlet filled the sky, spreading out a black and red spiderweb across the heavens!

Even as the Haki Inazuma struck the ground, it blasted out huge craters.

Then.

Click!

A clearly audible cracking sound.

After being covered in Haki, a crack was cleaved in the incredibly sturdy shell of the Flame Dragon.

Kaido only saw a flash of red light before his eyes, and the massive crimson blade was already stopped before his head.

"The battle is over, Big Brother Kaido."

Kaido's pupils trembled.

Has the gap really gotten that big?