Over the years, one name has consistently dominated the headlines—not once or twice, but time and time again.
It was no exaggeration to say that seeing Caesar on the front page of the newspaper had become routine.
Battles that shook the world—clashes with Vice Admiral Garp and Fleet Admiral Sengoku that lasted for ten days and ten nights, duels with Golden Lion Shiki, and the conquest of an entire kingdom—these were events that the world could not ignore.
For those who followed the news, there was never a shortage of reports about Caesar.
In the past, many knew of his strength, but the true depth of his power remained unclear.
But now, after all these years, what shocked everyone the most was not just his overwhelming might—it was his youth. He remained as vigorous and untamed as ever, and his strength had grown to rival even that of Gol D. Roger.
At this moment, a realization struck them all.
There is no empty reputation under true power.
The exaggerated stories written by various reporters were not mere sensationalism.
Caesar had truly earned his infamy.
His bounty, his title as the Heavenly King, and his legendary feats—all were a testament to his unmatched power.
Yet, deep inside, Caesar was feeling something else entirely.
He knew well that Roger was already afflicted with an illness, a fact Roger himself might not fully acknowledge—or perhaps he simply didn't care.
But even in this weakened state, Roger's strength was terrifying.
Caesar had never fought him before, but he had witnessed Roger's battle with Rocks D. Xebec firsthand.
What shocked him now was that Roger's physical endurance and Haki were just as powerful as his own.
Looking at the entirety of the New World, only Roger could truly stand on equal footing with him.
Not even Whitebeard or Golden Lion Shiki could match this level of power—let alone Charlotte Linlin or Kaido.
By all logic, Caesar should have the greater ambition. His ambitions should be larger, his will even stronger.
Yet, after this battle, he realized something—Roger's resolve was not inferior to his in the slightest.
But what puzzled Caesar was the distinct lack of ambition in Roger.
From their days aboard Rocks' ship, to the present moment, Roger had never displayed a desire for conquest.
Caesar had to admit—Roger truly deserved to be the man who would become the first Pirate King.
Their battle raged on for three full days and nights, a spectacle so grand that news of it spread across the world like wildfire.
The World Government, the Marines, and the pirate world all took immediate notice.
After all, these were two of the most powerful men in history—any action from them was of immense significance.
Of course, the reactions from the three factions were vastly different.
For the World Government and the Marines, the ideal outcome was for Roger and Caesar to kill each other.
But that was never going to happen.
For men like them, this was not a battle of life and death—it was a clash of spirits, an exchange of will, a celebration of strength.
Meanwhile, in the Central Kingdom, the Caesar Pirates were thrown into an uproar when they heard of their captain's battle with Roger.
Fearing a possible ambush, a group of his men gathered and, with the help of Issho's gravity powers, rushed toward the battlefield.
But when they arrived, they realized something—this was not a war.
It was a fight between two titans who lived for battle.
So instead, they simply watched.
The Battle at Sea
Roger and Caesar fought without pause, their laughter echoing across the ocean.
Even after ten straight hours, neither showed signs of exhaustion.
Each strike unleashed waves of Conqueror's Haki, sending red and black lightning crackling through the sky.
Fish in the sea fainted in droves, floating lifelessly to the surface, before being blown away by the sheer shockwaves of their attacks.
Each time Caesar's Basword, a blade refined into a Supreme Grade Sword, clashed against Roger's Supreme Grade Saber, Ace, the resulting explosion of Haki sent shockwaves rippling through the sky.
"It's the first time I've seen Captain Caesar this excited!"
"Yeah! Look at his expression—he's not even fighting seriously!"
"Boss is using way too much power—the sea is trembling!"
Floating in midair on a chunk of debris, Brad—one of Caesar's men—stared wide-eyed in shock.
They had never seen Caesar fight like this before.
Even against Garp and Sengoku, Caesar had never shown this much excitement.
It was clear—he respected Roger as a true rival.
And, of course, the Roger Pirates were just as stunned.
"That bastard Caesar… where did he get this kind of power?! He's on equal footing with the captain!"
"It looks like the Marines weren't lying—his bounty is well deserved!"
Standing among the crew, Silvers Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, his expression unreadable.
He had followed Caesar's exploits through the newspapers, watching the rise of the so-called Heavenly King.
From a purely human perspective, Rayleigh did not dislike Caesar.
But at this moment, all he could think about was one thing—he hoped Roger would win.
A Battle to Remember
For three full days and nights, neither Caesar nor Roger faltered.
And yet, neither had truly gone all out.
For warriors of their level, a battle lasting ten days or more was nothing unusual.
After this fight, both men had learned something about each other.
Roger could feel it—Caesar's ambition was monstrous.
Even back in the God Valley Incident, Roger had sensed something different about him.
But back then, Caesar was still young, not yet at his full potential.
Now, for the first time, Roger fully understood just how terrifying Caesar had become.
Though his ambition mirrored that of Rocks and Shiki, there was something… different about him.
Perhaps that difference was the reason the Central Kingdom had become what it was today.
Thinking of this, Roger became curious.
He had only heard about the Central Kingdom from newspapers and rumors.
Now, after fighting Caesar firsthand, he wanted to see it for himself.
The battle had reached its conclusion.
Both stood, facing each other, expressions filled with respect.
Caesar, seeing the curiosity in Roger's eyes, smirked.
"Hey, Roger—why don't you see my country for yourself?"
"You said it yourself—you were curious about a country ruled by pirates, weren't you?"
Roger grinned, his black beard bouncing as he laughed.
"Hahahaha! Alright, I was planning on going there anyway!"
For all the rumors, Roger wanted to see the Central Kingdom with his own eyes.
Because, after all…
A pirate-ruled nation that thrived was unheard of.
And if Caesar had truly built such a place, then Roger needed to know how.
The Pirate King was looking forward to it.
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