Shirokiri froze as Roger's roar unleashed a wave of Conqueror's Haki, igniting his fury. How could this rookie pirate wield such power?!
His own roar erupted, a sonic blast that rivaled Roger's aura. As Shirokiri, son of the mighty Vesper, he'd faced countless disappointed glares from his father for never awakening Conqueror's Haki. The shame fueled his rage—and his envy of those who possessed it.
Was he really that inferior?
Shirokiri 's sonic roar, honed to mimic a fraction of Conqueror's Haki's impact, was no weak imitation. It carried nearly as much force as Roger's, a testament to his burning desire to prove himself. He loathed these Haki-wielding upstarts, yet craved their power, channeling that conflict into his attacks.
His fury made him relentless. Even Roger, a destined prodigy, struggled under Shirokiri 's onslaught. At over forty, Shirokiri was at his peak—battle-hardened, cunning, and brimming with experience. He'd even wounded Skal with an 1.1-billion-Belly bounty!
Roger, just 26 and barely a year into the New World, was a force in his own right. His rapid growth in all three Haki types, fueled by wild adventures, was remarkable. But against Shirokiri 's seasoned might, he was outmatched. Holding his own for this long was already a miracle!
Gaban and Rayleigh rushed to the scene. The Roger Pirates' crew, watching their captain trade blows with Shirokiri , were buzzing with excitement.
"Our captain's dueling an 1.1-billion-Belly monster! After this, Roger's bounty won't be scraping the bottom of the Supernova barrel anymore!"
Naguri had already surpassed Roger's bounty, likely because the Roger Pirates prioritized adventure—exploring islands, seeking historical texts—over pillaging or attacking Navy bases.
Rayleigh, however, wasn't so optimistic. In his eyes, Roger was pushing 120% of his strength to match Shirokiri's casual 80%. It was only a matter of time before Roger faltered.
Still, Rayleigh knew facing a titan like Shirokiri would spark growth. Roger was squeezing every ounce of his potential, breaking his limits in real-time. He shot Gaban a glance—be ready to jump in when Roger makes his breakthrough. Together, they'd force Shirokiri back!
Rayleigh and Gaban trusted Roger's potential. Give them a few years, and even Shirokiri would fall at their feet!
...
"You're one hell of a rookie!" Shirokiri growled, forcing Roger back with a sword slash. His earlier rage cooled, replaced by his usual cocky swagger. "What's your name?"
"Haha! I'm Gol D. Roger, current bounty's a measly 233,333,333 Belly. Let's keep fighting!"
Roger's body burned red-hot, caught in a martial trance that unleashed his latent potential. He refused to waste a second, craving a battle that would push him into a new realm of strength.
"What?! Two hundred thirty million? That's a damn joke!" Shirokiri snapped, his composure cracking.
"The two punks I'm chasing have bounties over 500 million, and you're protecting them? What are those Navy bastards eating—crap?! A guy like you with only 230 million? Screw that!"
Shirokiri was floored. How could a Supernova with this kind of power be so undervalued? Roger's strength rivaled titans like Orion, Golden Lion Shiki, or Whitebeard Newgate—easily worth 800 million! If Shirokiri ever found the Navy fool who set Roger's bounty, he'd gut them himself.
To be fair, the Navy wasn't entirely at fault. The Roger Pirates had entered the New World during a clash of titan crews, forcing them to lie low. They'd only sparred lightly with Supernovas like Naguri.
Later, Brook invited them for months of feasting and fun across a dozen islands, adventuring without major battles. Their bounty stagnated while others like Naguri, and World skyrocketed past 300–400 million, nearing 500 million, by raiding islands, hitting World Government convoys, and storming Navy branches.
Crossing the 500-million mark meant shedding the "Supernova" label and becoming a true New World heavyweight. An 800-million bounty earned a title—Disasters, Generals, Pillars, Beasts, or the like. At 1.5 billion, a pirate's crew could claim "Emperor" status, ruling vast territories as a New World overlord.
...
Shirokiri eyed Roger, a terrifying rookie sparking a flicker of admiration. The urge to recruit him into the Vesper Pirates tugged at him, but before he could speak—
"Enough talk! Let's fight!"
Roger wasn't here to chat. His battle trance wouldn't last forever. Gripping his legendary sword Ace, he slashed with ferocity, refusing to waste time bantering with Shirokiri .
Blades clashed in a dazzling storm, stunning the onlookers. Angelie, watching Roger's ferocity, finally grasped Brook's cunning in inviting this crew. The Roger Pirates were all elite—each member a battle-hardened warrior.
That gold-rimmed glasses guy with a double-edged sword and the sunglasses-wearing axe-wielder? Their auras outshone even Angelie's! How was this crew so unknown among Supernovas?
Brook's choice to bring them as backup was spot-on. Their strength was undeniable.
Angelie grabbed her Den Den Mushi and called Brook, updating him on the battle and their location, urging him to send reinforcements. Roger could hold out for now, but his crew was already charging Shirokiri 's men, eager to boost their own bounties!
The beach erupted into chaos, a whirlwind of clashing steel and shouts. Bull and Angelie kept their eyes on Shirokiri , ready to join Rayleigh and Gaban in a beatdown if needed.
...
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+280 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg