ONE PIECE: THE GREAT VOYAGE

Whitebeard withdrew his gaze, looked at Rayleigh, and laughed.

Although his relationship with Caesar was better than most, Whitebeard only felt a fleeting moment of regret in his heart.

After all, in a chaotic crew like the Rocks Pirates, every day was filled with brutal conflict. The members had their own ambitions, their own secrets. There was no room for sympathy or camaraderie.

The Whitebeard of today would never bother with such sentimental thoughts.

It was only after he truly broke away from the Rocks Pirates and founded his own crew that his mindset changed. His experience among Rocks' cutthroat subordinates—where betrayal and infighting were the norm—made him long for something different.

Whitebeard wanted a family, a crew that sailed freely across the seas, bound not by fear but by respect and care for one another.

A pirate crew of his own.

---

"That kid... was he killed just like that?"

Rocks D. Xebec was locked in a desperate battle against Garp and Roger.

With no time to even glance back at the sea, he could only sense through his Haki that Caesar had fallen into the depths.

Losing a powerful officer at such a moment was a heavy blow. And for an instant—just an instant—Rocks let his focus slip.

That moment was all it took.

Roger's blade, coated in both Armament and Conqueror's Haki, came slashing toward him.

"Teng! Teng! Teng!"

Rocks stumbled back four or five steps before barely regaining his footing.

"You finally let your guard down!"

Roger laughed as he lunged forward again, his cutlass shimmering with haki-infused power.

"The death of your subordinates must sting, huh?"

"If you don't surrender, they'll keep falling, one by one!"

Garp seized the moment to press the attack, hammering Rocks' morale as well as his body.

"Your crew doesn't seem very loyal, Rocks... Hahahaha!"

Roger's words struck a nerve.

Of course, Rocks knew the truth—aside from Wang Zhi, Silver Axe, and Captain John, the rest of his crew harbored their own agendas.

But what use was it to acknowledge that now?

"You bastards!"

"Enough talk!"

With a furious roar, Rocks unleashed a terrifying wave of Conqueror's Haki, the sky itself trembling under his power. Red-black lightning crackled wildly, ripping through the battlefield.

"BOOM!"

The shockwave sent gales howling, the force of it roaring like distant thunder.

The three titanic warriors clashed again.

But this time, Garp and Roger moved with an unspoken understanding, their attacks growing sharper, their teamwork more fluid.

Step by step, they cornered Rocks, forcing him into an all-out confrontation.

---

"Gululu..."

Deep beneath the waves, a dark red mist spread through the ocean.

Caesar coughed up blood, then quickly regained consciousness.

Balancing his body in the water, he took in his surroundings. Memories surged back.

At the last moment, he had used his Conqueror's Haki to coat his body, reinforcing it with Armament Haki to shield his head.

It had been just enough.

Recalling the close brush with death, his eyes suddenly sharpened.

[70]Mind Power? Superhuman Abilities? The Shock of CP0!

"I was nearly killed by that guy..."

"But how could I fall here?"

Anger and hatred turned Caesar's eyes cold. He clenched his fists, his expression unreadable.

"Buzz."

A wave of powerful Conqueror's Haki burst from his body.

The seawater around him warped under the force, forming white vacuum-bubbles.

Countless sea creatures convulsed and fainted, their bodies flipping over as the overwhelming pressure bore down on them.

But something strange was happening.

Instead of collapsing inward, the vacuum bubble expanded, surrounding Caesar in an eerie, weightless sphere.

Below him, the seafloor was affected as well—gravel, coral fragments, seaweed, and shells all lifted into the air, floating as if gravity had abandoned them.

"As expected..."

Caesar smiled.

It was time to use the power he had concealed for so long.

This was not the ability of a Devil Fruit. It was something innate, like Observation Haki—a natural talent born from the strength of his soul.

He had first noticed it when he awakened his Conqueror's Haki, but at the time, he hadn't understood its true nature.

During three years of training, he gradually grasped its essence.

Mind Power.

A versatile ability with nearly limitless potential.

A power that, in some ways, rivaled even the strongest Devil Fruits.

After joining the Rocks Pirates, he had instinctively used it a few times, nearly exposing his secret. But he had caught himself in time.

Unlike the Golden Lion's Float-Float Fruit, Caesar's Mind Power required no physical contact. Anything he saw—he could control.

It allowed him to lift objects, transport them over long distances, and even enhance his own attacks and defenses.

More than that, it had no need for a Devil Fruit's touch. It was pure willpower.

Up until now, he had chosen not to rely on it, wanting to sharpen his skills through battle.

But there was no more time for restraint.

It was time to reveal his true strength.

A sharp gleam flashed in his eyes.

His Observation Haki locked onto the CP0 agent in half-beast form.

At the same time—

"Boom!"

A tremendous force erupted from his body, propelling him upward through the sea like a lightning bolt.

---

"!!"

"What?!"

"This presence…? That kid's alive?!"

"From the sea—he's coming out!"

Caesar's sudden burst of Conqueror's Haki alerted the warriors on the battlefield.

All eyes turned toward the ocean.

"BOOM!"

A pillar of water exploded into the sky, rising dozens of meters.

And then—Caesar emerged.

Suspended in midair.

"He's alive! That brat actually survived the sea!"

The gathered warriors were stunned.

Even Golden Lion, watching from afar, narrowed his eyes.

The aura Caesar emitted was different.

Stronger.

Much stronger.

The feeling he gave off...

It was as if he was catching up to him.

"Ku la la la la..."

Whitebeard laughed.

"It looks like he's grown again in battle."

A flicker of admiration passed through his gaze.

That kind of rapid improvement in the middle of combat…

Truly remarkable.

"Another breakthrough, huh? Mama~ma!"

Charlotte Linlin's eyes gleamed with interest.

"He's gotten stronger. Hmph!"

Kaido snorted, gripping his kanabo tightly. Without hesitation, he swung it at the nearest CP0 agent.

With a single Thunder Bagua, the ground beneath him shattered, the sky seeming to crack apart.

---

"Caesar… Caesar's alive!"

Gliner choked up, tears welling in his eyes.

Moments ago, he had watched Caesar fall into the sea, motionless. He had thought him dead.

"As expected of Boss Caesar! I knew it! There's no way he'd go down so easily!"

Brad trembled with emotion, his voice unsteady.

His relief was overwhelming.

His belief in their captain—unshaken.

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