"Brat, did you capture my son?!"
Tsugikuni Yoriichi's Conqueror's Haki collided with Whitebeard's in midair, and a fierce hurricane swept outward from the center of Cheese Town's streets.
Whitebeard gripped Murakumogiri tightly with both hands. Feeling the terrifying force transmitted through the blade, a flicker of surprise passed through his eyes.
He had grown stronger. This brat before him had grown much stronger again.
Whitebeard could clearly feel it.
However—
Whitebeard did not care whether Tsugikuni Yoriichi had become stronger. He cared more about his sons' safety. Although his Observation Haki was powerful, there was no way he could quickly determine which of his many sons were missing.
Upon hearing Tsugikuni Yoriichi's words, Whitebeard instinctively assumed that his son had been captured by him. He did not consider any other possibility.
"Captured?!"
"Why would I do something so wasteful of food?"
The force pressing down from Dawn gradually weakened. Tsugikuni Yoriichi's crimson hair whipped wildly in the shockwaves. Hearing Whitebeard ask such an innocent question, Yoriichi answered casually, his expression calm.
"Hm?!"
Whitebeard's pupils contracted sharply. Recalling Tsugikuni Yoriichi's usual treatment of pirates, he felt a surge of dread, and rage immediately flared in his chest.
"You bastard!!"
"Who did you touch?"
Whitebeard suddenly flew into a rage and let out a furious roar.
As he roared, Whitebeard raised Murakumogiri with his right hand, swiftly removed his left hand from the hilt, and clenched it into a fist. A vicious gleam flashed in his eyes as he activated the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
The next instant, Whitebeard swung his left fist and brutally smashed it toward Tsugikuni Yoriichi before him.
Yoriichi held his blade up with one arm. The moment Whitebeard clenched his left fist, he had already sensed Whitebeard's intentions in advance.
Just as Yoriichi intended to dart