"The deck… it's going to collapse!"
"Retreat, now!"
The members of the Eight Treasures Water Army scrambled backward as cracks spread beneath their feet. Panic swept through the crew; some clutched the railings while others stumbled in fear.
Abu, clutching his warped arm, stared at the aftermath of the clash between Ghost Hand Rowan and Old Cai. He hadn't expected Rowan's strength to rival Old Cai, let alone that the aftershocks of their collision would shake the ship so violently.
Boom!
The combined force of Warp Power and impact energy erupted with a deafening roar. Rowan's fist wavered slightly, taking a small step back.
Before Abu or the other crew members could celebrate, Old Cai twisted his body midair, flipping three meters away with a loud crunch as joints protested.
Crash!
The deck, weakened and overstrained, collapsed beneath them, centering on the epicenter of Rowan and Old Cai's clash. Rowan leapt to the railing on one side; Old Cai, limping but steady, landed on the opposite side.
Old Cai's face was grave. His leg, used to clash with Rowan, trembled and strained under the lingering force. Though not broken, it had clearly been severely warped.
"The Eight Rush Fist… passed down through generations, is… this?" Rowan murmured, flexing his arm to dispel the numbness from the recoil of the previous strike.
Whoosh!
Rowan surged forward, his body a blur, closing the distance to Old Cai.
"This guy…" Old Cai's face darkened. He hadn't expected Rowan to recover so easily from the aftershocks, especially with his own leg compromised. He clenched his right fist, gathering Haki and force to meet the oncoming attack.
Boom!
Their fists collided. Old Cai's punch, weaker than his previous leg strike, shattered the railing beneath him, embedding him into the deck.
Crack!
Struggling free, Old Cai leapt backward, but Rowan gave him no respite. He advanced, throwing a flurry of punchescountless phantom fists raining down like a thousand-armed Shura.
Old Cai's weak Observation Haki allowed him to locate Rowan's true form, but the speed and volume of the attacks left him no time to counter. He crossed his arms, reinforcing them with Armament Haki.
Bang!
Rowan's Warp-infused fist struck between Old Cai's arms. Even with Warp Light activated, the punch hit solidly. Old Cai's Haki couldn't fully withstand it; his tendons, bones, and muscles twisted violently.
"Hiss!" Old Cai cried out, pain lacing his voice. Despite tensing every fiber of his body, his arms were sprained and bruised, swelling instantly under the Warp Force.
The terrifying power of the Warp-Warp Fruit became undeniable. Without sufficient physique or Haki, every blow inflicted devastating damage, stacking like the shockwaves of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
"Damn it!"
Abu, clutching his injured arm, shouted to the nearby crew.
"All of youattack! Kill that brat!"
"…Yes!"
The Water Army, intimidated by Rowan's dominance over Old Cai, steeled themselves. Swords clashed, guns fired, and portable cannons roared toward him.
Rowan did not flinch. His eyes flickered, and he spread his arms, a subtle gesture that seemed to command the void.
Hum!
Bullets and shells twisted in midair under his Warp Power, redirecting and striking the attackers' own deck.
"Damn it!" Old Cai tried to retreat, but his swollen arms and compromised leg slowed him. Even with Observation Haki, he could not evade the onslaught. Blood sprayed, and he clutched the railing, barely standing.
"It's over," Rowan said calmly. "I'll give you a dignified death."
He drew the famed sword Harule from his waist and stepped forward.
Sshh!
Blood spurted. Old Cai's body crumpled to the deck. Silence fell.
The Water Army froze. Swords and guns stopped mid-swing. Time seemed suspended.
Old Cai was dead.
Even those who had fought across the Grand Line couldn't believe it. Old Cai, the 13th-generation Deputy Leader, the heir apparent to Leader Green Pepper, was slain herein the West Blueby a single pirate.
"You… you killed the Deputy Leader…"
"If Green Pepper finds out…"
The whispers trembled through the crew. Green Pepper, known as Drill Green Pepper, had once dominated the seas before the Great Pirate Era. His bounty: 500 million Berries.
"How… could this happen?"
Abu stared at Old Cai's fallen body. His heart nearly stopped. Thoughts of Green Pepper's wrath made cold sweat pour from his forehead. Even he might not survive the storm of rage to come.
In his gaze, shock, fear, and disbelief warred.
"You're finished…"
"Even if you hide in the Grand Line…"
"You'll be hunted to the ends of the Earth. The old man"
Sshh!
A flash of steel cut through Abu's words. Blood spurted along the blade as Rowan withdrew, calm as ever. He looked forward, ignoring the fallen pirate, and spoke with quiet authority:
"If you want to hunt me… come."
Who could fear the world when they had already mastered a power that even the West Blue Marines dared not challenge?