ONE PIECE: THE GREAT VOYAGE

Each Against the Other

"Well, do you want to compete?"

Golden Lion Shiki certainly wouldn't expect to see the same kindness in him as Whitebeard.

Although he was an incredibly loyal person, he only extended that loyalty to those he liked.

"Then come on."

With a bang, Golden Lion pressed his right hand to the ground, and a gust of air immediately propelled him into the sky.

The blade of the long sword gleamed in the sunlight as he leveled it at his opponent. His long, golden hair billowed in the wind.

The members of the Rocks Pirates ran out, eager to witness the fight.

Golden Lion and Caesar—both cadre-level powerhouses on their ship. This was nothing short of a battle between gods.

Rocks D. Xebec smirked, his grin sharp and menacing, like a reaper's scythe.

"This kid has guts."

Whitebeard crossed his arms, watching with curiosity.

Caesar, standing firm, unsheathed his newly forged long sword and held it against his chest.

"Chopping..."

Golden Lion shot forward with frightening speed, raising his twin blades—Oto and Kogarashi.

A deafening boom followed.

The sheer force of his slash tore through the air.

"Boom!"

The ground beneath the attack was instantly shattered, leaving behind a massive rift.

Caesar neither dodged nor evaded—his sword arm was like iron. With a sharp intake of breath, his weapon darkened as he infused it with Armament Haki.

Clang!

The immense force of the attack clashed against Caesar's sword, sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield.

Caesar clenched his teeth as his feet slid back from the impact.

Whitebeard's words echoed in his mind—the importance of Haoshoku Haki infusion in a battle between top-tier warriors...

"Argh!"

Caesar roared, swinging his sword with all his might.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The violent energy of the slash scattered, deflecting away. The force struck the surrounding forest, toppling trees in rapid succession.

Golden Lion's right eyebrow lifted slightly. Had he just sensed the faintest trace of Conqueror's Haki infusion on that blade?

Was it an illusion?

There was no doubt, however, that his own twin swords were imbued with Conqueror's Haki—that was the true source of his overwhelming cutting power.

If one strike failed, he would unleash another.

Clang! Clang!

The battlefield echoed with steel meeting steel, sparks flying with each clash. The sheer force of their blows distorted the very air.

The heavens darkened.

Caesar, watching the ominous black-purple lightning flicker around Shiki's swords, realized the gap between them.

He unleashed his full arsenal of sword techniques—fast, precise, and relentless.

Yet, no matter how he attacked, Golden Lion effortlessly countered.

Then—

Slash!

A sharp pain tore through Caesar's left shoulder, blood spraying through the air.

Golden Lion swooped down like a predator.

"Argh!"

Caesar barely had time to react before he was struck hard, sent hurtling toward the ocean below.

But—

His descent suddenly slowed unnaturally. Twisting in midair, he barely managed to land on the shore, panting in pain.

He had lost. Completely.

Sure enough, the difference between a warrior who had mastered Haoshoku infusion and one who hadn't was night and day.

---

Report! A Pirate Ship Ahead!

The sun shone brightly on another day of sailing.

Caesar looked up, using Observation Haki to scan the approaching vessel.

Strangely, the crew aboard did not appear frightened. Instead, they continued advancing toward them.

[19] Facing the Enemy Head-on—Momo Momo no Mi User?!

Caesar, still recovering from his injuries, felt a flicker of interest.

A pirate crew daring to approach the Rocks Pirates instead of fleeing?

Who could they be?

As he sharpened his focus, his eyes settled on a towering man with a green beard and an iron helmet adorned with curved horns.

His left horn was broken.

Perched on his left shoulder sat a thin, short man wearing a matching iron helmet. Golden earrings dangled from both their earlobes.

Caesar's eyes narrowed. These faces... seemed familiar.

"Wald... that pirate flag. There's no mistaking it—it belongs to the Rocks Pirates."

The thin man, holding a telescope, turned to his captain with a serious expression.

Wald?!

A flash of recognition struck Caesar.

Wasn't this Bundy Wald, the infamous wielder of the Momo Momo no Mi?

The man the World Government had labeled The Destroyer of the World?

A lunatic with ambitions to obliterate everything in his path?

A pirate thought to exist only in the anime's Strong World movie...

But no—Bundy Wald was a legendary pirate from thirty years ago in the manga.

A man who had waged war against both pirates and the Navy—only to be crushed in the end.

Then the thin man must be... his brother Binjack.

Binjack hesitated. "Should we avoid them? Cough cough. The Rocks Pirates are infamously ruthless. They rule the New World. We've only just entered..."

Wald let out a hearty laugh, his smile brimming with confidence.

"Run? The first battle of the New World? Impossible."

"We will eliminate anything standing in our way."

His young eyes burned with ambition, confidence, and arrogance.

Beside him stood his elite crew:

Naqin—a blue-haired martial artist.

Sebastian—a half-giant, half-fishman behemoth.

Guyram—a cube-shaped warrior with the power of the Kubi Kubi no Mi.

Naqin smirked, lips curling. "That's right. Just kill them."

Guyram nodded. "Ten minutes should be enough."

Sebastian snorted, stepping forward. "We've defeated powerful foes before. There's no backing down now."

Wald's ability filled them with confidence.

As his crew cheered, the Rocks Pirates grew just as excited.

A pirate crew that didn't flee? A large ship—likely carrying a mountain of treasure?

"This pirate flag... I recognize it from the news," one pirate muttered, peering through a telescope.

Caesar spoke calmly:

"It's the Wald Pirates. The World Government fears them enough to call Wald the Destroyer of the World. Stay sharp."

But instead of hesitation, the Rocks Pirates grew even more eager for battle.

Caesar could hear them licking their lips—hungry for blood.

Rocks D. Xebec glanced at him, then scoffed.

"Wald? Never heard of him."

"And as for 'Destroyer of the World'..." His grin turned wicked.

"That title belongs to me."

Though no blows had been exchanged yet, the hostility was palpable.

Caesar exhaled and took a step forward.

"Captain, let me handle Bondi Wald."

His lips curled into a grin—one that mirrored the madness of the Rocks Pirates yet held something different.

"Since I set sail, I've yet to meet a true hero of the sea."

Brad, standing nearby, looked at him with concern. "Caesar..."

But Caesar ignored it. He knew why he volunteered.

Last time, he had stayed out of the battle. This time, he needed to gain more experience. More merit.

Only then could he solidify his position within the Rocks Pirates.

His eyes burned as he locked onto Wald's ship.

Bondi Wald was strong.

He could use Rokushiki techniques like Moonwalk and Soru.

His Momo Momo no Mi could magnify size, speed, and weight to absurd levels.

And his mastery of Haki—aside from lacking Conqueror's Haki—was formidable.

A tough opponent.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Caesar," Rocks said with a smirk. "I expect spoils."

Caesar stepped onto the deck, raising his hands.

As the enemy ship approached, Wald casually tossed small cannonballs in his hand.

[20] A Difficult Battle—Fighting Wald!

"Double speed—50 times bullets!"

With a flick of his wrist, Wald launched them.

In midair, the tiny cannonballs ballooned to the size of boulders—hurtling toward the Rocks Pirates' ship at blinding speed.