"Now this is just refusing to accept defeat."
Rowan spread his hands helplessly.
"It's not like you have no way to get down. Just deactivate your Devil Fruit then deliberately dislocate both of your shoulders. Your diamond-transformed joints are simply too hard. So remember this in the future. When choosing an opponent, use your brain a little. Pick someone whose abilities your own can actually counter."
At that moment Vista, who had been quietly watching the whole exchange, finally spoke.
"Jozu. A loss is a loss. You're not the only one who got beaten. Marco and Satch lost too."
Those words finally quieted the man hanging from the tree.
Rowan then looked at Vista. "So you should be the last one. The last division commander, right?"
Vista slowly drew his twin swords. "We can't be that shameless. The ones blocking your way were always going to be division commanders. I just didn't expect you'd get here this quickly."
By now the division commanders Rowan had already defeated had all gathered because of Jozu's stubbornness.
Not every commander of the Whitebeard Pirates was present but there were still quite a few.
The younger pirates and the ordinary crew members who had been waiting farther inside also came over to watch. In an instant the place became lively.
"Hahaha! Jozu! What happened to you? I heard you couldn't accept losing! Were you hung up and beaten? Hahahaha! That's pretty embarrassing, Jozu!"
"You bastards!" Jozu glared furiously. "None of you are any better! Marco! Satch! Didn't you two get taken down in a single move too?!"
Marco and Satch exchanged a glance. Then as if by prior agreement they both shook their heads vigorously.
"How could that be? Didn't you hear all the commotion? The shoreline practically split apart from our battle!"
"Exactly! Those reefs were smashed into pieces. Sure we lost in the end, but at least we lost with dignity."
As Satch spoke he subtly glanced at Rowan. The meaning was obvious. Marco and I accepted defeat. We didn't keep pestering you. So don't expose us.
Seeing this the other commanders who had arrived immediately joined in with their own outrageous stories.
Even those who had been instantly defeated by the Flying Thunder God began boasting about their "fierce battle."
According to them they had fought desperately only to be narrowly defeated by Rowan's final move. One pirate even claimed he had almost dragged Rowan into the sea.
"If those two fish-men hadn't rescued him there wouldn't even be a banquet tonight!"
The Whitebeard Pirates' traditional talent exaggerating their own exploits was on full display. Naturally they were only putting on a show for their own crewmates.
Unfortunately Jozu wasn't buying any of it. After all he had personally experienced Rowan casually suppressing his Devil Fruit with Seastone.
"You think I'm an idiot?! You bunch of liars! That guy isn't affected by seawater at all!"
The entire crowd froze. Everyone knew that the Revolutionary possessed numerous mysterious abilities.
His bounty poster alone made that abundantly clear. Although no one knew exactly why, since he possessed Devil Fruit powers he should naturally be vulnerable to seawater and Seastone but now
"I don't know about anything else!" Jozu stared at Vista.
"But I'm absolutely certain this guy isn't affected by Seastone! He grabbed Seastone with his bare hand and used it to suppress my Devil Fruit. I saw it with my own eyes!"
Rowan, who had been silently listening to the pirates' shameless boasting, finally looked over.
"Your powers of observation aren't bad. So that's why you kept pestering me instead of admitting defeat?"
Jozu turned his head away. Only to discover that every one of his crewmates was pulling faces at him.
"Tch."
"Jozu. Losing isn't anything to be ashamed of. No matter how much we brag, all of us lost."
"But if you don't even have the courage to admit defeat, then that's a different matter. We're not idiots. We can all tell that our guest never intended to kill anyone."
Jozu let out a sigh. Then he looked at Rowan.
"I'm sorry."
The diamond covering his body faded away. He gritted his teeth and forcefully dislocated both of his shoulders.
Crack! With his arms hanging limp, he twisted into another position. Enduring the pain, he pulled a dagger from his mouth with his teeth.
Then cut through the strips of clothing binding him. Landing lightly on the ground.
Rowan glanced at him.
"Not bad. An ability with obvious weaknesses usually has equally obvious strengths."
"I hope that the next time we meet, you'll be stronger."
With that, Rowan turned toward the final person blocking his path. Vista. He repeated the same question.
"Ready?"
Vista looked at Rowan.
"You're not drawing your sword?"
Rowan replied,
"If we're talking strictly about swordsmanship, I'm still rather inexperienced."
"But if I use the special power of this sword, I'm afraid even a simple draw would leave me unable to stop in time."
Vista frowned.
"So you're looking down on me after all. I know I'm probably no match for you."
"But if I lose to a swordsman without even making him draw his blade, that would be the greatest humiliation."
Rowan rubbed his forehead helplessly. He was about to say something when his Observation Haki detected someone standing behind the crowd of pirates.
In that instant he understood. So that's how it is. No wonder Marco would later reject Shanks' invitation, saying he didn't want to keep playing the game of veterans raising newcomers.
This was exactly the effect Whitebeard wanted. He's using me as a whetstone for his sons.
Thinking that, Rowan rested his right hand on the hilt of Ryūjin Jakka's sealed Zanpakutō.
"It's fast. As for its power, I haven't tested it against opponents at your level."
As Rowan spoke to Vista, faint waves of Conqueror's Haki quietly spread toward the towering figure standing behind the crowd. A reminder. Pay attention.
"Since this is your own request, and I've already warned you, if you die, don't blame me."
Vista nodded solemnly. His curled mustache twitched slightly. Both swords in his hands became coated in Armament Haki. Faint pink glimmers bloomed around the blades.
Although he himself had insisted on this duel, he knew perfectly well that the gap between them might be enormous.
The moment Rowan placed his hand on the sword hilt, Vista had already raised his guard to the highest level.
Within the ranks of the Whitebeard Pirates, many of the younger members couldn't help swallowing nervously.
Among them, one man with a large potbelly stood behind Vista. His face was filled with excitement as he stared at Rowan.
Such power. A man who swept through the Whitebeard Pirates' division commanders in such a short time. He's unbelievably strong.
If, if I can obtain that Devil Fruit, then no matter how many abilities someone like him possesses, I'll still be able to counter them! It will definitely work.
When the time comes, if I invite someone like this aboard my ship, my ambition will surely be realized.
Boom! Black lightning exploded across the sky. The Conqueror's Haki that erupted in an instant made every pirate present, except Whitebeard, feel their hearts tremble.
This. This is the bearing of a king!
The very next moment, the overwhelming Conqueror's Haki was completely absorbed by the still-sheathed Zanpakutō in Rowan's hand.
At that same instant, Whitebeard Newgate, who until now had merely been watching with mild interest, suddenly leaped into the air.
His own Conqueror's Haki burst forth. Black lightning crackled across the Supreme Grade Blade, Murakumogiri. At the same time, the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit condensed into shimmering rings around the blade.
A downward slash! In the blink of an eye, at a speed like a streak of light, Ryūjin Jakka's sealed Zanpakutō was drawn from its sheath.
Vista's Observation Haki sensed only one thing. Danger. Yet he had no time to react. His instinct for survival, the sixth sense that screamed when death was imminent, made him feel as though he had already been severed by that streak of light.
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion erupted. The ground split apart inch by inch. The island's trees were uprooted one after another. The shockwave swept through the area, sending the watching pirates flying. The earth continued to tremble.
"Pff!"
Several of the newer recruits spat out blood. The vibration alone had already injured their internal organs.
Marco and Satch, who had just been teasing Jozu, as well as Izo, who had been standing beside Pops moments earlier, all turned pale.
They raised their arms to shield themselves from the shockwave. Only then did they fail to notice the enormous figure who had flashed into the center of the battlefield.
"Vista!!"
Marco cried out in panic. Satch, and Jozu, who had only just reset his shoulders, also lowered their arms, frantically looking toward the battlefield.
That attack, that power, was almost identical to the clashes between Pops and Roger. Back then, even Jozu couldn't get anywhere near the battlefield.
As for Marco, who had been even younger, it was completely impossible.
How could this guy be this strong? Originally they had thought that even if Vista couldn't win, at worst he would simply be defeated in one move, just like the rest of them. Nothing more.
But they never expected that the instant Rowan drew his sword, the power unleashed would resemble a natural disaster.
At that moment, the clouds that had concealed the moonlight were split cleanly in two. Moonlight poured down upon the island. As the dust slowly settled, everyone finally saw what had happened.
"P-Pops?"
Behind Whitebeard, Vista's legs went weak. He collapsed onto the ground. Seeing his condition, Whitebeard frowned slightly. Then looked back at Rowan.
"Brat, I only wanted you to temper these children a little. You overdid it."
The sealed Zanpakutō separated from Murakumogiri. Rowan glanced at Vista.
"I once heard a swordsman say, 'To suffer a wound on your back is a swordsman's greatest shame.'"
"Your path isn't the same as mine. But if this is the extent of your resolve, then your future will go no farther than this."
Just as arrogant as ever. Yet Whitebeard said nothing. He merely cast a glance toward the son behind him.
Vista struggled to his feet. His breathing was ragged. His expression was unsightly. But he still stepped forward.
"Huff. Huff. Pops. I want to try."
Whitebeard didn't need him to explain. He already knew exactly what his foolish son wanted to do. But that slash just now.
"To receive a wound on one's back is a swordsman's shame."
"But to be protected by your aging father standing before you is equally shameful!"
Vista roared. His eyes remained fixed on Rowan.
"If I'm terrified by the fear of death, then from this day forward, my path as a swordsman ends here. Doesn't it?"
Slowly Rowan returned the sealed Zanpakutō to its sheath. Yet his right hand remained resting on the hilt.
"I accept."
At that moment the Whitebeard Pirates had finally understood. No one joked anymore.
After witnessing that streak of light, a slash capable of cleaving the sea itself, they all knew Vista couldn't stop it. Yet not a single person tried to persuade him otherwise.
Jozu's refusal to admit defeat could be laughed at. Being embarrassed after losing in one move, and making up ridiculous stories to save face, that was fine too.
But now their companion had wagered a swordsman's honor. He had staked his very future on this single slash.
Even if it cost him his life, none of them would stop him. None of them would try to persuade him.
Just as Vista had said,
"To be saved by your aging father standing before you is equally shameful."
Such shame they would never accept. And neither would Vista.
"Give it everything you've got, Vista!"
"I believe in you! You can withstand this slash!"
"He's just the Cloaked Man! I almost dragged him into the sea earlier!"
"You can do it! Who are we?! We're Whitebeard's sons!"
At that moment, Whitebeard Newgate looked toward Vista. As he turned his head, Rowan clearly noticed the brief glance Whitebeard cast in his direction. It was obvious.
The exchange of Conqueror's Haki at the beginning of that first slash had allowed the two of them to reach a silent understanding.
Rowan sighed inwardly. The old one, and all these younger ones, they're not even my sons. Yet from the very beginning I've been maneuvered into this. He's making me help temper his children.
Still, those provoking words to Vista had come from Rowan himself. Now he naturally had to see it through.
"Gurararara."
Thud. Murakumogiri rested against the cracked earth. Whitebeard laughed loudly as he looked at Vista.
"Then go. As long as you carry my name, there's no way your journey ends here, Vista!"
"Pops."
Vista's curled mustache trembled slightly. His eyes filled with tears. But he didn't wipe them away. Instead he forced them back.
At a time like this, how could I embarrass Pops? I am Whitebeard's son.
He took a step forward. Passing by his father. Vista stood directly before Rowan. Haki flowed from both hands into his twin swords.
The aura unique to a swordsman gradually enveloped the surroundings. His Haki seemed just a tiny bit stronger than before.
Rowan smiled faintly.
"Think carefully. Without Newgate, that slash just now was something your current strength could never have blocked."
"If your body were cut in two, then even Whitebeard wouldn't be able to save you."
Vista's gaze sharpened.
"I understand exactly what you're saying. But I also believe, and Pops believes, and all my brothers believe, that I can do it."
Rowan's expression became serious.
"Then your life may very well end here."
The words fell. Everything happened exactly as before. Black lightning exploded across the sky.
The overwhelming Conqueror's Haki was instantly absorbed by the sealed Zanpakutō in Rowan's hand.
Having already witnessed that scene once, Vista pushed his Observation Haki to its absolute limit. His eyes never left Rowan. The Haki of a king. The unbelievable speed of that draw. Power. Haki. Both rivaling Pops himself.
Am I really going to die? No. My journey will not end here!
A drawing slash. The same terrifying speed. So fast that no movement could possibly keep up.
Whitebeard's eyes narrowed slightly. The veins on the back of the hand gripping Murakumogiri bulged. Yet he still did not move.
"Ah!"
Blood burst into the air. A massive wound ran diagonally across Vista's body, from his waist to his shoulder. The slash looked as though it had nearly cut him clean in two.
At the final possible instant, the Armament Haki he had hastily activated was cleaved apart. Fresh blood dyed the ground crimson.
Thud. Vista collapsed forward. His eyes remained wide open, staring at the moonlight visible through the path carved by the slash.
I'm still alive. Even against such a terrifying slash, at the very last instant he had successfully hardened his body with Armament Haki.
Since he couldn't stop the attack, then all he could do was reinforce his own defense. That was the only thing he could accomplish.
Although his Armament Haki had ultimately been cut through, that split-second reaction was exactly why he had survived.
By facing a slash capable of cleaving him in two. By facing death itself. Vista believed that the next time, the next time he encountered such power, he would never stop at this level again!
"Marco!!"
Whitebeard's voice rang out. Snapping Marco out of his shock. Azure flames burst into life. He yanked open the medical kit he always carried.
First he checked whether Vista's internal organs had been damaged. The blue flames swept across the wound. Then he quickly stopped the bleeding and stitched the wound shut.
"That was really close."
Marco muttered to himself. Letting out a long breath. Even the Mythical Zoan Phoenix Fruit couldn't bring back someone whose internal organs had been completely destroyed.
Vista's injuries looked terrifying. But none of his vital organs had been struck in a fatal spot. Although he had lost a great deal of blood, his life was no longer in danger.
Marco's thoughts raced for an instant. Yet his hands never stopped working.
So he held back? Of course. Someone capable of exchanging blows with Pops hard enough to shake an entire island, against Vista's level of Haki, there was no way the result should have been only this. This injury was measured perfectly.
Whitebeard walked over. Stopping beside Vista.
"Worthy of being my son! Gurararara!"
He planted Murakumogiri firmly on the ground.
"You've already done more than enough. Now watch your old man avenge you."
Enduring the pain, Vista slowly raised a hand.
"Pops."
"Hm?"
"Thank you."
"You foolish son. What son thanks his own father?"
Whitebeard smiled. He knew Vista had understood the tacit cooperation between himself and Rowan.
But having personally faced death would allow Vista to grow even further from this day onward.
In fact, after this experience, every division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates would enter a period of explosive growth.
Shamed by defeat, driven to become stronger. Whitebeard felt deeply gratified.
Even so, the battle that needed to be fought still had to be fought. Fish-Man Island held too many secrets. Secrets connected to the future Roger had gambled his life to create.
Whether the Revolutionary Army was truly the group Roger had been waiting for would require time to determine. But before that, they needed, at the very least, the courage to stand before the strongest man in the world.
Because the power possessed by the World Government was far greater than even his own, the man acknowledged as the World's Strongest.
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