(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
(25 chapters of the new book are already released in p.atreon)
****
Sabaody Archipelago also had a towering screen on all groves.
Almost everyone on the island gathered, their eyes glued to the battle unfolding before them.
This fight had the potential to decide the world's future direction.
Deep down, many civilians secretly hoped that Colt would win.
The Sabaody Archipelago was the place where Celestial Dragons appeared most frequently, and its residents had suffered the most under their tyranny.
If Colt triumphed, what would that mean?
Would the Celestial Dragons finally be wiped out?
Changing a ruler might not necessarily lead to a better future, but things were already terrible enough.
The common people doubted it could get any worse.
Among the crowd, two remnants of the old era stood, watching the screen with complicated expressions.
"He's too strong," Shakky murmured, taking a drag from her cigarette, her thoughts drifting to her former captain.
"If Rocks had possessed this level of strength back then, the outcome of the God Valley Incident would have been completely different, right?"
"Without a doubt." Rayleigh let out a wry smile.
"If Roger was still alive, he would have been thrilled to face an opponent like Kamiyo Colt."
A part of him felt relieved.
Because of Hatchan, Rayleigh had once considered going after Colt.
Fortunately, they had never crossed paths—otherwise, his retirement might have been spent in a wheelchair.
But… something puzzled him.
This wasn't the era of great pirates that Roger had envisioned.
Why was the world being turned upside down when no one had even reached Laughtale yet?
Unfortunately… the dead Pirate King could no longer answer his questions.
****
One after another, powerful figures launched their attacks, but Colt remained unmoved—like an unshakable mountain.
No matter how fiercely they struck, their assaults barely made an impact.
Each time he retaliated, a single punch was enough to deflect an attack and send an opponent flying.
Whitebeard seized the right moment, activating devil fruit ability.
A long, narrow crack spread from his fist as vibrations surged toward Colt.
Boom!
"This attack is somewhat interesting," Colt muttered.
A violent gust erupted from his body, blowing away the smoke and forming a ring of shockwaves.
The power of vibrations—the very essence of destruction—managed to stir his perfected body, if only slightly.
"But that's all."
Before Whitebeard could react to how his attack was easily dealt with, Kong appeared before Colt, attempting a strike.
Colt grabbed Kong's wrist, yanked him forward, and slammed his knee into his torso.
CRACK!
Kong's eyes bulged as the sickening sound of breaking bones echoed across the battlefield.
"Kong!!"
Sengoku's eyes widened in fury as he watched the former Fleet Admiral collapse limply to the ground.
Enraged, Sengoku lunged forward, his hands glowing with immense power, ready to strike Colt with all his might.
As a figure who had guided him throughout his career, Kong was someone Sengoku deeply respected.
They were both teacher and student, friends as well as comrades.
Seeing Kong on the brink of death shattered Sengoku's usual calm.
But raw emotion could not bridge the overwhelming gap in power.
As Sengoku's fists came crashing down, Colt didn't dodge.
He simply reached out to meet the attack head-on.
At the same time, Shanks made his move.
With a flash of cold steel, he circled behind Colt, unleashing a devastating slash infused with Conqueror's Haki.
From their earlier exchange, Shanks had deduced that Colt seemed immune to energy-based attacks.
Neither Sengoku's shockwaves, nor his own Haki-infused strikes, nor even Akainu's magma had left a mark.
Melee combat was the only option.
Swish!
But Colt vanished in an instant, reappearing at Shanks' side.
"That's not how you use a sword," Colt remarked casually.
"Let me show you."
Gripping Shanks' wrist, he forced the blade downward—driving it straight into Sengoku's chest.
Then, without hesitation, he delivered a brutal kick, sending them both hurtling across the battlefield.
Thud! Thud!
Blood sprayed from their wounds as they crashed into the rubble, losing consciousness.
Colt turned his gaze toward Garp.
With a flicker, he vanished and reappeared beside him.
Whitebeard's sharp instincts kicked in.
Through his Kenbunshoku Haki, he foresaw Colt's movement and launched his ultimate attack.
A brilliant white energy sphere formed in Whitebeard's hand, vibrating with unparalleled destructive force.
This was his most devastating technique—one capable of transferring all of his shock power directly into his target.
If Colt continued his attack on Garp, this blow would land squarely on him.
Yet, to Whitebeard's shock, Colt ignored the incoming attack.
Instead, he placed his palm on Garp's head… and slammed him into the ground.
BOOM!
The force of the impact shook all of Marineford. Deep cracks splintered across the ground as Garp's body went limp.
Finally, Whitebeard's fist struck Colt's body.
This was the strongest punch Whitebeard had ever thrown—his ultimate trump card to destroy everything!
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Colt staggered back two steps, his clothes fluttering wildly under the sheer force of the shockwaves.
It was the first time he had reacted that way to an attack since the battle began.
"Hmm… this sensation… is it evolution?"
Ignoring Whitebeard's stunned expression at how he was unharmed, Colt instead turned his attention to his own body.
Ever since completing Kaguya's quest and obtaining the Ōtsutsuki clan's bloodline, he had yet to engage in a battle serious enough to push his limits.
Just now, however, he had discovered something fascinating—
After enduring Whitebeard's attack, his cells began to change, subtly adapting to the force of the Gura-Gura no Mi.
"Could it be… that after taking damage, my body evolves to resist it?"
As he pondered this newfound revelation, he extended his hands and activated his Universal Pull.
From a distance, Green Bull and Fujitora were yanked into the air, unable to resist.
A single punch for each.
Two more down.
In the blink of an eye, the battlefield had been reduced to only three fighters still standing against Colt:
Akainu. Whitebeard. Beckman.
All around them, bodies of fallen warriors lay motionless, their defeat speaking for itself.
"Monster…"
Akainu gritted his teeth so hard they nearly cracked.
Why did such a monster exist in this world?!
Was this man even human?!
"Do you still want to fight?" Colt tilted his head, looking at Akainu with a polite smile.
"If not, you're welcome to put on seastone handcuffs yourself."
"Even if I have to spill every last drop of my blood…" Akainu took a deep breath, his fists igniting once more.
"I will fight to the very end!"
At that moment—
"GRANDPA!!!"
A loud voice echoed across the battlefield.
Then—
Dun-du-dun! Dun-du-dun! Dun-du-dun! Dun-du-dun!
The battlefield shook as a new force made its entrance.
Luffy had arrived.