Wanokuni.
Oden Castle, Nine Miles.
"Ha ha ha ha! You brat who speaks such wild words — do you want to become the strongest in the world?"
Four Emperors Whitebeard laughed thunderously.
"If that's the title you want to sell, I won't refuse!" Sugisawa Yuuto grinned.
The moment the words left his mouth, he took a step forward.
Bang!!!
The very ground beneath Oden Castle trembled.
In the darkened sky, it seemed as if a colossal dragon had taken form, its roar shattering the heavens, unleashing endless draconic power that shook the world. This was the terrifying presence of the Dragon King — Su Yu in full force.
All of Whitebeard's crew, even formidable captains like Marco and Joz, looked on in awe. They had long expected someone capable of defeating Kaido of the Beasts to possess extraordinary power, but seeing it firsthand shattered all their assumptions.
"Ha ha ha ha!" Whitebeard's booming voice remained calm despite the overwhelming power radiating from Yuuto.
"This is a spirited kid… someone like you hasn't appeared in decades. Can you shoulder the next era?"
The thunderous voice carried with it Conqueror's Haki, bending the will of all living beings. This was the unmatched aura of the strongest man in the world — Four Emperors Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, ready to swallow the world with his rage.
Rumble!
The might of Yuuto's draconic energy and the overlord's Haki collided. The mountain shuddered violently. Ripples tore through the atmosphere, invisible spiritual storms raged in every direction, sand and rocks flew through the air, forests collapsed, and massive trees erupted from the ground.
"What a terrifying standoff!"
"The fight hasn't even started, yet the sheer momentum is this catastrophic!"
"To face Conqueror's Haki alongside my father's strength, it's…"
"No, he isn't even using his full Conqueror's Haki!"
Marco, Joz, Vista, and the other captains couldn't contain their awe.
Roger had once said that in this era, someone would rise to change the world. Could this be that person?
Whitebeard grinned.
"You're chatty… Whitebeard, if you want to fight, then just fight!" Yuuto's Haki flared, a dark, invisible energy that spread around him like a storm.
"Let's see if you can survive after defeating Kaido!"
Whitebeard's fist descended, powered by the might of his Paramecia Shock Fruit. A terrifying energy condensed, radiating from his clenched hand.
"This… this is exactly what I wanted!" Yuuto's grin widened. Flames of determination ignited in his eyes, transforming into substantial, scorching flames that surged outward.
"Ha ha ha ha!" Whitebeard's raised fist crushed the air, shattering the sky like glass.
"This is Four Emperors Whitebeard! The strongest man in the world truly lives up to his reputation!"
Even Erza and Mirajan's expressions grew serious, sensing the cataclysmic power.
"But President, this will be fine!" Juvia nodded confidently.
Yuuto raised his voice. "Come on, then!"
Dark red flames swirled around his fist — the Yanlong King Flame. The temperature soared, distorting the very air and space around him.
"Ha ha ha ha!" Whitebeard laughed, charging forward with a devastating Xeon Shock Punch.
Simultaneously, Yuuto struck, his Yanlong King Mode fully activated.
Yan! Long! Wang! De! Beng! Fist!
Boom!!!
The world shook violently, as if the very bells of the gods had rung across the earth. The fists of Whitebeard and Yuuto clashed just ten centimeters apart.
Boom!!!
The sky itself seemed to collapse with the power of this ultimate duel. Their strength twisted reality: clear skies darkened, thick black clouds swirled, and thunder rolled like a furious beast.
Then an even more terrifying sight appeared:
At the center of the collision, the cloud layer split in two. A massive rift formed in the sky, as if an abyss capable of swallowing the world lay behind it.
"Imperial-level… splitting the sky!"
"Just from the collision of fists… it's shaking the heavens!"
"Is this truly the duel of the Emperors who rule the seas?"
"Even the sky itself can't contain this power!"
Whitebeard's captains — Marco, Joz, and Vista — could only shout in horror.
Erza, aboard Fairy Tail, waved her hand, issuing calm but urgent orders.
"Ha ha ha ha! Then let's finish this!"
Whitebeard bellowed, full of exhilaration.
Yuuto's lips curled into a wild, confident smile.
Boom!!!
A deafening roar erupted as Whitebeard's shock fist collided with Yuuto's Yanlong King Beng Fist. A dazzling black spot formed between them, expanding into a swirling abyss.
Moments later, the black vortex trembled violently — then exploded.
The final, cataclysmic shockwave shattered the sky and earth alike. Wanokuni itself trembled.
The ground of Oden Castle, the battlefield of this clash, split in two. The topography of the region changed, yet the world's turmoil slowly settled back to calm.
"Ha ha ha ha!" Whitebeard staggered to his feet.
"This unrivaled power… I, Whitebeard, declare you… the strongest!!!"