That dreadful memory.
It kept tormenting Kong again and again, to the point that he couldn't forget it even if he wanted to. Not even the Grand Line itself could erase it.
"Rampaging Bear's been completely overwhelmed by Klein! That guy Klein knows way too many things and hasn't even shown half of it yet!" Instructor Carter was dumbfounded.
He knew Klein better than Rampaging Bear did—he knew just how many tricks that kid had up his sleeve.
Right now, aside from basic Rokushiki, Klein had only used an advanced version of Demonic Flame Kick, the Divine Flame Kick, and that alone was enough to suppress an Admiral.
Wasn't that a bit too monstrous!?
Carter muttered, "That Rampaging Bear guy, always bragging every damn day about how strong his muscles are… but when it matters? Nothing. Turns out…"
"The only thing hard about him is his damn mouth!"
Kong's body suddenly jolted beside him, pupils blank. 'D-Damn it… those memories… again!'
Swordsmanship.
Fist techniques.
Yes—
That guy also had a Devil Fruit ability!
Klein hadn't even used it yet. How much effort had he actually put into the fight?
Was he even human?
Oharden stroked his white beard with a smile, secretly pleased. 'Lincoln must have listened to my advice and went easy on purpose… but still, he's hamming it up a bit too much.'
"Well, as long as the result's what we wanted."
A few days ago, he'd warned Rampaging Bear in advance: Klein is still young, and it's rare for someone to apply for an Admiral position.
Just ease up a little.
Let Klein pass smoothly and become a Marine Admiral.
—
On the Titanic.
"Wooooahhh!!" Kaido stood excitedly on deck, punching and kicking the air. "That's what I'm talkin' about! That's my oyaji, always amazing!!"
His eyes sparkled with admiration, practically turning into gold stars.
Beside him stood Gloriosa and Shakky, both wrapped tightly in thick coats, even wearing masks.
"Whew—" Shakky exhaled calmly. "Smoking with a mask on is really inconvenient… but Klein-sama doesn't want us stirring up trouble with the Marines."
Can't be helped. Their charm was just too dangerous. If they took even one lap around Crescent Bay…
The entire Crescent Bay defense system would crash.
It'd be more dramatic than the old-world phrase: "Flowers bloom at every sight, tires burst at every glance."
Their beauty caused more damage than their actual power—by tenfold, a hundredfold.
Next to her, Gloriosa looked like she'd gone deaf. Her beautiful eyes, hidden under the mask, had turned into hearts. She was cradling her flushed cheeks with both hands. "Ahhh… Klein-sama's fighting posture is just… so dreamy!!!"
"If only I were Klein-sama's opponent—!"
She looked exactly like a crazed fangirl swooning over her idol.
Meanwhile, Os was chatting with Whitebeard Newgate. "Newgate, I'm so jealous—!"
"How come Mr. Klein just eats, drinks, and has fun every day, yet his strength doesn't decrease—it keeps going up! He's getting even stronger!"
He just didn't get it!
But it wasn't just him—no one could understand it. Their brains simply didn't contain the concept of "cheat codes."
Os was practically green with envy. He himself had trained harder than ever for three years, and made not-insignificant progress.
Sure, compared to the monsters around him, he still wasn't much, but on the open sea…
He was at least above cannon fodder from the Marineford War—one of those minor characters who gets a shot or two in, but nothing too fancy.
Kinda depressing to admit, but Newgate just shook his head. "Big brother Klein… someone who gets stronger without trying. In this entire ocean, only he could pull that off."
Was there some sort of brain-based training!?
Simulated combat in his mind? That just sounded way too absurd.
No explanation really fit.
So they all chalked it up to "talent."
No use being jealous.
"Ahh—Mr. Klein's life and talent, they're a dream most people can never even hope to reach." Even Os's tone was tinged with sourness.
Like a walking lemon—so acidic it could seep through the phone screen.
—
On the island.
Klein stood at the edge of a massive fissure, peering down into the dark abyss below. "That's it?"
"Lincoln, I barely even threw a punch. Why're you already down?"
"WAHAHAHA—" A laugh echoed from the depths. "Marry my daughters! All four of them!"
Pfft pfft pfft—
Rampaging Bear rose from the abyss using Moonwalk, landing across from Klein. The two locked eyes across the chasm.
From Rampaging Bear's burning gaze, Klein saw the same look he had when he once told Kaido and Loki, "Be my sons."
Damn it!
His mind instantly flashed back to the Marine Four Flowers during bootcamp.
The imagery was too cursed to bear.
"I refuse!" Klein's expression darkened as he raised his fist. "You've succeeded… in pissing me off!!"
"I've decided—I'm gonna turn that bear head into a pig head!"
Fwoosh—
Red sparks flickered in his eyes. Klein vanished and reappeared before Rampaging Bear in a flash, his fist gleaming with light brighter than the sun.
At the same time, sizzling energy crackled along his arm—black and red lightning burst forth.
"Fistbone: Impact!!"
Admiral Rampaging Bear's face turned deadly serious. His muscles bulged along his arms.
"Violent Muscle-King Impact!"
BOOM—
Before fists even met, two monstrous shockwaves collided in the air.
Blinding light engulfed everything. The surroundings crumbled under the backlash—dust to dust, dirt to dirt.
Everything scattered like sand in the wind.
The two shockwaves clashed like rabid beasts, fighting for dominance.
It was visible to the naked eye—Klein held the upper hand. His wave surged forward, suppressing and devouring the other, aiming straight for Rampaging Bear.
"Is… is that Advanced Armament!?" Rampaging Bear's eyes widened in horror, shouting uncontrollably. "When the hell did you learn that!?"
"Tch—" Klein smirked. "Lincoln, I'm the greatest Marine prodigy in history. Advanced Armament? Isn't it just… using your hands?"
"Is it really that hard?"
"If you wanna learn, I can teach you. But I don't think you've got Conqueror's Haki, soooo… yeah, that's a problem."
Damn it!
This guy's so full of himself!
Would it kill him not to flex!?
Actually… for a transmigrator like Klein, he still wasn't totally used to all this blood-pumping action stuff.
What he loved most—
Was showing off. What transmigrator wasn't a showoff?
Fighting with people watching? Perfect for scratching that vanity itch!
After all, the things people pursue in life are really just a handful—and each person ranks them differently.
Rampaging Bear's face turned dark as he raged inside: "Difficult" doesn't even cover it!
"There's barely anyone on this sea who can use Advanced Armament! This kid's words are so damn irritating!!"
But in the next moment—
Klein's shockwave swallowed him whole.
Everyone watching from the dozen Marine warships in the distance stood there, jaws dropped.
"Advanced Armament… I can't even imagine using that…" Instructor Carter looked blankly at the scene. "This stuff's way too high-level… Damn, Klein just keeps being badass."