Bang!
In an instant, Mio appeared in front of Silver Axe, unleashing a full-powered punch.
A devastating force erupted with the blow.
Sensing the deadly momentum coming at him, Silver Axe's expression changed drastically. A powerful sense of crisis surged in his heart. Without hesitation, he swung his massive axe down toward Mio.
"As a newcomer, you should learn what true strength is! Only then will you stop acting arrogant in front of your elders!" Silver Axe sneered. Muscles rippled across his arms as he brought down his axe with immense power.
As one of the former captains of the Rocks Pirates, Silver Axe had stood shoulder to shoulder with legends like Whitebeard. His strength was no small matter—his axe was said to be capable of leveling entire islands in short order.
But just then—
Swoosh—
As the massive axe descended, Mio's fist was instantly coated in Armament Haki, and it collided with Silver Axe's strike.
Clang!
The shockwave from the impact erupted violently, sweeping outward like a hurricane. Dust billowed, trees were uprooted, and the characteristic bubbles of the Sabaody Archipelago shattered in waves.
Sparks scattered from the contact point, and Mio could feel the crushing pressure coming from Silver Axe's weapon.
"Is that all? Disappointing." Mio smirked, voice dripping with contempt. Then, without holding back, he unleashed his full strength.
Boom!
"What?!" Silver Axe's eyes bulged with disbelief as his massive body was launched into the air. He crashed violently into the ground in the distance, forming a massive crater.
Cough. Blood spilled from the corner of Silver Axe's mouth. He groaned and staggered to his feet, face filled with shock and disbelief.
That level of strength… it was something he hadn't felt in years.
Even Whitebeard hadn't hit him like that. Only Rocks D. Xebec had ever made him feel such overwhelming pressure.
Back in the era of the Rocks Pirates, there was no such thing as a Pirate King. Pirates simply burned, killed, and looted, seeking to rule over territory and live freely. The concept of "Pirate King" was nonexistent.
That time was far more chaotic than the current age.
Brutality wasn't limited to civilians—pirates slaughtered each other constantly. Entire crews would wipe each other out on the open sea.
This cutthroat environment forged many powerful individuals.
That's why the old generation of pirates tended to look down on the so-called "new era."
To them, the new generation were nothing more than fame-driven upstarts—hyped by the media, lacking real grit.
Silver Axe had believed the same.
Until now.
Now, his expression turned serious.
He understood. If he was careless…
He'd die here.
"A frog in the well…" Silver Axe muttered bitterly to himself, then licked his lips and grinned. A fire lit in his eyes.
"Kid, I came out looking for the old dogs like Whitebeard and Kaido to see if they could awaken the thrill of battle in me again. I didn't expect to find someone like you instead. But I must say… I'm impressed. I never imagined someone of your caliber would emerge in Roger's new era."
Boom—
Silver Axe's body surged with Haki. Jet-black Armament Haki covered his entire body, while his enormous axe gleamed with an obsidian sheen.
A menacing battle aura erupted from him as his eyes locked on Mio with blazing intent.
"I've been hiding for a long time. I haven't had a proper fight in decades. I waited and waited, hoping the old man could escape. But recently… I realized he won't be coming back. So I set sail again—planning to test Whitebeard, or Kaido—but you'll do just fine."
Most pirates feared death.
But not the pirates of the Rocks Era. Not the ones like Roger and Silver Axe.
For them, death came only after ambition and battle.
Some would rather die fighting than live in silence.
And Silver Axe was no exception.
In Mio, he saw not a mere upstart—but a true warrior worthy of clashing with him.
He no longer cared about survival.
He wanted a real fight—and this was it.
"You want to fight me?" Mio sneered, his smile razor-sharp. "Then be prepared to die. No one's going to clean up your corpse afterward."
Silver Axe was a monster of the old world.
But Mio wasn't afraid of him.
He welcomed the clash.
A scarlet aura exploded from Mio's body, his Armament Haki wrapping tightly around him. The demonic aura formed armor that layered over his hardened body like molten steel.
Bang!
He took a step forward.
Flames roared to life on his fists—imbued with the power of the dragon.
The ground cracked and shattered beneath him, and in the blink of an eye, Mio appeared before Silver Axe once more.
Fist raised.
Punch unleashed—
…
Sabaody Archipelago — Area 13, Shakky's Bar
Inside, Rayleigh was casually sipping a drink while chatting with Xia Qi about the current state of the world. Though retired, Rayleigh still liked to keep an ear to the sea and followed the rise of new pirates with interest.
But suddenly, his brow furrowed.
He turned toward the direction of the disturbance.
"What a tremendous clash… I wonder which two fools are going at it," Rayleigh said with mild amusement.
"Could it be the little Black Crow?" Xia Qi asked, calm as ever.
"Oh?" Rayleigh blinked in realization. He remembered that the Black Crow, Mio, had recently left the New World. "That's possible. But whoever he's fighting… must be a serious threat. Interesting."
With a grin, Rayleigh's figure vanished from the bar.
He wanted to see for himself—
Who dares to challenge the Black Crow.