This brat is a monster

Ares's tone, as if stating a fact, made Kaido feel as though he had been gravely insulted.

"My fists... have no power?!" A blazing fire ignited in Kaido's eyes, rage filling his lantern-like pupils. No one had ever said his fists lacked strength. And strength—that was what he prided himself on most—was now being trampled into the snow by this brat before him.

He couldn't take it!

In an instant, he roared in fury: "Today, I'll show you what real power is!!!"

His right hand seized the spiked club lying on the ground, and thick, rope-like veins bulged from beneath his skin. They crisscrossed and spread across Kaido's arm, a sight that made one's scalp crawl.

A bestial, savage aura burst forth from Kaido's body.

He swung the massive, heavy club in his hand.

Straight down at Ares's head!

The wind howled like a shrieking ghost with that swing.

Kaido glared, his eyes locked onto Ares, determined to see this brat smashed into a bloody pulp by his club!!

"Let's see if you can block this one!!!"

Facing this ferocious strike, Ares moved.

Fast!

He crouched, then leaped, springing into the air like a monkey. His feet nimbly stepped onto the spiked club.

"What?!!" Kaido stared in shock at Ares. The brat had used his own club as a springboard to appear right before his face.

A massive fist grew larger and larger in his vision.

Bang!!

Ares's fist slammed squarely into Kaido's big, fleshy face.

Crack, crack...

The fist didn't stop, sinking deep into Kaido's thick-skinned, elastic face. A terrifying force transmitted from the punch to Kaido's face, and his nose bone snapped instantly.

Blood sprayed from his nose.

Along with several shattered teeth flying through the air.

Kaido's entire body reeled backward, his hand loosening, and the giant club slipped from his grasp. It crashed to the ground along with his massive frame.

Boom!!!

The deafening sound rattled everyone's eardrums, and even the earth seemed to shake violently. A thick cloud of dust rose from where Kaido's body hit the ground.

Ares's body, like a hawk, landed lightly beside Kaido's fallen form. He said, "Kaido..."

"I'll remember your name. That punch of yours was useful."

"It made my strength a bit greater than usual."

That punch just now—he had used the technique from Kaido's earlier strike against him. It was indeed far superior to the tricks he'd learned from some beasts. So the force of this blow was stronger than normal.

At that moment...

Aside from Ares's own voice, the entire place fell silent.

Everyone stared in shock at Kaido lying on the ground. The fight had ended so fast it caught them off guard!

The pirates stood dumbfounded, staring blankly at Ares.

Gulp.

One pirate swallowed his saliva in horror and shouted, "That brat... that brat is incredibly strong!!!"

The other pirates snapped out of their daze at his cry and began exclaiming in panic.

"The monster rookie Kaido was defeated by this brat with one punch?!!"

"Too strong! What kind of monster is this kid!!!"

"It's over!! My money!!! That Kaido is so useless!!"

"And here I thought I could trust him to beat the brat—I never expected him to lose just like that!!"

"········"

The pirates gasped in shock. Kaido was the strongest rookie aboard the Rocks Pirates.

Even many of the ship's full-fledged crew members weren't confident they could defeat this man, yet he had been laid flat by a single blow.

Such an outcome was something none of them had anticipated.

It caught everyone off guard.

Even Rocks, his deep, domineering eyes carrying a flicker of surprise and a trace of awe, bared his two rows of silver-white teeth and chuckled: "Hehe... this brat is a bit unusual."

"Exceptional hunting reflexes, formidable physical strength, an unshakable will."

"He'll definitely grow into a fine pirate in the future, hahaha..."

Finally, he couldn't help but burst into laughter. What had started as a mere game of plundering treasure

had unexpectedly turned up a promising seedling like "Ares." Once a monster like this grew up, he would become another capable officer!!

By then, his ranks would gain another fierce and battle-hardened subordinate.

Rocks' heart was filled with immense delight.

Seeing Rocks unable to contain his joy, Captain John, who was nearby, lifted his wine bottle and chugged it down in gulps. Wiping his mouth, he praised: "Good lad, what a powerful talent."

"This kid is already this strong without any guidance. If he stays on the ship for two or three years, I'm afraid only you, Captain, could keep him in line!"

He too was happy to see such a monster emerge, strengthening the Rocks Pirates.

This ship was packed with pirates carrying all kinds of ambitions, dreams, and grudges. Even if one more Ares joined, he couldn't care less.

On the contrary, he was overjoyed. Only by gathering more power could they go further!

Only then could they stand against the massive and powerful organization that had dominated this sea for centuries—the World Government!

Not far away, Whitebeard wore a smug grin on his face, boasting to Golden Lion: "Kurarara... I told you that brat would win!"

"I'll take that 100 million Berries you owe me. You lost fair and square!"

"Kurarara... That kid earned me 100 million Berries. I'm going to drink my fill with him!!"

At this moment, Whitebeard's heart was brimming with exhilaration. Winning 100 million Berries from Golden Lion felt even more joyful than stealing 10 billion!

Kaido's defeat earlier, and Golden Lion's stunned, incredulous expression—Whitebeard had seen it all.

It left him grinning from ear to ear.

Whitebeard's booming laughter grated on Golden Lion's ears, making him snort in displeasure: "Hmph!"

Biting down hard on the cigar in his mouth, he retorted defiantly: "That's because you picked that brat, leaving me no choice but Kaido!"

"I lost this time, but I won't lose to you next time!"

Golden Lion's eyes burned as he fixed his gaze on Ares in the arena, a fierce desire rising in his heart.

"I'm going to make this kid join my division!!"

"This guy will definitely grow into a pirate who makes the entire sea tremble!!"

He couldn't help but recall how Kaido had joined the Rocks Pirates last time. Unfortunately, that bastard Kaido seemed to have gotten tangled up with Linlin.

At such a hot-blooded age, could Ares resist Linlin's advances?