The powerful tremor force clearly withstood the power of the Hakai.
However, it was also evident that the Hakai offensive was stronger, continuously disintegrating the tremor power.
But there was a key difference: Newgate's strength was not yet exhausted, whereas the Hakai was already a launched attack.
Therefore, it quickly became apparent that Newgate's arms began to compress inward, and the tremor force seemed to want to envelop the Hakai.
But how could Charlotte Linlin and Kaido give Newgate such an opportunity?
Everything is a double-edged sword. Newgate's strength wasn't spent, so he could continuously control the tremor force to counter the Hakai.
But Charlotte Linlin and Kaido, while unable to add pressure to the Hakai, had their hands free!
They were completely ready to launch the next round of attacks!
Thus, while Newgate suppressed the Hakai, Kaido, gripping his kanabo, and Charlotte Linlin, holding the Cognac, charged toward Newgate from the left and right.
But in that instant, a flash of blue flame streaked across, blocking Kaido with extreme speed and delivering a kick.
It was Marco!
On the other side, another figure swiftly rushed in.
This figure looked somewhat large and sloppy, holding a random machete he seemed to have picked up somewhere. He coated it with Haki and blocked Charlotte Linlin.
Both figures seemed to be trying to buy Newgate some time.
But it was useless. Kaido's momentum was overwhelming as he slammed his kanabo: "Thunder Bagua!!!"
Marco, being a Mythical Zoan, was actually very strong, but he simply hadn't reached the peak, or perhaps not yet. Moreover, when facing Kaido, he was hit by the power of the weapon.
He was instantly smashed away by Kaido's club.
His entire upper body was shattered. If not for his Phoenix ability, he would have truly died on the spot.
On the other side, Charlotte Linlin roared: " Haha no Hi!!!"
The blade of the Cognac ignited with a searing flame and fiercely struck the large machete in the sloppy figure's hand.
Then, surprise flashed in Charlotte Linlin's eyes, as she could feel that this strike had been partially blocked.
This was genuinely surprising, as Charlotte Linlin didn't even recognize the person in front of her, thinking he was some fodder. Yet, this guy actually blocked some of her attack?
That's right, the person blocking Charlotte Linlin at this moment was the cunning Teach.
In fact, he hadn't used his full strength yet.
In the original story, Shanks was injured by Teach in the conflict between the Yonko, receiving the scars across his eyes. In that period, Shanks already possessed the strength to contend for the Yonko position.
Comparing him to Teach, this guy might not have been as strong as Shanks in raw power at that time.
But a pre-Devil Fruit Teach certainly couldn't be treated as a weakling. He was at least on Marco's level, or perhaps even stronger.
After consuming the Dark-Dark Fruit and also mastering the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, he basically reached the level of a major boss. Although he hadn't truly fought after that, only crushing the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates, his specific strength is hard to say, but he deserves an Emperor's throne.
Teach could have held on for a while longer, but he didn't want to expose too much of his strength here. He jumped out merely to show loyalty to his old man. He also believed that his old man certainly wouldn't be defeated so quickly.
So, after briefly blocking Charlotte Linlin, Teach immediately spat out a mouthful of blood, feigning that he couldn't withstand it. The ground beneath his feet loosened, and he was instantly sent flying by Charlotte Linlin's slash.
After blasting Teach away, Charlotte Linlin was still a bit confused. She felt something was wrong, but she couldn't pinpoint what.
However, there was no time to dwell on it. After taking down Teach and Marco, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin rushed toward Newgate from the left and right again.
But a smile appeared at the corner of Newgate's mouth.
The moment Kaido and Charlotte Linlin leaped into the air, Newgate roared, and the tremor force in his hands instantly dissipated. Only a small portion became even more solidified, blocking in front of him.
Then, both Charlotte Linlin and Kaido were momentarily stunned. The next second, the Hakai, which Newgate had been forcibly suppressing with his tremor force, exploded on the spot!
Kaido, Charlotte Linlin, and Newgate were instantly flung in three different directions by the powerful shockwave.
The entire island shuddered violently.
A moment later, the three dishevelled figures stood up again and began fiercely brawling once more.
…
Meanwhile, on Smoker's ship, Diarmuid was using a Den Den Mushi to get updates on the front line.
"Newgate is still fighting? And even has the upper hand?" Diarmuid asked the voice on the Den Den Mushi with a hint of surprise.
He already knew that the old man Whitebeard had been stabbed in the chest by Charlotte Linlin when she seized an opportunity. It sounded like a very serious injury.
At the time, Diarmuid's mood had become heavy. With Whitebeard severely wounded, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin teaming up genuinely had a chance to kill him.
Yet, a moment later, he heard that Whitebeard was curb-stomping both Kaido and Charlotte Linlin.
This left him extremely surprised, baffled, and felt ridiculous!
"It's true, Admiral. Although it's too far to hear much, I faintly heard Charlotte Linlin and Kaido saying that Pops... ahem... Whitebeard's ability has Awakened. So even in a two-on-one fight and despite being severely wounded, Whitebeard is still suppressing Kaido and Charlotte Linlin!" Rob Lucci quickly reported from the other end of the line.
He was currently hiding on Jam Island. He couldn't see clearly, as he didn't dare get too close for fear of being caught in the residual shockwaves. However, thanks to his Leopard ability, his hearing was excellent, and he could faintly hear things from this distance.
Diarmuid was even more astonished now.
"Impossible!" Diarmuid stated without hesitation.
As a Paramecia user, and a member of the Rule-Type like Newgate, he naturally knew how difficult, even impossible, it was for their Rule-Type Paramecia abilities to Awaken.
Take himself, Diarmuid, for instance. What would happen if his Gravity-Gravity Fruit truly Awakened? He might be able to control all matter in the universe, perhaps even push planets. That wouldn't just be a Paramecia user; that would be a literal superman.
This was clearly impossible to achieve.
He had tried to develop the so-called power of Awakening but found no sign of it. From the perspective of normal world knowledge, if the Gravity-Gravity Fruit Awakened, it would definitely break the limits of this world. Therefore, theoretically, it was impossible to Awaken. Devil Fruits are products of this world; how could they break the world's limits?
Similarly, Diarmuid had studied many books and academic theories on Devil Fruits because of this. He knew that in terms of fundamental rules, the Tremor-Tremor Fruit was less powerful than the Gravity-Gravity Fruit.
But undoubtedly, the Tremor-Tremor Fruit was also a Rule-Type ability.
In other words, if Newgate had genuinely mastered the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit from the deepest, most fundamental level and achieved the so-called Awakening, he could literally shatter the planet. That would truly be the power to destroy the world. So, how could it Awaken?
Unless there was another possibility: Diarmuid was fundamentally looking in the wrong direction. The Awakening of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit or the Gravity-Gravity Fruit might not be so catastrophic, or there might be another choice...
But this possibility was slim.
In short, Diarmuid completely disbelieved that Newgate's Tremor-Tremor Fruit power had Awakened.
But if he didn't believe it, how could he explain Newgate suppressing Charlotte Linlin and Kaido despite suffering a severe stab wound?
"It's true!" Lucci said helplessly.
Diarmuid's expression was volatile. The Strongest Man in the World, Awoken the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. Did this make any sense?
In reality, the current situation could only be blamed on Lucci's limited perspective.
If Diarmuid were on the scene, he would definitely be able to tell that although Newgate had the upper hand, it was only temporary; he was pushing himself to the limit.
Conversely, while Charlotte Linlin and Kaido were on the defensive, the real advantage was actually in their hands.
Newgate only held a tactical advantage. By relying on his momentum and 'fake Awakening,' he temporarily fooled Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, scaring them into holding back and always saving some reserve power to deal with the supposed 'Awakening.'
But given enough time, the flaw would inevitably be exposed.
Conversely, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin could engage Newgate in a battle of attrition, gradually figuring out what this 'Awakening' power was, and simultaneously relying on their superior physical stamina to drain Newgate's energy.
That's right. From the start, as long as Newgate didn't instantly crush Charlotte Linlin and Kaido, given his severe injury, the two could slowly grind Newgate down.
Their combined strength held the overall advantage.
Lucci, limited by his vision and strength, couldn't see the true substance of the fight. He could only see that Whitebeard appeared to be dominating Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, seeming powerful and magnificent.
Yet, Whitebeard hadn't inflicted any severe injuries on them, while he himself had been severely wounded at the outset.
"Continue to observe. Report any developments to me immediately," Diarmuid commanded, then hung up the Den Den Mushi.
For the past two years, Diarmuid had always been very confident in himself. He felt that even if he challenged Whitebeard, the Strongest Man, head-on, he would have at least a five-out-of-ten, or even higher, chance of victory.
Truthfully, if he were a pirate, he would have long since gone to claim that title of 'Strongest.'
But he was a Marine Admiral, and he had to cooperate with the Navy's overall strategy, so he hadn't moved against Whitebeard. In line with the Navy's general theme, he had also been very low-profile over the past few years, rarely taking action.
However, in Diarmuid's heart, he no longer considered himself to be on the same level as Kaido and Charlotte Linlin. He felt he was stronger, perhaps even the strongest.
Yet today, he suddenly received news that Newgate's Devil Fruit ability had Awakened, asserted with conviction, and backed up by the testimony of the victims, Charlotte Linlin and Kaido, who were currently being beaten...
This left Diarmuid quite shaken. Just how strong is Whitebeard?
What is going on with him?
How did he Awaken again?
It makes no sense!
"Could it be that I, the traveler, am not the protagonist?" Diarmuid murmured oddly.
But Diarmuid quickly adjusted his thoughts, his eyes now filled with intense interest and fighting spirit.
He remained skeptical about Whitebeard's ability Awakening, and he decided that he would go and test it out himself. At the same time, he wanted to see, if it truly had Awakened, just how strong this Newgate could be!
"I hope you don't disappoint me..." Diarmuid said softly.
Then, he raised his hand and stroked Kokorowatari hanging at his waist. The cursed blade seemed to sense Diarmuid's thoughts, and it began to tremble lightly in response.