As the words fell, in an instant, the world changed color! The boundless Haoshoku Haki pressed on their hearts like a weight, causing even the survivors on the sea, who were Haoshoku users themselves, to tremble in the face of this terrifying Haki emanating from Whitebeard.
In the void, purple-black thunderbolts emerged, encircling Whitebeard. The prow of the White Whale on [The Moby Dick] "thudded," suddenly cracking into a spiderweb-like depression. His coat billowed without wind, and Whitebeard, with naginata in hand, glared at Rowen.
"You talk too much, brat!"
A plan like this was even more unstoppable and ruthless than a conspiracy. Rowen must not be allowed to reveal it. At least, not now! Top-Level Haoshoku Haki struck Rowen, causing him to feel a sense of loss of control over his body, even though his mind remained unoppressed, much like when facing Shanks' Conception.
However, just then, a pressure no less formidable than Whitebeard's suddenly emerged. Dragon's roar echoed continuously in the area, and the sea surged with waves reaching thousands of feet high.
Electricity danced around Rowen, and under the reflection of the thunderous snakes swirling above his head, he emitted a terrifying killing intent, reminiscent of a deity or a demon.
He calmly looked at Whitebeard, and after a moment, a smirk appeared on his lips.
"Do you dislike hearing me talk so much, Whitebeard?"
"Keep in mind, children grow up and eventually leave home to make a living. And by then, there might not be a ship capable of carrying you!"
Haoshoku Haki! No... there was something else!
Encountering Haoshoku Haki in the Marines was already incredible, but this pressure was even more astonishing than Haoshoku's, making Rowen's momentum no weaker than Whitebeard's! Whitebeard held the naginata in both hands, and narrow flashes of light shone in his eyes before his aura surged once again.
"Gūrararararara, Brat... If there isn't a ship to carry me,"
"Then I'll just have to take one!"
"Don't forget, I am a pirate!!"
"Skyquake!!"
Without further hesitation or words, Whitebeard decisively activated the Gura Gura No Mi (Tremor-Tremor Fruit), capable of Destroying the World! When a Yonko acts, the heavens tremble and the earth shakes!
Whitebeard's body had been rapidly aging and weakening in the three years after Ace joined the crew, but there was a process to it. Whitebeard in the year 1518 of the Sea Calendar was in better health than he was at the end of 1520, and now, in his furious state, he was demonstrating an even more astonishing strength than during the Summit War.
In just an instant, the white light on the naginata expanded to its limit! As he swung the naginata forward, a white mark suddenly appeared in the sky, tearing through the swirling dark clouds.
But at this moment...
Bang!!
"Hmm?!" With a soft sound, a robust figure, reaching only to his waist but with an aura not much weaker than his, appeared at Whitebeard's side.
A dragon-shaped halberd thrust straight out, its crescent-shaped blade transforming into a hook, locking the naginata in place.
Rowen was attempting a counterattack while avoiding the Tremor!
If it weren't for Whitebeard's combat awareness bordering on inhuman, facing his thunderous onslaught, the likelihood of "trying a bit harder" to dodge would be close to zero.
Bang!!
The person was present, but the sound hadn't reached yet.
The clash of Haoshoku occurred only after Rowen landed. Streaks of purple-black lightning shot out in the Void, and the terrifying aura spread, causing the pirates on [The Moby Dick] to quickly retreat.
"Hiss... What a terrifying aura. Is he really a Marine?!"
Marco's heart was heavy, and he reached out to stop others from rushing forward to help. His face showed a mix of smiles and anger.
"Don't go over and cause trouble for the Oyaji... Jozu, protect the others."
Although he didn't want to admit it, Marco knew very well that Rowen, who had experienced who knows what had grown from the time when he fought against Kaido to the point where they were powerless. Going up themselves would only be a burden.
Creak... Creak...!
The pitch-black Armament Haki clashed against each other, causing their weapons to make a harsh, grating sound of "Gē Zhī, Gē Zhī," and sparks fell to the ground in abundance.
The clash of Haoshoku turned their positions into a forbidden zone where outsiders couldn't intervene. From youth to maturity, Rowen only took a few breaths' worth of time.
"Interesting... Come again!"
Watching as the thunder halberd remained unmoved under the dual-colored pressure of his Haoshoku, Whitebeard chuckled lightly, and then his muscles swelled all over his body. He once again pulled back and pressed down with the naginata!
"Die!!"
Bang...!!
With the word "die," Rowen's hand holding the thunder Dragon crescent-sided halberd exploded instantly, followed by his wrist, elbow, and all the way to his shoulder!
Whitebeard wasn't just relying on brute force. He also infused the power of his Gura Gura No Mi (Tremor-Tremor Fruit) into the naginata, transmitting it through the weapon.
The speed at which the naginata struck was extremely fast. Before Rowen could reconstitute his shattered arm, the naginata enveloped in Armament Haki was already dangerously close to his body.
However, even at such a close range, there was still room for escape!
"Super Electromagnetic Cannon!!"
Suddenly, Rowen's figure vanished from Whitebeard's sight. He slightly focused, relying not on Observation Haki, but purely on instinct, and swung backward.
But Rowen, seizing the initiative, didn't give him a chance to counterattack. With his speed, who besides Kizaru could match him? Chaton's ability was about slowing down, not genuine speed...
A cannon punch, wrapped in piercing thunder, struck Whitebeard's face the moment he turned, but at that moment, the naginata suddenly swung up, making it unavoidable for Rowen. Fortunately, due to the close proximity, only the halberd heavily collided with his waist.
Crack...! Crack...!
The sound of bones echoed in both their ears, and both were feeling the strain. However, Rowen paid no attention to his own injuries. He lifted his right foot and kicked forward with all his might!
"Super Electromagnetic Cannon!"
Bang...!!!
"What?!"
The speed of the attack was too fast and Whitebeard only had time to cross his fist over his chest, attempting to block the attack.
However, Rowen's kick wasn't a straightforward one; it was an upward strike! Before Whitebeard could position his hand properly, Rowen's foot had ruthlessly struck his chest, producing a muffled thunder-like resonance.
Then, without mercy, Rowen grabbed the tail of the Thunder Dragon crescent-sided halberd, dragging it with one hand, creating a deep blue arc behind him.
Heaven-Resisting Thunder Cry, Second Style: Seiryu's Roar!
Hiss...! A clear bloodstain appeared on Whitebeard's chest.
"You Bastard!!"
Furious and unable to contain his anger, Whitebeard immediately didn't care about his wide-open chest. He directly pulled back his right fist, turning the terrifying shockwave into a white light sphere capable of shattering space. It slammed into Rowen's chest.
Bang!!
At this point, the two separated in an instant.
Whitebeard's feet plowed two deep furrows into the deck, then collided with the thick base of a mast, unable to help but cough up a mouthful of blood.
"Oyaji!"
"Oyaji, are you okay?!"
The liquid staining Whitebeard's white beard was a shocking sight for Marco and the others. Since the era of pirates began, this was the first time Whitebeard had been injured in a fight.
"I'm fine!"
Waving his hand to stop them from approaching, Whitebeard's face bore an unclear smile on his face as he gripped his naginata tightly and stood up.
"Gūrarararara! Seiryu, is this all the strength you've got? Haven't you eaten enough?!"
Both of them exchanged injuries, but Whitebeard's were lighter compared to Rowen.
Regardless of the smashing blow or the final punch, they were both strikes enhanced by Armament Haki. Whitebeard knew clearly that at this point, Rowen's skull was probably shattered.
And indeed, after colliding with the mast, Whitebeard stopped retreating. In contrast, Rowen was sent flying and it took him a considerable distance before he could regain his senses, relying on Elementalization to hover in the air.
"Hiss... Such an incredible power!"
Rowen's eyes were filled with shock as he looked at this scene. He tried to move his limp arm, but healing muscles and bones that were nearly pulverized was no easy feat.
He slowly lifted his nearly broken neck and grinned.
"You know, I really didn't have a satisfying meal today!"
"What? He's not dead?!"
In the distance, Dragon saw Rowen slowly lifting his head, his pupils filled with astonishment.
That was a direct punch from Whitebeard himself!!
Under normal circumstances, an island would have been reduced to ash!!
At this moment, Rowen was indeed in a pitiful state. He had taken Whitebeard's blows head-on, and his muscles and bones were shattered. After losing grip of the thunder Dragon crescent-sided halberd, it could only hover by his side under the influence of electric currents. Even his skull had changed shape due to the form change.
Yet, despite these severe injuries, Rowen's expression remained unchanged.
Creak... Creak...
Under the gaze of a group of onlookers, his contorted limbs produced a hair-raising twisting sound, gradually inching back into place. The torn wounds rapidly interwove like weaving fabric, swiftly healing his injuries.
In the process, the shattered bones were moved back to their original positions like a reversed film, quickly allowing his half-collapsed head to swell back up like an inflated balloon.
Finally...
Bang!!
The sound of Dragon's roar resonated from within Rowen's body. Enveloped in piercing thunder, a hand extended from the electric glow, grabbing the painted pole of the Thunder Dragon crescent-sided halberd, and then it exploded with a bang.
A perfectly unscathed Rowen reappeared before everyone's eyes!
Whitebeard's eyes were filled with solemnity as he uttered a name that hadn't been mentioned in a long time.
"Undying Vice Admiral, Rowen!"
(End of this chapter)
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