"Tch!"
Silver Axe's expression beneath his mask was filled with disapproval. He curled his lips and said, "How could that be? Linlin is the one and only monster in this world. How could this kid possibly compare to that monster, Linlin?"
"You know how tough Linlin's body is."
"Without the strength of a great swordsman, don't even think about cutting through her skin!"
Although the young man before them looked extremely sturdy, every muscle on his body seemed packed with explosive power, and an incredibly powerful, beastlike aura radiated from him.
But no human capable of matching that monster, Linlin, had been born in this world yet.
Linlin's physical gifts were so powerful that no one could hope to catch up to her.
If Linlin hadn't devoted herself entirely to giving birth to sons and daughters, she could probably have replaced Whitebeard and Golden Lion as the strongest officer of the Rocks Pirates.
"That's true..."
Ochoku agreed. He reached up and stroked his long black beard, which was nearly as tall as he was, and said, "Even if he isn't a super-monster, this guy's potential shouldn't be underestimated."
He stared at the fearless Ares, then gave a sly grin. "Heh heh... Let's see how Captain Rocks deals with this guy."
Ochoku watched Ares with great interest, wanting to see how Captain Rocks would deal with him.
Captain Rocks' strength was absolutely the greatest on the entire ship.
There was no doubt about it!
No one dared challenge Rocks' position or authority aboard the ship.
It was precisely because his strength surpassed everyone else's!
That was why so many powerful figures had gathered on the ship and followed Rocks' orders!
The pirates surrounding them all wore expressions that showed they were ready for a good show.
Suddenly.
An extremely loud voice rang out. "Brat, you're not qualified to challenge the captain!!"
"Let me be your opponent!!"
A towering, broad-shouldered pirate stepped forward. Two horns sprouted from his head, and he carried an enormous club studded with spikes on his shoulder.
He looked to be seven or eight meters tall, like a three-story building. Compared to Ares, who stood four meters tall, he was almost twice as tall.
The muscles covering his body bulged one by one. His six-pack abs looked like slabs of steel, while his massive pectorals resembled the front of a truck.
He looked absolutely terrifying!
As he walked out of the crowd, the pressure radiating from his enormous frame made the surrounding pirates instinctively avoid him.
"It's the monster trainee—Kaido!!!"
"Tsk, tsk... Is Kaido planning to teach this kid a lesson on the captain's behalf so he can make a good impression on the captain?!"
"This is going to be good. Both of them have the physiques of power-types. I wonder who will win?"
"Of course it'll be Kaido. Just look at his size and strength! He's three or four meters taller than that kid!"
"Interesting... A clash between two little monsters!"
"Kaido, teach that arrogant brat a good lesson and show him how formidable the newcomers of the Rocks Pirates are!!"
"......"
The surrounding pirates grew excited, and their cheers and whistles rang out without end.
Rocks shifted his gaze to Kaido, an evil smile curling at the corners of his mouth. "Zehahaha... So it's the new guy, Kaido!"
"Do you want to have a little contest with this fellow?"
Among the newcomers, Kaido had naturally left the deepest impression. Not only was he monstrously strong, but he was also an extremely hardworking and ambitious pirate.
Rocks liked pirates like that!!
Kaido took two steps forward and stopped in front of Ares. His expression was fierce as he grinned. "Of course I want to have a little contest with this kid."
He flexed his arm and lowered the heavy spiked club from his shoulder.
The club hit the ground with a dull bang, sending a cloud of dust drifting into the air.
Rocks grinned. "Hahaha... Fine. Then I'll leave this kid to you!"
"I want to see how much strength this little fellow really has, too."
He truly had no intention of taking action himself, because only a powerhouse who stood at the peak of this sea could qualify to be my opponent, Rocks!!
Now that Kaido had stepped forward, Rocks might as well let him test this somewhat unhinged little fellow.
Kaido strode forward and stood before Ares, his enormous shadow enveloping him.
The two of them stood several meters apart.
Kaido looked at Ares with a teasing glint in his eyes and laughed. "Brat, you're still not qualified to challenge Captain Rocks."
"Let me teach you a good lesson and show you just how powerful the Rocks Pirates are!"
Ares raised his head. Yet his eyes, dark as stars in the night, remained utterly calm, as if he had no fear whatsoever of the enormous Kaido.
He calmly asked Kaido, "You want to fight me?"
"Worororo..."
Kaido threw his head back and laughed. "I'm not fighting you. I'm teaching you, you ignorant brat who doesn't know how vast the sea is!!!"
"You won't be able to withstand this punch of mine!!"
With that,
He raised an arm as thick as a stone pillar, and his strong, rock-hard muscles swelled.
He drove a punch at Ares with tremendous force.
The punch tore through the air, and the fierce howl of the wind showed just how powerful it was.
The other pirates present widened their eyes one after another.
They wanted to see how this brat, Ares, would withstand Kaido's heavy punch.
Boom!!!
As the thunderous explosion rang out, everyone instantly became bewildered.
Ares's body was sent flying dozens of meters in an instant. With a crash, he slammed into the ground, kicking up a huge cloud of smoke that spread through the air.
Every pirate present, even the villagers on the island, stood stunned for several seconds.
It was simply too... anticlimactic!
"This kid... that's it?!! He was defeated by a single punch from Kaido?!!"
"Is he an idiot?!! Why didn't he dodge or defend against Kaido's attack?!"
"I thought this kid was supposed to be powerful... Turns out he really is an idiot. He can't even dodge an attack!!"
"Hahahaha... I'm dying! That tiger this kid has—he didn't pick it up in the forest, did he?!!"
"·········"
The surrounding pirates burst into laughter, their faces filled with disdain and contempt.
They had thought that this seemingly powerful and sturdy kid would bring them an exciting battle against Kaido!
But in the end...
In the end, Kaido had inexplicably sent him flying with a single punch.
It was like getting excited to watch a video, only to open it and discover that it was a lecture on the law.
Boring.
They were even somewhat furious.
Shiki the Golden Lion, however, wore an intriguing smile as he turned toward Whitebeard.
Whitebeard seemed to sense it and turned toward Shiki the Golden Lion as well.
A spark of excitement gleamed in both their eyes.
It definitely wasn't a spark of "passionate bromance"!
Before you continue