In less than three exchanges, the young Kaido was cut down by Rocks' blade. Before falling, his eyes were filled with resentment.
Having witnessed the entire ordeal, Chronos remained expressionless. The Kaido at God Valley was still too inexperienced—Rocks didn't even need a third strike to take him down.
"Damn you, Rocks! Why are you attacking your own crewmates? They all came here for you!"
The righteous version of Charlotte Linlin roared, veins bulging on her forehead, clearly on the verge of exploding with rage.
Even as a pirate, Sister Linlin was loyal and righteous.
Taking a sudden step forward, the massive sword forged in the land of giants gleamed with intense radiance.
Under her gaze, the Armament Haki seemed to flow, burn, and come alive.
"Answer me, Rocks!"
Drawing her blade, Charlotte Linlin charged toward the demonic Rocks like a war chariot, the surrounding air parting before her powerful frame.
As she closed in on the demonic Rocks, his blue-and-white hair was nearly blown back into a slicked-back style.
"Because you're in the way!"
Yet even in the face of Charlotte Linlin's overwhelming momentum, the demonic Rocks replied with a dazed, incoherent tone.
His eyes, completely overtaken by the whites, were dull and lifeless, with only the purest killing intent flowing through them.
"Die, all of you!"
Gripping the hilt with both hands, the demonic Rocks held nothing back, each strike an instinctive, all-out assault.
The one-handed Rocks, pursued by part of the God Knights and the corrupted Davy clan, could only flee—though he did manage to split the skull of the leader, Garin Saint, with a single slash, but that was inconsequential.
The two-handed Rocks, however, would show the world his powerful, artillery-like swordsmanship, executed with sweeping, unrestrained force.
Boom!
The demonic Rocks brought his blade down in a heavy two-handed slash, a roar like that of a monster from the abyss echoing through the air.
Charlotte Linlin, who had been charging forward, abruptly changed her expression. The blade she had aimed at the demonic Rocks was instantly redirected skyward, the broad side of the sword held horizontally in front of her.
In an instant, Charlotte Linlin shifted from offense to defense.
Clang!
The greatsword from the land of giants groaned, as if its blade could not withstand such a blow.
Charlotte Linlin's once-beautiful face twisted into a fierce grimace as she exerted force throughout her entire body and limbs, struggling to hold her ground against Rocks.
Watching from the sidelines, Dorry and Brogy finally stopped hesitating. Picking up their weapons, they sprang into action.
"Not good, Linlin is no match for that guy!"
"Hurry, support Linlin!"
The two Giant Warrior captains charged forward without hesitation. Meanwhile, the weather at God Valley was bright and sunny.
Under the brilliant sunlight, the massive weapons and shields of the Giant Tribe gleamed with a dazzling radiance.
The warriors' code of one-on-one honor vanished in that moment, for this was a battlefield.
Dorry and Brogy burst forth with speed that belied their enormous frames, reaching Charlotte Linlin's side in the blink of an eye.
With a giant axe and a giant sword spread wide to the left and right, they swung down with all their might toward the demonic Rocks at the center.
"Sun Saw!"
It was as if a massive pair of scissors were closing, threatening to slice Rocks in half at the waist.
Charlotte Linlin also exerted her strength once more at the same moment, her shout echoing like a battle horn. The three of them coordinated with impeccable timing in that instant.
But...
The demon Rocks suddenly and eerily glanced left and right at that moment, his movements seemingly defying all human limitations.
Then, Rocks grinned sinisterly and abruptly retracted his massive blade, resorting to tactics.
The same Rocks who had always charged headlong, clashing head-on without hesitation—even smashing through the Gates of Justice without a second thought—was now resorting to tricks!
Charlotte Linlin hadn't anticipated it. Faced with the sudden loss of resistance, her body staggered violently, but within less than a second, she had already adjusted her stance.
Yet, in that brief moment, the demon Rocks fiercely raised his leg and delivered a heavy, powerful kick straight at Charlotte Linlin.
Thud!
Charlotte Linlin was struck squarely in the abdomen. The force pierced through her body, the pain instinctively draining the color from her face as she spat out a mouthful of blood.
Her nearly nine-meter-tall frame was sent flying backward, creating an opening for Rocks.
Facing the combined assault of the two Giant Warrior captains, Rocks didn't evade in the slightest. Instead, he left himself wide open, gripping his sword with both hands once more and turning sideways to gather momentum.
Squelch!
The giant axe and sword struck from above and below, carving two deep gashes into the demon Rocks. Fresh blood gushed out once more, almost revealing his internal organs.
Yet the demon Rocks remained utterly unfazed, his sharp-toothed grin as maniacal as ever.
Slash!
A dark, mist-like energy spread, slowly healing Rocks' body. The injuries didn't hinder his movements in the slightest as he swung his massive blade in a crescent arc.
A horizontal slash, from left to right.
Just as the two Giant Warrior captains had aimed to bisect Rocks, the demon Rocks now sought to bisect them in return.
The immortal body granted by his demonic transformation provided Rocks with an endless supply of stamina. In a battle of attrition, he held an overwhelming advantage.
A sharp, stinging sensation had already begun to creep in. Though the two Giant Warrior captains hadn't directly witnessed it, the foresight granted by their Observation Haki provided ample warning.
In a life-or-death battle, victory or defeat could hinge on a single moment.
Dorry and Brogy gritted their teeth, raising their round shields high with their free hands, preparing to withstand this blow.
But Rocks had traded injury for action, and it seemed they wouldn't make it in time.
At the critical moment…
Great Thunder!
Chronos hurled the lightning spear he had been charging with all his might, sending it hurtling toward the demon Rocks.
The spear tip tore through the atmosphere, threads of electricity flickering from the friction, its momentum unstoppable.
Thwack!
Great Thunder pierced straight through the arm Rocks was using to swing his blade, instantly creating a gaping hole the size of a bowl. Under the influence of his dark energy-controlled immortality, he was completely defenseless.
The injury didn't affect the demon Rocks in the slightest, even as the lightning spear impaled his arm.
But the next moment, the instant it made contact with the demon Rocks' flesh, Great Thunder erupted violently.
The all-consuming torrent of thunder surged forth once more, enveloping Rocks within a massive sphere of blue light.
In the next instant, a dazzling flash filled everyone's vision.
Thunder and lightning roared!
"Arghhhhh!"
Even Rocks, at that moment, let out a continuous cry of agony.
The Thunderclap energy rampaged across every inch of his skin, a searing sensation as if he were submerged in molten lava, leaving his nerves and limbs powerless.
The two Giant Warrior captains stood stunned for a moment before quickly creating distance, raising their shields and weapons in vigilance.
"Thanks, Chronos."
"That's one hell of a powerful ability!"
The two giant men praised, and Chronos responded with a few words, but his gaze remained firmly locked on the demon Rocks.
Was it just an illusion, or did the Great Thunder, empowered by the Life Orb, deal substantial damage to the demon Rocks?
Earlier, when the leaf Garp took this move, his entire body was charred to a crisp. Chronos didn't even need to make another move—Garp's own actions would have been enough to bury himself.
Now, facing the demon Rocks, who was even stronger than the leaf Garp, the power of the Great Thunder hadn't diminished in the slightest.
In fact, Chronos even saw a flicker of clarity flash in the demon Rocks' eyes under the onslaught of the Great Thunder.
It was confirmed: the demon Rocks was taller, bigger, and stronger, but he hadn't exceeded a full version upgrade—it was more like a 0.5-level improvement.
Chronos surged forward, wreathed in lightning, and glanced once more at Charlotte Linlin and the two giant captains.
Charlotte Linlin wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, her face filled with unwillingness. Meeting Chronos' gaze, she finally said:
"Take care of that bastard for me. When we reach the Great Kingdom, I'll buy you a drink."
With that, poof—a cloud of smoke spread, and Charlotte Linlin's figure vanished, turning into leaves.
"Gyahahaha!" "Bahahaha!"
The two giant captains laughed heartily, their laughter tinged with a hint of regret.
"It looks like this is as far as we go, kid. The rest is up to you."
As they spoke, the figures of the two giant captains also turned into leaves amidst the spreading smoke.
Chronos scratched his head. They really were like support NPCs in a game—when a major battle was about to begin, they just up and left without a second thought.
"It looks like it's our turn now?"
Moria raised his blade and cracked his neck, a fighting spirit gleaming in his eyes.
Rocks—a legend from the previous era!
If he couldn't meet the real one, fighting a replica would have to suffice as a consolation.
"Pretty much. This might just be the old-timers' idea of fun—testing us."
As he spoke, Chronos once again condensed a lightning sword.
Although the Great Thunder's relentless bombardment could ensure the demon Rocks' demise, doing so would take all the fun out of it.
"Tohru, be careful. You're still flesh and blood right now. In the future, I'll see if I can find some treasures to strengthen you further."
Tohru hadn't been studying Chi Magic with Pops long enough to fully evolve into a magic tank.
"Jackie Chan, do as you see fit. If you can't win, just give him a good kick in the gut. I believe in you."
Jackie Chan was another matter entirely—Chronos had full confidence in this superhuman.
"Huh? Isn't this situation a bit off? Shouldn't you be protecting me, Chronos?"
Jackie Chan sounded a bit hesitant, but his body was already clearly positioned in front of the demon Rocks.
Though somewhat timid and cautious, your man Jackie would never back down from a fight.
As the lightning dissipated, the demon Rocks revealed his half-charred body, though black mist still occasionally swirled around him.
"Who… are you?"
Surprisingly, the demon Rocks spoke at this moment. In his originally pure white eyes, the faint shadow of pupils began to appear.
Chronos pondered for a moment. It seemed the power of the Life Orb was truly formidable.
"Orpheus Chronos, future son of Pops Whitebeard. Should I call you Uncle? Senior Rocks?"
Chronos smiled, seemingly without malice, yet the Thunder Sword in his hand was still charging.
"The future?"
The demon Rocks muttered, then realized something and laughed as well.
"How are Alice and Teach doing?"
"Living in harmony and happiness on Hachinosu Island~"
"Is that so? That's wonderful."
The demon Rocks felt satisfied, then picked up his massive blade once more.
"Although it's disgusting that guy woke me up, I'm in a pretty good mood. So, let me show you my era, kid Chronos!"
!
An unprecedented aura erupted from Rocks, with frenzied red lightning sweeping through, seemingly pressing down everything around them as if by sheer force.
Chronos felt a tightness in his chest, but it was manageable—he had witnessed even more formidable auras before.
Moria's expression turned grave, Tohru likewise, while Jackie Chan felt somewhat dizzy and disoriented.
Crackle~
Compared to Garp earlier, more black lightning spread across the demon Rocks' blade. Though it wasn't touching anything, it emitted a piercing, shattering sound.
It was as if energy itself was breaking apart, or as if the very atmosphere was being torn apart at that moment.
"Come and experience this power, kid. Otherwise, you'll never grow!"
With those final words, the demon Rocks returned to his emotionless, white-eyed state.
Then, in the next second, Rocks' entire body surged forward like a leviathan rising from the sea, pouncing directly at Chronos. His demonized form blotted out the sky and obscured the sun.
Shadow completely enveloped Chronos—fangs, black wings, a massive blade crackling with black lightning—everything enough to shatter an ordinary person's spirit.
Facing this head-on, Chronos actually felt a flicker of excitement in that moment.
His body trembled with excitement, electricity coursing wildly across his form, nearly overflowing.
The fear and anxiety he felt when first arriving in this world had long since vanished. Chronos had strengthened his body, mastered Haki, obtained a system, and gained the power of a Devil Fruit. His mindset was now entirely different.
The pursuit of power is an instinct for humans. Power is enough to transform the self.
Facing the demon Rocks before him—the one who sought to rule the world but ultimately failed—an unusual emotion welled up in Chronos' heart.
Defeat this impostor, then surpass the original, exceed this failure.
Keep advancing toward greater strength, and shape this world into what he desired.
Otherwise, what was the point of having this power?
"Thank you, senior."
Chronos smiled, though it was unclear to whom he was speaking.
He raised a fist, aimed it at his own chest, and struck it fiercely.
Thump!
His heart emitted a sharp, heavy, and muffled sound.
Godspeed: Overload: Kui!
Like a massive war drum being struck on the battlefield, its sound shook the heavens. The lightning on Chronos' body surged wildly, shifting from blue to red.
A dazzling, vivid red radiated an extremely dangerous aura. At this moment, even Chronos' eyes were filled with a blazing glow.
Gripping the Thunder Sword lightly, overloaded red lightning poured into it, causing it to erupt with a crimson light as well.
Thunder Blade: Ming Hong!
A pitch-black giant blade swept through the air, trailing threads of black lightning along its edge. The demon Rocks gripped it tightly with both hands, pouring all his strength into the strike.
Chronos didn't evade in the slightest. Similarly gripping the blazing red Ming Hong Thunder Blade with both hands, he met the giant blade head-on and slashed back without hesitation.
Face to face, just like Whitebeard before, not dodging even a bit against the massive demon before him!
Boom!
Thunder roared, and equally unrestrained electric currents erupted from both sides, wildly twisting and coiling in the atmosphere like dragons soaring and crouching.
Moria, who had been about to step forward, halted his steps and glanced somewhat irritably at Chronos, then signaled Tohru and Jackie Chan to stop.
Facing their puzzled looks, Moria grinned in frustration and said:
"That guy chose to face the opponent himself. We should just watch the battle properly."
Before his words even finished, the lightning on Chronos' body twisted once more.
Life Orb, activate!
Crackle!
Stimulated by the electricity, Chronos' muscles erupted again. A brilliant white light, as bright as a million-watt incandescent bulb, burst from his eyes, fully illuminating the face of the demon Rocks and nearly dispelling every inch of darkness on his body.
"Sorry, old-timer, but I'd rather find the real you for a proper fight!"
A wild, arrogant laugh erupted from Chronos' face as he bent his arms and exerted force, the sound of thunder echoing continuously.
Clang!
The broad, massive blade was knocked aside, and the demon Rocks' huge figure was actually forced to stagger backward, his footing unsteady.
"The you right now holds no meaning for me!"
Electricity flashed, and a red afterimage streaked by. In an instant, Chronos had already arrived before the demon Rocks' torso.
With speed faster than lightning, the Ming Hong Thunder Blade pierced straight through the demon Rocks' chest, sinking deep until even the hilt vanished from sight.
"Farewell, Senior Rocks."
Boom!
A tremendous sound echoed as if the lofty sky itself had crashed into the earth, or as if the sea had boiled over.
Tohru and the others only felt the red flash before them was too dazzling, forcing them to cover their eyes to avoid temporary blindness.
When they opened their eyes again, the previous Rocks had long since disappeared, and even the entire God Valley from before had vanished.
In their eyes, Chronos stood panting slightly on a patch of crystalline, transparent ground nearby—a result of vitrification from the intense heat.
"I will comprehend this power from the real person, not a replica, Senior Rocks."
Chronos murmured, suddenly feeling that the journey so far had been rather dull.
Turning to Jackie Chan, Chronos smiled and said, "Jackie Chan, let's go. We'll explore the ruins again and see if we can find the Vampire Fruit."
"If we find it, that's good. If there's any more obstruction, we'll just destroy it. Respect is a two-way street."
Jackie Chan nodded blankly, unable to help asking:
"Chronos, how did you suddenly..."
"Oh, I just figured out a little something."
Chronos raised his hand, looking at the lightning flashing upon it, and smiled happily.
"Before I had power, I followed others' rules. Now that I have power, I can try making my own rules."
"Let's go, no more dilly-dallying."
"Oh, okay."