The moment the words fell—
Momonga, lying on the ground nearby, showed a strange expression.
At a time like this, his impression of Nao is still stuck back when he fought Warlord William.
Doesn't this guy know that Nao just defeated Drought Dugalio, who had a 500 million Berry bounty, a few months ago?
"That guy's a Twinkle-Twinkle Fruit user—his physical strength is no joke. Be careful."
Although he had great confidence in Nao's strength, he still turned his head and spoke with difficulty, reminding him.
"Don't worry."
Nao waved it off, signaling for Momonga to fall back from the battlefield. His gaze shifted to Diamond Jozu, brows furrowing slightly.
Something felt…off.
Maybe it was just a gut feeling, but this "Diamond Jozu" looked a little too different from the one in Nao's memory.
And another thing—
The Whitebeard Pirates were barely hanging on in the New World, locked in conflict with the other two Yonko. Why the hell would one of their top division commanders show up all the way back here in Paradise?
No time to dwell on it.
Jozu, clearly enraged by Nao's silence, let out a twisted laugh and raised both fists, aiming to bring them crashing down on Nao's skull.
"You wanna be a hero? Then DIE for him!"
Jozu's fists closed in—huge, diamond-hard sledgehammers. But Nao didn't move. Didn't dodge. Didn't even lift a finger.
BANG!
A thunderous impact landed square on his head.
But—
With the combined effects of his Iron Head and Thick-Skinned abilities, Nao stood firm. The ground trembled beneath his foot, and his forehead briefly dented inward—
Only to spring back moments later, fully healed.
"Is this all you've got?"
Nao lifted his head calmly, looking at the stunned Jozu. He shook his head, expression full of pity.
"So weak… You can't even punch properly, and you call yourself one of Whitebeard's commanders?"
In the blink of an eye, Nao's eyes flashed cold. He twisted his body and slammed a fist into Jozu's midsection at incredible speed.
Thud!
The dull, heavy thud caused the surrounding ground to tremble violently.
After only one or two seconds, Jozu the Diamond flew backward like a broken puppet, screaming as he crashed into a siege engine dozens of meters away.
CRASH!
The tower crumbled. A few unlucky pirates who couldn't get out of the way were flattened beneath his body, eyes rolling back in unconsciousness.
"What the hell...?"
Not far away, the pirate captain who had turned into a giant black bull gawked, cold sweat pouring down his face.
"That new Marine brat… actually overpowered Diamond Jozu?! With raw strength??"
Was this a joke?
Wasn't Diamond Jozu supposed to be the most physically powerful of all Whitebeard's commanders?
"Gah... cough..."
From under the rubble, Jozu clutched his chest, glared at Nao, then suddenly charged forward again like nothing had happened.
"You little bastard… AGAIN!"
"Still want to brawl, huh?"
Nao narrowed his eyes. Still not bothering to draw his swords, he brought his left hand together and threw a punch wrapped in a dense shockwave of air.
BOOM!
A sound like thunder rolled across the battlefield.
Everyone's eyes locked onto the collision—
Two fists of vastly different size and build met in the center.
And a winner was decided instantly.
Nao was pushed back six or seven steps—
But remained standing.
Jozu?
He was sent flying like a cannonball, skidding through the ground and carving a trench dozens of meters long before crashing through several trees and slamming into a massive boulder.
SPLURT!
A mouthful of blood sprayed into the air.
He staggered to his feet, swaying.
Gone was the monstrous juggernaut from minutes before. Now he was pale, wheezing, barely able to stand—
If not for his Twinkle-Twinkle Fruit's natural resilience, he'd be out cold like those other pirates.
"The real Diamond Jozu doesn't hit that soft. And his control over his powers isn't this sloppy, either."
Nao stepped through the smoke and dust, calmly sheathing his twin swords.
His voice was quiet but firm.
"So… who the hell are you?"
"…Heheheheheh. So you saw through it, huh?"
Though clearly on the verge of collapse, the man formerly known as Jozu didn't show a shred of fear. Instead, he started to laugh—high-pitched and manic.
"Tch. I guess I have been slacking off. Haven't imitated Jozu enough times. Can't get his form to output all my strength…"
SWOOSH!
Light distorted—
The muscular form flickered—
And vanished.
In its place stood a completely different figure.
Spiky golden hair, like a pineapple. Half-lidded, dead-fish eyes. A dagger at his waist. The black tattoo of the Whitebeard Pirates burned into his chest—
Marco the Phoenix, Commander of the 1st Division of the Whitebeard Pirates.
"…What the hell?!"
"Where's Jozu?! Why'd he turn into Marco?!"
Shock rippled across the battlefield. Marines and pirates alike were dumbfounded.
Especially the pirates who had followed "Diamond Jozu" to form this so-called Diamond Pirates crew.
They had signed on because of Jozu's name.
Now they realized—
They'd been fooled.
"Ahh, now this feels better."
Marco looked down at his wounded body and snapped his fingers.
A blue flame ignited around him, dancing across his injuries—
And in mere seconds, those wounds closed up.
He really did look like a phoenix.
"Even his posture, his tone—it all changes after the transformation..."
Nao raised a brow, watching him with curiosity for the first time.
"Still… that's not the important part. You can imitate powers too? That's interesting. Just who are you?"
"Beat me and I'll tell you."
Marco smirked. His whole demeanor had shifted into something lazy and laid-back.
"Or…"
But the next moment, he dropped the pretense!
"When you die by my hand, I'll make sure you understand, then send you on your way!"
FWOOSH!
The sound of rushing wind suddenly intensified. Marco's figure twisted, abruptly transforming into a faint blue phoenix, flapping his wings. With a speed too fast for the naked eye to track, he swooped towards Nao to kill him!
"So the speed also increased…"
Nao narrowed his eyes and silently drew Azakana with his right hand.
"This is starting to get interesting."
HUM—!
The Wind Blade left its sheath, intertwining with the already unsheathed Azakana, cutting through the air.
The two fighters moved at speeds too fast to follow, crossing blades dozens of times in the span of a few breaths.
Nao quickly realized that the phoenix's abilities were even more troublesome than he expected.
His attacks could slice through the phoenix's body—but they didn't stick.
The injuries regenerated almost instantly.
It was like fighting a living cheat code.
"What an annoying power… And you seem way more familiar with this fruit than the last one."
After over a hundred exchanges, Nao still hadn't landed a meaningful blow. But he wasn't flustered.
In fact, he even found time to flash Marco a relaxed smile mid-combat.
"However, as for who can last longer, I assume you've noticed too, right?"
"…"
Marco didn't respond.
The smug look he'd been wearing had completely vanished.
His expression darkened like a thundercloud.
Because Nao was right.
Although relying on the Phoenix's self-regeneration ability allowed him to be virtually immortal for a long time, in most battles, this alone could wear down an equally strong opponent.
Yes, a disadvantage!
Whether it was the faint blue cold flames he unleashed or direct physical collisions, they barely left any decent marks on Nao's body.
Even when his attacks occasionally had some effect, the opponent's body exhibited a terrifying healing ability, which was even comparable to the Phoenix Fruit ability he had copied!
More importantly.
By now, his stamina had subtly begun to decline, and both his speed and strength had weakened slightly.
Conversely, that Marine brat across from him still had that nonchalant, smug look, as if he could continue fighting him at this intensity for three days and three nights without rest! Where did this monster come from?!
"No… I can't drag this out any longer!"
"Marco" had to admit, he had severely underestimated his opponent. If he continued to fight in this form, he would undoubtedly be the first to lose stamina and be defeated!
"It's time to go all out!"
With this thought, the Phoenix suddenly flapped its wings, dodging Nao's incoming sword energy. Then, it created distance, flying straight up over a hundred meters before circling and stopping.
"Hm?"
Noticing this action, Nao looked up. "Knowing you can't last, so you're switching forms again? First it was a strength type, now an aerial type… Are you like Tiga?"
What would be next?
A composite type?
Buzz!
While his thoughts were racing, light and shadows twisted in the air. The Phoenix instantly completed its transformation. Its wings folded and vanished, but its height suddenly elongated, and elongated further…
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, no way?"
Looking at the increasingly familiar figure, Nao couldn't help but be surprised. "Isn't that a bit too exaggerated? Can he actually turn into that man…"
Not a composite type, it's the ancient Dark Tiga, the strongest Tiga of the old era!
BOOM!
The colossal figure landed on the ground, shaking the surrounding trees, and sending dust flying.
And when the dust settled, a burly Whitebeard, clad in a white greatcoat and wielding the Supreme Grade great sword "Murakumogiri," stepped out from the smoke with heavy strides, looking down with an overwhelming presence.
"WHITEBEARD?!"
"THE world's strongest man?! THAT Whitebeard?!"
"How the hell is this guy doing that?!"
The moment this figure appeared, every corner of the battlefield was thrown into an uproar.
After all, this was the Grand Line. Even the most isolated and unknowledgeable person couldn't possibly not recognize that magnificent figure, couldn't possibly not have heard Whitebeard's name!
"Gurararara!"
Whitebeard narrowed his eyes, looking down at Nao, who stood motionless, seemingly also stunned. He couldn't help but burst into laughter: "How about it, brat! This is the strongest form I can transform into!"
"So tell me—still got the guts to stand against me?!"
The moment his words fell, Whitebeard roared, his left hand suddenly splaying open five fingers. A milky-white aura surrounded his left fist, and he violently slammed it towards Nao, who was not far below!
Crack! Crack!
The surrounding atmosphere suddenly showed cracks, like a shattering mirror, and spread rapidly in all directions like a spiderweb.
Following these spreading cracks, a mind-shaking force of vibration finally erupted completely!
Rumble!
Wherever it swept, even just the residual shockwaves caused the earth to crack inch by inch like a turtle shell, trees were uprooted, and even the moat below the city wall lost the restraint of gravity, coiling up into the sky like a silken ribbon!
The destructive power of the Quake-Quake Fruit, at this moment, turned more than half of the battlefield into a scene of doomsday.
"Now that's more like it."
Looking at the approaching wave of vibrations, Nao grinned, his eyes finally gleaming with intense fighting spirit. "But fakes are fakes; they'll never compare to the real thing!"
HUM—!
His twin swords crossed. The howling winds swirled violently into a raging storm, roaring out to meet the incoming shockwave.
Iai: Cross Jade Slash!
Under countless horrified eyes, the ground between them twisted like melted clay under the force of the two clashing titans.
The resulting shockwave blasted out hundreds of meters—
BOOM—!
The aftershock swept across the battlefield at terrifying speed.
"Fall back! FALL BACK!"
"Damn it—RUN!"
The rebels and pirates scattered, screaming and sprinting as fast as they could.
Only the Marines and royal guards were far enough away to stay safe.
They crouched behind the castle walls—
Watching, awestruck.
"So… this is the power of the Quake-Quake Fruit..."
Someone whispered, throat dry.
"That kind of power… it's unreal."
"He even copied Whitebeard's ability…"
Instructor Vivian looked pale, clutching her chest.
She stared at the shattered heart of the battlefield.
"Can Nao… really win against something like that?"