Chapter 84: The Fierce Battle of the New World

——Somewhere in the New World.

"After those damn brats, now it's you bastards... Tch, every last one of you keeps tramplin’ over our turf... I got no business with ya, but if you wanna fight, don’t expect mercy."

"We got business with YOU, ya dumbass...!!"

The white whale-shaped ship was the Moby Dick, the flagship of the Four Emperors—the Whitebeard Pirates. Standing at its bow, glaring down at the dozens of Marine warships blocking their path—and at the Marine Vice Admiral Sakazuki leading them—was a giant over six meters tall, wielding a naginata: the Four Emperor himself, Edward "Whitebeard" Newgate.

"T-that’s Whitebeard...?!"

"What kind of Conqueror’s Haki is that...?!"

"...!"

The Marines were all elite soldiers, worthy of being deployed to the New World—yet even they broke into cold sweat under the sheer presence, pressure, and Haki of a Four Emperor. Though he should’ve been past sixty, the aura of the man hailed as the Strongest Pirate in the World hadn’t dulled in the slightest. No matter how many ships or soldiers stood against him, he was never an opponent they could afford to underestimate.

"Pops. The Beast Pirates chasing Red-Hair just clashed with the Navy—they’ve started fighting."

"Tch, that so? Hope they don’t wreck the island... Whatever. Marco, take a detachment and head there first. If we leave Kaido and that idiot Nue running wild too long, it’ll cause problems."

"Got it. Then you’ll—"

Marco, commander of the Whitebeard Pirates’ 1st Division, delivered his report and took his orders.

The Whitebeard Pirates’ main force wasn’t limited to a single ship. Sixteen division commanders, each leading a hundred men, operated under Whitebeard’s direct command. Alongside the flagship Moby Dick, they had four additional ships—totaling over 1,600 crewmates. They were the strongest pirate crew reigning over these seas.

That number might seem small for a Four Emperor, but Whitebeard had more subordinate crews than any other, and when combined, his forces surpassed even his fellow emperors’. Bound by loyalty and familial bonds, this massive fleet of pirates gathered around Whitebeard was one of the key reasons his crew remained the Strongest in the World.

So Whitebeard ordered Marco to take a squad ahead.

Marco hesitated for a moment, his words laced with concern—but Whitebeard just grinned, twisting his lips as he answered.

"Quit your worryin’. Who the hell do ya think I am?"

"!"

Whitebeard raised his naginata, pouring his Haki and power into it—the ability of the Gura Gura no Mi, the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.

The combined force of his strength and Haki split the earth, parted the waves, and tore through the heavens.

"——I’M WHITEBEARD!!!"

"!!!"

"WAAAGHHH—?!"

Distance meant nothing to that shockwave. Several Marine ships were sent flying into the sky from a single swing of Whitebeard’s blade. Watching this, Marco stepped back, a smirk forming on his face.

"Guess I was worrying for nothing..."

Indeed, Whitebeard’s strength was still absolute.

That strength was the very essence of what made a Four Emperor.

But that same strength was also why Marco couldn’t shake his unease about the future.

And then there was the other matter—the one being hunted by another Four Emperor. He wasn’t worried, exactly... but he did wonder how they were holding up.

"Alright then... Let’s go see if that Red-Haired bastard’s still alive."

With that, Marco and several squads set sail, leaving the battlefield behind.

---

Even in the New World—a sea of ice, impossible climates, and creatures defying all logic—this scene was pure hell.

"GYAHAHA!! Kill Red-Hair!!"

"The Marines too!! Take out anyone with a name!!"

"This is our chance for a promotion!! Bring me as many heads as you can!!"

To pirates, the skull on their flag was a symbol of death—and their crew’s pride.

"Vice Admiral!! They’re crossing the ice to attack!!"

"Then we meet them head-on!! Above all, we CANNOT let two Emperors make contact!!"

"YES, SIR!!"

And the pirates bearing that twin-horned skull were the most feared in these seas—the crew most worthy of being called death’s heralds.

Most of those crossing the frozen sea wore horned helmets, wielding kanabō, swords, spears, and guns with murderous intent as they charged the Marines.

That alone was a terrifying sight—but what made it even worse were the figures floating in the sky... and those foolish enough to fight them.

"WAHAHA!! Pathetic!! They actually think they can fight Kaido and Nue?!"

"They’ll be charcoal in no time. No point aiming for them—let’s go after the Navy instead!"

To the pirates, those figures were both fearsome and reassuring—the very reason this place had become the most terrifying battlefield in the sea.

The ones who embodied the title of Strongest and Most Feared Creatures in These Waters—

The Beast Pirates’ Captain and Vice-Captain.

The battle of these sworn siblings.

"——Let the "LIVE SHOW" begin!!"

"Die, "Red-Hair"...!!!"

"Sorry, but I can’t afford to kick the bucket here...!!"

A small shadow and a massive one loomed in the sky.

Nue, soaring on strange red-and-blue wings, unleashing barrages of bullets from her UFO—and Kaido, in the form of a colossal dragon, raining down fireballs.

To ordinary men, these attacks were unstoppable—cataclysmic enough to wipe out small islands in an instant.

Yet Red-Hair stood firm, his beloved sword Gryphon flashing as he sliced through every projectile, shielding his ship.

"Even after losing an arm, your swordsmanship hasn’t dulled."

From the icy battlefield below, another slash struck down a UFO—this one from the World’s Strongest Swordsman, Dracule "Hawk-Eyes" Mihawk, who had once dueled Shanks daily.

The skill Mihawk had witnessed back then hadn’t rusted. Losing an arm might’ve weakened Shanks as a pure swordsman, but his overwhelming Haki more than compensated.

In fact, his overall strength might’ve even grown.

A strange realization—and one not lost on the trickster soaring above.

"Heh... No wonder Queen lost. Seems like UFOs alone won’t cut it!!"

"!! ——The "Phantom Beast" is moving!!"

"HERE SHE COMES!!"

Nue, who had been attacking from her UFO, suddenly shot toward the Red-Hair Pirates’ ship in a straight, high-speed dive.

Her pure flight speed surpassed even Kaido’s. Though Kaido’s massive frame spanned hundreds of meters, Nue’s agility and reflexes—enhanced by her Observation Haki—let her evade every counterattack, hunting her prey with even greater freedom than on land.

Her trident gleamed—just seconds from piercing the ship—

But before it could land, something faster intercepted her.

"Not gonna let you pass...!!"

"! Oh right... You’re "light" itself, aren’t you?!"

"Damn right... Speed IS weight—how about a kick at the speed of light...?!!"

“!”

Right before Nue’s eyes, Vice Admiral Borsalino of the Navy suddenly appeared in midair.

As a Light Human, he required a brief charge-up, but there existed no one in the world faster than him.

In the blink of an eye, he moved from the ground to the sky, flipped in midair, and delivered a downward kick with the speed of light itself.

As a result, Nue was slammed diagonally downward, crashing to the ground.

“Nue-san!!”

“She got blown away!! Is she okay!?”

Even the lower-ranking members of the Beasts Pirates couldn’t help but show a hint of panic at that attack.

But just seconds later, that worry turned into even deeper trust and admiration.

“Hmm... So that’s what an attack at the speed of light feels like, huh? Kind of underwhelming. Living off the name alone, aren’t you?”

“Wha...!? She took Vice Admiral Borsalino’s attack and didn’t even get scratched...!!”

“She’s a monster...!! Even if she looks like a girl, she’s still a damn beast...!!”

As Nue casually walked across the icy ground like nothing had happened, the Marines were stricken with fear. It hadn’t looked like she used Armament Haki to block the blow, and yet there wasn’t a single drop of blood—this went beyond monstrous.

“Light Human... I think you'd look better as my spotlight.”

“I’ll pass on that, thanks～～～!! All units, keep up the attack without hesitation!!”

“Yes, sir!!”

At Borsalino’s order, the Marines gave a sharp reply and began firing cannons from their warships. They landed on the ice and engaged the Beasts Pirates head-on to try and stall them.

“Shigan!”

“Guh!?”

“Beasts Pirates!! Feel the pain of the comrades we lost to you bastards!!”

“Gah!!?”

“Ice Saber.”

“!!”

Compared to the Navy’s elite, the lower-ranking Beasts Pirates weren’t particularly strong—even if they were part of a Yonko’s crew.

But the Beasts Pirates weren’t made up of just small fry either.

“Tch... Even if he’s new, that Marine just treated one of our precious fighters like trash!!”

Nue leapt high into the air again, then gently floated backward and landed on something above. Seeing this, the Marines erupted in confusion.

“Wh-what the hell is that!?”

It looked like something protruding from the ship.

It had horns, stepped off the ship, wielded a massive kanabo club, and approached with thunderous thud thud footsteps.

“The Numbers are coming out!! Clear the way!!”

“Gyahaha!! Crush ‘em flat!! Let’s follow him!!”

The Beasts Pirates raised their voices and charged forward in step with the figure’s advance.

Indeed, that creature too was a member of the Beasts Pirates—a monstrous being with horns on its head.

Standing on its shoulder, Nue pointed toward the ground and gave an order.

“Smash ‘em to pieces like the trash they are—go, Hatcha!!”

“Nagigigi!!!”

“!!!”

At Nue’s command, the creature swung its kanabo down at the Marines.

It smashed a hole into the icy ground and flattened dozens of Marines in a single strike. The sheer impact left the others stunned.

“He’s huge...!! Is he a giant...!?”

“No, he’s even bigger!!”

“Ibi!!”

The monster, who couldn’t speak human language, had a body nearly 40 meters tall.

It rampaged with a kanabo sized to match that massive frame.

“If you do a good job smashing them, I’ll give you food and sake later, so do your best!!”

“Hachacha!!”

“There’s plenty of meat rolling around down there, so help yourself♪ All right, I’m counting on you!!”

“Hachaa～!!”

Beasts Pirates “Numbers” Hatcha

Riding on his shoulder, Nue spoke to Hatcha—one of the monster squad known as the Numbers. He charged toward the Marines once again.

Just having a creature larger than a giant run wild was already a nightmare. But its power matched its size, and its speed defied all expectations.

“We can’t just leave this to the Numbers...!!”

“Red-Haired and the Navy fleet... both are mouthwatering prey♡”

“Anyone who resists will get totally, absolutely, completely slaughtered!!”

“! Oh boy, here comes more trouble...”

But the advance didn’t stop there.

Kuzan froze enemies or pierced them with his Ice Saber as he furrowed his brow at the new group approaching. He recognized more than a few of the faces now.

After all, they were the Beasts Pirates officers—the Headliners.

“C’mon, c’mon, keep pushing forward!! Anyone who takes down someone with a name gets a shot at moving up—Headliners get a chance to challenge the Flying Six!! And if you’re Flying Six, maybe you’ll get to challenge a Lead Performer!!”

“! No way, seriously!?”

“That really lit a fire in me!!”

“As expected of Nue-san...!!”

“Guess we’ve got no choice now...!!”

Those words fired them up as they exited the ship. To the crew of the Beasts Pirates, a promotion was worth more than any treasure.

Enticed by the reward, even the Headliners began pushing aside the lower ranks to reach the front lines.

And it became immediately clear just how dangerous they were. After all—every last one of them was a Devil Fruit user.

“Boar Charge... Rampage!!!”

“!!?”

“A boar!?”

“Ishishishi!! Let’s see if you can stop this kind of power!!”

『Beast Pirates "Tobiroppo" Page One, Ancient Zoan Type: "Spinosaurus"』

Amidst the battle, roughly twenty of the Beast Pirates' top-tier combatants—the Tobiroppo—are engaged. And every single one of them—

"We ain’t leavin’ a single enemy standin’!!"

"Huh? ‘Not leavin’’?!"

"Lies!! Tonkatsu Combat… Slash-Slash Dance!!!"

"!!!"

『Beast Pirates "Tobiroppo" Ulti, Ancient Zoan Type: "Pachycephalosaurus"』

—are Zoan-type Devil Fruit users.

"Gonna catch ’em all… ♡ No one escapes my web… Spider Net!!"

『Beast Pirates "Tobiroppo" Black Maria, Spider-Spider Fruit, Model: "Tarantula"』

"Y’all so slow it’s makin’ me yawn!! Eagle Talon!!!"

『Beast Pirates "Tobiroppo" Who’s-Who, Ancient Zoan Type: "Saber-Toothed Tiger"』

"Anyone who gets in the way of avenging Queen gets blasted!! —Elephant Sneeze: Elephant Hackshoo!!!"

『Beast Pirates "Tobiroppo" Sasaki, Ancient Zoan Type: "Triceratops"』

Harnessing their animal traits, the Tobiroppo tear through the Marines, hunting for high-profile heads and glory. Their strength far surpasses that of ordinary soldiers—but the Marines, too, have those who exceed them.

"Guh-ah!!?"

"Don’t falter just ’cause they’re Devil Fruit users!! Gang up on ’em!!"

Vice Admirals—masters of Rokushiki and Haki, some even Fruit users themselves—stand toe-to-toe with the Tobi Roppo, unshaken. Among them, two monstrous Vice Admirals fight so fiercely they stifle the enemy’s momentum, despite the Tobi Roppo and Numbers joining the fray.

"Talk about overkill…"

"Gaaaah—!! My arm…!! Damn it…!!"

A Tobiroppo collapses, limbs frozen solid by the Chilly-Chilly Fruit, a Logia-type power. Others struggle against Vice Admirals, realizing too late the gap in strength. Yet it’s not just the Tobi Roppo seeking glory—

"—Kuzan!! Look out!!"

"!"

"—Die."

The moment the Marine shouts, a massive shadow looms behind Kuzan, lashing out with a whip-like trunk to send him flying. Kuzan evades with Observation Haki and fluid movement but takes minor damage—his attacker, a Haki user, strikes with lethal intent. The assailant, fittingly, is an ancient beast of the ice age: a mammoth.

"Beast Pirates’ Jack… A mad dog through and through, just like the rumors say—and still just a kid."

"Shut up. You die here…!!"

Kuzan narrows his eyes at the infamous, unhinged brute. A teenager with this much power is terrifying. And Jack isn’t the only ancient beast—the Tobi Roppo are all Ancient Zoan users.

"Wahaha! Rushing back here was the right call…!!"

"Can’t let Jack and Sasaki steal the spotlight. Avenging Queen’s dumb ass ain’t my style, but this? Now we’re talkin’…!!"

"…!! Ancient Zoans… What a pain…!!"

Three of the Tobi Roppo—Jack, Sasaki, and Who’s-Who—clash with Marine Vice Admirals, unleashing their powers. Ancient Zoans boast strength, endurance, and ferocity surpassing regular Zoans, making them the undisputed kings of close combat. Combined with Haki, they rival even the Logia’s title as the "strongest" Devil Fruits.

Meanwhile, others exploit the icy terrain to target the Red Hair Pirates.

"Fight!! P-Pe-tan~♡ Don’t lose, Pe-tan~♡ Fi—kyaa~! I slipped~!!"

"—Oi, quit foolin’ around and go somewhere else!! Don’t follow me!!"

"Who you callin’—!!?"

"Guh-uh!? Stop!! I can’t see sh—GYAAAAAH—!!?"

"! Kyaa~!!"

"Ulti-sama!? Page One-sama!? What in the—!?"

Two child prodigies—both Tobiroppo candidates—charge across the ice. Ulti, clinging to Page One’s back, covers his eyes mid-sprint, causing him to trip and faceplant into the ice, skidding helplessly. As their crew panics, Ulti hops off, trembling at her motionless brother.

"…Humans are so fragile, go~n."

"—Half of that’s YOUR fault!!"

"—Ah! You’re alive, Pe-tan! Now get u—WHO YOU CALLIN’—!!?"

"Guh-ah!? Sis, wait!! The enemy’s—!!"

Ulti, ever the tyrant, resumes tormenting Page One—until a distant click interrupts her. On the Red Hair Pirates’ ship, their sniper, Yasopp, exhales sharply after shooting Page One’s footing.

"Tch… That brat’s tough for a kid too…!! Damn pain in the ass fighting a damn kid as a combatant…! Seriously, what the hell’s up with Kaido and Nue not even getting a scratch from lead bullets…?!"

Reloading, he took aim again and fired with Haki. In essence, it was just that simple—but for the Red Hair Pirates, currently forced into a fighting retreat, this sniping tactic was brutally effective. Thanks to Yasopp’s superhuman marksmanship, they managed to pick off pursuing enemies and shoot down the UFOs chasing them while returning fire.

Of course, he was also targeting the massive and smaller floating objects in the sky—but those things were monsters.

"Ahaha!! If this were a shooting game, you’d lose—Guh!? …!! Pfft! Pfft! Ughhh, shooting bullets into my mouth while I’m talking is so lame!! Even I don’t eat lead, y’know?!"

"—Then just transform already. Ignore these piss-ant bullets."

"Ehhh~!! But that just makes me a bigger target, and this form’s way easier to move in! Plus, that form isn’t cute, and I’m not in the mood today!! —Oh, here they come again."

"…!! You caught it with your bare hands… This ain’t a damn game of catch…!!"

Neither Kaido nor Nue considered long-range Haki-infused bullets a threat—they could effortlessly catch every single one without bothering to dodge. At first, Yasopp had aimed for the head, but the bullets couldn’t pierce Kaido’s scalp. So this time, he’d fired into Nue’s mouth mid-sentence—only for her to spit it out in disgust. Still no penetration.

What the hell are their bodies made of?! He wanted to scream, but at least it was more effective than normal bullets, so he kept firing. This time, though, they seemed to predict it with Kenbunshoku, catching it mid-air.

"…!! Tch…!!"

"Aww, so close!! You dodged it!! Ughhh, avoiding my bullets is just mean!! Try catching one for once~!"

"Don’t lump me in with freaks who catch bullets with their bare hands…!!"

And then, to make it worse, she threw the bullet back at him, forcing Yasopp to dodge with Kenbunshoku. Nue cackled, delighted by his frustration.

"But damn, you’re good!! Makes me wanna recruit you~! I heard the Red Hair Pirates were stacked with high-bounty elites, but you guys really know how to put on a show!!"

"!"

Nue closed the distance again. A straight shot was dodged—against an opponent who could maneuver freely in midair, even Yasopp’s skills had limits.

But "hard" doesn’t mean "impossible." Deliberately, Yasopp shifted his aim away from Nue.

"Ahaha!! Can’t land a hit, so you’re going for the UFOs now? Fine by me! Shoot ‘em down all you want!! I can make as many as I—Ngh!?"

"—Couldn’t predict this one, huh?"

Suddenly, Nue was struck—not injured, but visibly irritated as the bullet bounced off her temple and ribs. Not from the front, but the side. She realized the truth instantly: the third shot. Yasopp had fired at a UFO, letting the bullet ricochet into her.

"…Ahahahaha!! Ricochet shots?! I thought you just missed ‘cause I’m too fast!!"

"Sorry to disappoint, but I—never miss my mark!!"

"! —Hell yeah!! Now it’s getting fun!!"

No wonder he was called "Chaser" Yasopp.

Faced with the skills of one of the New World’s greatest snipers, Nue’s excitement only grew. But she wasn’t the only monster here—Kaido ignored the bullets entirely, closing in on the Red Hair Pirates.

"Get obliterated…!!!"

"…!! That damn breath attack again!!"

"Captain!!"

Shanks leapt from the ship, gritting his teeth as his sword clashed against Kaido’s blast. Most would’ve been vaporized, but Shanks’ Haki and swordsmanship barely held it back.

"—Can’t fulfill our agreement if you keep hiding in the sky…"

"!!"

"—Hawk Eyes."

On the ground, at the edge of the frozen battlefield, Mihawk stood as the Red Hair Pirates’ rearguard. With a swing of his black blade Yoru, he unleashed a colossal slash aimed at Kaido and Nue.

Yet neither reacted—except for Nue glancing over and casually calling out.

"—That’s annoying too, so I’ll leave it to you~♡"

"—Understood."

"!"

"! That’s…!!"

"The slash was stopped?!"

The world’s strongest slash froze mid-air with a metallic clang. Kaido and Nue hadn’t moved—but someone had intervened. Marines and pirates alike saw it: a black silhouette, flames burning on its back, cutting in.

After blocking the slash, it dove toward Mihawk, delivering an overhead strike of monstrous force. The impact of their blades colliding shook the icy battlefield.

Even Mihawk recognized this figure. His hawk-like eyes narrowed as he muttered the name of the man before him.

"Beast Pirates’ right-hand… King the Wildfire."

"Hawk Eyes… I never called myself a swordsman. But since I do wield a blade—consider that ‘World’s Strongest’ title of yours retired. Tough luck."

"…A devastating style. I see—you earned your reputation."

Two legends of the New World, crossing blades for the first time. A dream matchup for any swordsman—yet King spoke down to the world’s strongest, and Mihawk acknowledged his might.

Ancient Zoan power, raw strength—King’s brutal slashes left no room for Mihawk to relax. In sheer force, the advantage was his.

"No good!! Can’t get close!!"

"Hawk Eyes vs. King!? Anyone near them’s dead meat!!"

"Tch… King, you bastard—stealing Hawk Eyes from me…!!"

Even the Beast Pirates kept their distance. King’s battles were deadly enough, but against Mihawk? Stray slashes meant certain death.

Yet none denied it: aside from Kaido and Ulti, only King could face Mihawk.

The sole exception? Who’s-Who, another swordsman, who clicked his tongue and glared at the duel with seething frustration.

"—Tick-tock~!! Time for punishment!!"

"Nue…!!"

With Mihawk occupied, Nue took to the skies, drawing wary stares from Marines and Red Hair Pirates alike.

"Murasame."

"!? What the—her spear just multiplied!?"

Marines gasped as the trident in Nue’s hand split into two. Gripping the second copy in her right hand, she wound up like a pitcher taking aim.

"First throw~~♪ Spear of—"

"…!!"

In that instant, Kuzan, Borsalino, and every Haki-sensitive Marine or pirate grimaced. They knew—this attack would be catastrophic. But it was too late to stop.

"——Gungnir!!!"

"!!!"

The spear tore through the air at laser-like speed.

A simple throw, yet packed with enough force and Haki to send shockwaves rippling outward—piercing a warship, skewering the sea, and splitting the ocean floor beneath.

"GYAAAAAAAAHHH—!!?"

"A warship… gone in one hit…!!"

The vessel shattered, then exploded. No mere girl could wield such power, but everyone knew: this was a monster wearing a girl’s skin.

And yet, the terror remained. Nue laughed as destruction rained, then summoned another spear with Murasame.

"C’mon, no need to fuss over this much~! Ahaha, here’s throw number two~!!"

"!!? Stop her!! NOW!!"

They’d just witnessed the devastation. Letting her spam those attacks meant annihilation.

"Ama no Murakumo."

"Whoopsie!!"

"! Admiral Borsalino!!"

Borsalino intervened, manifesting his light-blade to clash with Nue’s spear. Both fighters wielded Haki—but Nue’s skill outmatched his.

"Could you not pop warships like balloons…? Haaah… Paperwork’s gonna be a nightmare…"

"Just blame it on natural disasters? Relax~! I’m sure Sengoku’ll forgive you—it’s me, after all! So just sit back and enjoy the show!!"

"I’m sure he would… but I can’t just let you…!! Any chance you’ll back off? Makes our retreat easier…"

"Joke’s on you!! Pirates can’t show weakness. Get it? —You invaded our turf, hurt our crew. For pirates, ‘negotiation’ comes after… payback."

"Ghk—!! …!! Damn it all~~…!!"

A gash split Borsalino’s abdomen—blood spilled. Nue’s thrust had outpaced his evasion. Not fatal, but enough to slow him down.

"Bet you wonder: Will I kill you first, or will Kaido wipe out your fleet~~? Either way—entertain me as long as you can, ‘kay? ♡"

"…!!"

"Admiral Borsalino!!"

"Tch…!! Ice Ball!"

"!"

Seeing Borsalino struggle, Kuzan summoned an ice pillar, scaling it to strike at Nue—a technique meant to freeze her solid.

"Did she get frozen!?"

"Is it over…!?"

"…!! Look again!!"

Nue froze from the attack—but only for an instant.

Smiling inside the ice, she shattered it from within through sheer force and stepped out. Then she popped one of the broken shards into her mouth, crunched down on it, and grinned with delight.

"Mmm~♡ Torture by ice? Cold and tingly, but not bad~~~... Still, I’m not really into the whole ‘becoming a sculpture’ thing♡ Oh! But hey, want to try making a statue of me next time? One made of ice!! I’d love to put it somewhere around the Winter Island in our territory—how about it?"

"Don’t be stupid…!! I might consider it if you people back down!!"

"Too bad. That’s not happening!!"

“…!!”

Kuzan formed an ice spear and moved to strike Nue, but she swatted it away along with him using her own spear, slamming him back down into the frozen earth. Then Nue turned her gaze to a point on the ground and shouted.

"—HEY!! Clumsy Jack!!! Even if it’s Kuzan you’re up against, how do you let someone get away in a one-on-one fight!?! What the hell were you doing!? Are your eyes just for show!?!"

“…!! Sorry, Nue-san…!!"

Nue scolded Jack, who had supposedly been battling Kuzan on the ground. Even though Kuzan was considered a monster even among Vice Admirals, that wasn’t an excuse. There was no room for justifications.

Jack’s recklessness and earnestness were well-known even among the Beasts Pirates. The world saw him as a madman—which wasn’t exactly wrong—but that reputation stemmed from his nature.

He often charged headlong into fights regardless of how strong the opponent was, sometimes earning glory—and sometimes failure. That’s why his seniors often reprimanded him.

But then—it happened. Nue slightly shifted her body and looked toward the cause.

"Geez—what a popular girl I am♡ But isn’t it awful to shoot at a cute girl while she’s giving advice to her underlings… Ben Beckman~?"

"You’ve got some nerve… How old are you anyway? I heard you’ve looked like that for over forty years now…"

"That part’s a mystery~♪ But I am forever a cute fifteen-year-old girl at heart♡ —Still, shouldn’t you be paying attention to someone else right about now?"

"…!! Yeah… looks like I should be…!!"

Ben Beckman, first mate of the Red-Haired Pirates.

He had fired a bullet at Nue, but she dodged and exchanged words with him. Just as she said, Beckman realized this wasn’t the time to be focused on her.

Because of his presence—the strongest creature, now returned to his human form.

"—Kaido’s here~~~!!!"

"!!!"

Aboard the Red Force, the ship of the Red-Haired Pirates—

The figure landing on its deck was the most powerful and fearsome pirate sailing these seas.

"—Red-Hair…!!!"

"!!!?"

Even if that deck had been part of some island, the result would have been the same—once Kaido landed, destruction followed.

There was no escape at this point. Being at sea meant they needed a ship to flee—and even if they tried, Kaido could fly. He would chase them to the ends of the world.

"…Looks like we’ve got no choice…!!"

"—Don’t worry… it’ll be over in an instant!!!"

Kaido raised his kanabo.

Shanks raised his sword, coating it in Haki, and brought it crashing down to block the strike.

"!!!!"

"!!?"

At that moment, a black thunderclap-like shockwave surged from the deck, tearing through sea and sky, reverberating across the entire battlefield.

"Th-That’s…!!"

"! Just like the rumors said…"

"…Hmph. I figured… But barely managing to block Kaido’s blow, huh…?"

Everyone was stunned by the phenomenon—whether they knew what it was or not.

Kaido, too. But it wasn’t the fact that his attack was blocked that surprised him. After all, in terms of pure strength, Kaido still had the upper hand—Red-Hair was smashed down through the ship’s cabin.

But as Shanks stood up again, Kaido spat the words with visible irritation—naming the nature of his power.

"So you’ve got Conqueror’s Haki too…? Cheeky brat…!!!"

"Then try and crush me…!!! We’re not going down to you…!!!"

—And with those words, once again, two Conquerors clashed in the New World.