"Divine Departure???"
"Why can you use it too!!!"
As two Aces clashed, both wrapped in overwhelming Conqueror's Haki, black and red lightning storms erupted from the point of impact, spreading wildly in every direction.
Divine Departure vs Divine Departure!!!
Ace vs Ace!!!
The terrifying momentum burst outward from the center of their clash, shaking heaven and earth.
The crew of the Roger Pirates faced the shockwaves head-on, gritting their teeth to withstand the force, their expressions grave as they looked at the two men crossing blades.
What the hell is going on??!!
"It's still the same line—beat me, and I'll tell you!!!"
"Such arrogance…"
At this time, Roger had yet to grow the long whisker-like nose hairs of later years. Draped in a red cloak, he embodied the aura of a young king in his prime.
In that instant, a crimson light flashed in his eyes.
Crackling Conqueror's lightning roared around him. This was not the carefree, laughing middle-aged man who once joked with Orin, but one of the few true legends of the sea.
Gripping Ace, his cloak billowing in the wind, Roger swung with a slash even more domineering than before.
"My name is Roger!!! If you want to challenge me, you'd better make sure you don't die!!!"
Buzz—!!!
It was as if space itself had been cleaved apart. The Conqueror's Haki entwined around his blade was on par with even peak-level Shanks. Orin felt locked down—pinned in place.
He had a sharp intuition…
If his Warp-Warp Fruit hadn't awakened, there was absolutely no way he could dodge this strike.
"But that's what makes it interesting!!!"
Even now, compared to peak Whitebeard or Roger, his raw strength still had a slight gap.
But with enough time here, that gap would surely vanish!!
Boom boom boom—
Instead of dodging Roger's peak slash, Orin chose to meet it head-on, wanting to feel exactly how vast that gap was.
The slash landed.
Half of Island trembled as crimson light spread across the sky.
To the Roger Pirates, it was clear—Roger was finally serious.
"It's been so long… Roger's actually fighting at full power!"
"Yeah… the last time must've been against that bastard Garp."
"That young man better not die from this~"
The scene was apocalyptic. A peak-level Emperor's strike was no exaggeration to call world-shattering. Half the island split apart, while the clouds above had already been torn to shreds.
"No…"
At the forefront, a blond man gripped his sword tightly, cutting off the crew's chatter. His gaze was solemn.
Beside him stood Gaban, and Petermoo, the sniper whose specialty was Observation Haki—and also Orin's sharpshooting teacher.
Their expressions were grave as they stared at the massive crater Roger's strike had left, as if something terrifying lurked within.
Roger's attack was brutal. Even with Orin's full defense, his blade was still knocked aside.
A deep wound split across his chest, blood pouring out as his body was sent crashing into a mountainside, carving out a crater hundreds of meters wide.
Divine Departure? I don't dodge.
Crack crack—
Rubble slid down the mountainside as Orin moved. Stepping out of the settling dust, his pace was slow and steady.
"He took that strike head-on, and he's still standing?"
"What a monster!!!"
Those with stronger Observation Haki could sense it—Orin's overwhelming aura and his rapidly recovering vitality.
With every step, the wound on his chest visibly healed, organs realigned, blood reversed its flow, and flesh stitched itself back together.
The dust cloud still hid his face, but his calm, deliberate footsteps and steadily rising aura made it impossible for anyone to underestimate him.
Especially with that glowing crimson cross of energy forming around his fist, growing brighter and brighter.
"That looks familiar…"
"That move?"
Buzz…
As the smoke fully cleared, Orin stood unscathed. One hand in his pocket, the other clenched around a compressed sphere of Conqueror's Haki—so condensed it had transformed from lightning into pure laser.
Its terrifying power twisted the very space around his fist, like he was holding a miniature sun.
Yet Orin's face was calm.
He bent slightly into a striking stance, fist ready.
The crimson cross flared, its radiance so intense no one could look directly at it.
"That was a powerful slash. Now it's my turn, Roger…"
"Nani!!!"
Roger's eyes widened—he recognized this move.
Could it be… this guy's a Marine?! Otherwise how could he know this technique?
A wave of instinctual dread washed over him. He hastily called on Observation Haki to peer into the near future.
But Orin gave him no chance. The moment red light flickered in Roger's pupils, Orin vanished…
In just a blink, his figure appeared directly before him.
"Useless…"
The blazing sunlike cross smashed into Roger's face. In that instant, his eyes rolled white, blood gushed from his mouth, and his body contorted grotesquely.
"Galaxy Impact!!!"
Orin's sucker-punch carried his full strength.
It was only because Roger was in his absolute prime—nearly unkillable—that Orin dared to strike without holding back.
To go all-out—
That's the only true respect for Captain Roger!!!
"Hey!!!"
"Roger!!!"
"You bastard!!!"
This time, it was Roger who was sent flying. He tore through the ground, smashing into countless craters, until finally, with Rayleigh and Gaban joining forces, they barely managed to catch him before he hit the sea.
Even together, they were shaken by the sheer momentum of his fall.
What kind of terrifying power was this!!!
Looking at the hundred-meter trench gouged into the ground, both men wore unprecedentedly serious expressions.
Roger wasn't down for good, but he was wounded. A deep scar marked his chest, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth…
And yet, instead of despair, his face broke into a wide, joyous grin as he wiped away the blood, coughing as he laughed.
"You really are strong!!! You bastard!!!"
"You can use my Divine Departure… and even Garp's technique too…"
"I absolutely have to defeat you, and make you join my crew!!!"
Seeing Roger laugh through bloodied lips, Rayleigh and Gaban were left speechless. They grabbed his collar, exasperated.
"Roger, stop fooling around! This guy's ability is bizarre!"
"And you don't even know who he is! How can you just invite him aboard?!"
"Don't be so uptight, Rayleigh, Gaban…"
Watching the three of them chatting mid-battle, Orin didn't grow angry. Instead, he raised his hand. Ace instantly appeared in his grip.
After all, these were the seniors and mentors he respected most. So…
It was only natural he wanted them to help him train!
"Since this is about pushing limits… let's make it big…"
"Hey! Roger Pirates!!!"
"Come at me all together!!!"