"Old Man, it's the Roger Pirates." Teach's voice carried a faint grin as he landed beside Whitebeard, his sharp Observation Haki already sweeping across the island.
Whitebeard's eyes narrowed, his massive frame radiating anticipation. "Mm. I feel it too. It's been years since I last crossed paths with Roger… his aura hasn't changed. If anything, it's grown stronger."
His crew stiffened at the name.
To them, the Roger Pirates weren't just another crew, they were legends in their own right, equal rivals to their father. Even so, Oden's eyes blazed with excitement. Without hesitation, he dashed toward the opposite side of the island.
"Hahaha! I'll be the first to meet them!" he shouted, his laughter echoing through the trees.
"Captain Oden, wait!" the Second Division members cried, their legs burning as they tried to keep up. But Oden was unstoppable. His heart beat only for strong opponents.
When they finally returned, breathless, Whitebeard scowled. "Where's Oden?"
"He's already gone ahead! We couldn't keep up."
Whitebeard's brows furrowed, his voice low and heavy. "Oden's no match for Roger. I'll go after him."
He bent his knees and vaulted into the treetops, each leap carrying him hundreds of meters at a time.
Meanwhile, Oden had already reached the clearing where the Roger Pirates waited.
Steel hissed as three Roger crewmates drew their weapons, stepping forward to block the charging samurai. But Oden's grin only widened. His twin blades flashed free. "Gun: Oni!"
Haki-clad steel gleamed golden as he surged past. Three streaks of light cut the air—and the Roger pirates fell instantly, blood splattering the dirt.
Scopper Gaban, the ship's powerhouse, hefted his twin axes, grinning in excitement. Rayleigh, by his side, drew his sword with practiced calm, silver light dancing along its edge.
"He's as fierce as they say," Gaban chuckled. "Let's stop him here, Rayleigh."
"Agreed."
But before either could move, a voice rang out. "Leave him to me."
Roger strode past them with his familiar carefree smile.
Rayleigh's brows twitched. "You just want the fight for yourself."
"Hahahaha!" Roger only laughed, his mustache twitching as he closed the distance.
The air itself grew heavy. Oden's breath quickened as he felt the wild, beastlike aura surging from Roger. His grin widened. "Now that's more like it."
Roger's hand swept to his sword. "Ahoy there samuraiiii ...Divine Departure!"
His blade roared with Conqueror's Haki, black and red lightning spilling into the air as he slashed.
Oden never even saw it. Pain ripped through his chest as blood sprayed from his lips. His body rocketed backward, trees shattering in his path until he slammed into the earth, carving a crater with his fall.
He staggered to his feet, face pale, eyes wide. "Wha—what just happened?!"
He hadn't even been able to defend. The sheer gap left him trembling with rage and disbelief. "Damn it! I can't accept this!" He raised his swords again, stumbling forward—
But a shadow loomed above.
Whitebeard's massive form soared through the treetops, descending like a thunderbolt, Murakumogiri in hand.
Roger's smile widened. "You've come, Whitebeard."
The air shook. Murakumogiri gleamed black with Armament Haki, Conqueror's lightning swirling like crimson serpents. Across from him, Roger's sword burned with the same untamed force, his crimson eyes blazing.
They swung at once.
The island roared. Lightning crackled. The skies themselves split apart as their blades stopped—without ever touching. A force field of sheer will exploded between them, red and black bolts tearing the air.
The earth fractured. Forests ripped from their roots. Even the sea tilted, waves crashing against the Moby Dick until the massive ship leaned dangerously.
Oden gritted his teeth, driving his blade into stone just to stay grounded. "They… they didn't even touch."
High above, Teach crouched on a treetop, watching every detail. His Observation Haki strained against the storm of power, his heart hammering. So this is Conqueror's coating… this is the peak. Compared to them, I'm still nothing.
He clenched his fists tighter. This was what he had been waiting for. This was the strength he'd surpass.
Whitebeard's laughter boomed through the chaos. "Gurararara! Roger!"
"Newgate!" Roger barked back, veins bulging, eyes alight with joy.
The clash intensified until the compressed energy burst outward in a catastrophic wave. Clouds tore apart, the heavens clearing in an instant. The shockwave hurled entire groves flat and sent pirates tumbling like leaves in a storm.
Teach reacted instantly. In one smooth motion, he scooped Pito into one arm, grabbed Voss by the shoulder, and booted Mobius behind the shelter of a massive boulder just as the gale ripped through.
Mobius coughed from the impact, stunned, but his awe drowned out everything. "The sky… it exploded…"
"That," Teach said, his voice trembling with exhilaration, "was Roger and the Old Man. Remember this, without me, you'd be fish food already."
He set Pito and Voss down, his grin wide and hungry. "Let's go. The war's about to begin."
Already, the two titans had reset their stances, only six meters apart, blades poised. Around them, their men gathered—Marco, Jozu, Vista, Whitey Bay, and Teach himself on one side. Rayleigh, Gaban, and the veterans of the Roger Pirates on the other.
For a heartbeat, only laughter filled the silence.
"Gurarararara!"
"Ahahahahaha!"
Two kings, facing each other once more, their voices alone shaking the heavens.
Finally, both grinned and roared the same challenge: "Leave your treasures behind!"
The ground erupted as Marco led the charge, phoenix wings blazing. Jabba and Rayleigh surged forward to meet him. Swords clashed, axes rang, and the island drowned in the roar of battle.
Teach barreled toward his chosen prey, a scarred fighter with spiked gauntlets and a dragon tattoo curling over his chest. The man's fists gleamed with Armament Haki as he stepped forward, eyes narrowing.
Their clash exploded in steel and sparks.
The war of legends had begun.