"Nicholas, I'm going to kill you!"
Charlotte Linlin threw the broken Napoleon to the ground. After all, there was no point in keeping something that had lost its value.
She then grabbed Zeus and, despite his pleas, forcefully activated him, absorbing the surrounding electric plasma.
Normally, Zeus would find lightning delicious, but the dense plasma around them was more like deadly poison.
"Mom, no! I'm breaking down! This is too much, I'm gonna explode! Ahhh!"
As Zeus screamed, a crack appeared in him, and a large amount of plasma leaked out. However, the plasma surrounding Charlotte Linlin also dissipated significantly.
"So noisy."
Nicholas was ready to deal with the foolish woman.
Bullet looked at Nicholas, the initial fanaticism in his eyes gone. The fact that Nicholas could suppress a monster like Charlotte Linlin meant he could likely suppress him as well.
Facing an opponent possibly stronger than himself, Bullet's gaze turned sharp. For him, fighting an equal opponent could get his blood pumping, but against someone stronger, only cold calculation remained. Without a calm mind, he would have long perished on the battlefield.
Whoosh—
Just as Nicholas was about to strike Charlotte Linlin, Bullet moved, his figure vanishing instantly.
Kaido, in his dragon form, also moved at the same time. For him, Charlotte Linlin was an ally, albeit a somewhat foolish one. But her strength was undeniable, and more importantly, she had done him a great favor. Kaido was a man who repaid his debts.
Nicholas's eyes flashed red as the two approached.
Though their speed was too fast for the naked eye, his Observation Haki could easily track them. Without advanced techniques to hide their presence, they were as visible as beacons in the night.
Nicholas turned and swung his fist.
Boom!
With a thunderous clash, the shockwave from the collision spread out in a circular pattern.
Their gazes locked, Bullet's expression was cold, while Nicholas's eyes remained calm and indifferent.
In the next moment—
In Bullet's Observation Haki, he saw Nicholas suddenly raise his other fist, the speed so fast it left afterimages.
"Huh?"
Bullet's eyes narrowed.
"ORA ORA ORA ORA!"
In less than a millisecond, Nicholas's fists rained down on Bullet like a storm.
Caught off guard, Bullet could only raise his arms in defense, bracing against the sudden onslaught.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The rapid strikes landed with ear-splitting booms on Bullet's arms.
The sheer force of the impact pushed Bullet back continuously, his feet carving deep grooves into the ground.
Meanwhile, Kaido, who had moved with Bullet, now stood annoyed, blocked by Whitebeard.
"Tch, you old geezer always know how to ruin someone's fun," Kaido grumbled, resting his spiked club on his shoulder.
"Gurararara! If I stood by while someone harmed my family, what kind of father would I be?" Whitebeard roared.
Whitebeard leaped into the air, his blade coated with the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. A glowing white sphere expanded as he swung down at Kaido.
Caught off guard, Kaido was sent flying by Whitebeard's furious attack.
"That old geezer is ridiculously strong," Kaido grumbled as he was knocked back, reminded of the Whitebeard who once dominated the seas.
Nicholas didn't bother looking at the airborne Kaido; he didn't mind Whitebeard taking on some of the burden.
"Interesting," Bullet said, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. This was the kind of fight he craved.
Meanwhile, countless viewers watching the broadcast were left stunned. The emperors of the sea were tearing each other apart. The situation had developed far beyond their expectations.
Indeed, only monsters could fight other monsters. That was the thought on everyone's mind as they watched the battle unfold.
At the same time, ships were rapidly approaching the island.
These vessels were equipped with special projection Den Den Mushi that connected to the live broadcast from the island.
The crews used the broadcast to stay updated on the situation, deciding whether to land, retreat, or strategize for maximum gain.
For them—
So what if they weren't the first on the island?
Pirates were never known for fairness. Even if they couldn't get the Eternal Pose, they could just follow the winner, like hyenas trailing after a lion.
Roger had reached the final island because only his crew knew its secret. If the information had leaked, countless pirate crews would have followed in his wake.
"Tsk, that crazy Nicholas. He dared attack Mariejois before, and now he's trying to take down multiple emperors at once on Lodestar Island..."
"Is he really planning to kill the emperors here?"
"Of course. What's so surprising? That guy's crazy enough to do anything. I wouldn't be shocked if he announced he wanted to join the Marines next."
"But Whitebeard and Nicholas are both here. So where's Roger? Aren't they from the same era?"
"Can you not jinx it? If Roger shows up, things will spiral out of control. The World Government might actually turn this sea into a wasteland."
"Seriously?"
"Do you think the Void Century is just a story? Who knows how many people the World Government wiped out back then."
As the battle raged, Shanks sighed in resignation. He really didn't want to get involved with these monsters. While many would respect him under normal circumstances, these beasts wouldn't care in the middle of a fight. He knew words alone wouldn't stop this chaos.
"Red-Haired Shanks is making his move!"
The viewers tensed up as Shanks made his move.
As one of the New World emperors, his actions held the potential to shift the tide of the battle.
But just as everyone held their breath, Shanks suddenly stopped.
Or rather, someone appeared in front of him, forcing him to halt.
Shanks looked at the cloaked figure before him, his expression serious.
"Shall we talk?"
Beneath the dark green cloak, a man with a red tattooed smile invited him, his tone leaving little room for refusal.