At a coating shipyard along the coast of Grove 53 in the Sabaody Archipelago.
*Boom!! Boom!!*
Accompanied by two loud crashes, holes were simultaneously smashed into the sides of two sailboats docked at the shore, sending splintered wood flying through the air.
"Cough... Cough, cough...!!"
Urouge lay on a pile of shattered wooden crates. He curled his lips into a grin, revealing bloodstained teeth as he stared into the dust cloud opposite him.
"You're quite capable, aren't you? It's hard to imagine a mere officer possessing such strength. Just how powerful is the Warlord himself?"
"Heh, to deal with someone of your level, there's no need for our captain to step in."
As the dust gradually settled, a disdainful sneer echoed from within. Gin's figure slowly emerged, the two tonfas in his hands spinning continuously.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his clothes were torn and covered in dirt. He looked somewhat battered, yet the fighting spirit in his eyes burned with increasing fervor.
"I see. So you're this type of person too? You're quite to my liking, hahahaha."
Urouge chuckled, using his left hand to push himself up from the broken crates.
"However, it seems I'm being underestimated. If you think this is all I've got, you're going to get beaten to a pulp."
Urouge's eyes gleamed with amusement. As he spoke, he slammed the massive, steel-pillar-like pencil he held in his right hand heavily onto the ground.
*Bang!*
"Karmic Retribution!!"
With a loud roar, Urouge's body suddenly expanded, the muscles in his arms bulging significantly.
His already burly and robust physique grew massive in the blink of an eye, making him look like a small giant.
"What is this? A Devil Fruit ability?"
Amidst his astonishment, Gin's eyes couldn't help but take on a more serious glint.
After exchanging blows for a while, he had thought he was more than capable of handling his opponent. He hadn't expected the man to have been holding back his true strength.
However.
"I don't know what kind of ability this is, but if it just makes you bigger, there's nothing to be afraid of."
Gin's gaze hardened. He kicked off the ground repeatedly with his toes, his figure flashing as he vanished from his spot.
"Shave!"
In the next instant, Gin abruptly appeared at Urouge's side. Before his opponent could react, he viciously smashed the iron ball of his weapon into Urouge's abdomen!
*Bang!!*
The heavy, powerful strike landed with pinpoint accuracy. However...
Urouge did not double over in pain as Gin had expected. Instead, he reached out and grabbed the heavy iron ball with one hand, holding it as effortlessly as if it were an egg.
Seeing this, shock immediately filled Gin's eyes. He had definitely put his full strength into that strike, yet his opponent's defense had clearly increased by more than just a single level compared to before!
"I took a lot of hits from you earlier. Now, it's my turn."
Urouge flashed a savage grin. Gripping Gin's weapon tightly with his left hand, he clenched his right fist and threw a ferocious punch!
Facing this powerful blow, Gin gritted his teeth and hastily tensed all the muscles in his body to boost his defense.
"Iron Body!!"
*Bang!!*
The heavy punch slammed into his chest. The sheer power behind it far exceeded Gin's expectations; it felt as though he had been rammed head-on by a charging Triceratops.
In the next second.
*Crash!!*
Gin was sent flying backward at breakneck speed like a cannonball fired from a barrel, his back slamming heavily against the sailboat's mast!
"Gah—!"
Gin opened his mouth and spat out a large mouthful of blood. He lay sprawled on the ground with a pained expression, his internal organs churning violently.
Even though he had used Iron Body in time to defend himself, the punch had still nearly caused severe injuries. A sharp pain radiated from his chest, making it obvious that a few of his ribs were broken.
"What exaggerated strength..."
Gritting his teeth, Gin raised his head and looked at Urouge again, his eyes full of wariness.
While it was true that size equated to strength, the increase in power behind his opponent's punch had far exceeded what should have resulted from a mere change in physique.
Clearly, this wasn't as simple as just making his body bigger.
"Although the instructions said it would take time to fuse and slowly modify the body, still..."
Enduring the agonizing pain, Gin forced himself to stand. His eyes became bloodshot. At the same time, veins bulged across his skin, and his body gradually began to expand and grow larger bit by bit.
"No matter what, there's no way I can fall in a place like this."
"Oh? Even after witnessing my strength? Hahahaha, you'd better not just be pushing yourself too hard."
Urouge chuckled, his eyes narrowing slightly. Though he sounded dismissive, he was carefully observing the changes occurring in Gin's body.
In just a breath's time, Gin's body had expanded to a height of six meters, matching the enlarged Urouge. His shirt burst open, revealing robust muscles that were as hard as iron.
"Huu—!"
Gin's chest heaved as he panted heavily, veins bulging all over his body. He raised his hand and clenched his fist, then locked his eyes onto Urouge.
At this stage, he hadn't yet adapted to this power. Forcibly activating his Lineage Factor couldn't be maintained for long, and it would place a tremendous burden on his body.
Therefore.
"Next, let's end this quickly..."
A cold smirk tugged at the corner of Gin's mouth. The abundant power continuously surging within him made him feel incredibly wonderful and exhilarated.
Standing on two ships barely twenty meters apart, Gin and Urouge locked gazes. A few seconds later, both men charged at the same time!
Gin tossed aside his now unwieldy weapons. With a resolute look in his eyes, he clenched his fists tightly, arrived in front of Urouge, and threw a ferocious punch!
Facing this punch that whistled through the air, Urouge made no attempt to defend himself. Instead, he focused all his strength into throwing a punch of his own!
*Bang!!*
"Gah—!"
Both attacks landed simultaneously, each man taking a powerful punch straight to the face.
Their heads were knocked backward at the same time. They spat out mouthfuls of blood, their eyes rolling back as they nearly lost consciousness.
It was clear that neither Gin nor Urouge could easily withstand the other's heavy blows.
Yet, both of them forcefully endured it.
After landing back on the deck, Gin gritted his teeth and forcibly pulled his consciousness back. A vicious glint flashed in his eyes as he launched a heavy uppercut aimed right at his opponent's jaw.
This time, Urouge raised his thick arm to block, using his elbow to meet Gin's fist.
*Bang!*
After successfully parrying the blow, Urouge lowered his body forward and took the opportunity to grapple Gin. Veins popped on his forehead as he used his waist to generate backward momentum, violently lifting Gin up before slamming him ruthlessly into the ground!
*Boom!!*
The back of Gin's head struck the ground heavily, smashing a hole in the deck. Amidst the flying wood splinters, he quickly wrapped his legs around Urouge's neck, twisting forcefully to throw him away.
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
Urouge stumbled a few steps but quickly steadied himself. Before Gin could get up, he raised his fists and rushed forward rapidly.
"It's a pity! Unless you knocked me out right at the start, no matter how much power you gain now, you no longer have any chance!"
"Karmic Retribution!!"
*Bang!!*
Urouge let out a furious roar, his brutal fist smashing fiercely into the abdomen of Gin, who had just managed to right himself!
The punch caused Gin to double over instantly. His bloodshot eyes widened, and a mouthful of bile spilled from his lips.
From the moment Urouge strengthened his body and grew larger, it was destined that no one could take him down in a single strike. And once drawn into a prolonged melee brawl, his ability was practically unbeatable.
*Bang!! Bang!!*
"Hahahaha! The outcome was decided long ago! There's no need to keep acting tough!"
Urouge grinned broadly, raining punch after punch down on Gin, beating him into a continuous retreat.
With his final punch, Urouge unleashed his full power, sending Gin flying backward like a human cannonball to crash straight into the ship's cabin.
"Stay down!!"
*Boom!!*
Splintered wood flew everywhere as a cloud of dust billowed up.
Urouge stopped his assault, his chest heaving as he panted heavily. He stared intently into the dust-filled cabin, but no sound came from within for a long time.
"Hahahaha, looks like I win."
The corners of Urouge's mouth curled up slightly as he slowly dropped his fighting stance. However, before he could even breathe a sigh of relief...
"How scary..."
A sleazy voice suddenly drifted over from a distance. Urouge whipped his head around with a bewildered expression.
He saw Kizaru, dressed in his yellow striped suit, slowly walking toward him with his hands in his pockets.
"Good grief, are all the Supernovas monsters like you?"
"Marine Admiral Kizaru... Hey, hey, my luck can't be this bad today, can it..."
The moment he recognized the newcomer's identity, a bitter smile of despair and helplessness appeared on Urouge's face.
...