The moment that voice filled with barely restrained anger rang out, everyone turned involuntarily toward it.
Narrow, slit-like eyes.
Ears that stuck out like wind-catchers.
A hexagonal head.
All these mismatched features pieced together to form a face so hideous it could startle gods and make ghosts weep.
Ugly—and sleazy.
If Admiral Kizaru's sleaziness came from his personality, then Kake's sleaziness was a masterpiece of pure appearance.
Perhaps that was why so few people followed him. Even when rumors circulated that he was the strongest newcomer of this year, it made no difference.
Not that it diminished his strength in the slightest.
Even though Kake had lost to Gion because he underestimated her, many still believed he was the true strongest.
After all, everyone understood well: Zoan-types provide the greatest power boost in early stages—and Mythical Zoans even possess the potential to turn one into a top-tier powerhouse.
Because of this, the crowd instantly erupted into noisy debate when Kake issued his challenge.
"Those two monsters are going to fight again? Last time the match between Kake and Gion ended way too quickly. I hope this one lasts longer!"
"I wonder who'll win!"
"We all know how strong Kake is. Since he suffered once already, he won't underestimate his opponent again. That Longinus guy doesn't stand a chance."
"You idiot. You think your judgment surpasses Admiral Zephyr's? If Zephyr ranked Longinus first, it means his strength is definitely above that fat boar!"
"I agree. Kake's chances don't look good. Longinus is a freak with straight S-rank evaluations."
"Trust Admiral Zephyr's vision! You fools just watch—our boss's strength isn't something that guy can compare to!"
Even the instructors began quietly discussing among themselves. It had been many years since monsters of this level had appeared—much less colliding against each other.
The last time they'd seen combat at this level… they had to recall the very first batch of recruits—Sakazuki and Borsalino.
"What do you think, Dorag?" Zephyr asked with a smile.
"Longinus will win." Dragon's answer was firm and crisp. After a pause, he added, "Crushingly."
A nearby Rear Admiral, overhearing their conversation, asked in disbelief,
"Vice Admiral Dragon, do you mean… Longinus will defeat Kake with overwhelming advantage?"
Dragon nodded. "Yes." His words were precious and few.
"But even if Longinus has already grasped Observation Haki, shouldn't the gap still be small? Kake is an S-rated monster too!"
Another Rear Admiral followed, baffled:
"It's true Kake was crushed by Gion earlier, but it was because he was careless and didn't even activate his Zoan form. He won't make the same mistake again, right?"
"Longinus's S-rank," Dragon said plainly, "is only because the evaluation stops at S."
"What… what!?"
The assembled Rear Admirals and Vice Admirals stared in disbelief. They had known Longinus was strong—
but that strong?
Their gazes all shifted toward Admiral Zephyr, waiting for confirmation.
Zephyr sighed.
"My earlier words were mostly meant to knock some sense into Kake. He's a talented boy, and his hard work had never escaped my notice. Unfortunately, the great power granted by his Mythical Zoan blinded him. He's become lax—lazy even. I hope this defeat will finally wake him up."
Does a Devil Fruit change someone so much?
How did the once mild, courteous, humble Kake become like… this?
Zephyr lamented silently.
The officers listening felt their hearts tremble. Zephyr hadn't said it outright, but his meaning was unmistakable:
Kake would suffer a devastating defeat at Longinus's hands.
Longinus stepped forward with a nod.
There was no reason for him to refuse a challenge from Kake.
He had long known of the underground rumors comparing them, but he never took the initiative to challenge Kake.
If he eagerly fought just to prove himself, it would clash with his carefully cultivated "hero" persona.
But if the other side initiated…
there would be no such issue.
Seeing Longinus silently walk out—as if dismissing his existence entirely—Kake's fury only worsened. With a roar, he shot forward like a cannonball.
Clumsy his body might be, but his speed surpassed most trainees. At full burst, he even left afterimages.
Unfortunately for him…
Longinus was faster by more than a margin.
Mid-charge, Kake suddenly realized his target had vanished.
Before he could react, a powerful blast of wind slammed into him from the side.
He caught a glimpse of a right leg—sharp and heavy like a battle axe—rapidly enlarging in his vision…
Then filling his entire gaze.
He shot across the training field like a violently punted ball, crashing into the mountainside with a deafening boom and clouds of dust.
"You've got to be kidding! Kake got kicked away!?"
"When did Longinus even move? I didn't see anything—Kake was just suddenly flying!"
Standing at the front, Zephyr frowned.
"Why didn't Kake transform immediately? Has he really grown this arrogant?"
From within the drifting dust, a bulky silhouette burst free.
Kake's limbs thickened, his torso bloated—an awkward, half-beast form.
"Hybrid form? You think that level of boost can defeat me?"
Zoans had three standard forms:
Human form—agility.
Beast form—strength.
Hybrid—balanced.
But Mythical Zoans' special abilities only manifested fully in full beast form.
Not just Longinus—everyone watching was baffled.
From that brief exchange just now, the gap between them was an abyss. There was no way Kake didn't understand that.
To still hold back his true transformation—
Was he an idiot?
"None of your business! Beat me first, then talk!"
Kake roared, charging forward. Every step split the ground, leaving long cracks behind him—each stride shaking the earth.
"I don't know why you insist on doing this… but against me, holding back your power is nothing but foolish!"
Longinus blurred forward in an instant, appearing before Kake.
In the reflection of Kake's shrinking pupils, he fired off more than a hundred punches at point-blank range—all slamming into Kake's abdomen.
This time, Kake wasn't blown away.
Instead, he vomited blood in a great spray, clearly suffering severe internal damage.
"B-bastard! Don't get too cocky—!"
Kake lunged again—only to be blasted backward even faster than before.
Only now did the ranking officers finally understand why Longinus's S-rank was said to be limited only by the scale's cap.
On paper, their strength and physique were both S-class.
Kake's transformation should have pushed him ahead.
But reality was the opposite—the gap between them felt like an uncrossable chasm.
If Kake hadn't relied on Zoan recovery to barely hold himself together, the fight would've ended at the very beginning.
Even so, the battle continued.
Kake clung on desperately with his Zoan stamina, while Longinus refrained from using excessively brutal techniques, creating a strange stalemate.
At last, Longinus seemed bored.
"Since you still refuse to use your real ability… this pointless battle no longer needs to continue."
"Pointless? Meaningless!? You think you—mff!?"
Kake roared furiously—
only for his voice to suddenly stop.
Threads—endless, tightening threads—wrapped around his entire face, sealing his mouth, nose… even obstructing his breathing.
Longinus's long hair whipped wildly, coiling like venomous serpents to bind Kake's head.
The sight made the entire audience shudder in horror.
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