Gern's pupils abruptly shrank to pinpoints.
His blade was now pinned firmly beneath Roger's Ace.
This was no skillful parry, no clever redirection of force, but the purest suppression through strength!
Crack, crack... The edge of Black Blade: Eight Desolations groaned beneath the terrifying pressure.
The blade's High-Frequency Vibration actually stalled in that moment, in a bizarre stillness.
As though before that absolute Haki, every power except Haki itself was useless.
"You, when did you-?!" Gern's breath caught.
Roger's bloodstained lips suddenly curled into a wild grin, reminding Gern of a savage beast cornered at the brink of death.
"That punch of yours did surprise me, but..." Blood dripped from Roger's chin, only to evaporate in midair beneath his seething Haki.
"I've spent half my life fighting that bastard Garp!!" Lightning from his Conqueror's Haki burst in Roger's eyes as he suddenly stepped forward.
With that single step, the entire island's crust collapsed!
"Watch closely, Gern..."
"This is... the mettle of a king!!!"
Roger unleashed his strength, a torrent of Haki erupting around him!
Gern felt an irresistible force surge through his blade. He was driven back dozens of meters, his feet plowing two deep trenches through the ground.
Before he could regain his footing, Roger vanished.
"Divine-Departure!" The low voice exploded beside Gern's ear. A moment later, a crimson slash cut across heaven and earth!
Gern hastily raised his blade to block, but only at the moment of contact did he realize his fatal mistake.
This strike was far stronger than he'd imagined. With such a hurried block... he couldn't stop it!
Boom!! The thought had barely formed when Gern was hurled backward like a cannonball, smashing through three rocky peaks before finally coming to a stop.
"Gah!" Down on one knee, Gern spat out blood. Before he could