SIX PATH SAGE OF THE ROCKS PIRATES

"Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!" Kaito's voice echoed across the battlefield as the energy in his hands began to surge.

A small, spiraling sphere appeared in his palm, its sharp hum growing louder as wind chakra infused into it. Within moments, the sphere transformed, extending razor-like wind blades to form the shape of a spinning shuriken.

The technique, now fully formed, glowed with terrifying intensity, radiating energy that distorted the air around it. As Kaito raised the Rasenshuriken above his head, its size grew larger, the blades whirling at incredible speed.

The nearby Marines were stunned, their expressions frozen in disbelief.

"What… What the hell is this guy?!"

"That attack from earlier was already devastating. But this... This thing is even worse!"

One Marine clutched his rifle nervously. "Colonel Garp won't make it. This guy isn't human—he's a monster straight out of the New World!"

Another shouted in frustration. "How did the Marines of the New World mess up so badly? How is this guy's bounty only 100 million berries?!"

The gathered Marines had assumed that Garp would easily capture Kaito due to his seemingly modest bounty. But now, watching the terrifying power Kaito wielded, they realized the bounty was absurdly low.

"A 100-million-berry pirate with this level of power?" one Marine whispered. "What kind of nonsense is this?! This is a complete failure in intelligence!"

Garp stood firm, staring down the whirling monstrosity of wind chakra in Kaito's hands.

"Kaito!" he roared, his voice booming over the battlefield.

His usual confidence wavered as he faced the Rasenshuriken. The earlier Super Big Ball Rasengan had pushed him to his limits, leaving his body bruised and battered. Now, this new attack exuded a power far beyond that.

For the first time in a long while, Garp hesitated.

The thought of retreating crossed his mind. "That last attack nearly took me down… Can I even withstand this?"

But as quickly as the thought arose, Garp dismissed it. He clenched his fists, his body tensing as he activated his full-body Armament Haki, coating himself in a jet-black, impenetrable layer of energy.

"I'm a Marine!" he growled to himself. "If I back down here, I'll live the rest of my life in the shadow of this brat!"

Kaito smirked as he saw the resolve in Garp's eyes.

"Then take this, Garp. Let's see if you can block it!" he said, his voice dripping with confidence.

The Rasenshuriken hummed violently as Kaito dashed forward, his speed blurring as he closed the distance between them in an instant.

Although the Rasenshuriken in Kaito's hands was incomplete and lacked the ability to be thrown, it was still an S-rank technique. Even in its semi-finished form, its destructive power was unimaginable.

As Kaito lunged, Garp responded immediately, unleashing his full strength. His fist, coated with Advanced Armament Haki, rocketed forward to meet Kaito's attack.

"BOOM!!!"

The moment the two forces collided, the battlefield was engulfed in a deafening explosion. A massive sphere of energy erupted at the point of impact, sending shockwaves rippling outward.

The ground beneath them shattered, forming deep fissures that spread for hundreds of meters. Trees were uprooted and thrown into the air, and a deafening roar echoed across the mountains.

From a distance, the Marines shielded their eyes from the blinding light of the explosion.

"What's happening?! Did Colonel Garp survive?!"

As the dust began to settle, the battlefield revealed its devastation. In the center of the crater stood Garp, breathing heavily, his Haki-coated body battered but unbroken. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, but his stance remained firm.

"You're strong, kid," Garp admitted, his voice steady despite the strain. "But I'm not going down that easily!"

Kaito grinned, his confidence undiminished. "Tough old man," he muttered. "Let's see how long you can last."

The battle between the Marine hero and the rising New World monster raged on, shaking the island to its core.

The devastating impact shook the entire back mountain with such force that it felt like an earthquake was tearing through the land. The violent explosions and rippling shockwaves extended far beyond the battlefield, disturbing even those in the nearby towns and villages on the island.

The chaotic energy was impossible to ignore.

On the main ship of the Rocks Pirates, some of the most dangerous figures in the world felt the disturbance.

"Huh? Could it be someone fighting?" Rocks D. Xebec muttered, his brow furrowing as he glanced toward the back mountain.

"Jihahahaha! That's some serious energy!" Shiki the Golden Lion laughed, his swords clinking at his sides as he floated above the deck. "Who's causing that ruckus? I'll take a look!"

Whitebeard, leaning against his naginata, had a more serious expression. "Back mountain? Is it someone from our crew, or did outsiders sneak onto this island?"

Charlotte Linlin smirked, placing a hand on her chin. "Oh? Did some of the cadres get into a squabble? That's not unusual for us."

Disharmony within the Rocks Pirates was no secret. Fights among the crew—particularly the cadres—were frequent and often catastrophic.

"Movement from the back mountain, huh? Sounds interesting," Silver Axe said, grinning as he adjusted his weapon. He stepped off the ship, heading toward the disturbance.

"Might as well check it out," Ochoku said, joining him.

John, rubbing his temples in annoyance, muttered, "If it's Marines, it's going to be a headache… Let's see what's going on."

One by one, the Rocks Pirates' top fighters moved toward the source of the overwhelming energy.

---

Back Mountain Battlefield

The once lush and stable back mountain was now an apocalyptic wasteland. The ground was completely destroyed, replaced by a massive crater. The edges of the crater were charred black, as though scorched by an intense heat exceeding thousands of degrees.

In the surrounding hundred meters, deep fissures and valleys split the earth, their depths impossible to see. The battlefield was silent, save for the faint crackling of embers and the groans of strained earth.

Dust and black smoke rose in thick plumes from the center of the pit. Pieces of rock, hurled skyward by the explosion, began to fall back to the ground like rain.

Farther out, scattered bodies of Marines lay lifeless. They hadn't been able to escape the devastating range of Kaito's Wind Style: Rasenshuriken, their lives snuffed out by the catastrophic attack.

From within the massive crater, a sound broke the eerie silence: the grating shift of rocks and gravel rolling against one another.

Through the smoke and debris, a figure began to rise slowly.

"Can you still stand?" Kaito said, his voice calm but laced with surprise. He stood on the edge of the crater, his body visibly drained from the effort of his attack. The Rasenshuriken, even as a semi-finished technique, had consumed nearly half of his stamina.

Kaito's gaze sharpened as the figure in the crater became clearer. Despite the brutal assault, Garp was still standing. Blood trickled from numerous wounds across his body, and his tattered Marine uniform clung to him by threads.

"Kaito!!!" Garp roared, his voice thunderous despite his injuries. His eyes burned with defiance, though his legs trembled from the strain.

Garp took a step forward but stumbled, nearly falling before catching himself. His body was battered to its limits, and every move was powered only by his unbreakable will.

Kaito smirked slightly, his tone almost mocking. "You're stubborn, old man. I have to give you credit for that. But let's face it—you're not my match."

Garp's breathing was ragged, but his spirit hadn't wavered. His fists clenched, and he straightened his posture with a growl, summoning the last reserves of his strength.

"Don't… underestimate me… kid!"

Kaito tilted his head, his expression remaining calm. "Admirable. But this isn't about spirit. You can't beat me."

The tension hung thick in the air as the two warriors faced off again, their surroundings bearing the scars of their destructive clash. The battle wasn't over yet, but even the Rocks Pirates closing in on the back mountain could sense this confrontation would be one for the ages.