The central castle collapsed completely. Dust filled the sky, and the scene descended further into chaos. Ye Chen and Blackbeard traded blows without needing any provocation. They were like powder kegs, ready to explode at the slightest spark. Every time they met, they fought.
This time was no exception.
Blackbeard's Magma Fist was ferocious, far more powerful than before. Ye Chen had kept growing stronger, but Blackbeard had not stood still either. Magma surged wildly, and his enormous fist nearly blotted out half the sky. Before it even touched skin, it seared the surrounding air. Flames roared and magma sprayed, sending everyone else fleeing for fear of getting caught in the attack.
Ye Chen showed no fear. He wielded the Heaven and Earth Great Shift with ease, diverting each of Blackbeard's blows elsewhere. Explosions thundered all around them. The ground shook as though a massive earthquake had struck, and it seemed like the end of the world.
Shiryu and Kizaru were locked in a fierce struggle too. Kizaru had not taken it all that seriously at first, but Shiryu had no way back. He struck without mercy, slashing again and again with gritted teeth. Even though his assassination attempt had failed, his actions had made his betrayal of Blackbeard plain. Neither Blackbeard nor the Blackbeard Pirates would spare him. With Shiryu refusing to hold back, Kizaru could no longer simply go through the motions. Their strength was not far apart, and once they fought in earnest, neither could quickly gain the upper hand.
Lucci was about to seek out Jot when Mountain Saffron stepped in front of him. Staring at Lucci coldly, he said, "If you don't mind, I'll be your opponent. You're the Grim Reaper Pirates' strongest fighter after Ye Chen. I've wanted to test myself against you for