Gaban wasn't joking!
The next day...
The terrifying roar could be heard throughout the seas around the entire nameless island, and the terrifying Conqueror's Haki radiating from the island could be felt as well.
Countless sea beasts and birds in the surrounding area fled in a frenzy.
This was both a graduation test and the final lesson!
With his already stooped body, Gaban demonstrated to Kid, Killer, and Bonney why he was known as the left arm of the Pirate King.
Even though Kid and Bonney had removed the Seastone suppressing their Devil Fruits and bodies, believing that they had become incomparably powerful, they were still brutally defeated by the overwhelming force Gaban displayed.
The entire island was torn apart, and towering waves nearly swallowed it.
On the small portion of the island that remained, Kid, Killer, and Bonney lay on their backs in miserable states, covered in wounds.
Gaban merely panted a few times before looking at the three of them appreciatively.
"Getting old really does make a difference. Still, congratulations. You've passed the test!"
"Cough, cough, cough... What the heck! The gap is way too huge! Are all the powerhouses of the Roger Pirates monsters like this?!"
Bonney was gasping so hard she couldn't even catch her breath. She had no strength left to struggle to her feet, so she simply lay on the ground in defeat, her face filled with speechlessness.
Kid, however, burst into delighted laughter.
"Hahahaha!"
"Hey, are you crazy? You got beaten this badly, and you're still so happy!"
"Because I've finally witnessed the ultimate power in this world!"
Kid threw back his head and laughed as he reached both hands toward the air, as if he were grasping the world itself.
"Looks like it isn't quite as unreachable as I thought!"
Kid's words