The onlookers stood in their place with dumbfounded expressions on their faces, rubbing their eyes in disbelief.
In the central area, it was indeed Admiral Akainu with his stern face on the central Battleship. Beside him, reporting the situation over the phone, was none other than Marine Headquarters Great Staff Officer Tsuru.
But the man less than thirty meters away from Akainu, well, he was indeed "Red Hair" Shanks!
Why haven't they started fighting yet?!!!
And that guy sleeping on Whitebeard's ship, is he really Headquarters Admiral Aokiji?
Wait, is he a traitor?!?!
All the factions present expressed their confusion but understood the terrifying capabilities of the people before them, as they lived in this world. They cautiously kept their distance and remained prepared to slip away at any moment.
G-5 Branch, in ruins.
Thud!
Jack, in his Half Beastify form, fell like a cannonball, creating a crater filled with spider-web-like cracks on impact. He glared at King who was hovering in the air, then shouted at him.
"Big Brother King!"
"If you had attacked earlier, he would have been dead. What about my fight?"
"Fine! You better win this, Jack!"
High in the sky, King flapped his wings and held his Longblade with a cold look. "If you lose, I'll personally step in and execute you for embarrassing the Hundred Beasts Pirates."
Then, King took a deep breath and gazed at the sea.
"Whitebeard, Red Hair, and the Marines…"
"Hmph!"
With a snort, he abruptly increased the distance between them, not giving Rowen a chance to entangle him in the battle.
"Don't worry; I won't lose!"
Jack also noticed the changes outside the island, but he didn't care. Right now, he had only one goal: to make Rowen, who had ambushed him and embarrassed the entire Hundred Beasts Pirates, pay the price.
Rubbing the bruise on his temple with the back of his hand, Jack's face bore a sinister grin as he spoke. "Rowen, didn't you have lunch? Or is it that without an ambush, you're nothing?"
Hua La!
Thud!
Rowen emerged from the pit unscathed, brushing the dust off his suit. However, there was a visible seam on the front of his chest where a baby's arm could fit.
Facing Jack's elephantine nose and the powerful squeeze of Rowen's muscular body, the high-quality fabric instantly turned to shreds due to the friction, leaving this mark behind!
Rowen didn't have a penchant for fighting in raggedy clothes. If they got torn, he would just discard them. After all, Ain had ordered ten sets for him, and he still had eight left.
"As long as a black cat can catch a mouse, it's a good cat. Jack, you'll never beat me. But I want to kill you, so I'll take the hits."
With that, Rowen looked up at the sky, his eyes filled with seriousness.
This guy is the real challenge!
When facing King's casual swordplay, he had nearly depleted his Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) to withstand it and avoid being disintegrated into thunder and lightning by the flames.
Jack might be tough, but King was truly formidable!
"You're underestimating me!" Jack didn't know what Rowen was thinking, but his disdainful glance at him was all too clear.
It was a look that even ordinary people would find unbearable, let alone someone as high and mighty as a member of the Hundred Beasts Pirates Three Disasters!
Roaring in response, Jack lunged at Rowen.
"Noisy!"
Rowen spun around abruptly, going from stillness to motion as the Thunder Cloud Sword swept out.
Ding… Zizi…
Jack's jet-black nose blocked the sweep of Thunder Cloud Sword like a massive python and locked it onto Rowen's arm. Jack's eyes were filled with killing intent and wicked thoughts as he crossed his left and right Shotel blades, pulling them ruthlessly forward.
Snap!
The uniquely shaped shotel blades sliced through Rowen's body as they passed through the middle of him, directly sawing him in half. However, the sensation in Jack's hand told him that this move hadn't been effective!
Rowen had activated Elementalization in advance!
"Not good!"
As expected, right after being split in two, Rowen leaped upward, reversed his body clockwise to prevent his arm from being twisted off like an elephant's trunk, and ruthlessly kicked Jack in the temple with the tip of his foot.
Same position, same method.
Overload: Lightning Kick!
Bang!
An explosion resounded through the entire area as Rowen's powerful flying kick, capable of shattering a mountain, struck Jack. Unable to hold back, Jack spat out a mouthful of blood, and his nose involuntarily softened.
The nose was all muscle, and if you compared it to the arms, it was better suited for delivering force. This was one of the important reasons why Jack had been able to block Rowen's slash. Even it momentarily showed signs of fatigue, illustrating the immense force behind Rowen's kick!
However, at that moment, Jack's body suddenly jerked backward, his feet firmly planted on the ground as he forcefully pushed Rowen's foot away.
"This move… won't work on me anymore!"
Jack roared, and the veins on his neck bulged!
The two boundless forces of muscular strength entangled with each other, and Rowen's trousers were instantly shattered
"Interesting!" Rowen's lips curved slightly as he sensed Jack's current state.
"Zoan Devil Fruits provide Ability users with extremely terrifying physical enhancements during each transformation phase. For most Zoan Ability users, this is their only reliance in combat. Previously, even though Jack was slightly stronger than me, he couldn't withstand my powerful Lightning Kick. But now, after his transformation, he can hold his ground thanks to the enhanced physique."
However, intelligence couldn't be enhanced…
Bang!
With that, Rowen retracted his leg and aimed another kick at Jack's other temple. He kicked Jack away, who was caught off guard by Rowen suddenly pulling his strength back.
"You brute! Strength alone won't save you!"
Rowen's cool evaluation echoed across the quiet sea, leaving everyone around in awe.
Hiss!
Is this the power of "Undying Vice Admiral" Rowen? Is he actually making "Jack the Drought" take a beating? After a moment, there was a collective gasp on the sea's surface as the onlookers marveled at Rowen's strength.
On Whitebeard's ship, Ace clenched his teeth tightly and balled his fists.
"This… Monster!"
He had thought he was already quite strong after joining the Whitebeard Pirates and was ready for revenge. However, Rowen's display of power today left Ace in despair.
The gap is still there…
Rowen was incredibly well-rounded, with no weaknesses in Devil Fruit mastery, physical techniques, Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki), and Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki). He also possessed a near-mystical intuition in battle and an unparalleled sense of control on the battlefield.
In contrast, he had only focused on developing his Devil Fruit abilities, widening the gap between them.
After kicking Jack away with a single blow, Rowen didn't pause for long. He exploded in a burst of blue lightning right where he stood. He disappeared into thin air before the air itself could react.
Blink!
Jack, who was sent flying backward, tried to grab onto something in his surroundings to stop his momentum. However, everything crumbled like foam under Rowen's overwhelming strength.
He could only helplessly wait for his inertia to dissipate. At this moment, Jack's eyes suddenly widened as he saw Rowen maintaining perfect alignment with him, and an ominous feeling crept over him.
Whoosh… Thud!
Rowen grabbed Jack's nose with lightning speed. Before Jack could react, high-voltage currents surged from Rowen's fist, creating shimmering patterns of light.
Streaks of thunder flickered, and a lightning dragon danced among them. Crackles and pops filled the air!
Overload: Thunderlight Fist!
A straight punch!
In an instant, Jack, who had been flying backward, made a 90-degree turn and crashed deep into the ground.
"Puh!"
The punch landed squarely in Jack's solar plexus, causing him to involuntarily cough up a mouthful of blood. His back slammed hard against the solid bedrock before rebounding upward.
At that very moment, Rowen moved with astonishing speed to Jack's rear. He targeted Jack's kidney area, his fist clenched like a drill, and struck again.
Thud!
"Wu Wa!"
Jack, who had just sunk into the ground, was sent soaring into the sky, his body spewing crimson under the sunlight.
However, Rowen didn't pause for a moment; he followed like a shadow.
Elbow strikes, flying knees, straight punches, rear kicks…
The combat experience he had learned from Zephyr was on full display at this moment. It had become second nature, seamlessly integrated with his instincts. Rowen's fists and feet rained down on Jack like a furious storm, each strike possessed earth-shattering power.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
A dense and deafening Sound Explosion echoed through the sea. The air pressure created a fierce wind that whipped up waves several meters high.
Only a few people could clearly see Rowen's movements, while others could only witness Jack being tossed around in mid-air by some invisible force, creating a bizarre and gruesome spectacle!
What a monster!
At this moment, countless factions secretly labeled Rowen as someone not to be provoked. A martial artist with the speed of Kizaru combined with his formidable physical prowess was far more terrifying than Kizaru's simple laser attacks!
Suddenly, Jack, who had been passively taking a beating, widened his eyes. Utilizing his Kenbunshoku Haki, he pinpointed where Rowen's next punch would land and ruthlessly struck out with his right hand.
Bang!
The two separated at a touch. Seizing the opportunity to catch his breath, Jack looked up and saw a bright and dazzling lightning spear hurtling towards him.
Spear of Meteors · Gungnir!
"Oh no!"
Hiss… Boom!
A towering fireball illuminated everything, and endless thunderbolts shot in all directions.
Rowen casually clapped his hands, as if wiping his mouth after a meal.
"Even Saint Lirisk knew that in a speed confrontation, you, with your tough hide and resilient flesh, are the only one who dares to face me confidently!"
"I'll kill you; it's just a matter of time!"
(End of this chapter)
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