Chapter 9: Clash of Titans on the Open Sea

Kong clenched his fists, armament haki swirling across his knuckles.

Fist met fist. Black and golden light twisted together, unleashing incredible power and sparking supernatural visions.

In the heat of battle, Karl felt Kong’s punch land with the force of a mountain—far beyond anything he’d faced before. At the same time, he finally began to grasp the intricacies of armament haki.

But chances to go toe-to-toe with a top-tier opponent like this were rare. He wasn’t about to squander it.

On instinct he shifted his stance and threw every ounce of strength he had into meeting Kong’s blow.

Their fists collided again in an instant, blasting out a flash of dazzling light.

A massive shockwave erupted from the collision, rippling outward and splintering the very air.

Pirates and navy sailors alike were knocked down by the shockwave, struggling to stay on their feet. Those who could still fly or move kept fighting frantically, while the waves on the sea churned wildly.

The Navy fleet closed in fast. With tensions about to ignite into all-out war, the pirates readied themselves, waiting for Newgate’s signal.

“Charge!”

Newgate roared, and his crew charged onto the Navy’s deck to kick off a fierce boarding battle.

In a heartbeat, pirates and navy clashed in chaotic, brutal melee.

On the sea, sword light flashed and fire raged. Cannons boomed and battle cries rang out, the sound of chaos filling the air.

“Garp! Sengoku! Been a while, hasn’t it?”

Newgate let out a booming laugh, itching for a fight. He hadn’t satisfied his itch for battle on the island, but now he’d run into two old friends.

“This time, Newgate, you’re not getting away.”

Sengoku’s voice was cool and level as he instantly transformed—becoming a giant golden Buddha by activating his Zoan-Type Mythical Beast, the Human-Human Fruit: Model Buddha.

He and Sengoku shared a special understanding forged over countless clashes. Since the Rocks disbanded, it had always been Sengoku who chased after Newgate.

Newgate swung his mighty Bisento, sending out a slash like a crescent moon that tore through the air.

Sengoku and Garp reacted with lightning speed, working together to counter Newgate’s attack.

The three darted in and out, blades flashing, fists and feet flying. Their battle blazed with savage intensity.

With each exchange, the fight between Newgate, Sengoku, and Garp grew fiercer.

Newgate’s overwhelming strength threatened to crush Garp, but Garp stubbornly pushed back with his own martial skill.

After a long, grueling struggle, Newgate suddenly unleashed the power of his Tremor-Tremor Fruit.

He let out a furious roar. Haki exploded from his body in a rush of raw might.

“Earthquake!”

Newgate’s fist crashed toward Garp, releasing a gargantuan shockwave that annihilated everything in its path.

Garp took the full force of Newgate’s blow and was sent flying, smashing into the distant waves.

Sengoku looked on in worry and swung his gleaming golden palm at Newgate to halt his next attack.

“Shockwave!”

But Newgate swept up his Bisento and unleashed a vibrant blue slash at Sengoku.

“Take this!”

Coughing up seawater, Garp climbed out of the ocean and charged back toward Newgate.

…

The brawl exploded with even more ferocity—no one holding back, each fighting for their own cause and risking everything.

Yet the eyes of all gravitated to two figures at the heart of the chaos.

Karl and Kong’s fists crashed together again and again, blasting out shockwaves that shook the heavens. The sky constantly echoed with the sound of their blows.

Kong’s eyes darkened, wariness flickering across his face. This kid’s strength was honestly beyond expectation. He hadn’t even fully mastered haki yet—was he just using Kong as a sparring partner?

Karl’s focus never wavered, pouring everything he had into each punishing strike. He could feel his attacks growing stronger by the second.

But he knew he was reaching his limit. Kong was a monster—Karl could barely hold his own, let alone counterattack. Still, Kong couldn’t finish him off right away either. This was his moment to fully master armament haki.

The two sped through the sky, weaving a gorgeous and brutal dance of violence. Their fists shot through the clouds like meteors, leaving onlookers stunned.

But this battle was far from over. Neither side would back down, determination blazing in every punch. Neither was willing to quit.

In the heart of their furious duel, Karl and Kong came to truly sense each other’s resolve and strength.

As the fight dragged on, the air grew thick with smoke and tension. Everyone’s attention was locked on the battlefield.

All eyes were on the two warriors, breath held, watching for who would emerge victorious.

This was a true clash of titans upon the sea. Only the strongest would stand undefeated.

In that moment, both Karl and Kong silently swore they’d do whatever it took to win.

The battlefield was thrown into chaos—all order lost, the scent of blood heavy in the air.

The pirates fought desperately, putting their lives on the line for freedom.

“Karl, watch out!”

Newgate’s voice rang out suddenly. Karl spun just in time—a sword flash came straight for him.

He dodged, but not fast enough. The sword tip slashed his shoulder, staining his sleeve bright red.

A navy swordsman had taken the chance to ambush Karl while his guard was down.

Karl clenched his jaw. Even as blood flowed from a dozen wounds, his eyes shone with excitement.

Now wasn’t the time to back down. He was already struggling against Kong, and now he was wounded, too.

He knew he couldn’t hold out much longer. Though he still had some stamina left, his body screamed in pain, struggling to withstand Kong’s blows. Unable to set foot on solid ground, he couldn’t draw strength from the earth to recover.

With no choice left, he whipped out his Navy Six Powers: Shave, launching into a furious aerial exchange with Kong. Their bodies streaked through the air, slamming into each other with the force of a hurricane.

Karl’s punches grew sharper, his attacks more ruthless by the second. Kong was finally beginning to feel the pressure.

Kong felt a twinge of unease as the young man’s strength kept growing before his eyes.

He’d made Admiral for a reason. But now, as this kid’s power rose with every exchange, Kong feared something unexpected might happen.

Karl’s onslaught was relentless. His Navy Six Powers techniques rained down like a violent storm, hammering Kong without pause.

Kong held nothing back. The resulting clash exploded across the sky with deafening thunder.

Aboard the Navy’s main deck.

Sword auras slashed through the air like lightning, making the very atmosphere tremble.

Meanwhile, the fight between Newgate, Sengoku, and Garp was roaring on, smoke and fire billowing across the battlefield.

This was a struggle for life and death. No one was holding back. No one had anything left to give.

A sense of dread crept into Kong’s heart as he surveyed the battlefield. For the first time, he realized this mission was probably bound to fail.

He hadn’t expected there to be a monster like Karl among Newgate’s crew.

Karl’s raw power wasn’t overwhelming, but his near-immortal endurance made him as unkillable as a cockroach.

There was no way he’d be taken down quickly.

Karl had done more than enough to tie him up, and Newgate hadn’t even shown his full strength yet.

Sengoku and Garp could only hold their own against Newgate—defeating him was another story. All the while, every minute, more navy men fell across the battlefield.

He knew there was no retreat left. Kong had to end this, fast, to keep naval losses from spiraling out of control.