Hachinosu, center of the ruins from the previous battle between York and Rayleigh.
York and Roger stood facing each other. Other members of the two major pirate crews gathered on opposite sides of the battlefield.
"Is everyone ready?!"
Rocks shouted sharply, then picked up a stone and threw it high into the air.
The moment the stone hit the ground, York took the initiative and charged toward Roger.
His right fist clenched, without a technique name, but first wrapped in Armament Haki flowing like water, followed immediately by black-red Conqueror's Haki.
Dark, heavy black-red lightning, seemingly capable of destroying everything, seeped into the flowing energy; the entire fist looked as if encased in a layer of black-red plasma.
Vaguely, Roger seemed to see the shadow of a certain bastard in York.
"This kid... it can't be..."
Roger swallowed secretly, then calmed his mind, gripping his prized sword, Ace, with both hands.
*Zzzzt!*
Black-red lightning coiled around the blade. Roger stepped forward and swung upward.
"Divine Departure (Kamusari)!!"
The rising blade collided mid-air with York's punched fist.
**RUMBLE!!**
Deafening thunder exploded. The lightning from the clash almost instantly pulverized the entire ruin of the battlefield.
Then, the lightning shot skyward.
Clouds rolled together, turning into oppressive dark masses, then churned and split apart to both sides.
"Sky-splitting Conqueror's..."
Rocks looked up at the sky, inwardly astonished by York's growth.
Four years ago, when York first arrived on Hachinosu, he was just a rookie relying mainly on his fruit ability, with Haki barely at a beginner level.
Unexpectedly, in just four years, he had even mastered Conqueror's Infusion.
"Truly two monsters..."
Within the Rocks Pirates, Wang Zhi broke out in a cold sweat.
York's growth also exceeded his expectations. His original plan had to be scrapped; he could only choose one option—Shakky!
**BOOM!!**
Center of the field.
As the Haki lightning gathered, collided, and compressed, a larger range of black-red lightning erupted, instantly sweeping across a small half of the island, about four kilometers in diameter.
Almost all pirates within this range, except for the Roger Pirates and the core members of the Rocks Pirates, rolled their eyes back and foamed at the mouth.
In a distant corner, among the very few pirates not knocked out by the aftershocks.
Two pirates dressed in kimono stared intently at York fighting Roger, eyes gleaming.
"Found him! It's him!!"
"The hope to destroy the Kozuki!!"
Back to the battlefield.
The first collision was merely a greeting between York and Roger.
After the forceful clash of fist and blade, York swung both fists like the wind, mimicking Luffy's Gum-Gum Gatling, creating countless afterimages.
Roger did the same, his long sword dancing like a phantom, clashing with York's fists.
*Bang bang bang...*
After dozens of continuous punches, York gained no advantage.
He knew there was no point in continuing to compete in attack frequency with an expert like Roger.
So he proactively pulled back, gathered strength briefly, and punched from a distance.
Dazzling light bloomed on his fist.
The instant his arm fully extended, the gathered power amplified hundreds or thousands of times. A fist-shaped shockwave, seemingly connecting sky and earth, blasted toward Roger with overwhelming force.
"Hey, hey, hey! No way!!"
Watching the battle, Gaban exclaimed.
"Isn't that Garp's move?! How does this kid know it!!"
Roger grinned. Without time to spout nonsense like Gaban, he gripped his long sword with both hands for a powerful overhead slash.
Still *Divine Departure*. This strike forcibly split the shockwave York launched in two.
The terrifying impact roared past both sides of Roger's body, plowing a V-shaped trench in the earth before him.
*Boom!*
The sea behind him roared loudly. The nearby pirate ship rose and fell with the waves.
Meanwhile, on York's side.
Facing Roger's incoming slash, he chose to block with crossed arms.
The black-red crescent slash carried immense force, pushing his feet backward across the ground.
Sliding back over a meter and carving two shallow trenches, York finally roared and deflected Roger's slash into the sky.
Panting slightly, York's gaze was solemn.
He could tell—Roger wasn't using his full strength at all.
Especially during the first clash, he had used power exactly equal to York's.
"The gap is really not small!"
"But... not completely without a chance of winning!"
York's eyes sharpened. He would use Roger's carelessness, or rather his playful mindset, to make him suffer a loss!
Pulling his feet from the shallow trenches, York stomped hard, shooting out like a stream of light.
Red light flickered in Roger's eyes.
He saw it!
York would make a feint while charging.
First pretending to punch, but the actual killing move was a knee strike.
**Reality.**
As York was about to reach Roger, he clenched his fist and bent his arm, seemingly preparing to punch Roger into the ground.
In reality, while retracting his arm, he simultaneously raised his knee.
If Roger chose to counter the punch not yet thrown, he would take this knee strike solidly.
Roger raised his sword, easily blocking York's feint, then looked up with a smile that said he had seen through everything.
York lowered his head, wearing the same "seen-through-everything" smile.
Roger possessed Future Sight Observation Haki—he knew that long ago!
How could the future Pirate King not know this move!
So, his actual move wasn't the knee strike.
The knee strike was the feint! The fist accumulating power all along was the real hit!
**BOOM!!**
A violent downward smash. Theoretically, Roger should have seen this move too, but he didn't dodge.
"Deliberately giving way! I'll make you regret it!!"
Amidst his roar, York forcibly pressed Roger and smashed him into the ground.
The earth cracked, plates tilted up. Without waiting for the dust to settle, York's second fist struck down rapidly.
*Boom boom boom boom...*
Within a second, York landed over a dozen punches on Roger's head and back.
Roger took them all head-on.
Suddenly, a burst of Haki erupted, and York was blown away by the shockwave.
Roger climbed out of the deep pit, looking somewhat disheveled.
"That hurt! Kid! Venting your anger about done?"
Roger waved his sword, dispersing the dust, his expression turning serious and solemn.
"I'm going to get serious now!"
York landed after being blown back, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"You let me touch you! Roger!"
"Hmm?!"
Roger was puzzled. The next second, his entire body stiffened.
"Th... This is..."
"Hah!"
With a roar, Haki erupted, clearing all the effects York had applied to him.
But York was seizing precisely this moment of vulnerability.
Just as Roger dispelled York's ability, York had already rushed in front of him.
A fist charged with power again struck Roger heavily in the face, sending him flying far away for the first time.
<><><><><><>
Read Advanced Chapters on: patreon.com/Anna_N1
~Every 150 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~Push the Story forward with your [Power Stones]