"Bang!"
A dull impact rang out, and a powerful shock blasted through Queen's body, leaving his massive Brachiosaurus form frozen in place.
Then came another sound.
"Crack!"
The glasses on Queen's face shattered, fine cracks spreading across them. His grave, solemn expression crumbled into pain and shock.
"Pfft!"
Two breaths later, the spot on his abdomen that had taken the heavy blow caved in, and spiderweb cracks rapidly spread outward.
Queen spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes losing focus. Then his enormous, heavy body flew backward, carving a long furrow through the ground before finally coming to a stop with a thunderous crash.
"What?!"
"Queen got taken out in a single hit?"
"The same fate as Captain Jack."
"Is he still alive? I saw the space around him crack."
The pirates around them spoke with trembling lips. They held little hope for Queen.
At the center of the battlefield, River withdrew his fist and straightened up again.
"You want to wear down my stamina to give your captain an advantage."
He paused, his gaze sharpening as he shouted.
"Then give it everything you've got!"
"Come prepared to die, stop me, and fight me!"
His voice shook the air. Howling winds whipped the clothes of the All-Stars and Katakuri, and their gazes grew even sharper.
"You're right. Against someone as strong as you..."
"We really do need to be prepared to die!"
King the Conflagration beat his wings, flames blazing over his body. He suddenly descended from the air and planted both feet on the ground.
Raising his right hand, he slowly removed his mask, revealing a handsome face with a distinctive charm.
"I heard you belonged to a very unusual race. That appearance certainly is extraordinary."
River narrowed his eyes as he spoke.
King now had the air