His right arm shot out like lightning, the powerful muscles erupting with immense force.
The fist-wind compressed the air into a surging shockwave that barreled toward the oncoming Carlo.
Though the punch had no wind-up, no warm-up, its might was still formidable.
A single blow; the storm of wind around the fist sent the hundreds of soldiers crowding the deck stumbling backward.
Carlo answered with a straight punch of his own.
It was the very blow he had used against Rocks on Hachinosu a few days earlier.
Only this time it wasn't clad in Haki.
It was the Fist Bone technique he had learned from Garp—
"Fist Bone! Meteor!"
Carlo's right fist rocketed forward, smashing the air ahead into violent, twisting chaos.
Like an air cannon it detonated, rushing to meet the shockwave of Kings Fist.
Boom!
The two mighty shockwaves collided mid-air.
"Aaaargh!"
Soldiers aboard the ship were hurled away with shattered bones, burst eardrums, and blood spurting from their mouths, raining into the sea like dumplings.
The two waves held for less than a second.
Carlo's Fist Bone Meteor crushed Elizabeth I's Kings Fist.
Carlo's right fist, to Elizabeth I's disbelieving eyes, slammed into his belly.
Thud!
Elizabeth I doubled over, feet leaving the deck, and his massive frame crashed into the mountain of treasure chests behind him.
Chest after chest shattered under the impact.
Countless glittering gold and jewels gushed out like a fountain.
Golden coins clattered across the planks at Carlo's feet, a shower of gold.
"Rich indeed—no wonder they call Prodence Kingdom the war kingdom of the New World."
Carlo stooped, picked up a coin, blew on it, and admired the fine portrait.
Prodence Kingdom truly was wealthy.
Renowned for its formidable war power,
it sold its military might abroad, launching wars against neighbors—sometimes on its own, sometimes as a hired blade.
Because the king himself was the realm's strongest warrior, wielding the mighty Kings Fist.
Before every siege Elizabeth I would warm up for two hours, then with one Kings Fist punch collapse the enemy fortress wall.
Such overwhelming might made Prodence's foreign wars almost unstoppable.
And by paying such ample celestial tribute to the World Government,
Prodence Kingdom earned its protection.
In the New World it thrived, its days growing ever easier.
Carlo stepped forward and kicked open a chest.
Inside lay thick bundles of Berries.
This box alone held at least ten million Berries.
And here there were easily a hundred such boxes.
Not counting the even more valuable gold, silver, and antiques.
The total value of Prodence's celestial tribute might well exceed one billion berries!
"Scoundrel! Get away from His Majesty!"
A burly general roared, hefting a rocket launcher and firing at Carlo.
Boom!
The rocket streaked toward him trailing flame.
Carlo raised a hand, caught the missile, and closed his fingers.
Boom!
The warhead exploded in his palm; scorching flames licked through his fingers.
"Haa—!"
A long dragon of white smoke burst from Carlo's mouth and nose, dispersing the blaze.
The general who had fired was already upon him, swinging a massive hammer at Carlo's face.
"Die!!"
Carlo's eyes narrowed; golden vertical pupils flared with brilliant red light.
Two searing laser beams shot from his eyes and struck the falling hammer.
The black iron face of the hammer glowed red-hot.
Sssss…
The metal handle burned the general's hands.
Pain and searing heat twisted the general's face.
Yet he remained loyal;
even as Carlo's heat vision reddened the hammer he did not release it.
With a roar he threw himself at Carlo.
"Your Majesty—run!"
The red-hot hammer collapsed a finger's breadth from Carlo's face, melting into droplets of molten iron.
Boom!
A black fist punched through the ruined head, snapping the general's neck.
"Ritter!!" Elizabeth I cried in grief and fury at seeing his trusted commander fall.
But he kept his head.
Clenching his teeth he sprinted to the rail and leapt toward the neighboring steamship.
As he jumped he roared an order.
"Open fire! Sink the War King!"
At once soldiers lit the fuses.
Boom-boom-boom!!
Double-deck cannons along the steamship's side hurled dozens of shells.
Faced with the incoming barrage Carlo's body suddenly doubled in height.
Golden wings unfurled from his back and flared.
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!
Feathers of gold shot out like lightning, each piercing a shell dead center.
Boom-boom-boom—!
Scores of shells exploded mid-air.
The blast rocked the steamship beneath Carlo's feet.
"Don't wreck my celestial tribute."
Glancing at the mountain of treasure, Carlo beat his wings and shot across as a golden blur into the opposite ship.
In an instant!
Pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft—!
A golden ribbon flickered and refracted across the deck.
Soldiers screamed as severed limbs and blood sprayed everywhere.
Hundreds of elite troops, armed to the teeth, were slaughtered without resistance.
Elizabeth I watched, torn between rage and terror.
He turned and fled without hesitation,
racing toward the last steamship.
Before he could reach it two crimson lasers punched through the cabins ahead, carving molten scars into the ironclad hull.
The metal melted into glowing slag.
Elizabeth I skidded to a halt and turned, his face ashen.
Behind him stood a six-meter-tall, winged Carlo—
the War King's confidence gone.
"Monster! You'll regret this! That is my celestial tribute to the World Government!
Steal it and you make an enemy of them—the Marines will hunt you down!"