Next Bonus, 100!!
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'Even with the blood, even with the searing pain, this is it. This is the moment.'
Despite his injuries, a brilliant light still shone in Jin's eyes. He stood tall before the assembled powers, his presence radiating an untamed energy as he issued his declaration—a statement of arrogance.
His entire being was sharp as a blade.
Yet no one dared to refute him.
In the New World, strength was the only language that mattered, and by withstanding the attacks of Four Emperors, Jin had proven he was fluent.
Stung by the insult, Garp finally made his move.
He shot into the air, a bolt of white lightning tearing across the sky. Haki coiled around his fist, so dense it let out a whistling roar like a striking tiger.
Jin didn't flinch. He simply met the attack with a punch of his own.
It was the Iron Fist—Garp's signature style.
Its core tenet was a simple, brutal rule: no Haki, no Devil Fruits. It was pure physical power, forged over decades of pounding his fists against the Seastone-plated hulls of battleships, honed to a razor's edge in countless life-or-death battles. At its peak, the Iron Fist could shatter mountains without a shred of Haki.
While Koby had managed to learn its basics through an effort "200 times" that of a normal person, Jin had a different advantage. Three evolutions had gifted him a physical constitution on par with Kaido or Big Mom—a body where bone, muscle, and organs were all equally, monstrously reinforced.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The two fists collided.
The sound was a deafening, sky-shaking roar.
A torrent of Haki erupted. The light was blinding.
They were suspended a dozen meters above the sea, yet the force of their clash shattered the very surface of the ocean below, tearing open deep fissures in the water.
Both Jin's and Garp's power were of a brutally overwhelming nature—utterly unstoppable.
Beneath the force of their Haki, the sky itself seemed to darken. Black clouds roiled, and sparks of energy lit the heavens, eclipsing the setting sun. The sheer power radiating from the two men sent a chill of primal fear through every person watching.
Garp wasn't just a symbol of the Marines. He was a terrifying force of nature.
It was just... he was old now.
He no longer had the fire of his youth.
In this world, when a beautiful woman lost her spirit with age, she became ugly. When a great warrior lost his spirit, he became weak.
Some even lost their Haki entirely.
It was a world where will and conviction were everything.
CRACK-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The ultimate collision of power exploded outward.
Garp was sent hurtling back, falling from the sky like a meteor.
"Ice Age!"
Kuzan instantly froze a massive section of the ocean, giving Garp a place to land. Even so, the dozens of meters of solid ice shattered under his feet as he skidded to a halt, a trickle of blood escaping the corner of his mouth.
Jin, too, was blown backward by the impact, blood streaming from his lips.
He threw up an invisible barrier behind him, arresting his momentum and managing to stay on his feet.
Every single person watching was stunned into silence.
To face down the combined might of Four Emperors and the Hero of the Marines... and to take every single blow... it was unthinkable.
He was injured, yes, but he was standing.
And that alone commanded their reverence.
The man was a monster.
The silence broke, replaced by a roar of excitement. The sea itself seemed to boil with their fervor.
Even the crews of the other Emperors were silent, many of them looking at Jin with a newfound respect.
He had the strength to back up his words.
Jin had called out all five of them. And he had met every one of their challenges. This wasn't just empty boasting; he had delivered.
He wasn't like Kaido. Jin used strategy, but only when it was the most advantageous path. Most of the time, he preferred a direct, overwhelming show of force—the path of a true king, with a clear goal, a firm line, and an unbreakable will.
Kaido was just chaos. He didn't even know what he wanted, and so his crew was a disorganized mess. An organization needs a clear purpose, a creed, a conviction to unite those who share its vision. The World Government had "Order," the Marines had "Justice"...
In that respect, the Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Red Hair Pirates were all superior to the Beasts Pirates.
Whitebeard had "Family."
Big Mom had "Blood."
Shanks had "Friendship."
That was what made them strong.
What did the Beasts Pirates have? A bunch of brutish thugs, just getting by.
Jin stood tall, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and a palpable pressure settled over them—an authority earned in battle.
"Now then," he said, his voice carrying across the water. "Can you all give me some face?"
He had made his point. There was no need to continue the fight.
Whitebeard was the first to break the tension, his laughter booming across the sea. "GURARARARA! Then let's have a banquet!"
Shanks grinned. "It's been a while since we've had a gathering this lively. A perfect day for a party."
"MAMAMAMA!" Big Mom cackled. "A picnic, little brat?"
Kaido climbed out of the rubble of the small mountain he'd crashed into, looking a bit worse for wear. "You took my attack. I'll give you that."
"Bwahahaha!" Garp laughed. "This is going to be one hell of a party!"
"IT'S A BANQUET!"
With the Four Emperors in agreement, a wave of relief washed over their crews, quickly followed by cheers and laughter. If a real battle had broken out, it would have been on a scale even greater than the clash between Roger and Shiki. Countless lives would have been lost.
Who wouldn't be happy to avoid that?
The Emperors' ships made for the shore, and the other pirates found their own places to land, all preparing for a party of unprecedented scale.
Those with food brought food. Those with chefs brought chefs. Those with talent brought their talent...
But the most popular attractions by far were...
"It's Uta! Ah, it's really Uta!"
"Miss Porche! I see Miss Porche!"
"Brook! The Soul King!"
"Sweetheart Carina!"
"Please, an autograph!"
"Yohohoho! Miss, may I see your panties?"
"This is amazing! I love parties!"
Uta and the others had become global sensations during their concert tour. Pirates were people, too, and their need for entertainment was even greater out on the lonely sea. They instantly transformed into a mob of rabid fans.
It was a full-blown meet-and-greet.
"Hey! You bastards! Don't scare them! Show some damn respect!"
"Get in line! Form a line!"
"Anyone who gets out of line, I'll twist his head off!"
The commanders of the Four Emperors' crews—Jack, Marco, Perospero, and Lucky Roux—took on the role of security.
"This is... unbelievable."
Gion, Kuzan, and the other Marine officers, led by Garp, had also come ashore, and they were stunned by the scene.
They had been invited by Jin and the Four Emperors. Kuzan and Gion hadn't wanted to come. The Marines, partying with pirates? It was unheard of.
But Garp had insisted. "If we don't go, it'll look like we're scared. And we can't have that. Besides, this is a rare opportunity to observe the Four Emperors up close."
That had convinced them.
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