"What was that!?" Scheit looked on in a daze. He could clearly feel something blocking him, but there was absolutely nothing visible in front of him. He could still see that faint, mocking smirk on Drake's face.
"Dammit, I don't believe this!" Scheit roared, striking again.
Drake looked up slightly, his hand curling into a loose fist, a playful curve tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Then I'll let you witness one of my actual moves."
Vrummm!
A strange energy surged. Drake threw a punch, but this time, he didn't manifest a spatial wall. He chose to meet the attack head-on.
BOOM!
Before the two fists could even make contact, a massive atmospheric explosion erupted between them.
C-Crack!
Cracks suddenly spread through the very air like shattered glass. A sharp light flashed in Drake's eyes, and the entire Fish-Man Island shook violently!
"Impossible! Cough..." Scheit's face filled with horror as blood sprayed from his mouth.
Beside them, Kenshin's pupils constricted. He looked on, completely baffled by what he was seeing.
"Ah..." Bell opened his mouth but couldn't find any words. Drake's display had utterly terrified him. That single punch felt like it had moved the entire island. What kind of strength was this?!
The fat lackey, meanwhile, was facedown on the ground "playing dead," his body trembling uncontrollably.
Drake stepped forward, standing over Scheit, and slammed a second punch downward!
BOOM!
A massive circular crater cratered the earth, sending dust and stones flying in every direction. Everyone on Fish-Man Island felt the tremors—like a localized earthquake—and an instinctive sense of dread washed over them.
"What's happening!? Send someone to investigate immediately!" Inside the Ryugu Palace, King Neptune barked an order.
"Yes, Sire!"
Drake reached down and hoisted the limp, rag-doll-like Scheit by the collar, walking back toward Bell and Kenshin.
"Drake, that move just now..." Even now, Kenshin found it hard to believe his eyes. Drake looked like a god descended from the heavens, his two punches literally shattering space... just like the Yonko Whitebeard at Marineford.
Each strike was heavy enough to move mountains and tip the four seas.
The Tremor-Tremor Fruit? Drake's technique was nearly identical to the Gura Gura no Mi's power, which had given Kenshin a real fright.
"This is my fruit ability," Drake said with a smile. "It has the power to control and manipulate space. The Tremor-Tremor Fruit shatters space; I can achieve the same effect by manipulating the spatial fabric to crack."
In his mind, Drake recalled his conversations with the System during their undersea voyage. Realizing his strength wasn't enough for the terrors of the New World, he had focused on mastering his fruit. The "Dog System," seemingly unable to stand his slow progress, had actually chimed in with some pointers.
Mastering this offensive technique made Drake realize just how broken his ability truly was. I can use the 'Shattering' power of the Gura Gura no Mi? It made sense—if he could control space, he could naturally strike with it or break it. "Versatile Spatial Manipulation"—that was his new definition for his power.
"This..." Kenshin started to speak but simply shook his head.
Thud! Drake tossed Scheit onto the ground like trash and looked at Bell. "He should know the specifics about your sister. Go ask him."
"Once you're done, we set sail for the New World!"
"Yes!" Bell nodded vigorously, looking at Drake with pure adoration. Drake was too cool—taking down a 200 million Berry powerhouse like Scheit without breaking a sweat. The hope of rescuing his sister felt real now.
Drake chuckled and walked over to the fat lackey. "Hey, stop playing dead. I know you're fine."
The fat man's round body gave a little wiggle before he sat up sheepishly, looking at Drake with apprehension.
"I have a question. Any big news in the New World lately?"
"Ah... well, that is..."
"Speak!" Drake gave him a level look.
"YES! The New World is in total chaos right now! Since Whitebeard won the Paramount War, his momentum is unmatched. Even the other Yonko aren't picking fights with the Whitebeard Pirates openly. It's... surprisingly peaceful at the top."
"But while the Four Emperors are quiet, the rookies are running wild. Eustass Kid, the former Rear Admiral X Drake, Blackbeard's crew, Scratchmen Apoo... they're all making waves."
"Alright, alright." Drake cut him off, feeling a headache coming on from the list of names. "Just tell me the big stuff."
"Right! Word is the Blackbeard Pirates defeated the Bonney Pirates and plan to hand their captain, Jewelry Bonney, over to the Navy..."
"Also, there are rumors Blackbeard is looking to make a move against the Whitebeard Pirates. Personally, I think he's suicidal. Whitebeard's morale is at an all-time high; a half-baked crew like Blackbeard's can't compare." The fat man looked at Drake expectantly.
He knew Drake's identity. The "Legendary Four Brothers" was the hottest topic in the New World. A man with that strength and that kind of backing was someone you didn't mess with. Their "Dark Clan" was likely doomed... the least he could do was stay on his good side by trashing his enemy, Blackbeard. After all, Blackbeard was the one who handed Ace to the Navy and started the whole mess.
Drake saw through the fat man's flattery but didn't care. With Whitebeard healthy, Blackbeard was no threat—even if he somehow got a second fruit, the current Whitebeard would still crush him. What he didn't know, however, was that Whitebeard had already left his crew, and even Marco didn't know where he had taken Ace.
"Let them go," Drake said, gesturing to the three piteous mermaids.
"E-Eh, right away!" The fat man scrambled to untie them.
"Get what you needed?" Drake asked as Bell approached.
Bell bit his lip and nodded slowly. "Yeah..." His expression was a bit strange, but Drake just nodded back.
"Then let's go. I know you're in a hurry." Drake grinned. "Time to set sail!"
"Saviors, thank you so much for rescuing us! We..." The three mermaids started to express their gratitude, but Drake waved them off.
"Someone's coming," Bell said, his face turning solemn. "And there's a lot of them."
Who is coming to meet Drake? Is it the Royal Guard, or something more dangerous?