On the vast blue sea, Buggy's hands—still gripping the telescope—suddenly began to shake violently.
"R-Roger… Captain Roger!" he shrieked, his voice breaking completely."That warship—it looks like it's… it's charging straight at us at full speed!"
"Hm?"Rayleigh paused mid-sip, his brow knitting slightly."The Marines in the first half of the Grand Line… charging in this recklessly?"
The laughter on deck cut off instantly.
"Buggy, are you serious?!"Shanks, clearly unconvinced, snatched the telescope from his hands."We're the Roger Pirates, you know!"
But the moment he adjusted the focus, the image snapped into clarity—and his pupils shrank.
Standing at the prow of the Marine warship was a single figure.
A black shirt snapped violently in the sea wind. A Justice cloak edged in black billowed behind him, its hem whipping like a banner of execution. In his right hand, the black blade Bahuang radiated a chilling, oppressive presence.
"T-this guy…"Cold sweat instantly beaded on Shanks's forehead. Before he could finish—
"No… no, that's not right!"Buggy, with his sharp eyesight, suddenly jumped like a cat whose tail had been stepped on."Captain Roger! That's not an ordinary Marine! Th-that's 'Heaven-Shaker' Gern!!!"
The name detonated across the deck like a bomb.
"Heaven-Shaker?"Roger's grin stalled for a fraction of a second.
A cold gleam flashed across Rayleigh's lenses. Even the ever-arrogant Bullet abruptly rose to his feet.
Over these past years, the name Heaven-Shaker within the Marines had become one no one dared underestimate.
"So that's it… it's him."Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, light glinting sharply across them."No wonder. This clearly isn't some Four Seas patrol ship…"
"Hahahaha!"Roger stood at the bow, hands on his hips, laughing loudly."Interesting! I was just thinking we'd blow it up to spice up the banquet—didn't expect them to come charging in on their own?!"
"Heaven-Shaker…"Rayleigh walked forward slowly."Clashing with him out on the open sea isn't a wise choice."
By now, Gern Reginald Sigmar's warship was dangerously close—less than a nautical mile between them.
"Sorry about this,"Rayleigh said first, smiling lightly as he looked toward Gern, clearly hoping to avoid trouble."But Marine rookie, if possible, could you not disturb us while we're drinking?"
—
At the same time, aboard the warship—
Gern looked at the so-called Dark King and let out a cold laugh, the corner of his mouth curling into a sinister arc.
"I'm disturbing you?"His voice was sharp, merciless."Drop the act. You say that as if you weren't just discussing whether to sink my warship as after-dinner entertainment."
Rayleigh didn't refute him.
Pirates and Marines were enemies by nature. Nothing more than this: you meet me, you try to capture me; I meet you, I destroy you.
And earlier—before knowing who he was—they had indeed considered making a move on Gern's ship.
"Marine brat,"A voice cut in harshly."It's not your time to act arrogant yet."
Scopper Gaban stepped forward, small sunglasses perched on his nose, twin axes in hand, his expression openly displeased.
In an instant, the Conqueror's Haki of two of the Pirate King's wings subtly pressed down on Gern.
Roger, meanwhile, simply held his large wooden tankard, watching in silence, a faint curve at the corner of his lips.
Facing the combined pressure of Rayleigh and Gaban, Gern drew in a slow breath. Then—his lips gradually pulled into a wildly arrogant grin.
"I'll say this once," he said slowly."If you're going to threaten someone… then show some real skill!!!"
His roar exploded like thunder.
Dark purple Conqueror's Haki—fused with the terrifying power of Heaven-Shaker—erupted violently from the prow of the warship!
Where that pressure swept past, space itself seemed to shatter like glass, cracks spreading inch by inch through the air!
BOOM—!!
The sea collapsed instantly under the overwhelming force. Thick clouds were torn apart violently, leaving behind a grotesque, gaping rift in the sky.
The Oro Jackson groaned under the strain. Barrel after barrel on the deck burst apart, exploding into fragments.
Several weaker crewmen rolled their eyes back and collapsed on the spot.
"This level of Conqueror's Haki?!"Rayleigh's pupils shrank sharply as he immediately unleashed his own Haki at full power.
Gaban exploded with power as well—crimson and jet-black Haki interweaving, slamming head-on into Gern's dark purple Conqueror's aura!
CRACK—!!
The sea between the two ships was ripped apart by invisible force. Water surged violently to either side, forming a trench tens of meters deep!
Even two against one, Rayleigh and Gaban's combined Conqueror's pressure couldn't suppress Gern!
"What kind of joke is this…?!"Gaban grit his teeth, cold sweat streaming down his temples."This bastard… he actually has Haki at this level?!"
"No wonder he could cut down Shiki and defeat Oden,"Rayleigh said grimly, intensifying his release. His golden hair whipped wildly in the raging currents."Facing you alone… anyone would find it troublesome."
"Rayleigh."A calm voice interrupted.
Roger set his cup down heavily and stepped forward.
Rayleigh and Gaban immediately withdrew their pressure.
"I've wanted to meet you for a long time, Gern!"Roger suddenly burst into laughter, a flash of crimson light flickering in his eyes."After all—you're the man who inherited it!"
Before the words had even finished leaving his mouth, Roger stepped forward and drew Ace in one fluid motion. Gold-red Conqueror's Haki erupted like a volcano!
"Come on, Marine brat!"He grinned fiercely."Show me why it chose you!!!"
Two kings' destinies collided violently above the sea—the entire ocean trembling in response!
This clash was on a completely different level from before—a true, evenly matched collision between kings!
For a split second, the air across the entire sea seemed to freeze—
Then—
BAAAM—!!!
The sky shattered. The clouds were completely torn apart, revealing a pure, brilliant blue beyond. Towering waves rose sky-high as both ships rocked violently, nearly capsizing!
Buggy clung desperately to the mast, his face deathly pale."He—he's actually clashing with Captain Roger's Conqueror's Haki?!"
"So strong…"Shanks stared unblinking at the figure standing on the warship's prow, his fist unconsciously tightening."So this is the strength of the Marines' 'Heaven-Shaker'?The only man among the new generation of the Marine 'Four Monsters' who possesses Conqueror's Haki!"
At the same time, Bullet—who had been silently watching—locked his gaze on Gern like a blade.
Since Crocus had come aboard, Bullet already knew the truth of Roger's terminal illness.
That fact gnawed at him relentlessly—especially the realization that he would never, in his lifetime, defeat Roger.
"Oi, Bullet!"Rayleigh sensed something wrong and shouted sharply."What do you think you're doing?!"
"Heh."Bullet completely ignored him.
Jet-black Armament Haki instantly coated both his arms, an oppressive aura pouring from his body, suffocating in its intensity.
"Roger… if you won't make a move…"His low voice carried a dangerous edge."Then I'll do it for you."
"Hm?"Roger hadn't even had time to respond—
The next instant, Bullet's figure shot forward like a fired cannonball. The shockwave tore a massive trench across the sea's surface, colossal waves parting violently to either side.