ONE PIECE: THE GREAT VOYAGE

At that critical moment, excruciating pain erupted throughout his body.

His face turned pale, and sweat dripped from his forehead.

He staggered two steps back but managed to hold his ground.

Rocks D. Xebec gazed at the man standing before him—the one who refused to yield no matter what—and let out a deep, amused laugh.

"Not bad... I want you on my crew more and more."

He waved his hand, and the overwhelming Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki) instantly dissipated.

Caesar, who had been struggling to endure its crushing force, finally exhaled in relief. He leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees, breathing heavily.

"I, Rocks, appreciate your spirit more and more. How about it? Consider becoming my subordinate?"

After catching his breath, Caesar straightened up. Excitement burned in his eyes.

Finally… he had met a true monster.

Wasn't this the very reason he sought to go out to sea? To face powerful foes? To push himself beyond his limits?

And now, a true challenge stood before him. How could he back down?

Caesar slowly curled his lips into a grin. "Then let's have a real fight."

"I'm curious to see which of us is stronger."

Even though Rocks had withdrawn his Haoshoku Haki, that didn't mean it wouldn't resurface in combat.

Rocks noticed the burning ambition in Caesar's gaze.

They were the same kind of people.

With interest, Rocks grinned, his sharp white teeth glinting.

"Captain, let me fight him."

Rocks hadn't even responded yet.

Kaido, brimming with excitement, stepped forward. His massive frame cast a looming shadow. He lifted his chin slightly, staring at Caesar.

"If you want to fight the captain, you've got to get through us first."

Caesar raised an eyebrow slightly.

Rocks considered Kaido's words for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. Defeat my subordinates first."

Glancing back at the enormous Kaido, Rocks made his decision.

Whitebeard and the others exchanged looks, a hint of envy in their eyes.

"Kaido may still be just a trainee, but his strength isn't to be underestimated," one of them muttered.

Kaido immediately stepped forward, his blood boiling with excitement.

"My hands were itching while watching that duel. Thanks for the opportunity, Captain!"

Caesar knew exactly what Kaido would become in the future—the Strongest Creature in the World, one of the Four Emperors. Even now, as a young warrior, his strength was undeniable.

But where did Caesar himself stand?

This battle would answer that.

[11] Battle Against Kaido – A Single Strike Ends It!

Kaido approached, swinging his enormous kanabō—a black iron club studded with spikes.

The surrounding pirates instinctively stepped aside.

Each of Kaido's steps was heavy, his sheer size instilling a sense of dread.

The Rocks Pirates, gathered behind the senior officers, watched eagerly.

Though the crew was infamous for infighting, all of them respected raw power.

"Kaido, crush him!" someone shouted, fueling the excitement.

Caesar ignored the uproar, keeping his eyes locked on Kaido. His body remained motionless, coiled like a spring.

"Hey, old man, let's settle this!"

With a roar, Kaido raised his kanabō high.

Dark red lightning crackled around it—Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) surged over the weapon.

Caesar narrowed his eyes. The moment the club came down, his own body surged with Busoshoku Haki, reinforcing his muscles.

BANG!

The kanabō slammed down with immense force.

Caesar met it head-on, his strengthened muscles peaking at that instant.

The impact of their Haki-clad weapons sent out a deafening shockwave.

A powerful burst of wind exploded from the point of collision.

It was a pure clash of brute strength and Haki.

The attack was simple—just raw force meeting raw force. But the sheer spectacle of it was breathtaking.

"Damn… that's insane," murmured one of the watching pirates, eyes wide with awe and fear.

After the initial clash, the two combatants began trading blows.

Kaido swung his kanabō relentlessly, each strike shaking the ground.

Caesar, combining his martial skills with Busoshoku Haki, dodged and countered, analyzing Kaido's movements with Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki).

For a while, they fought evenly.

Then, with a resounding clang, sparks erupted from their final exchange, and the two combatants were suddenly forced apart.

Caesar stood calmly, breathing evenly.

Kaido, in contrast, panted slightly, frustration darkening his face.

Seeing Caesar's composed demeanor, Kaido scowled.

Caesar smirked. He understood now—Kaido was strong.

But he was still far from the terrifying force he would become as captain of the Beast Pirates and an Emperor of the New World.

At this stage, he lacked the monstrous endurance and overwhelming power granted by the Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu (Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon).

Seeing Caesar's smirk, Kaido's eyes flickered with irritation.

"Come at me!" he roared.

Caesar chuckled. "Exactly what I had in mind."

Both warriors lunged forward.

Caesar unsheathed his longsword with a sharp clang!

The blade met Kaido's kanabō in a blur of movement.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Their speed left only afterimages behind, with only Rocks and a few high-ranking crew members able to follow their exchanges.

Sparks flew. Gradually, Kaido began to falter.

Caesar's swift swordplay overwhelmed him, his strikes unpredictable and precise.

Kaido, by contrast, relied purely on brute strength.

BANG!

With a final decisive strike, Caesar hooked his sword under Kaido's kanabō, sending it spinning into the air before it crashed into the sand.

Silence followed.

Kaido clutched his wrist, his face dark with frustration.

"Damn it… You're strong, bastard!"

Caesar barely acknowledged his words. Instead, he turned his gaze to Rocks.

"I challenge you."

His voice carried absolute determination.

Rocks grinned, amusement flashing in his eyes.

"Alright," he said, then paused, his expression shifting into something unreadable.

"But…"

His smirk widened as he added, "If you lose, you'll serve under me."

His eyes gleamed with a sinister light.

"Or, you can refuse… and be slaughtered along with that village."

The same ultimatum he had given before.

Caesar exhaled sharply, then smirked.

"I don't plan on dying so soon. Fine. If I lose, I'll join your crew."

"Very good," Rocks said, his satisfaction evident.

Without another word, he drew his massive saber and slashed forward.

Instantly, Haoshoku Haki crackled along the blade in black and purple lightning.

The moment the blackened blade swung, dark steam evaporated into the air.

Caesar's pupils shrank.

Before he could react—

BOOM!

A single strike sent him flying.

In mere seconds, Caesar was on the ground, blood dripping from his lips.

Rocks sheathed his blade. The entire duel had lasted no more than three seconds.

Caesar clenched his fists, struggling to rise.

So this was the true strength of Haoshoku Haki infusion…

The gap between him and the world's strongest was still vast.

Charlotte Linlin, chewing on sweets, laughed. "Looks like we've got another crew member!"

Caesar barely stood, pain flaring in his chest where the Haki-infused attack had torn through his defenses.

Gritting his teeth, he exhaled sharply.

"I lost."

[12] Meeting the Crew – Kaido's Relentless Challenges