It wasn't just Kaido and Charlotte Linlin who were confused. Even Marco was bewildered.
He'd fought Charlotte Linlin himself. Before the battle had lasted long, she'd pinned him to the ground. If it weren't for his Phoenix abilities, he would have died already.
As a result, as soon as Pops started fighting, he'd been ambushed by Charlotte Linlin and stabbed directly in the chest. As an unreliable ship doctor, Marco could of course see that knife had seriously impacted the old man. The injury was severe.
But just when he was worried about his father yet seemed powerless to help, Pops had suddenly demonstrated overwhelming might and beaten Charlotte Linlin and Kaido.
What was going on?
"Awakening?" Marco looked at Newgate in surprise.
As his father's most beloved and valued son, Marco naturally knew his father extremely well. But he'd had no idea his father had awakened his abilities?
Was it that incredible?
Wasn't it said that rule-based system abilities couldn't be awakened?
When had he awakened? How come he didn't know?
In short order, having defeated Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, Newgate stood there proudly, looking at Charlotte Linlin. "Do you still think I'm old?"
Charlotte Linlin was in shock and doubt, gritting her teeth. "Impossible! How could your ability be awakened? Your ability is rule-based. Even Shiki couldn't achieve this back then..."
"Gurararara, Shiki?" Newgate laughed, then said, "That bastard was very powerful, but it's a pity he died early. If he'd been given more years, he might have awakened!"
These words basically indirectly acknowledged that his abilities had awakened.
Newgate didn't realize he was also quite the liar.
Charlotte Linlin and Kaido both had grim expressions. They were now somewhat convinced that Newgate's Tremor-Tremor Fruit ability must have awakened. Otherwise, it didn't make sense. Her powerful attack, Kaido's Raimei Hakke, hadn't even broken Whitebeard's skin. If that wasn't awakening, what was it?
Had his Tremor-Tremor Fruit ability reached this point?
Was this the effect of awakening the Tremor-Tremor Fruit? What was this? Absolute defense?
Thinking of this, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin were both shocked.
Newgate had always been known for absolute attack and destructive power. Look at the widespread recognition of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. What was it called?
"The power to destroy the world!"
It turned out that such an offensive Devil Fruit ability, after awakening, manifested as absolute defensive power?
What the hell was this?
Newgate offered no explanation.
But in fact, this wasn't awakening at all. It was deeper development of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's ability by Newgate.
He'd realized in his early years that his physical fitness and defense were far from comparable to monsters like Kaido and Charlotte Linlin.
Therefore, this was his shortcoming in strength.
But he hadn't cared too much about it back then, because he'd believed offense was the best defense. As long as I can beat you to death before you can hurt me, there's no need for defense. What a simple, crude, yet direct path to truth!
Therefore, Newgate had operated this way for many years afterward. With his overwhelming power, he'd overcome all storms without problems.
But as he'd aged, he'd felt somewhat powerless. Charlotte Linlin was right. His strength had indeed weakened slightly. Even if only a little, it had genuinely regressed.
Additionally, Finn's "Void Slash" had truly shocked Newgate. His proud attack power had seemed insignificant before Finn's extreme lethality.
As one of the parties involved back then, Newgate could fully appreciate that the style of Finn's sword definitely deserved to be called "the world's strongest."
Therefore, under the influence of these factors, Newgate's thinking had also changed.
Two paths had presented themselves. The first path was to do the same as Finn and push the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit to its absolute extreme to compete with Finn for the strongest blow.
The second way was to go the opposite direction from Finn. He makes the strongest attack, and I'll make the strongest defense.
In line with the current situation at the time, although his strength had declined slightly, in reality, it didn't affect Newgate's offensive output, so there was no need to genuinely pursue ultimate attack power and lethality.
So Newgate had finally chosen the second path.
Before choosing this path, Newgate had always taken a simple and crude approach to developing the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's ability. In fact, this was the case for most rule-based Devil Fruit users. Just stack power, and overwhelming force defeats technique!
The same was true of Finn to a certain extent.
How wild had Newgate been? He could release enormous amounts of vibration force in one breath, which could genuinely destroy islands and trigger tsunamis.
Maybe "destroying the world" was somewhat exaggerated, but they were definitely a group of powerful, wild, and brutal combatants.
As for refinement, Newgate actually hadn't paid much attention to it, nor conducted much research and development.
This time, he'd focused on this level. The power he'd developed seemed incredibly strong, as if he'd awakened. Kaido and Charlotte Linlin's attacks were all easily blocked, and he wasn't even injured.
But in fact, this was the simplest and most extreme use of ability. He concentrated and condensed the vibration power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit at the point of impact the moment before being attacked, then released it.
Through the power of vibration, the opponent's offensive was first greatly reduced. Then the remaining power was quickly annihilated through vibration. Finally, the last bit of residue was completely eliminated through resonance.
That was roughly the process.
Although it sounded simple, it was just as stated—simple, yet extreme.
However, because of this, he was actually unable to achieve this on a large scale. But this was acceptable, because Newgate had no intention of covering himself with this power extensively anyway. There was no need, and that would dramatically increase his stamina consumption.
This kind of precise, concentrated, and powerful force control was extremely physically demanding.
Therefore, in the initial conception, Newgate had prepared to use this to handle extremely lethal offensives, such as Charlotte Linlin's lightning and fire critical hits, and Kaido's Raimei Hakke.
The ultimate goal was to resist Finn's "Void Slash."
Obviously, Finn's technique had made Newgate feel a fatal threat. He also knew perfectly well that sooner or later, Finn would fight him to the death. Or rather, the Marines would.
As a Marine Admiral, Finn posed an enormous threat. If Newgate didn't develop a method to counter "Void Slash," he'd be genuinely helpless.
The one who suffered most was Charlotte Linlin.
Newgate had developed this move intending to surprise Finn.
However, the first one to hit the wall was Charlotte Linlin, the unlucky child.
But thinking about it again, it seemed destined by fate.
Back then, when Finn had developed Void Slash, his intended target had been Charlotte Linlin, because of her absolute defense. The Iron Balloon was incredibly difficult to deal with, and Finn hadn't been sure he could break through her defense head-on.
So he'd developed the ultimate killer move, "Void Slash," in one stroke, and had almost chopped off Charlotte Linlin's head.
Initially, he'd also wanted to surprise Charlotte Linlin, but it had turned out that Newgate had emerged to block the attack. During the Spring Queen Island incident, Newgate had been the first to experience Void Slash.
Now Charlotte Linlin could be considered to have repaid Newgate's kindness in blocking that blade.
Charlotte Linlin and Kaido were in states of confusion. Some of them couldn't believe it, some of them believed it, but both were formidable fighters. Although Newgate's sudden "awakening" had embarrassed them significantly.
The situation hadn't collapsed to the point where they'd definitely lose. Not to mention they still had backup plans!
So after brief hesitation, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin attacked simultaneously.
The two, one in front and one behind, struck at Newgate at the same time.
Newgate didn't care. A gleam flashed in his eyes as he blocked Kaido and Charlotte Linlin's attacks with great precision. He didn't use any "awakening" of abilities, but simply normal application of abilities and physical techniques.
Of course, he could also see this was just a probing attack.
As expected, the next second, Charlotte Linlin and Kaido attacked together, colliding with Newgate's tremor force. Then, without delay, neither retreated. Instead of advancing, they used Newgate's tremor force simultaneously, pulling back dozens of meters and standing together.
"Come here!" Charlotte Linlin suddenly stretched out her hand and grabbed Napoleon, who was supposed to have been crushed to death by Newgate's bare hands. He was back in her grasp again.
Powerful soul power instantly nourished Napoleon's form, activating this Homie again and transforming it into the Emperor Sword.
Simultaneously, Kaido took a deep breath. A powerful aura condensed on the kanabo in his hand. It seemed like Haki, but not quite. Instead, it was somewhat like a slash or something similar, but also different.
This was true not only for Kaido, but also for Charlotte Linlin's Emperor Sword.
Newgate, as a former teammate of these two bastards and one of the people who'd disembarked from Rocks' ship that year, recognized this move at a glance.
"The power of Elbaf?" Newgate murmured softly.
Simultaneously, the vibration force in his body rose rapidly, because Newgate knew perfectly well that this move was a combined attack skill. Its attack range was extremely large and its lethality incredibly strong. With his speed, it was impossible to dodge it. He could only find a way to withstand it.
At this moment, the auras of Kaido and Charlotte Linlin seemed to merge together. The next second, both suddenly swung their weapons simultaneously.
Kaido and Charlotte Linlin shouted at the same time.
"Hakai!"
Just as Newgate had murmured, this Hakai was actually the power of Elbaf, which evolved from the Elbaf Spear techniques of the Giants, such as Ikoku and Hakoku.
The principles were similar. The difficulty lay in matching the breath and rhythm of the two combatants. Once successful, the power released far exceeded one plus one.
As soon as this Hakai emerged, it directly destroyed everything before Kaido and Charlotte Linlin.
Tracks more than ten meters deep were carved into the ground. Everything seemed to turn to ash before this move.
Looking at Newgate again, he stood directly in Hakai's path.
He didn't dodge or evade. He stepped forward with his feet left and right, lowered his center of gravity, and assumed a horse stance. Simultaneously, his arms suddenly crossed before his chest. A massive amount of vibration force quickly gathered in his fists. Then a defiant smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.
Just as Hakai's attack was about to strike him, Newgate's crossed arms suddenly opened. Two fists landed simultaneously, one left and one right. The space before him shattered on the spot. The invisible tremor force seemed endless, abruptly blocking the seemingly unstoppable Hakai attack!
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