Whitebeard had seen countless heaven-defying powerhouses in his life, yet none could compare to the man standing before him—Kronos.
Whether it was talent, strategy, or sheer will, Kronos was far beyond ordinary men.
Whitebeard's heart was torn with complicated emotions.
On one hand, he hated Kronos with every fiber of his being, wishing nothing more than to crush him here and now.
On the other hand, he could not help but admire him. Deep down, Whitebeard knew that sooner or later, Kronos would surpass not only himself, but even the legendary achievements of his old rival, Gol D. Roger.
For a fleeting moment, Whitebeard felt the weight of age upon him. Perhaps it was time to leave this sea, just as Rocks and other great pirate overlords had before him.
But then he thought of his sons—his beloved crew—still fighting and depending on him.
That fleeting thought of retreat vanished instantly, replaced by the same fiery resolve that had carried him through decades of war.
He could not lose.
He must never lose.
Not only for his sons, but for the title he bore—the strongest man in the world!
"AHHH!"
"Don't underestimate me, boy!"
Whitebeard roared, gritting his teeth as he unleashed a violent slash with all his might, the bisento cleaving down like a hurricane!
Boom!
At the very last moment, Kronos raised his palm. With terrifying Armament Haki combined with monstrous strength, he blocked Whitebeard's all-out strike.
"How dangerous, Whitebeard!" Kronos laughed.
"If I hadn't reacted just now, I might have really lost my head to that strike."
Whitebeard snorted coldly. He didn't believe a word.
"Don't take me for a fool. Even if you hadn't blocked it, you would've found another way to escape.
Stop bluffing and spouting useless words.
I won't let my guard down. From start to finish, I'll fight with everything I have!"
Kronos only smiled, utterly calm.
"Oh? Then I look forward to your performance."
Meanwhile, the situation for the Whitebeard Pirates was deteriorating rapidly. Their condition was nothing short of desperate.
Though the Kamui Pirates had only sent five subordinates into battle against Whitebeard's twenty-thousand-strong fleet, the difference in numbers meant nothing.
Had it been any ordinary crew, the Whitebeard Pirates would have crushed them easily. But these five… were monsters. Each one an indomitable existence.
Against them, the Whitebeard Pirates looked like rookies.
Foremost among them was Uchiha Madara—too fierce, too strong, an overwhelming force of nature.
The first to fall was Vista, who had already been defeated earlier. He was carried to the rear for treatment, but even if his condition stabilized, he would need at least half a month to recover.
And even then, it was uncertain whether he would fully heal.
For the strike he suffered from Tsugikuni Yoriichi, wielder of the Sun Breathing style, still burned within his body. Like a lingering curse, that flame gnawed at his flesh, preventing the wound from closing.
The second captain to fall soon followed—none other than Diamond Jozu.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can visit my Patreon page:
Patreon.com/PhoeniXcel
There are 60+ advanced chapters available for you to read.
Your support would be greatly appreciated.