...
On the light curtain, Luffy was leading the reassembled Straw Hat crew, preparing to head to Fish-Man Island and embark on their New World adventure.
However, the scene abruptly came to a halt at that very moment, as if the power had been suddenly cut off.
The enormous stone slab emitting a soft glow instantly dimmed, losing all its brilliance.
At the same time, the indestructible transparent barrier that had enveloped the entire God Valley dissipated with a light "pop," vanishing without a trace just like before, like dew under sunlight!
The confinement… had been lifted once again!
"Heaven helps me!!!"
Seeing the light curtain disappear again, Saint Garling roared out almost reflexively. The confusion and pent-up frustration on his face were instantly replaced by ecstasy and icy killing intent!
Without any hesitation—not even bothering to consult Saint Saturn—he unleashed the long-suppressed rage and hatred from Roger's repeated provocations!
"God's Knights! All forces mobilize! Target Gol D. Roger! Kill on sight!"
Since the light curtain had previously revealed Roger's real name, Saint Garling no longer cared and directly referred to him by that name.
While roaring out the order, he violently drew the sword at his waist. His entire body shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, wrapped in sharp sword energy and overwhelming fury, charging straight toward Roger's position!
His target was crystal clear: this pirate who had repeatedly snatched away his "possessions" and caused him to lose all face!
"Clang!!!"
A deafening clash of blade against blade erupted, sparks flying in all directions!
Roger's reaction was unbelievably fast!
Almost the instant the barrier vanished and Saint Garling's killing intent flared, Roger's Observation Haki had already precisely predicted everything!
One of the Supreme Grade Blades, "Ace," was already drawn. Roger countered with a backhand block, perfectly parrying Saint Garling's furious downward slash!
What was even more heart-shaking came next—a majestic, indescribable aura, as if reigning over the world itself, exploded outward with Roger at its center!
That was the unrestrained release of top-tier Conqueror's Haki!
The air itself seemed to solidify and distort; small pebbles on the ground trembled slightly under the invisible force!
Those nearby Marines and pirate grunts with weaker strength felt dizzy and suffocated, nearly unable to breathe!
Saint Garling's expression changed dramatically!
He hadn't expected Roger's reaction and explosive power to be this terrifying!
This slash had been delivered with nearly all his strength, yet it felt as though he had struck an indestructible, towering mountain—it didn't budge an inch!
The massive rebound force numbed his tiger's mouth and caused his arm to tremble slightly.
Saint Garling had fought Rocks before, but the sensation Roger's attack gave him now was completely different from Rocks!
Unwilling to be looked down upon by a mere pirate, Saint Garling gritted his teeth, exerting every ounce of strength he had. His Haki surged wildly around him as he tried to overpower Roger.
However, the gap was obvious.
Roger held his sword in one hand, his stance steady as a rock, and a wild, battle-hungry grin even appeared on his face.
"Hahahahaha!!!!"
Roger's laughter boomed like thunder, filled with utter exhilaration and a touch of mockery: "I really gave you, the so-called 'points king,' some face! Did you think I was a coward who only dared act arrogant because of those rules?!
You're dead wrong! On this sea, only absolute strength and Haki that surpasses everything else are the eternal hard truth!"
Roger's smile and his utterly composed demeanor left a deep impression on the still-young Kaido standing behind him.
"Only strength and Haki can reign supreme…"
Kaido murmured under his breath, his eyes filled with a dazed look.
Although Rocks' strength was also extremely formidable, Kaido felt a strong resonance with Roger's words.
After finishing his statement, the laziness and teasing in Roger's eyes had long been replaced by blazing battle intent.
He had been itching for a fight for so long—finally, he could let loose and go all out! Saint Garling had delivered himself right to his doorstep—perfect timing!
"Let this 'frog at the bottom of the well' raised in a greenhouse get a good taste of what real power looks like!!"
Roger flicked his wrist sharply, knocking Saint Garling's blade aside. At the same time, he shifted his body slightly, and the famous sword "Ace" traced a profound arc!
Black-red lightning-like Conqueror's Haki coiled around the blade like a living thing, radiating a terrifying, world-destroying aura!
"Divine Departure!!!"
There was no earth-shattering prelude—only an ultimate slash that seemed capable of severing cause and effect, ignoring all defenses, carrying Roger's unparalleled will and Haki as it roared forth!
Saint Garling's pupils contracted sharply. He barely had time to raise his sword horizontally in front of him and pour every bit of Armament Haki he could into hardening it.
"BOOM!!!"
The moment they made contact, Saint Garling felt as though he had been rammed head-on by an ancient behemoth—or crushed under the full weight of an entire mountain!
His proud Haki was torn apart layer by layer like paper, and his sword let out an unbearable groan under the strain!
An unstoppable force sent his entire body flying backward like a cannonball!
"Pfft!"
Still airborne, Saint Garling violently spat out a mouthful of blood.
His body traced a long parabolic arc through the air before crashing like a meteor into a rock mountain dozens of meters tall at the edge of God Valley!
"Rumble rumble rumble!!!"
A earth-shaking roar! That sturdy mountain peak was actually split clean in half by the sheer impact force of Saint Garling's collision!
The upper half of the mountain slowly tilted, slid down, and finally collapsed with a thunderous crash, kicking up clouds of dust!
Saint Garling's figure was buried deep beneath the crumbling rubble, his life or death unknown.
Silence.
A deathly silence.
Then came the sounds of sharp intakes of breath and screams of absolute terror!
Those pampered Celestial Dragons, who had never truly experienced life-or-death combat, witnessed their supposedly invincible God's Knight being struck so miserably by Roger with a single slash…
The mountain itself had been smashed apart. One by one, they were scared out of their wits, wetting themselves and collapsing to the ground.
Many were directly overwhelmed by the terrifying Conqueror's Haki Roger had unleashed earlier—foaming at the mouth, eyes rolling back, fainting on the spot.
"Waa waa waa! Mmm mmm!"
"Hee hee! Haha!"
Little Shanks and little Shamrock, held respectively by Gloriosa and Shakky, saw their "biological dad" get blasted away…
Far from being afraid, they became excited, waving their little arms and babbling happily!
Especially little Shanks—his big, dark eyes were glued to the sword in Roger's hand, seemingly fascinated by the move "Divine Departure," as his tiny hands flailed about imitating it.
"Looks like this little guy is really interested in that move of Roger's!"
"This child too—he's been staring at Roger the whole time…"
Gloriosa and Shakky looked at the excited red-haired infants in their arms and exchanged knowing smiles.
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