Just as Sanji Meow issued his challenge to Ace, the surrounding pirates began to stir and cheer boisterously.
Sherwin pricked up his ears and quickly pieced together the situation.
The matter was straightforward: Ace and Sanji Meow had fought twice before, resulting in one loss and one draw for Ace, who had been itching for a rematch ever since.
However, Sanji Meow had been quite crafty. Once he realized Ace strength was catching up to his own, he began avoiding the fight by claiming he was just a chef and wasn't responsible for combat.
Ace hadn't been able to do much about it before, but now that Sanji Meow had his own bounty, Ace used the amount to mock him, successfully goading the little yellow Felyne into action.
The crucial part was...
He had provoked Sanji Meow right in front of Suika Meow, Huamei, Sasha Meow, and the other beautiful big sister Felynes.
This hit the little yellow Felyne right where it hurt, leading to the scene that just unfolded.
"That guy Ace... he learned some dirty tricks!"
Sherwin stroked Klee Meow and Haibara Meow in his arms, sighing with a pained expression.
"He used to be such a simple-minded guy, and now he actually setting traps for a little Felyne! Being a pirate really does corrupt people!"
Even with Whitebeard sitting right next to him, Sherwin didn't hold back his commentary.
Whitebeard and Haibara Meow both shot him a sidelong glance but said nothing.
Klee Meow, however, gently tugged at Sherwin clothes and asked curiously, "But Sherwin, don't you usually prank Sanji Meow like that all the time, Meow?"
(=ω=)
This silly kid... why did she have to be so honest?
Sherwin pinched Klee Meow little cheeks, completely ignoring her question. "Let go see those two fight."
"Oh—!"
(=＞＜=)
The little Ragdoll was instantly distracted and quickly climbed onto Sherwin shoulder. "Sherwin brother, let go cheer for Sanji Meow!"
Sherwin stood up while holding Haibara Meow. Just as he was about to hoist her onto his other shoulder, he suddenly felt a burning gaze coming from the side—
Whitebeard was looking longingly at the little kitten in Sherwin hands.
"..."
Reaching out to scratch Haibara Meow chin, Sherwin shot her a look, and the little kitten quickly understood his meaning.
"Hm..."
(=`ー=)
Haibara Meow crossed her arms and thought for a moment, then habitually bit Sherwin palm before humming softly and jumping out of his arms.
Instead, she climbed onto the shoulder of a pleasantly surprised Whitebeard and curiously poked at his crescent-shaped mustache with her little paws.
"Gurarararara..."
Overjoyed, Whitebeard first let out a couple of loud laughs, but then, seemingly worried that he was being too loud and might bother Haibara Meow, he suddenly stopped mid-laugh.
He deliberately tilted his head to make it easier for Haibara Meow to fiddle with his mustache.
This scene was almost no different from when Garp met Klee Meow.
In the open clearing by the shore, members of the Whitebeard Pirates and the Felyne Investigation Team formed a large circle, surrounding Sanji Meow and Ace.
The human and the Felyne stood facing each other, and the atmosphere was surprisingly solemn.
"Ace, I heard you lost to little Sanji before. Don't lose again this time!"
"The Felynes of the Investigation Team are no joke, so we won't laugh at you even if you lose, Ace!"
"Sanji brother, do your best meow!"
The friends and family from both sides cheered them on.
"Sherwin brother, is Sanji brother going to be okay meow? That human named Ace looks very powerful..."
(=ΦωΦ=)
Sasha Meow, who had not been summoned long ago, asked with concern.
The little yellow Felyne had been very attentive to this new Felyne big sister lately. Since Sasha Meow had been worshipped by the Shakalaka for many years, she didn't mind Sanji Meow overly enthusiastic attitude, and the two Felynes got along quite well.
"Don't worry, Sanji is not weak either."
Sherwin stroked Sasha Meow small head and comforted her softly.
Although Ace had caught up to Sanji Meow strength long ago, after the little yellow Felyne Armament Haki improved further during the battle at Dressrosa, the gap between them had actually narrowed again.
Therefore, it would not be so easy for Ace to take down Sanji Meow.
"Transform meow!"
Knowing that even with his significant progress there was still a gap between him and Ace, Sanji Meow used his Felyne Paw Canned Food right from the start.
Accompanied by a flash of light, the little yellow Felyne was covered from head to toe in a yellow and black Sinister Seal combat suit.
"Oooooh—! So cool!!!"
The spectating pirates let out a collective cheer, just as expected, and even Ace, the opponent, joined in.
After all, the last time Sanji Meow transformed, his raid suit was styled as a chef uniform and looked almost unchanged. This transformation perfectly met Ace expectations.
"Diable Jambe: Concasser Meow!"
Sanji Meow didn't waste any words and struck first.
"Hahaha! Bring it on!"
With his arms coated in black, Ace laughed and raised his fists to meet the attack...
And then he was sent flying by Sanji Meow kick.
The raid suits that Sherwin and the others used were products that Purah Meow had iterated on many times in terms of power enhancement, they had long surpassed the original versions from Germa.
While they didn't mean much against top-tier experts like Emperors or Admirals, the effect was quite apparent when used against an immature "Black Fist" Ace.
"Daytime Tiger Meow!"
Having landed a successful hit, Sanji Meow pressed his advantage, unleashing two more kicks at Ace while he was still in mid-air. Two tiger-shaped air cannons lunged toward Ace one after the other.
"Hah!"
Tumbling through the air, Ace did a flip and threw a punch at the two "fearsome tigers" charging toward him. "Pistol Bullet!"
Sherwin: "..."
Don't think I can't tell—even with slight modifications, the core of this move is Garp Galaxy Impact, isn't it? It just much weaker in power and isn't infused with Conqueror Haki.
However...
In the manga, Ace didn't even know how to use Armament Haki, so he naturally didn't understand Conqueror Infusion.
But now that he lacks Logia fruit abilities, has trained himself to be like Garp 2.0, and is following Whitebeard, the "World Strongest Man," would he really not understand the techniques of Conqueror Infusion?
One must remember that in the manga setting, Ace combat talent was even stronger than Luffy.
Sure enough, after tangling with Sanji Meow for a while, Ace suddenly pulled back from the fight and shouted to Sanji Meow, "Watch out, Sanji, I'm getting serious now... this is a move I've only just mastered!"
As he spoke, Ace released a burst of Conqueror Haki from his body—slightly weaker than Huamei Meow—and quickly infused it into his hands.
However, compared to the condensed Conqueror Infusion of Huamei Meow and Kaido Meow, Ace infusion seemed somewhat unstable.
Sherwin could occasionally feel bits of Conqueror pressure leaking out from his hands.
Emmmm... is Ace combat talent really higher than Luffy? Or is it because he hasn't been hit by Master Kaido club, so his progress is slower?
But even with such unrefined Conqueror Infusion, the boost to Ace strength was substantial. Sanji Meow, who had been trading blows evenly with him, instantly fell into a disadvantage.
"Sherwin, if this continues, Sanji Meow will lose, meow."
Sasha Meow own strength was not considered very strong, but she still had a keen eye. "That power provides too much of a boost to one attacks, meow."
"Mm, this is Conqueror Haki. Even within our research group, only Huamei and Kaido have mastered this power.
And this technique known as 'Conqueror Infusion' is the absolute pinnacle of combat skills in this world."
"Then, then quickly have little brother Sanji concede, meow! It only a sparring match anyway, isn't it, meow? It would be bad if he got hurt, meow."
The kind-hearted Sasha Meow hurriedly made the suggestion.
However...
"I won't concede, meow!"
Once again picking himself up from the ground, Sanji Meow was still brimming with fighting spirit.
"Sasha big sister, just you wait for me to bring victory to you! Ifrit Jambe: Sekizo: Quadruped Meow!"
Just like that pervert Sanji, the little yellow cat combat power soared under the concern of a beautiful big sister Felyne.
By activating burst techniques like Flurry Rush, he temporarily suppressed Ace, who had already unleashed Conqueror Infusion.
However, the reason burst techniques were called burst techniques was that their duration was limited.
After briefly holding the upper hand, Sanji Meow was quickly knocked to the ground again by Ace.
Furthermore, because he had forcibly activated multiple burst techniques simultaneously earlier, the little yellow cat body was already reaching its limit.
Looking at Sanji Meow, who was lying on the sandy ground still struggling to stand up, Sherwin sighed softly...
This little guy ultimately wasn't a child of destiny like Luffy.
Just as he took a step forward, intending to go and pick up Sanji Meow, an unfamiliar surge of Conqueror Haki suddenly soared into the sky.