"You still don't understand me well enough."
Those who knew Chris, such as Hancock and Reiju, understood one thing clearly.
They knew how Chris approached a fight.
Empress Boa Hancock's eyes gleamed as she smiled. "Ochoku doesn't understand Chris."
"Chris has always taken battle extremely seriously."
"He doesn't fight unless he has to, but once he does, he never gets careless."
"Even when he has his opponent completely overwhelmed, he never lets his guard down."
"That kind of focus is rare, even for someone as powerful as Chris."
Jinbe stroked his short beard and nodded in agreement. "Chris also respects his opponents."
"No matter how far beneath him they are."
"He always sees a fight through with complete focus."
Back on Fish-Man Island, Chris had had no need to take Hody Jones and the others seriously.
His strength had utterly eclipsed theirs.
Yet Chris had never shown the slightest carelessness.
Bartholomew Kuma spoke flatly, his face expressionless. "That attitude made Chris who he is today."
"He takes everything seriously, and that's why he succeeds at whatever he does."
"I finally understand how he can be not even twenty years old"
"and still possess such terrifying strength!"
"Talent is part of it, but his dedication matters most."
Doflamingo couldn't help nodding.
Even he had to admire that.
In that respect, he knew he fell short.
Chris's dedication was the key to his success!
Chris looked at Ochoku and said evenly, "If you want to beat me, you'll have to face me head-on."
"Tricks won't work."
"You didn't reach the top in your era by relying on tricks either, did you?"
Strength had always commanded respect.
The truly strong settled matters with their fists.
Ochoku gave a self-mocking smile. "Never thought I'd get lectured by a kid."
"How embarrassing."
Ochoku shook his