Chapter 42 – Monsters of the Era
The sky above God Valley roared.
Flames, lightning, shockwaves, and Conqueror's Haki covered the battlefield as monsters of the era clashed against each other.
The island itself trembled.
Kaido's massive Azure Dragon body twisted through the clouds as St. Mars chased him through the sky.
Mars opened his beak.
A gigantic stream of flames burst forward.
"Wororororo!"
Kaido laughed wildly as he dodged through the flames.
"Bolo Breath!"
A pillar of dragon fire erupted from his mouth and collided with Mars' attack.
BOOOOMMMM!!!
The sky exploded.
Flames scattered across the heavens like meteors.
And right on top of Kaido's giant dragon head—
Ron sat cross-legged casually.
"Tsk, your aim sucks."
"GET OFF MY HEAD!" Kaido roared.
Ron ignored him and looked toward Mars.
"Yo, bird-face, your flames are weak."
Mars' eyes narrowed in fury.
"You dare mock the Gorosei?"
"Why not?" Ron shrugged. "You old bastards jumped me four against one. You deserve it."
Mars screeched as black flames exploded around his body.
His speed increased.
The gigantic bird blurred through the sky and slammed into Kaido.
BOOOM!!!
Kaido's dragon body smashed through clouds.
"Tsk!"
Kaido swung his tail.
Mars blocked with his wings but was still blasted backward.
Ron looked impressed.
"Not bad. You can actually fight."
"RONNN!" Kaido roared angrily. "STOP COMMENTING AND HELP!"
"But I'm injured."
"You were throwing giant fire fists five minutes ago!"
"Details."
Kaido wanted to bite him.
Mars attacked again.
Black flames gathered around his claws as he slashed downward.
Kaido twisted his body.
The claws cut through his scales, drawing blood.
"Worororo… now that hurt."
Kaido's eyes became dangerous.
Flame clouds spread around the sky.
Lightning crackled around his dragon body.
"Thunder Breath!"
A concentrated blast of black lightning and flames shot toward Mars.
Mars countered with another flame breath.
The attacks collided.
Shockwaves spread across the island.
Below them, countless Marines and pirates were blown away.
Ron looked down lazily.
"Damn. Kaido, you're already destroying islands at this age. Future you is gonna be annoying."
"Shut up!"
Mars suddenly appeared above Kaido.
His gigantic talons descended.
Kaido roared as he tried to block.
But before the claws could land—
Ron swung Surtr as a flaming slash slammed into Mars.
BOOOOM!!!
Mars was blasted away by compressed flames and Haki.
The gigantic bird crashed through multiple mountains.
Kaido blinked.
"…You said you were injured."
Ron nodded seriously.
"I am."
"…Monster."
Ron grinned.
"Thanks."
---
On another side of God Valley, the earth itself cracked apart.
Newgate and St. Topman Warcury stood facing each other.
Warcury's gigantic boar form towered over the battlefield.
Black lightning covered his body.
His tusks gleamed with Conqueror's Haki.
"Human."
Warcury's deep voice shook the air.
"You possess monstrous strength."
"Gurararara!"
Newgate laughed loudly.
"And you're one ugly pig."
Warcury's eyes narrowed.
The ground exploded beneath him as he charged.
The island shook from the sheer weight of his attack.
Newgate grabbed Murakumogiri tightly.
His muscles bulged.
"Come then!"
BOOOOMMMM!!!
Naginata and tusks collided.
Conqueror's Haki exploded outward.
Nearby Marines screamed as they were blown away by the shockwaves.
Warcury pushed forward.
The ground beneath Newgate shattered.
"Your strength is impressive," Warcury said coldly.
"But you are still human."
"Gurarara… so what?"
CRACK.
White fractures spread around Newgate's fist.
Warcury's eyes widened slightly.
Newgate punched forward.
The air shattered.
BOOOOOOMMMM!!!
Warcury's gigantic body was blasted backward.
Entire sections of the island split apart.
The boar crashed through forests and cliffs.
"Tsk… tough bastard." Newgate clicked his tongue in irritation.
Warcury slowly stood back up.
The cracked flesh around his body regenerated.
Newgate clicked his tongue again.
"Annoying regeneration."
Warcury snorted.
"You cannot kill us."
"Who cares?"
Newgate spun Murakumogiri.
"I only need to beat the hell out of you."
Warcury charged again.
Newgate met him head-on.
Shockwaves erupted endlessly as two monsters clashed.
---
Far away, Roger laughed wildly.
"WHAHAHAHA! Come on then!"
St. Nesturo's skeletal horse form galloped across the battlefield.
Cold ghostly flames surrounded his blade.
"You insolent pirate."
Nesturo swung his sword.
Roger blocked with Ace.
CLANG!!!
The surrounding earth split apart.
Roger grinned.
"You old men really love acting superior."
Nesturo attacked again.
His sword moved like death itself.
Roger dodged sideways.
The slash behind him erased an entire mountain.
"Whoaaa… dangerous."
"You should not have come here."
"Wrong." Roger's grin widened. "This is exactly where I should be!"
Conqueror's Haki burst from him.
Black lightning exploded around Ace.
Roger dashed forward.
"DIVINE DEPARTURE!"
BOOOOMMMM!!!
Nesturo crossed his blade.
The impact blasted him backward.
Ghostly flames exploded everywhere.
Roger chased after him instantly.
Their swords clashed repeatedly.
The battlefield became a storm of black lightning.
Nesturo's undead horse screamed.
Roger laughed louder.
"Come on! Is that all?"
Nesturo suddenly vanished.
Roger's Observation Haki screamed.
Roger twisted.
Nesturo's blade barely missed his neck.
"Close one."
Roger's smile never disappeared.
"Now it's my turn."
He slammed a Haki-coated punch directly into Nesturo's skull.
BOOM!
Nesturo crashed through the ground.
Roger jumped after him.
"Hahaha! This is fun!"
---
Elsewhere, Linlin fought St. Peater.
The gigantic sandworm erupted from underground.
Its massive mouth opened wide.
Linlin snorted.
"Mamamama! Ugly thing!"
"Prometheus!"
The flaming sun rushed forward.
Massive flames exploded into the worm's mouth.
Peater burst through the fire anyway.
His giant jaws snapped toward Linlin.
Linlin blocked with Napoleon.
BOOOM!!!
The impact shook the battlefield.
Linlin slid backward.
Her eyes twitched.
"Tch… annoying bastard."
Peater burrowed underground again.
The earth trembled.
Linlin's Observation Haki spread.
"There."
She jumped.
The worm erupted beneath her.
Linlin spun midair.
"Hah!"
Napoleon enlarged.
"Mama Raid!"
Her massive slash cut straight through Peater's body.
The worm split apart.
Blood sprayed everywhere.
But moments later—
The body regenerated.
Linlin's smile disappeared.
"Mamamama… now I'm getting irritated."
Peater attacked again.
Linlin blocked.
The two giant monsters tore through the battlefield.
Pirates and Marines alike fled from them.
Nobody wanted to get caught between those two.
---
In the middle of the island, Conqueror's Haki roared out as Rocks and possessed Saturn fought.
Imu's Conqueror's Haki coated Saturn's spider legs.
Rocks' every attack was like a cannonball, yet before Imu's Conqueror's Haki, he couldn't do anything as all the damage instantly regenerated.
"Damn it… still not strong enough," Rocks cursed. Even after all those years, he still wasn't Imu's match.
"Face reality, Rocks. You cannot surpass gods."
"Yeah, you say it and I'll listen?" Rocks rolled his eyes. "No matter what, the will of the Devy clan will live on, even if I die."
A smile appeared on his face.
Imu was done with him. His eyes turned toward Ron.
"Ron."
Saturn charged toward Kaido and Ron.
Rocks stared at him speechlessly.
"Damn it, are you ignoring me?"
He charged forward, swinging his blade.
Saturn's Conqueror's-coated leg defended against Rocks' attack.
"If I cannot have him, he will not live."
"Tsk, are you saying he is more dangerous than me?" Rocks looked genuinely angry. The Overlord of the Sea wasn't as dangerous as his own crewmate?
"You do not understand or know anything. His very existence defies fate and destiny. A man born free from fate is more dangerous. He can become the beginning of a new era… or the doom of everything."
Imu spoke calmly as Rocks was pushed back.
"What kind of nonsense is that?!"
Rocks roared, charging forward again as blood dripped from his mouth.