Caesar lightly tapped his fingertips, and four red streaks shot out, easily shattering the bullets fired by Izo.
"Not a bad idea, but the power is rather mediocre…" Caesar's tone carried a hint of mockery.
Attaching slashes to bullets…
An ingenious thought, using the air-cutting effect of the slash to reduce air resistance, accelerating the bullet's speed while simultaneously enhancing the slash's potential energy.
Moreover, the slash also provided a layer of protection for the bullet. Even if the slash was blocked, a secondary strike could still be delivered through the bullet.
However, the level of Armament Haki used here was truly unimpressive—merely accelerating the flow without causing a qualitative change in power. Thus, when faced with the highly concentrated Blood Bullets, it couldn't achieve the desired effect.
"If it's just about attaching slashes, how about this?"
Caesar chuckled and raised his hand again, pointing forward.
A red streak erupted!
The rapidly spinning blood created a sharp whistling sound, and a slash several times larger than Izo's previous attack encircled the blood droplet. The intense friction produced a buzzing noise as it roared toward Izo.
Izo dodged to the side, and a fierce wind swept through the bushes behind him.
He stared at Caesar with a grave expression. The opponent's mastery of Armament Haki had clearly exceeded his expectations.
What was most difficult for him to accept was that, from the start of their battle until now, the other party hadn't even drawn his sword!
"Why haven't you drawn your sword?"
Izo shouted angrily, "Are you looking down on me?"
Caesar tilted his head, "Isn't it obvious?"
Izo: "..."
"Hahaha, just kidding."
Caesar laughed heartily, "I also need a fight to test the results of my recent training. Since you want me to draw my sword, I'll grant your wish."
As he spoke, he placed his left thumb on the tsuba and gently pushed, while his right hand gripped the hilt, slowly drawing the sword.
A clear, cold light spilled out, accompanied by a faint sharpness.
Seeing the flame patterns on the blade, which could be called a work of art, Vista's eyes lit up, "It really is a Supreme Grade Sword! I just wonder how skilled he is with the sword…"
As he spoke, the next moment, by the coast.
Caesar casually thrust the sword into the ground and pointed the sword sheath at Izo.
"Come on!"
"Eh?!!"
Vista suddenly straightened up, his eyes bulging, "He's using the sheath?!"
"Gurararara…"
Whitebeard's lips curled, "I like this kid. He's got style!"
"He wasn't like this before."
Marco flapped his wings and landed beside Whitebeard, "Back then, he was probably worth a few million berries in strength. For his age, that was already quite impressive, but he was always so tense."
"That's because he knew very well that he was still far from being a true powerhouse."
Whitebeard said calmly, "When you're weak, learning humility is a good thing. This kid is smart—he talks benefits with Kaidou and morals with me. He also knows I wouldn't stoop to trouble him because of my status. Gurararara… he's got me figured out."
"That's just how he is!"
Marco laughed, recalling how Robin had been recruited by Caesar in the blink of an eye.
"The sheath…"
Noticing Caesar's action, Izo was stunned for a moment, then his face instantly flushed red, overwhelmed by an unparalleled sense of shame!
"You bastard! There's a limit to humiliation! Go to hell!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A series of gunshots rang out, but Caesar, like a graceful butterfly, effortlessly dodged the incoming bullets, leisurely walking towards Izo.
"Planning to fight up close?"
Izo's expression turned cold. Instead of retreating, he charged straight at Caesar.
Just as the two were about to clash, Caesar raised his sword sheath. In that instant, Izo suddenly accelerated, darting to Caesar's side.
Raise the gun!
Fire!
Miss!
The muzzle flashed, but before the shot could fully discharge, Izo saw Caesar vanish from his sight!
In the next moment, he felt a chill on his neck and instinctively lunged forward.
After rolling and getting back on his feet, Izo turned around, only to find no one behind him.
"Where is he?"
First, the humiliation with the sword sheath, then the sudden terror—the intense emotional turmoil made it difficult for Izo's Observation Haki to track Caesar's movements.
Suddenly, that terrifying feeling returned!
Izo's hair stood on end as he swung the gunstock backward with a reverse grip.
With a dull thud, Caesar's hand clamped down like an iron vise, firmly gripping Izo's wrist, and then casually tossed him aside.
"Enough playing around…"
Caesar flicked his sword sheath and lunged toward the now airborne Izo.
Boom—
Red and black lightning erupted as Conqueror's Haki surged and wrapped around the sword sheath, its solid texture emitting a low hum.
"Thunderous Roar - Eight Trigrams!"
The overwhelming aura of Conqueror's Haki instantly swept through the area. The trees in the surrounding forest rustled violently, birds and insects fell like rain, and some weaker members of the Whitebeard Pirates fainted, their eyes rolling back. The waves along the shore reversed, and fish floated to the surface, their eyes white.
In that moment, Caesar's figure seemed like a demon king descending from the heavens, charging forward with an unstoppable, terrifying force. Izo could even feel the bone-chilling coldness emanating from the depths of the underworld.
It was the scent of death…
"Phoenix Brand!!"
Just as Izo thought he was done for, a burst of blue flames shot rapidly from the Moby Dick, slamming heavily into the sword sheath Caesar had swung.
Boom—
A deafening sonic boom erupted in Izo's ears, and the violent shockwave sent him flying!
In the next second, Marco, riding the shockwave, flapped his wings lightly, his feet transforming into bird claws as he grabbed Izo and gently placed him on the ground.
Not far away, beside the massive crater created by their powerful attacks, Caesar shook his sword sheath and pointed at the longsword embedded in the ground. A streak of crimson energy wrapped around the sword, pulling it into his hand.
"Hmph, Kaidou's move, huh?"
Whitebeard chuckled. He could tell Caesar had held back.
Otherwise, with the speed Caesar had shown earlier, Izo's head would have been smashed by the sword sheath before Marco could even arrive.
"Conqueror's Haki Infusion… That bastard really found himself a good son-in-law."
"Did I win?"
Caesar tilted his chin toward Izo. "Call me 'Dad'!"
"I never agreed to that, you bastard!"
Izo's face darkened, the shadow of death he had just experienced now replaced with seething anger.
"Hahahaha…"
Marco burst into laughter. "That move was pretty impressive. Did you learn it from Kaidou?"
"No, I learned it from his daughter, though I wouldn't exactly call it learning... I just picked it up after getting beaten up enough."
Caesar gave a helpless smile. "So, is that it? Can I take the person back now?"
"Hey! What's the rush?"
Marco grabbed Caesar by the arm, still hoping to ease the tension between the two.
"Even though I don't get along with that guy Kaidou, those old grudges have nothing to do with you. I still owe you a favor from last time, so I should at least treat you properly, right, Pops?"
"That's right. The quarrels of us old-timers shouldn't involve a young brat like you. Since you're Marco's friend, you're a friend of the Whitebeard Pirate Crew. There's no way we're just letting you leave like this. Gurararara…"
Whitebeard slammed his massive sword into the ground, a grin spreading across his face.
"Alright, everyone, let's start the feast!"
"YEAH!!!"
(End of Chapter)