"The Marine from Sabaody? That little brat?" Whitebeard frowned, searching his memory before the name clicked.
The youngest Vice Admiral in Navy history. The one who wiped out every pirate on Sabaody Archipelago.
Impressive feats—at least to most people.
But to Whitebeard, Kai was just another upstart Marine with a bit of talent. Unless he could fight on par with an Admiral or better, there was no reason to take him seriously.
"Gurararara… I'm Whitebeard! You want to challenge me?! Then bring it on!"
Whitebeard's laughter thundered across the deck. Decades ruling the sea—never once had he feared a challenger. Never once had he tasted defeat.
"Hmph! He wants to challenge Pops? He's not even close!" Marco snapped, bristling with indignation. To the crew, Whitebeard was a living god—no way would they let just anyone walk up and throw down a challenge.
Marco made up his mind. If this Kai Mitarashi really showed up, he'd make sure the guy learned a lesson he wouldn't forget.
"Vice Admiral, we're about to enter Whitebeard's territory!" Johnson reported, voice tight with nerves. After all, this was Whitebeard—the very definition of invincible.
Just thinking about facing a pirate of that caliber made Johnson shiver.
Kai noticed and gave a wry smile. "Relax, it's just Whitebeard… Times are changing. Whitebeard's already been left behind by this era."
"I—I understand, Vice Admiral!" Johnson replied, though the fear lingered in his voice.
Kai didn't bother explaining further. Once he took down Whitebeard, Johnson would get it.
"Captain Marco! Marine warship spotted ten nautical miles ahead!" a lean lookout shouted from the crow's nest of the Moby Dick.
"So he's here? Hmph, if he thinks he can challenge Pops, let's see if he's even worthy!" Marco's body erupted in blue flames as he shot into the sky, streaking toward Kai's warship.
Zoan-type, Mythical Beast fruit.
The Phoenix Fruit.
Devil Fruits came in three types: Logia, Zoan, and Paramecia. Logias were rare, but Mythical Zoans were even rarer.
The Phoenix Fruit didn't just let Marco fly—he was the embodiment of immortality. As a Phoenix user, he could turn any attack into blue flames and absorb the damage. Even Kizaru's strongest move, the Yasakani Sacred Jewel, couldn't break through.
As the First Division Commander, Marco's strength was second only to Whitebeard himself.
Admiral-level, no question.
Kai's Kagura Mind's Eye and Observation Haki were already active, tracking Marco's approach with perfect clarity.
"If you'd awakened your Devil Fruit, maybe you'd give me a little trouble. But right now, you're just wasting the Phoenix Fruit, Marco!"
In a flash, Marco was right in front of Kai. His wings, blazing with blue fire, slammed down like twin guillotines.
Kai's face was calm. He raised his right arm and clenched his fist.
Armament Haki: Giant Fist!
Black, hardened Haki surged from Kai's arm, forming a massive fist that crashed into Marco's attack.
Kai hadn't reached the third level—he couldn't project Haki outside his body yet—but after years of training, his Armament Haki was at the peak of the second level.
And if you compared raw power, Kai could outclass Rayleigh at the same level. That was the difference in pure physical energy.
Kai was sure: In terms of destructive force alone, his Haki wasn't inferior to third-level masters.
The Giant Fist smashed into Marco, sending him flying.
"Marco!!"
A panicked shout rang out as a huge, diamond-skinned man leapt high and caught Marco mid-air.
Jozu.
Third Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Known as "Diamond Jozu," a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user.
He could instantly transform his entire body into diamond, blocking any physical attack. In the manga, Jozu could even withstand Mihawk's mountain-splitting slash. His strength was monstrous—he could toss boulders and ice blocks bigger than giants.
Jozu landed solidly on a fast-approaching warship. The Whitebeard Pirates weren't just the Moby Dick—they were a fleet, more than twenty ships strong.
"Marco, you alright?" asked a burly man with a top hat, curly mustache, and rippling muscles, gripping two slender katanas.
Flower Sword Vista.
Fifth Division Commander.
A two-sword style master, absolutely at the level of a Great Swordsman. He'd been sailing with Whitebeard for twenty years. When he fought, flower petals drifted through the air.
Marco didn't answer right away. Blue flames flared around him, then slowly faded.
"Pff…"
He spat out a mouthful of blood, face grim. "That Haki is fierce! Even with the Phoenix Fruit, I couldn't neutralize it all! His Armament Haki is easily on par with Pops!"
Jozu and Vista both sucked in a breath, eyes wide.
They stared at Kai—a Marine who looked barely twenty, yet packed this kind of power?
Kai caught their gaze, gave a faint smile, and said, "Don't waste time… You three—come at me together."
His voice dripped with confidence and a hint of disdain for Marco, Jozu, and Vista.
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