Sea Tremor!

The sea seemed torn apart by two opposing wills, half thunderous roar, half trembling shock.

Newgate's mountain-like presence bore down on them, forcing the sea wind to bend and slapping enormous reverse ripples across the water.

At the same time—

Lightning exploded around Rock's body as if a Thunder God had awakened, his savage fighting spirit piercing the heavens.

"—Boom!!!"

The instant thunder and tremor force collided across the distance, the entire sea seemed to overturn. The warship shook like a leaf in a storm, and the recruits clung to the railings with pale faces.

Zephyr's furious roar pierced through the storm. "—All forces, prepare for battle!!!"

As if struck by lightning, the Marines instantly snapped awake and rushed to their stations.

"Prepare the cannons!! Lock onto the target!!"

"Stabilize the keel! Everyone, secure your positions!!"

"Lower the secondary sails by half! Don't let us get capsized!!"

Yet some recruits still stared blankly at the pirate ship in the distance, which looked like some massive beast.

"W-who is that... Why does he feel like a mountain..."

A seasoned veteran beside him yanked him back. "Don't stand there daydreaming! That's one of the Rocks Pirates' top officers!!!"

"Edward Newgate, the user of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit!!!"

"Do you want to get shaken into pulp?!"

"Tremor-Tremor... Is that the one that can split the sea apart with earthquakes?!"

Everyone aboard the warship felt their hearts tighten.

Zephyr and Rock stood side by side at the bow, facing the crushing pressure rushing toward them.

"Newgate..."

Zephyr frowned. "Why does it feel like he's coming for you?"

Rock grinned, lightning dancing around him. "Last time, I didn't get the chance to trade a few moves with him. My hands have been itching for it!!! ..."

On the Rocks Pirates' giant ship across from them—

"Report!!!"

The lookout nearly slid down the mast, his voice trembling.

"Lord Newgate!! There's a Marine warship ahead! At its bow stands—"

"Vice Admiral Zephyr!! And... that lightning youth from before!!!"

The moment those words fell, the entire ship became deathly silent.

Then, uncontrollably, every pirate recalled the bolt of lightning that had torn through the heavens several months ago.

Newgate threw back his head and laughed, his laughter booming like thunder across the deck.

"Gurararara!!! It's only been a few months, and that brat's presence has become even more terrifying."

"He really went and joined the Marines... Interesting!!!"

The next instant, his smile vanished.

Newgate slowly raised his left arm and clenched his fist. Web-like cracks spread across the deck beneath his feet.

The air began to tremble, and space distorted as if crushed by an invisible giant hammer.

"Since we're meeting again—"

Newgate's muscles bulged, his entire body like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

"Rock, you brat—!! Take my greeting gift!!!"

He roared, "—Shockwave!!!"

His left fist slammed fiercely into the air—

"Crack crack crack crack—!!!"

It was as if the transparent sky had been shattered with one punch.

The atmosphere ruptured, the air twisted, and the sea was flattened by some enormous palm, throwing up terrifying waves!

An invisible shockwave, powerful enough to destroy an island, shot straight toward the warship!

Zephyr's face darkened aboard the ship. "It's coming!!!"

Rock had already charged forward.

Lightning tore across the deck as he became a streak of blue-white electricity, appearing before the bow.

He drew one palm back, gathering thunder in his hand.

"Divine Firmament: Palm Thunder—!!!"

Countless bolts of lightning swirled in his palm, writhing like countless serpentine electric patterns as they twisted, compressed, spun, and exploded.

The lightning condensed to its limit, forming a blazing white thunderball like the sun. The compressed air let out a shriek!

"Ha—!!!"

Palm Thunder blasted forth and collided head-on with Newgate's Shockwave!

"Boom—!!!"

In an instant, heaven and earth fell silent.

Blinding white light erupted where the lightning and shockwave collided. A wall of water dozens of meters high exploded from the sea, and even the sky was forcibly blasted open into a hollow!

The warship tilted violently on the sea, and the Marines screamed as they clung to the masts.

"Hold steady! This is a battle between monsters!!!" Zephyr roared.

It was the first time the recruits had witnessed such a terrifying sight. Their faces were deathly pale. "Th-this... Is this really something humans can do?!"

At the point where sea met sky, the powers of thunder and tremor tore a giant wound through the world.

Their presences continued to rise, like two mythical ancient behemoths biting each other's throats across the entire sea.

Seeing the lightning forcefully block his Shockwave, Newgate did not get angry. Instead, excitement made his entire body tremble.

He grinned and laughed. "Gurararara!!! Not bad, brat!!!"

Lightning burst beneath Rock's feet, his Justice cloak whipping wildly in the violent thunderstorm. Fighting spirit surged from his eyes as though it were tangible.

"Newgate—!"

He licked the corner of his lips, revealing a fervent and dangerous smile. "Come fight!!!"

The next instant, thunder exploded.

Rock transformed into a straight bolt of lightning, piercing the sky and charging directly toward Whitebeard's giant ship!

Newgate froze for a moment before his pupils suddenly contracted.

"...Guh?"

The next instant, his furious roar shattered the sea wind.

"You damned brat! If you want to fight, then fight properly!! Don't destroy my ship—!!!"

Murakumogiri crashed into the huge timber at the bow, and Newgate violently tore at the air with both hands!

The air shrieked as if sliced apart by blades.

The surrounding pirates clutched their heads in terror. "The captain's getting serious!!!"

"Hold on tight!!!"

Newgate roared, "Seaquake—!!!"

He drove both arms downward.

The air cracked!

The atmosphere twisted!

The sea was forcibly lifted!!

The next second, an entire stretch of sea seemed to be stirred by divine wrath as a hundred-meter tsunami rose from the water!!!

It blotted out the sky, roaring with fury like a warhammer wielded by the Sea God as it smashed toward Rock.

The pressure of the hundred-meter tsunami forced Rock out of his lightning-speed form and back into human shape.

Yet his fighting spirit only rose higher. Pillars of lightning erupted violently from his body, while his hair and cloak were whipped into a frenzy by the Thunderclap!

Just before the hundred-meter tsunami swallowed the sky and crashed down, Rock thrust his right arm toward the heavens like a celestial needle piercing thunderclouds!

A roar like divine fury erupted from the depths of his chest. "Myriad Thunder: Sky Roar—!!!"

"Rumble rumble rumble—!!!"

The entire sky was flooded with platinum-white lightning.

The next moment—

Hundreds of gigantic pillars of lightning descended from the heavens!!!

Each one was three meters thick, spiraling arcs roaring like furious dragons as they illuminated the sea and sky.

The front row of lightning pillars directly vaporized the enormous mass of water at the tsunami's leading edge—

"Hiss!!!"

White mist exploded across the sea!

The middle lightning pillars plunged into the tsunami itself, triggering a chain of Lightning Bursts!

"Boom! Boom! Boom boom boom—!!!"

The entire tsunami was like a mountain stuffed full of explosives!

The final lightning pillars struck the foundation of the sea below!!

"Crack—!!!"

The entire "sea mountain" was pierced through from the bottom. Lightning scattered along the patterns of the seawater, and the tsunami was completely torn apart into countless broken waves!!

"Rumble rumble rumble—!!!"

Heaven and earth trembled for ten seconds as the sea was entirely swallowed by white light and shockwaves!

The tsunami vanished without a trace, leaving only boiling seawater, rising white mist, and rolling steam.

Sunlight pierced through the remaining clouds and fell upon the lightning surrounding Rock.

He slowly withdrew his fist, arcs of electricity still crackling between his fingers.

Rock stood high in the sky, lightning around him like a battle god's cloak.

Newgate stood atop the bow, his white cape billowing like a banner over his shoulders. His blond hair and crescent white beard gleamed beneath the sunlight.

The two faced each other across the sea, visible sparks flying through the air—

The lingering echoes of thunder and tremors continued to shake the surrounding atmosphere.

Every Marine and pirate stood dumbstruck.

They were not watching two people.

They were watching two walking natural disasters.

Newgate grinned and laughed, fighting spirit erupting from his entire body. "Gurararara!!!"

"Brat, let me see just how much you've grown!!!"

Lightning exploded beneath Rock's feet as though he were about to tear open the sky.

"I've waited a long time for this day!!!"

At that moment, heaven and earth seemed to freeze, and the sea became so quiet that even the seabirds dared not cry.

The wind stopped.

The waves froze.

The air was like a string drawn to its limit.

Then, the two revealed nearly synchronized wild grins.

Lightning and tremors echoed through the air.

They shouted at the same time—

"Find a deserted island—let's fight to our hearts' content!!!"