Ares firmly believed that if he could master the Rokushiki techniques Zephyr had displayed, expanding his own arsenal of combat skills and techniques, he would undoubtedly grow even stronger.
He lowered his gaze, staring at his own claws. Those sharp, deadly talons if combined with Zephyr's techniques would surely unleash terrifying power.
His excitement surged, and his blood pumped even faster through his veins.
With wisps of steam rising from his muscular arms, standing atop the blazing cloud, bathed in golden sunlight he truly looked like a golden-armored war god descending from the heavens.
The originally blue dragon scales glistened under the combined brilliance of fire and sunlight, reflecting a dazzling light.
Zephyr burst from the ocean surface, stepping swiftly through the sky with Moonwalk, pushing his speed and strength to the limit as he reappeared in front of Ares.
But the moment he laid eyes on Ares' chest, his face shifted in shock.
"What terrifying recovery speed…"
Blood still trailed from Ares' chest, yet the wound had nearly fully healed the new flesh regenerating at an astonishing rate.
Zephyr had no time to be distracted.
A burst of scorching wind howled as Ares' crimson dragon tail swept toward him with overwhelming force.
Ares' eyes glimmered with battle-hardened excitement not only was he utterly exhilarated, but he was also desperately trying to force Zephyr to unleash more combat techniques.
He was actively absorbing Zephyr's mastery over Armament Haki.
At this moment, his entire being was consumed by one thought: Battle!
Like a madman drunk on war, he unleashed his wild, barbaric, domineering aura with reckless abandon a true battle maniac.
In the sky.
The battle between Zephyr and Ares raged, and nearby, Garp and Gold Lion were locked in their own fierce clash.
The deafening booms from their exchanges rattled the eardrums of every pirate on the ship. Shockwaves and air blasts swept across the deck, sending pirates tumbling like ragdolls.
Even the massive pirate ship rocked violently with the crashing waves.
"Ares… is pretty damn impressive! He actually managed to gain the upper hand, even if just a little, against Zephyr, the Marine Vice Admiral in training," Silver Axe praised, clutching the ship's railing.
That's the famed Black Arm Zephyr.
And yet, Ares who had joined the Rocks Pirates just over a month ago could already fight such a powerhouse and hold his own.
A monster, no doubt.
What surprised Silver Axe even more was that Ares wasn't just holding on he was actually landing blows.
But Wang Zhi was far less optimistic.
"Don't get too carried away. A Marine Vice Admiral isn't as easy to deal with as you think," he said grimly. "Black Arm Zephyr's reputation wasn't built on empty words."
His gaze remained intensely fixed on the battle between Ares and Zephyr.
He wasn't worried about Gold Lion he knew exactly how terrifying that man was.
All his concern was focused on Ares.
"Come on, Ares… you've got this!!"
"Defeat Zephyr! Show the world the might of Blood-Hand Ares!!"
Seventeen-year-old Kaido shouted unabashedly, cheering wildly for Ares, waving his arms with pride as if sharing in the glory.
His excitement infected the entire crew.
One by one, the pirates on deck joined in the thunderous cheers, their eyes filled with awe and reverence for Ares as they witnessed the earth-shaking battle in the sky.
In the sky.
The winds were a swirling mess.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each collision of fists and feet exploded like thunder.
The relentless, brutal exchanges only fueled Ares, pushing him to fight more fiercely and pour out his boundless power without reservation.
The trembling of his muscles, the searing pain of impacts, the bone-deep shocks all of it filled him with an exhilarating sense of satisfaction.
His momentum only surged higher and higher, leaving Zephyr increasingly alarmed.
"Why… why is he getting stronger as the fight goes on?!"
Zephyr was genuinely stunned this kid was getting more ferocious with every passing second!
Boom! Boom!
Punch after punch, kick after kick.
Zephyr's face grew increasingly tense. "Something's not right…"
"Is this guy… learning my techniques mid-battle?!!"
He was beginning to see flashes of himself in Ares' movements no, not just himself, but even glimpses of Garp's style!
The thought alone shook Zephyr to his core.
He could feel Ares' power and skill subtly evolving with every collision, every exchange.
And once this terrifying idea took root in Zephyr's mind, he could no longer ignore it. He began to observe Ares' movements even more closely.
"What kind of monster is this…"
"Rapid regeneration, terrifying learning ability, overwhelming strength and ferocity…"
Zephyr was at a loss for words.
When he was Ares' age, he was just a Marine recruit.
And yet here was this monstrous figure getting stronger the longer they fought.
Every time Zephyr landed a hit, the wounds healed right before his eyes.
Ares roared with joy, consumed by battle like a beast gone berserk. "Come on!!!"
"Show me your strongest moves!!"
"I'll take them all head-on!!"
His taut muscles and surging blood pumped endlessly into his limbs and dragon tail as he unleashed a ferocious barrage.
His explosive power was overwhelming.
His boiling blood made him more exhilarated than ever.
For a moment, it genuinely looked like he was overpowering Marine Vice Admiral Zephyr.
But the ever-composed Zephyr wasn't rattled by Ares' provocations. His defense remained airtight, and he continued to exploit every opening, however brief.
Drop by drop, blood rained down from the sky into the sea below, but the sheer aura of the battle was so intense that no fish dared approach, despite the scent of blood.
Even Garp, while fighting Gold Lion, caught a glimpse of Ares and Zephyr's fight out of the corner of his eye.
His heart skipped a beat.
"That kid… he's grown this much in just a month?"
One month might be insignificant to someone with decades of experience.
But in that single month.
The pirate he once toyed with could now go toe-to-toe with his friend Zephyr, who couldn't even finish him quickly.
His growth was so rapid it made Garp feel inferior.
Gold Lion noticed Garp's subtle change in expression and sneered coldly.
"Surprised, huh?!"
"Ares is destined to become someone who will change the era. Everyone across the sea will be shocked by him!"
Gold Lion firmly believed Ares would make this world a far more thrilling place.
He would shake the very foundations of this sea.
Swish! Swish!
"Slash Wave, Thousand Cutting Valley!!"
The instant the words fell, Gold Lion's dual swords, Oto and Kogarashi, unleashed over a dozen golden sword waves, filling the sky with brilliant arcs like falling gold.
"Fist Bone, Meteor Shower!!"
Garp's black fists pounded forward.
Simple. Direct.
He wielded raw, unfiltered power to the extreme a pure, overwhelming force.
The fierce golden sword lights were smashed apart one by one by Garp's brute force punches.
Garp grinned. "Come on, Gold Lion, show me your real power!!"
"Those slashes? They're not even enough to get me warmed up!"
His taunting tone made Gold Lion's face twist in anger.
But he smiled coldly, his words slow and deliberate:
"Lion's Might, Sea Torrent!!!"
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