Ares remembered a saying:
A heavy sword has no edge; true mastery looks clumsy.
With his monstrous strength and physique, that philosophy seemed to fit him perfectly, and it also aligned neatly with the Spear of Elbaf.
After all, the Giants were famous for raw power. They were the ones who created the Spear of Elbaf in the first place an attack that perfectly showcased everything their race excelled at.
So… could he take this direction and fuse his own hand-to-hand combat and swordplay into it?
The next second, Ares changed the way he attacked.
He was still clenching his fist, but he was no longer "punching" in the usual sense.
Instead, he turned his forearm and fist into a heavy greatsword.
He chopped.
He swept.
He swung.
The air currents around his arm were dragged into motion, momentum swelling, wind roaring, as if a real massive blade were being whipped around in his hands each swing vicious and imposing.
And then
Ares deliberately began to control it.
He didn't let the airflow burst outward into flying slashes. He held it back, drawing but not releasing, keeping the power coiled around his arm.
Then, as the strike landed, everything erupted together.
Seeing Ares suddenly shift styles, Garling's expression twisted in shock.
"What the hell is Ares doing now?!"
"Why did he suddenly change his offensive style again?!"
Saint Saturn's eyes narrowed, a chill running through him as he recalled the intelligence they'd gathered.
"Garling, be careful. This man's combat talent is the most terrifying part of him. He may have realized something again…"
Clang!
A spider leg coated in Armament Haki was forced back. Saturn's brows knotted.
"He's… a little stronger than before."
"Ares' battle talent…"
"Is honestly monstrous!"
Garling blocked with his sword as well, and he could clearly feel it Ares' arm strikes, which had initially weakened compared to his punches, were now rapidly rising until they were nearly equal to his fist's power.
Growing.
Fast.
Garling's anger flared.
"That bastard he's using us to sharpen his techniques!!"
He was completely relying on that freakish body…
And doing whatever he wanted.
But the worst part was Garling and Saturn couldn't kill him.
At this level, the only real chance to kill Ares was…
To grind him down.
Drain his stamina until he finally collapsed from exhaustion.
Only then would they have a chance.
Meanwhile, Ares kept feeling his way forward, thinking:
"Turning my arm into a blade… I wasn't used to it at first, so the power was weaker than my fist…"
"I should use the shoulder and waist throwing, whipping, sweeping…"
"Treat my arm like Kaido's future Hassaikai… treat it like a heavy sword…"
"And unleash the most brutal, domineering force possible!"
Ares seemed completely immersed in the world of battle.
His arm now a blood-red "greatsword" grew smoother and smoother in use.
And the power kept climbing.
Until
Garling and Saturn looked as though they were being pressed down completely.
Collision after collision…
Ares always came out slightly on top.
That sight made the members of the God's Knights go pale.
"Why does the sea have to produce a monster like Ares?!"
"His combat talent is insane he's actually growing in the middle of a fight!"
"He's already this strong, and he's still improving where is his limit?!"
None of the God's Knights could even force their way into the battle. One of them pulled a Den Den Mushi from inside his coat.
He muttered to himself, "We can't let Ares leave with those two Devil Fruits. If he does, half of God Valley's Devil Fruits will end up in his hands…"
"In the future… no Ares already is the World Government's greatest hidden threat!"
Very quickly, a voice came from the other end.
"Moshi moshi. This is Kong the Steel."
It was Fleet Admiral Kong.
The knight rapidly reported everything happening here, in full detail, and demanded that Kong come at once to provide reinforcements
To assist Garling and Saturn…
In capturing Ares!
On the other battlefield
Hearing that report, Kong's expression changed.
"Ares… after suffering injuries that severe, he still has power like this?!"
Back at Marine G-1, Ares had already taken heavy damage.
And now…
He was suppressing Garling and Saint Saturn by himself.
Unbelievable.
Kong's heart sank.
"Ares' physique… it's monstrous to the point of terror…"
But with an order from the God's Knights, he had no choice. He immediately turned and bellowed at Garp, Sengoku, Zeff, and the other Marines:
"All of you stop!"
On the battlefield, Garp froze.
"What? Why are we stopping all of a sudden?!"
He flashed backward, retreating. Rocks' expression turned strange.
"Why did the Marines suddenly stop fighting?"
"What urgent situation could it be?"
As Rocks hesitated, the Marines began withdrawing in force.
And seeing that something was off, the Roger Pirates actually chose to withdraw alongside the Marines.
It had been Rayleigh's suggestion.
If they left alone, they would definitely be attacked by the Rocks Pirates.
And without the Marines acting as a counterweight…
They likely wouldn't be able to handle the full might of Rocks' crew.
Captain John wiped liquor from the corner of his mouth and asked, "Captain Rocks, what now?! That Devil Fruit is still in the Roger Pirates' hands…"
"Follow them. Let's see what the hell is happening." Rocks waved his hand, moving after the Marines and the Roger Pirates.
Less than half an hour later
Everyone arrived at the battlefield where Ares was fighting.
And they saw Ares alone, battling Garling and Saint Saturn.
Sengoku's eyes widened in shock.
"Ares… his fighting style is completely different from before, and…"
"What's with his hair?!"
The Ares in front of them looked like an entirely different man.
Not only had his hair grown out…
Even his combat style was nothing like it used to be.
It was like he'd become someone else.
Garp stared hard.
"That monster Ares… did he comprehend some special combat technique again?!"
"The way he's fighting now… the power feels like it finally…"
"Finally fits him."
Zeff's face darkened.
"Ares has always been the kind of monster who grows rapidly in battle."
"Maybe these back-to-back fights forced this change out of him!"
And for the Marines…
That kind of change was not good news at all.
Ares was proving his strength with battle and he was still evolving.
After two or three years
Seeing Ares again, Rayleigh's pupils shook.
"This guy… changed a lot."
"And his strength… is far more frightening than the first time we met him."
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