Ares descended from the heavens and raised his enormous fist, his face as red as Guan Gong's.
The thick muscles on his arm swelled even further, growing several times larger.
Just like his second brother, it had become erect!
His muscles had not only grown larger but harder as well!
Those powerful muscles were filled with explosive strength, and Kaido knew that all too well.
"Haa!!!"
His punch shot out, sending terrifying currents of air rippling through the sky from Ares's fist.
Its momentum was ferocious!
One punch could shatter stone and break metal!
"You little bastard, I won't let my guard down this time!!" Shiki the Golden Lion's arm was covered in intense Armament Haki, which actually wrapped itself in a layer of bewitching black-violet flames.
They were not real flames, but rather Armament Haki flames without any actual temperature.
Although he was not a master of Body Arts, he had long since achieved perfection in using Armament Haki.
Even without using swordsmanship, he was still a powerhouse!!
"Brat, this time I'll definitely beat you unconscious!!" Golden Lion roared arrogantly, his face radiating dominance. Under the gaze of countless people, he had to prove the might of himself as Captain Rocks's Division commander!
He had the confidence and strength to do so!
A fist coated in formidable Armament Haki met Ares's fist head-on.
Compared to Ares's fist, Golden Lion's was several times smaller!
Boom!!!
The enormous crash was deafening!
It was like thunder suddenly exploding beneath a clear sky, making people's hair stand on end.
Under Golden Lion's punch, Ares's huge body was sent flying. With a boom, he smashed into and collapsed a three-story building.
Shiki could not help baring his teeth and laughing loudly. "Gyahahaha... That punch should sober him up, right!!"
Yet he was still filled with astonishment. This brat was already so strong without having learned Armament Haki.
Once the brat learned Armament Haki, he really would not be able to trade punches with Ares!
Floating in the air, Golden Lion displayed his might.
With a disdainful expression, he looked down over Hachinosu Island.
The pirates across Hachinosu Island also came to their senses one after another. Looking at Golden Lion in the sky, they cried out in amazement.
"As expected of the commander of the Rocks Pirates' First Division! That strength is incredible!!"
"I wonder who that huge fellow is. He actually had the nerve to challenge Shiki the Golden Lion!"
"Who cares? Didn't that punch finish off the big guy?!"
"What powerful Armament Haki! Golden Lion is truly too strong. He hasn't even used his swordsmanship or ability yet!"
"······"
Countless people sighed in amazement.
The tremendous commotion had also attracted the attention of the other members of the Rocks Pirates.
Whitebeard, holding the great naginata Cloud Piercer, grinned and called up to Golden Lion in the sky. "Hey, Golden Lion, what exactly happened?"
Then he could not help laughing loudly again. "Gurarara... I heard you got beaten up. Hurry and let me, Whitebeard, see who did it?!"
Whitebeard felt it was a pity that he had not witnessed the scene himself. But he would never pass up a chance to tease and mock Golden Lion!
Hearing Whitebeard's taunt, Shiki the Golden Lion's face instantly turned waxen. He pulled a cigar from his pocket, put it between his lips, lit it, and took a deep drag. "It was that brat Ares."
"I only wanted him to try the taste of drinking alcohol. I never expected the guy to get drunk outright!"
As a result, he had ended up making a fool of himself in front of everyone.
"Ares?"
Whitebeard looked surprised, then immediately understood and burst into laughter. "Hahaha... So it was that brat. A pirate should have alcohol for a companion!"
"You did nothing wrong. From now on, that brat can drink to his heart's content with us too!!"
What kind of pirate life could be perfect without alcohol?
As pirates, they should eat huge mouthfuls of meat and drink their fill!
Soon after, Charlotte Linlin, Captain John, Ochoku, Silver Axe, and the others also hurried over, asking the people nearby what had happened.
The commotion had been far from small. Everyone on Hachinosu Island had noticed it.
Just then.
Movement also came from the ruins. Ares emerged, his face as red as fire, and shook his head before raising a hand to his forehead. He seemed extremely dizzy.
"I'm so dizzy..."
"My head hurts so much..."
Ares muttered to himself. In an instant, the scene of Golden Lion knocking him away with a single punch surfaced in his mind.
His blood surged upward.
The restless heat in his body had yet to fade.
His muddled brain seemed to be malfunctioning again, replaying the scene of Golden Lion using Armament Haki in slow motion.
"That power... That kind of power!"
"Why was it stronger than my punch?!"
"Hiss..."
"My head hurts so much!!!"
With one hand supporting his head and the other clenched into a fist, Ares subconsciously imitated Golden Lion's movements as he used Armament Haki.
The sensations from Golden Lion's two punches came to him intermittently through his muddled mind, unable to connect into a complete sequence.
Disordered!
Relying on his astonishing talent, his arm began to change!
Unlike the usual black Armament Haki, Ares's arm transformed completely into a vivid red.
Even Ares himself did not know that his chaotic thoughts and jumbled perception of the scene had led him to accomplish something ordinary people could never imagine at this moment.
It was equivalent to practicing Armament Haki "in reverse"!!
It could not be said that he had done it entirely backward. It was more accurate to say that he had done it in an incomparably chaotic manner!
The changes in Ares's body as he walked out of the ruins also shocked countless people. They all widened their eyes.
Their expressions looked as though they had been petrified!!!
"Hiss..."
Ochoku sucked in a cold breath, and with an extremely astonished expression, exclaimed, "That brat... What happened to that brat? Why did his arm turn red?!"
"It's even smoking?!"
He had no idea why such a bizarre change had occurred in Ares. Wisps of white smoke rose from Ares's arm.
It looked like steam.
What was going on?
"Pfft!!!" Captain John, who never went anywhere without alcohol, sprayed a mouthful from his lips and could not help asking curiously, "Why is that brat Ares so strange?!"
"He isn't a Devil Fruit user either, so why is this happening?" Silver Axe, who carried an axe and wore silver armor, was also completely bewildered.
That brat Ares had swum in the sea for several days straight. He absolutely was not a Devil Fruit user.
Devil Fruit abilities turned people into landlubbers, people rejected by the sea.
How could one swim through the ocean vigorously for such a long time?
Charlotte Linlin's eyes shone brightly. Her huge eyes were full of vigor and overflowing with infatuation. She stuck out her scarlet tongue and licked her lips.
"This is even more interesting now. I wonder if Ares can make that place like his arm too?"
"This scorching sensation must feel wonderful, right?!"
"Hehehe..."
Her body could not help growing restless. Hormones were rapidly being secreted throughout her body, and autumn waters seemed to ripple in her brown eyes.
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