To be a standout among the Marine Headquarters Rear Admirals, aside from the boost of the Ox-Ox Fruit, Buffalo Model, Rear Admiral Carmage's own martial arts foundation was not to be underestimated. Although he hadn't undergone special training in the Headquarters Elite Camp, his mastery of the Marine Six Powers (Rokushiki) through sheer hard work had reached a point of effortless execution.
The explosive power of his "Soru" allowed him to close the distance to Rowan in less than a single breath. Seeing Rowan remaining motionless, Carmage dared not be careless. He hooked his fingers and thrust them like lightning toward Rowan's chest.
"Finger Pistol: Buffalo Horn Impact!"
His fingers, hardened like horns, tore through the air with an intimidating howl. This strike was something even a pirate with a 50-million-Berry bounty on the Grand Line could not withstand head-on.
However, the moment the Finger Pistol made contact with "Rowan's" body, Carmage's face twisted in shock. His fingers passed directly through the torso. To his disbelief, the "Rowan" before him began to slowly blur and fade.
"An afterimage?!" Carmage's pupils constricted violently.
Before he could process this, a voice with a stern, reprimanding tone drifted from his side.
"Your speed is passable, but this should be your strongest move. Attacking without reservation looks fierce, but the weakness is far too obvious."
"Committing to a certain-kill strike without even knowing the true extent of your opponent's strength, leaving yourself no path for retreat?"
"If I were your enemy right now, you would already be dead!"
The instant the voice rang out, Carmage felt like a cat whose fur had been rubbed the wrong way. Cold sweat drenched his back as a wave of terror crashed over his heart. How can his speed be this high?!
In the seating area.
Seeing Rowan appear behind Carmage in the blink of an eye, a sharp light exploded in Kong's eyes, and his face lit up with excitement. Rowan's movement was simply too fast—so fast that even his eyes hadn't fully tracked the trajectory.
Had he been in Carmage's position, it would have been difficult to detect Rowan's location without using Observation Haki. But how strong could a Rear Admiral's Haki be? Could they even react?
Seeing his old friend display such formidable power, the corners of Kong's mouth curled upward. He hadn't expected the "old brat" to hide his light for so many years. He had even fooled Kong's own eyes! Once this was over, he'd have to give that man a proper interrogation.
On the field.
In his state of horror, Carmage tried to spin around to defend. But before he could twitch, a massive force slammed into his side.
CRACK! CRACK!
Under the impact of that immense power, Carmage could clearly hear several crisp snaps. Without a doubt, several of his ribs were shattered. Before he could even let out a scream, he was launched into the air.
Seeing that Carmage was about to smash into the conference room wall, Vice Admiral Onigumo, who was closest, shook his head. He manipulated his hair to safely catch the falling officer. Looking at Carmage's twisted, pale face, Onigumo—clutching a cigarette in his mouth—frowned. "Rear Admiral Carmage, are you alright?"
Carmage opened his mouth to speak, but the sheer agony was too much. He lost consciousness before a single word could escape.
"Relax, he only has a few broken ribs. I struck his pain receptors to knock him out. A few days in the medical department and he'll be fine," Rowan's calm voice drifted over.
Hearing this, Vice Admiral Onigumo's eyelid twitched. He stared blankly at Rowan, who stood there as if he hadn't moved.
An instant kill? Using a single move to knock an elite Headquarters Rear Admiral into a coma? In all of the Marine Headquarters, you wouldn't find a single Vice Admiral capable of such a feat with such ease. Even the three Admirals, without using their Devil Fruit powers, couldn't have done it so effortlessly.
This old man's Taijutsu... is actually this terrifying?!
A surge of shock welled up in Onigumo's heart. He had never intended to look down on Rowan, but he realized now that he had still vastly underestimated the man who had been retired for decades. Vice Admiral... it seems that wasn't this old man's limit after all.
Could it be that the rumor about Fleet Admiral Sengoku awarding him an "Honorary Admiral" medal was actually based on true merit?
Aside from the three Admirals and the elders close to Rowan, everyone else in the room was wearing an expression of pure shock. For a moment, the conference room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
One move. It only took one move to instantly defeat an elite Rear Admiral!
Is this the true power of the Marine Godfather? During his previous years in the Navy, did he simply not care to show his strength? Was that why the rumors only spoke of an 'average' Vice Admiral?
On the field, seeing Rowan's display, Momonga's face showed no fear. Instead, his excitement grew. This was the Marine Godfather he had imagined! How else could he have raised legends like Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr?
As for Hayden and Pierre, the other two Rear Admirals who hadn't moved yet—their scalps felt numb the moment Carmage flew through the air. This level of power... was this really just "Vice Admiral" level? That speed was arguably on par with Admiral Kizaru, Mr. Borsalino!
But Admiral Kizaru was a Light-Man who had eaten the Glint-Glint Fruit; light speed was natural for him. Old Man Rowan wasn't a Devil Fruit user!
Although they both wanted to surrender and withdraw from the challenge right now, the last shred of pride in their hearts as elite Headquarters officers wouldn't allow them to lose face like that.
Forget it! They took a deep breath and stepped forward, gazes fixed warily on Rowan.
So be it! The worst that happens is we get knocked out like Carmage! At least we're losing to a legend. He's the mentor of Garp and Sengoku. Losing to a powerhouse of this caliber... is actually an honor!
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