A small voice echoed across the sea breeze.
As the two massive ships drew closer, everyone on deck—pirates and Marines alike—could see each other clearly.
In the moment of contact, they'd imagined all kinds of scenarios.
But none of them expected Luoyu to open with such a wildly reckless line.
This was Whitebeard's territory.
They were the Navy.
The two sides were natural enemies.
And Luoyu's first words were a request to meet Whitebeard?
Was he walking into the lion's den on purpose?
"Admiral Luoyu, is this really worth it—for ten million Berries?" Gion blurted out, panicked.
She'd thought her earlier fears were absurd.
Now she realized: when it came to Luoyu, the absurd was always possible.
Beside her, Chaton tensed up. He could no longer play the quiet observer and quickly stepped forward.
"Atmos, it's been a while. This is our new Admiral. We're just conducting a routine patrol in the Sicily Sea. That comment just now—Admiral Luoyu was joking. Please don't take it seriously."
As Admiral candidates, both Chaton and Gion were tasked with monitoring Yonko movements.
Clashes with their top officers were inevitable.
But this was Whitebeard's turf. That changed everything.
If the Whitebeard Pirates decided to attack en masse, even another Yonko crew might not survive.
"Chaton, shut it!" Atmos roared, his face twisted with fury.
"I don't care if he's a new Admiral or an old one. Anyone who dares speak our father's name so casually must pay the price."
"I'll make sure your new Admiral learns that the authority of a Yonko is not to be mocked!"
BOOM!
Atmos stomped forward, his massive frame shaking the deck.
Using the momentum, he launched himself like a cannonball straight at Luoyu.
With a twist of his arms, he brought down two gleaming greatswords with crushing force.
His bull-like physique only added to the explosive power.
Despite his size, his speed was terrifying—there was no delay in his strike.
The distance between them vanished in a blink.
Everyone's nerves snapped taut.
Marines and pirates alike turned to watch.
Atmos's subordinates kept their eyes on Gion and Chaton, gripping their weapons tightly.
With their captain personally attacking, they weren't worried about the so-called "paper tiger" Admiral.
But if the two Admiral candidates joined in, even Atmos might be overwhelmed.
That thought had barely formed when something happened that shattered their expectations.
"Everyone back! Don't get caught in Admiral Luoyu's blast!"
Chaton shouted, dragging Gion back as they both leapt away.
They'd considered stepping in.
But then they remembered—Luoyu hadn't even moved this whole time.
Would their help even matter?
As the deck cleared, Atmos blinked in confusion.
He hadn't expected Gion and Chaton to retreat like they were dodging a plague.
But it was too late to stop now.
With Luoyu just meters away, still standing motionless, Atmos roared.
His muscles bulged like stone, and his blades came crashing down with even greater force.
"Brat! You're a Marine Admiral—if you die here, it's your own fault for being too weak to dodge!"
BOOM!
The twin blades struck with a thunderous crash, shaking the sea.
The shockwave blasted outward like a hurricane.
But Luoyu stood unmoved.
The pirates' pupils shrank. Their eyes nearly popped from their sockets.
He blocked it.
The devastating strike had been caught by a golden, radiant Thousand-Armed Kannon.
Even Atmos's expression changed.
That blow had been a test—not full power—but still strong enough to cleave a Sea King in two.
And yet Luoyu hadn't even lifted a hand.
The gap was staggering.
Especially when the serene, glowing Kannon stood in stark contrast to the arrogant man behind it.
"A Devil Fruit ability?" Atmos growled. "No wonder you're so cocky."
"But you're not the only one with powers on this sea. Let me show you what a Whitebeard division commander can do!"
ROAR!
Atmos bellowed. His upper armor burst apart as black, wire-like fur exploded across his body.
He transformed into a towering minotaur-like form, horns curling from his head.
This was the power of the Ox-Ox Fruit, Model: Water Buffalo.
His already massive frame swelled even larger.
With a roar, he swung his twin blades again, slicing through the air with explosive force.
"Brat! I'll tear this paper tiger to shreds!"
"Is that so?" Luoyu adjusted his glasses with a smile.
"So much for a peaceful meeting. I guess I'll have to show you—when you push a paper tiger too far, it bites back."
BOOM!
A torrent of Conqueror's Haki erupted from Luoyu.
Under his psychic control, the force surged forward like a tidal wave, crashing toward Atmos.
The pirates felt the crushing pressure and recognized it instantly.
But something didn't add up.
Conqueror's Haki was supposed to be a spiritual shockwave.
How was it physically stopping an attack?
Had this new Admiral lost his mind?
Even Atmos hesitated, stunned.