Even Sasuke Uchiha, known for his cold arrogance, couldn't hide his shock as he stared at the projection blazing across the sky.
He did not want to acknowledge it. He resisted it with every fiber of his pride.
But the truth was undeniable—Thorne Ashveil's power was overwhelming.
"The fighters of that Other World… they're this terrifying?" Sasuke muttered, his hand tightening around his sword hilt.
Across the Shinobi World, the Five Kage watched the vision above them with grave expressions.
Any single combatant in that scene had enough power to erase their entire world.
Only now did they truly grasp how small even Uchiha Madara was. The man who once plunged their world into despair meant nothing before the two titanic forces currently clashing.
If their Shinobi Allied Forces had tried to confront Ashveil and the Bald Cape Hero…
They would be swept away instantly.
And then it began—Ashveil and Saitama's Conqueror's Haki collision.
A blinding flash erupted across the arena—
as if a miniature sun had detonated.
The world-shaking explosion followed instantly.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
The chain of blasts echoed between dimensions.
People across every world instinctively clamped their hands over their ears.
Even animals in the Pirate World panicked, scattering in terror as the sky itself roared.
At Mary Geoise, Dragon's eyes widened as a shockwave reached the Holy Land.
"You've got to be kidding me… what kind of attack makes sound this insane?!" Dragon shouted, covering his ears.
Sabo, Ivankov, and the commanders all grimaced, their faces twisted in pain.
Even the Celestial Dragons collapsed onto the ground, clutching their heads and whining like children.
"My ears! My ears! Someone help me!"
They weren't actually in danger—Ashveil's and Saitama's collision wasn't powerful enough to shatter eardrums across worlds.
But the pampered nobles of Mary Geoise had never endured anything louder than a banquet celebration.
To them, this felt like the sky was breaking apart.
Within the Red Hair Pirates' territory, Eustass Kid bared his teeth.
"No way… just the sound is this terrifying?"
"This kind of collision… on our world, it could wipe out the entire planet!"
Apoo, Hawkins, and the others covered their ears, expressions dark with dread.
Among the Red Hair crew, Yasopp shouted at Shanks, raising his voice just to be heard.
"Boss! This is insane!"
"If this impact hit our planet directly, nothing would be left but dust!"
Ben Beckman's cigarette fell from his lips, extinguished by sheer shock.
"Ashveil… and that Bald Cape Hero Saitama… what in the world are they made of?"
Even Shanks—an Emperor who stood at the pinnacle of Conqueror's Haki—couldn't steady his own fingers.
"This level of collision… would absolutely destroy a planet."
"And their power… Beckman, if I understood the limits of fighters like them, would I still be only a Yonko?"
Indeed.
Ever since Ashveil's arrival, the title of Emperor had lost its meaning.
Before Thorne Ashveil, what difference was there between a pirate, an Admiral, or a Yonko?
All would fall just the same.
In Dressrosa, Luffy covered his ears with his rubber body, teeth clenched in pain.
"Nami! Zoro! This is crazy!"
"How am I supposed to become Pirate King with monsters like that around?!"
To Luffy, the idea of destroying a planet with one strike felt impossible, unreachable, and hopeless.
Zoro exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing.
"Captain… I'll be honest."
"With a man like Ashveil out there, aiming for Pirate King won't end well."
Luffy wailed dramatically—but this time, no one disagreed with Zoro.
To surpass Ashveil required more than dreams. It required insanity.
Above the devastated arena, Ashveil and Saitama reappeared.
The explosion had erased everything.
Mountains were gone.
The oceans had been blocked and redirected by shattered stone, forming barren pathways and dried basins.
The land looked ancient—reborn after an apocalypse.
Even the [Space-Time Pendulum] floated weakly, its glow dim and unsteady.
It shielded nothing.
It strengthened nothing.
It seemed ready to break at any moment.
Saitama hovered in mid-air, staring at Ashveil with a rare wildness in his eyes.
"Hahaha! Ashveil! I survived! I actually survived!"
"It's been so long since I felt this alive!"
The Pirate World tensed immediately.
Even Kaido and Big Mom stiffened in alarm.
Ashveil's five-fold fused Conqueror's Haki spheres—techniques strong enough to wipe out even the Gorosei and Saint Imu—had not defeated Saitama.
Meaning Saitama was far more dangerous than anyone expected.
Whitebeard, Marco, and Jozu exchanged heavy gazes.
Doflamingo's sunglasses flashed.
"That little baldy… he actually lived."
Mihawk's eyes gleamed with razor focus.
"No matter the odds… Ashveil will win."
His tone held absolute conviction.
Boa Hancock frowned in worry, but her voice trembled with devotion.
"Of course. I will always stand beside Ashveil."
In the One-Punch Man World, Bang clapped fiercely.
"Incredible! I never imagined this Bald Cape Hero was this strong!"
"He lived through it! The Bald Demon King survived!"
Atomic Samurai's expression brightened.
"He should be called the One-Punch Hero now!"
"Tatsumaki, he's surpassed you."
For once, Tatsumaki didn't argue.
Ashveil had defeated her instantly, effortlessly.
And Saitama was still matching Ashveil blow for blow.
Genos' metallic fists tightened.
"Sensei… go all out. You are the closest one to reaching Ashveil."
In the Shinobi World, even the Sage of Six Paths was shocked.
He remembered how Ashveil defeated him with one scorching sun.
Yet this bald man—using only physical power—still fought on.
"Is the final victor going to be the baldy?" the Sage murmured.
"He could be a god in his world."
Naruto stared wide-eyed.
"Whoa… that bald guy really is amazing."
Sasuke studied Saitama's battle-worn stance.
"I never imagined someone could reach this level with pure physical techniques. That guy… isn't human either."
Uchiha Madara remained silent, eyes narrowing with complicated emotion.
On the shattered battlefield, Saitama laughed.
Ashveil folded his arms calmly.
"Not bad, Saitama. You've done well. Now… let me show you a new me."
Saitama's expression shifted instantly.
His hands trembled.
Ashveil continued casually.
"For some reason, that [Space-Time Pendulum] isn't reinforcing the planet anymore. Strange. Because this next move… really can destroy a world."
Saitama immediately grabbed his head with both hands in panic.
Across the dimensions, everyone froze.
Hadn't Saitama looked confident mere moments ago?
Why did he suddenly curl into a defensive ball?
Bang blinked rapidly.
He had just hyped Saitama up—and now this?
Tatsumaki's jaw dropped.
"With power like that, why would he defend?! Attack! This is the moment to charge!"
To defend now was madness.
Giving Ashveil time to prepare another attack was suicidal.
Could Saitama really withstand another five-fold Conqueror's Haki fusion?
Everyone held their breath…
because the answer would decide the fate of worlds.