"Are they even human or monsters?!" Everyone was shaken to their core. When the giants unleashed their ultimate attacks, the resulting shockwave sent them flying. Only a few could remain standing.
When they finally crawled out from the rubble, all they saw was a wasteland. The once-prosperous royal capital was gone—completely erased.
These were opponents on an entirely different level.
As the soldiers slowly emerged from the ruins, a sudden cry broke out. "His Majesty the King!"
"What?!" Raymond froze. The explosion had been so violent that even he struggled to stay upright. That desperate cry filled him with dread.
"Even kings die just as easily as anyone else," Hathaway said coldly as her Sunblade sliced through the king's neck.
It was effortless. While everyone else focused on surviving the shockwave, she alone had seen the perfect opportunity.
Countless battles had honed her instincts and reflexes beyond normal limits.
"I... I…" The king's severed head seemed to want to speak, but no sound came—only a faint murmur no one else could hear.
His personal barrier had just blocked a portion of the blast, but in that brief window, Hathaway's blade had cut through the protective metal shell—and then his throat.
"The king is dead!!" The horrifying news spread instantly.
"Tesoro seems to have lost his mind," Raymond muttered as he watched Tesoro's frenzied attacks. The earlier clash between him and Rosen hadn't produced a victor.
Both giants had been destroyed, leaving only their true bodies to fight. Though the giants were powerful, they consumed enormous energy. Now that each had learned the other's techniques, neither could reform another giant.
"What do you know? You're just another pirate—a miserable pawn ruled by this world! Those in power don't need strength to decide your fate; they can end your life with a single word!" Tesoro roared, his golden fists glowing as he unleashed punches charged with lightning, fire, explosions, and shockwaves.
Rosen's fists, coated in golden sand and Armament Haki, met him blow for blow. It was raw, primal combat—just the way Rosen preferred. Tesoro, in his rage, had abandoned the advantages of his awakened state for close combat.
That played directly into Rosen's hands. He wouldn't allow Tesoro another chance to reawaken his Devil Fruit's full power. Only then could he win.
"You think money gives you control over everything. You think it can solve every problem. How disgusting. Even if you sought revenge against the Celestial Dragons, that would be more respectable than working with them. At least then your anger and love would have been real. But now, you're just living in a lie," Rosen said, crushing Tesoro's will with every word.
He could see the effect—Tesoro's mind wavered. And though Rosen genuinely pitied him, he couldn't understand: if Tesoro truly loved Stella, why had he chosen to become what he hated?
For all his power, he was far less admirable than when he'd once pointed a gun at a Celestial Dragon.
Perhaps his time as a slave had left deep scars. No one could imagine how a Celestial Dragon would punish a mere mortal who dared defy him—it must have been pure hell.
"Stop talking!!" Tesoro roared. His heart was in turmoil. He told himself this was Crocodile's trick, but he couldn't suppress his fury or his madness.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Their battle grew increasingly violent.
"The tide has turned. Prepare to retreat," Raymond said bleakly. He looked at the shattered royal army, Tesoro's berserk state, and the approaching Enel, Hathaway, and others—all signs of collapse.
Fewer than ten enemies had destroyed the Andia Kingdom's finest warriors and armies. They were unstoppable.
"Retreat? Not a chance! I'm not done playing yet!" Enel growled, sparks crackling across his body. So far, he hadn't defeated anyone significant—he refused to leave empty-handed.
"Go!" Raymond and Colson abandoned everything and fled. As long as they lived, there was still hope—perhaps the World Government could help. Had they known it would come to this, they would have contacted them earlier.
But life has no "what if."
"What do we do now?" The king's royal guards hesitated. They were trained to die without fear, but with the king and Commander Allen both dead, did they still have a reason to fight?
"Surrender, and you won't be killed," Robin's calm voice rang out. That alone shattered what little resistance remained.
Meanwhile, Hathaway, Enel, and Daz Bones pursued Raymond and Colson, while the others gathered around Robin to stabilize the situation.
"Has Uncle won yet? Should we help him?" Natalie asked as she watched the shockwaves rippling from the distant duel.
"No need. Alice is leading the soldiers here—we'll regroup with them," Robin replied. It wasn't that she didn't want to help, but a battle of that scale was beyond most of them. Only fighters on Hathaway's or Enel's level could make a difference.
Anyone else rushing in would only get in the way—or worse, give the enemy an opening.
Besides, Rosen wasn't at a disadvantage. The smartest move was to maintain control of the battlefield. Once their forces regrouped, they could support him more effectively.
"Stubborn bastard!" Rosen seized an opening in Tesoro's wild swings, his fists and kicks striking relentlessly. Each blow pushed past his limits, breaking Tesoro's golden armor and wounding him deeply—but not enough to end the fight. Tesoro's body was monstrously durable.
"Devour." As Rosen's feet touched the ground, it turned to liquid gold, surging toward him. In an instant, a patch of his arm began turning to gold, the stiffness at his elbow hampering his movements.
He couldn't remove the gold infection himself—only Tesoro's defeat or perhaps seawater could cleanse it.
"Cough… As long as this is my domain, you'll never beat me, Crocodile!" Tesoro bellowed.
"Domain, huh? The essence of awakening is assimilation, precise control… and sheer willpower," Rosen muttered. His own abilities were nearing awakening, and this fight was helping him grasp the key.
"Hey, Tesoro," Rosen said with a wild grin after punching him back, "stop playing businessman. Join me. Let's destroy the world the Celestial Dragons built. Doesn't that sound fun?"
Tesoro froze for a split second, then roared and attacked again. Golden waves surged forward, golden bombs and iron fists rained down, golden chains coiled toward Rosen. "Die! You think you can kill a Celestial Dragon? Those gods can wipe out your entire crew with a single command!"
"You sound exactly like a slave," Rosen said coldly, disappointment flickering in his eyes. Tesoro's heart had already broken. He was beyond saving.
Tesoro's face twisted into a hideous mask of rage.
(End of Chapter)