Whitebeard's blow forced Capulias's dragon claw open, releasing his grip on Whitebeard's naginata.
Then Capulias deactivated his Brute Dragon Devil Fruit ability and returned to his normal human form, though his left wrist, which had taken the blow, was slightly red and swollen.
Capulias flexed his wrist and smiled at Whitebeard.
"Not bad, but..."
Almost instantly, Capulias completed his transformation. His entire upper body took on a dragon's appearance, savage dark green scales covering his bulging muscles. His head became that of a Savage Dragon, huge, sharp fangs gleaming coldly. He clenched his two three-taloned dragon claws, pushed off with his legs, and charged!
"That level of strength isn't enough!"
He struck with the same hand Whitebeard had hit, now driving it forward with tremendous force and a dense coating of Armament Haki!
Naturally, Whitebeard did not back down. He clenched his left fist and met the attack with an equally dense coating of Armament Haki.
Boom!
Their fists collided and held steady. No one could tell who had won this exchange.
Suddenly, the air currents changed direction and accelerated, as though a storm had formed around the point where their fists met. The single mass of white clouds overhead was instantly churned to shreds!
"Conquest!"
Their left fists remained locked together, but Whitebeard had already raised the naginata in his right hand high overhead!
Whitebeard had infused the naginata with the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. A white arc followed its blade as it slashed toward Capulias!
Sensing the approaching danger, Capulias coated his entire body in dense Haki. Combined with his dragon scales, his tremendous defenses kept Whitebeard's slash from leaving even a mark on him.
But Whitebeard gave a menacing smile.
He drove his left fist forward again, his joints cracking explosively!
"Aaaah!"
Whitebeard roared, the force