The Two Clash Again

New World, an unnamed deserted island.

This was an isolated island the Ashen had temporarily chosen as a resupply point. Gray-black volcanic rock covered the island, while a lava-cooled basin spanning several miles had formed in its sunken center—an ideal natural arena for two monster-level combatants to fight without restraint.

The sea wind swept across the edge of the basin, carrying the scent of sulfur and making the hem of Rain's black clothes flap loudly. With half a cigar clenched between his teeth, his dark gray vertical pupils coolly watched the two burly figures standing a hundred meters apart in the center of the basin. Behind him stood Aira, Carina, and Tuka, watching the show, along with Panda and Ayue, who were hugging glowing ore and chewing on it.

"Hey, big guy, your body's been itching for a fight since your upgrades were finished, huh?"

Keen rolled his neck, producing a series of crackles like popping beans. His upper body had already undergone partial dragon transformation. Pink dragon scales spread from his neck to his waist, while his arms had become savage dragon claws covered in blue flame-cloud patterns. Pitch-black Armament Haki flowed over the edges of his claws like a living thing. He grinned wildly, his blazing dragon eyes fixed on the steel behemoth across from him.

"Zehahahaha! Back in the Deep-Sea Ruins, the captain beat you down with his bare fists until you were whimpering on the ground. If the captain hadn't stepped in to keep things under control, I could've torn you into scrap metal right then! What, Vegapunk gave you a new set of bones, and now you think you can turn the world upside down?"

"Roar... urrgh..."

Opposite him, the nearly ten-meter-tall Obsidian Iron Bear slowly lowered its body. Its jet-black Obsidian Seastone Armor glinted