Rocks' fighting spirit burned even brighter during the battle.
Whitebeard's strength has soared, making him a completely different person compared to when he was under my command.
At this moment, Whitebeard's control over the Tremor-Tremor Fruit was unparalleled; every swing of his hand caused the space to tremble.
The addition of Conqueror's Haki made it even more formidable; the two elements were perfectly combined, and the attack resembled a cataclysmic disaster, its overwhelming power filling the surrounding air with a chilling pressure.
In the midst of this fierce battle, Lockes was also shaken to his core by the overwhelming onslaught several times.
If it weren't for the fact that I'm spared pain and suffering by having this impure body, I would probably be covered in wounds by now if I were in my normal life.
The Tremor-Tremor Fruit is known as the strongest Paramecia-type Devil Fruit. Having experienced it firsthand today, I know that this is no exaggeration; its power is truly terrifying!
It's understandable that Whitebeard is called the strongest man in the world.
However, time waits for no one, and the white-bearded man was indeed old and frail.
How many more times can he withstand such a high-intensity application of Conqueror's Haki and the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit?
Rocks' Observation Haki had already keenly detected that Whitebeard's internal functions were declining, like a dilapidated building on the verge of collapse, riddled with holes and about to crumble.
In an instant, the two blades clashed again, like two meteors carrying destructive power colliding violently.
"clang!!!"
A deafening, thunderous roar erupted, and a terrifying shockwave raged wildly in a ring around the two objects.
Wherever it went, sand and stones flew.
The sky seemed to be dyed into a sea of blood by a thick, overwhelming aura of dominance, a shockingly red color.
Those who were slightly weaker were like fallen leaves in a storm, swept up by the shockwave and instantly became disoriented.
Mouthfuls of blood gushed out uncontrollably, and he collapsed to the ground in a sorry state.
"Hahaha, Newgate, after all these years, is this all you've improved? You've really disappointed me!"
Rocks burst into wild laughter, his voice booming, as he pressed down on the long sword in his hand as if Mount Tai were crashing down.
Even Whitebeard's towering, mountain-like figure was suppressed by this immense force, slowly sinking and gradually losing ground.
His arm muscles were taut, and the veins were bulging, like angry dragons writhing and twisting under his skin.
Yet it still trembled uncontrollably, as if struggling to hold on.
With both legs bent, the right knee was about to make intimate contact with the ground.
The ground beneath his feet could no longer bear the weight and collapsed, creating a deep, enormous crater. As Lox continued to exert his strength, the crater slowly expanded and swallowed everything in its path.
"Dad!!!"
Upon seeing this, the Whitebeard Pirates' division commanders were filled with anxiety and their eyes were practically bursting with tears.
In their hearts, Whitebeard, this "King," has always been an invincible guardian, but now he is an aging hero, deeply mired in trouble.
How could they bear to stand idly by? One by one, they were anxious and eager to rush forward to protect their master.
Whitebeard's Observation Haki instantly detected their reckless actions. In a panic, he used all his strength to push Rocks's longsword back.
He turned to them and roared hoarsely, "Stop right there! Don't come any closer! I can handle this all by myself!"
"Dad, don't push yourself!"
Marco was heartbroken, his eyes reddened, and his voice seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.
He simply couldn't accept that his father, whom he had been so close to as a biological father, had died before his very eyes.
Whitebeard grinned, revealing his signature hearty smile, his laughter still as cheerful as ever: "Woo-la-la-la, it's been too long since I've stretched my muscles, even my son is questioning my strength?"
Upon hearing this, Lockes was furious, his hair flying wildly, and his eyes shooting out two chilling beams of light like from an ice cellar: "Newgate, how dare you be distracted during my duel!"
Having said that, he raised his arm horizontally, imbued with powerful Armament Haki, and slammed it heavily onto Whitebeard's Murakumogiri like a battering sledgehammer.
With a loud crash, Cong Yunqie, unable to withstand the heavy blow, slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground.
Rocks drew his sword, and with a flash, like a serpent emerging from its lair, slashed fiercely at Whitebeard's shoulder.
With a sharp, piercing rip, as if cloth were being violently torn apart, blood gushed out like a runaway fountain.
Whitebeard reacted quickly, immediately gripping Rocks' arm tightly.
But the demonic blade still cut through the flesh with unstoppable force, embedding itself deeply into the flesh, revealing the ghastly white bones.
"Dad!!!"
Marco and the others were furious, their hearts aching with tears streaming down their faces. They looked at the stubborn white-bearded man, filled with anxiety but unsure how to dissuade him.
Rocks intended to take the opportunity to mock Whitebeard, but suddenly, a tremendous force came from his arm, making his heart sink and a sense of foreboding wash over him.
In an instant, Whitebeard seemed to awaken from a sleeping giant, suddenly rising from the ground and lifting Rocks high with his hands like iron clamps.
The two were vastly different in size; Whitebeard was like a five-meter-tall tower, while Rocks, standing in front of him, appeared tiny, only about two meters tall.
Rocks refused to give in, and instantly wrapped his other hand in a thick Armament Haki.
The fists flew like a dense rain, accompanied by a whistling wind, one punch after another like heavy artillery shells, mercilessly pounding on the white-bearded man's chest.
"Boom boom boom!"
Each strike was like a thunderclap, and Whitebeard's chest visibly caved in.
Under the force of the impact, the person staggered backward uncontrollably, like a kite with a broken string.
This earth-shattering duel was like a raging storm, drawing the attention of everyone in Marineford, and indeed the entire world, like a magnet attracting iron.
Whitebeard, who was hailed as the strongest man in the world, was now being beaten miserably by Rocks.
His chest caved in deeply, and the broken ribs, like ferocious fangs, pierced through the skin. His internal organs were shattered into a pile of minced meat under the successive blows.
Even so, the white-bearded man stood tall and firm, like a pine tree rooted in the earth, his body seemingly containing endless power and exuding an indomitable spirit.
Rocks continued his offensive, but found it difficult to reach Whitebeard's chest. He looked up angrily, only to meet Whitebeard's gaze.
Those eyes, beneath the calm surface of the lake, seemed to conceal a volcano about to erupt, surging with a fiery and violent killing intent.
Lox, who prided himself on being lawless and audacious, felt as if he were being stared at by a demon, and a chill ran down his spine.
"Lox, you're done? Then it's my turn!"
The white-bearded man seemed to squeeze out this angry roar from between his teeth, his eyes wide open, as if an ancient ferocious beast had awakened.
With a sudden burst of strength, he grabbed Lockes' arm and slammed Lockes into the ground like a cannonball.
With a loud "boom," the earth seemed unable to bear the weight and trembled violently.
Immediately afterwards, Whitebeard's left hand, like a massive dam, pressed down on Rocks, rendering him unable to move.
With his right hand raised high, a white halo slowly appeared in his palm. As the light flowed, the Conqueror's Haki surged like a turbulent tide, continuously gathering upon it.
The originally pure white halo was instantly dyed a dazzling crimson by the Conqueror's Haki, as if a blood-soaked demon god had descended upon the world.
At this moment, Whitebeard had completely integrated the Tremor-Tremor Fruit with Conqueror's Haki, turning it into a world-shaking killing move.
Its power far surpasses that of simple Conqueror's Haki, as if it could split the heavens and the earth.
In an instant, the raised fist seemed to be surrounded by crimson lightning, crackling and popping.
Every flash of lightning instilled despair, as if suffocating one.
Lox's pupils contracted sharply, and he twisted his body frantically, veins bulging in his arms, struggling with all his might to try and break free from this cage of death.
However, it was all in vain; it was too late.
Whitebeard, like a crazed war god, laughed wildly, his voice shaking the heavens: "I am Whitebeard!"
After saying that, his fist, carrying the power to destroy the world, was filled with endless rage and domineering aura.
Like a meteor falling to earth, it crashed heavily onto Rocks' head.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com