Chapter 297: Ryuunosuke’s Strength!
After the battle, Vista enthusiastically recounted the entire fight to his fellow crewmates, looking completely relaxed and unconcerned. His carefree attitude left a favorable impression on Ryuunosuke.
Over the past year, the Whitebeard Pirates had undergone a significant transformation. Even without Whitebeard's presence at the helm, the division commanders still stood tall, upholding the legacy of one of the Emperor Pirate Crews. They were no longer just riding on Whitebeard's name—they were truly worthy of it.
"You guys from the Dragon Hunter Pirates are freaks! Every single one of you is a monster," Whitebeard laughed, shaking his head in disbelief.
Then he turned to Ryuunosuke, eyes gleaming. "Come with me to that island over there. Let's have a little spar."
"Let the others handle things here themselves," Whitebeard said, gripping his bisento, Kusukumokiri, his expression filled with anticipation.
Even a single crewmember of Ryuunosuke had grown so overwhelmingly strong. So what about their captain?
Back when Whitebeard first met Ryuunosuke, the boy wasn't even close to being his match. But now, more than a year later, Whitebeard could feel an undeniable sense of danger coming from him. After hearing about Ryuunosuke's clash with Kaido, his fighting instincts were practically screaming.
For someone like Whitebeard, a warrior at heart, the urge to test his strength against another powerhouse was natural—almost irresistible.
"Alright, Uncle Whitebeard," Ryuunosuke nodded with a calm smile. With a flap of his radiant wings, he soared toward the island.
Whitebeard followed—his approach, however, was far more dramatic. He stepped directly into the air, each step cracking the void beneath his feet as if space itself couldn't bear his presence.
As the two captains departed, the rest of the pirates lost all interest in continuing their sparring matches. They gathered at the ship's railing, pulling out stools, sunflower seeds, and peanuts. This was a showdown they wouldn't miss for anything.
A duel between the captains of the Whitebeard Pirates and the Dragon Hunter Pirates? That was a front-row seat to history.
On the island, the two did not start fighting immediately.
"Kid," Whitebeard began, his deep voice rumbling, "how prepared are you for this war against the World Government?"
Ryuunosuke's eyes remained steady. "When I declare war, I'll be ready. The three-month delay is just to make sure the entire world hears it loud and clear. And I want to see the true strength of the World Government."
"If we strike too quickly, we might miss something important."
Confident. Unshakable.
In that moment, he looked undeniably charismatic.
And the source of that charisma? Pure, overwhelming strength.
Whitebeard grinned, his grip on Kusukumokiri tightening. "Then let me show you just how strong the Government really is. Captain Rocks once tried to test them… My strength now should be about equal to his in his prime."
As his words faded, a suffocating wave of Haki surged from Whitebeard's body.
But this wasn't just any Conqueror's Haki—it was something more.
Armament, Observation, and Conqueror's Haki flowed seamlessly through his body. Observation Haki, in particular, wasn't something he consciously activated anymore. It had become instinct, a natural part of his movements. The moment he entered combat, his body reacted with terrifying precision, guided by pure will.
"So this… this is how you really use the Three Colors of Haki?" Ryuunosuke muttered, grinning. "Then let me show you mine!"
Boom!
With a roar, Ryuunosuke unleashed his full power.
The Dragon Hunter Armor materialized across his body, gleaming with divine energy. His Tsukuyomi Fusion activated, merging spiritual focus and physical might. His Rinnegan opened with a flash, exuding an otherworldly pressure.
This wasn't about killing Whitebeard. Ryuunosuke had never intended that.
Whitebeard wasn't like the Golden Lion—ignorant and reckless. This was a friendly duel between two giants.
What Ryuunosuke wanted was simple: to go all out. He wanted to truly test how far he had come.
Boom!
Neither man moved, yet the sound of a tremendous collision rang through the air. Their auras had clashed with such intensity that it echoed across the sea.
Their afterimages faded slowly, revealing that their true bodies had already vanished—moving at speeds too fast for the naked eye.
Even the elite members of the Dragon Hunter Pirates stared in disbelief.
They had enhanced their Observation Haki multiple times, reaching heights far beyond ordinary standards. Yet even at full power, they couldn't track either of their captains' movements.
This was no longer a fight. This was a battle between monsters.
Boom!
And then—disaster struck.
The island beneath them exploded.
Yes, the entire island—though small—was still a full landmass. Yet it couldn't withstand even a few blows between these two and shattered like glass under a hammer.
To outside observers, this level of destruction would be beyond shocking.
Especially for Morgans, who just happened to be watching.
The news tycoon had long studied Ryuunosuke, compiling detailed reports and analyzing every move. Every fight Ryuunosuke had engaged in was carefully documented. Yet every time, Ryuunosuke shattered those expectations.
The battle with Kaido had revealed his monstrous endurance and strength.
Now, this battle revealed something even more terrifying: his Haki mastery.
Morgans found himself staring at the thick stack of intelligence in front of him, questioning all of it.
Was this truly the full extent of Ryuunosuke's strength?
No—clearly not.
Time and again, Ryuunosuke proved that no matter how much you studied him, he always had another level to show.
Morgans had even written multiple possible outcomes for the upcoming war with the World Government. Every version ended in the Dragon Hunter Pirates' defeat.
But now, for the first time, Morgans felt uncertain.
This man… the one who defied every prediction… could he win?
As the island crumbled beneath them, the battle between Ryuunosuke and Whitebeard came to a close. Both men stood atop floating debris, battered but smiling.
And yet—it was clear.
Ryuunosuke had the upper hand.
Whitebeard himself nodded in recognition, silently acknowledging the younger man's growth.
Morgans trembled with excitement. This was more than just a fight—it was the arrival of a new age.
An age that wouldn't just rival Roger's Age of Discovery.
It would eclipse it.
The era Ryuunosuke was bringing, the impact the Dragon Hunter Pirates would leave—these things would shake the very foundation of the world.
And as the Minister of Information, Morgans wasn't just a witness to history.
He was part of it.
For the first time, pride swelled in his chest—not just as a journalist, but as someone honored to document the rise of the most dangerous pirate crew in history.
If he ever told someone he was proud of the Dragon Hunter Pirates, they probably wouldn't believe him.
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