Chapter 416: The Claim of the Strongest
Barrett looked at the crowd, his gaze condescending, a sinister smile curling at his lips:
“Now…”
“I claim the title of strongest.”
His voice carried unshakable confidence.
Even among those watching from afar, the weakest were at Gold Limit level; stronger ones like Zoro and Sanji had already crossed the threshold of legend, reaching the realm of the ocean’s supreme Qiangzhe !
“Hoh~”
Zoro gripped his blades in both hands, a sinister grin spreading across his face.
Having suffered repeated defeats at Barrett’s hands, he had long chafed inside—now that he had ascended to legend, his battle lust could no longer be contained!
Clang—!
Three blades unsheathed, trembling with agitation, emitting a shrill hum.
Crimson lightning coiled around Zoro’s blades, amplifying his already terrifying aura severalfold!
Seeing this, Barrett’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes revealed genuine admiration:
“In just three months, you’ve grown this much—even in Roger’s era, you’d be a rare monster.”
“If we were the same age…”
“I’d be no match for you.”
Barrett felt no shame about his past, only calm acceptance.
Yet it was this very candor, this open acknowledgment that his opponent surpassed him, that made Zoro instinctively tighten his grip on his blade!
Such confidence, such aura—he had seen it in only one other person.
That was Gao Wen.
Had Barrett already descended to the same height as the captain?!
As if sensing Zoro’s unspoken question, Barrett said calmly:
“I’ve already surpassed the captain—no, I’ve surpassed Roger. Next… is Gao Wen!”
Boom—!
Wild Haki erupted from Barrett, spreading outward and nearly crushing the earth beneath his feet into collapse!
Trees around him toppled; rivers reversed their flow!
As the gale howled, heaven and earth itself seemed to tremble under Barrett’s aura!
“Hey, hey, hey…”
Zoro’s eyes widened, filled only with solemn caution!
Caution!
And caution!
Two months of grueling training didn’t just transform him—Barrett, now freed after twenty years of imprisonment, had also undergone a terrifying leap in power!
This aura…
This aura…
Zoro had never set foot on the battlefield of the Marineford War, but based on what he sensed now, even Big Mom or Jewelry Bonney two years ago paled beside Barrett.
Undoubtedly.
Barrett was now second only to Gao Wen among the Knights of the Round Table.
Whether Akin, Keluo, or Tenghu—all stood one rank below him!
Yet the greater the pressure, the fiercer Zoro’s fighting spirit burned in his eyes!
“This is truly exhilarating!”
“Greenhair.”
Scritch—!
A friction sound, a flame igniting a cigarette tip.
Sanji drew a deep breath, deep purple flames already blazing around his legs:
“Let’s go together.”
“You alone can’t beat that monster. A one-sided fight won’t bring real satisfaction!”
“Ah.”
Rarely.
Zoro didn’t refuse—only gave a quiet reply, flicked his blades, and vanished from his spot, Haki surging violently as he lunged at Barrett!
Sanji, in perfect sync, exploded into flame beneath his feet at the same instant, shooting toward Barrett like a meteor!
Boom—!
Barrett grinned confidently, meeting Zoro and Sanji’s attacks head-on with Haki-wrapped fists—flames burst, blades sliced sharp, yet they couldn’t budge the towering mountain of a man before them!
From afar, Keluo and Akin, having recovered their wits, shook their heads, eyes filled with shock and defeat.
“Even together, Zoro and Sanji aren’t a match for that monster.”
Keluo, with his sharp eyes, saw the outcome of this battle instantly—and still couldn’t help being stunned.
He had thought two months of training would let him face Barrett without fear, but reality was far more extreme than he imagined.
The gap between him and Barrett…
Had grown even wider!
“Ah.”
“The captain once said that if Barrett hadn’t been captured and imprisoned for twenty years, he might already have reached Roger or Whitebeard’s level.”
“Now it seems the captain’s judgment was too conservative.”
“Maybe even Whitebeard at Marineford wouldn’t be a match for this monster.”
Akin unconsciously clenched his fist; defeat flashed in his eyes, then vanished beneath rising determination:
“So now there’s one more target to defeat?!”
“Heh.”
Keluo smiled faintly, teasing:
“In Britannias, excluding Gao Wen, there are six legendary-level fighters.”
“You, me, Sanji, Zoro, Barrett, and Yisheng—Beivel is a bit short, Luo’s nearly there—that’s almost seven.”
“The Beasts have Three Disasters; the Ten Thousand Kingdoms once had Four Sweet Generals—what about Britannias?!”
“Seven Stars?!”
Akin shook his head, laughing bitterly:
“I think when the captain returns, the standard for Knights of the Round Table will be raised to legendary level.”
“True enough.”
Boom—!
In the distant battlefield, a fire lotus bloomed.
Sanji’s charged kick struck Barrett squarely on the chest—mere stray flames melted surrounding rocks and soil into molten lava.
Yet it only delayed Barrett for an instant before he tore through it violently!
“Blackfoot Sanji…”
Barrett recalled Gao Wen’s words to Whitebeard at Marineford, smirking wickedly:
“Not bad!”
“Damn it!”
Sanji flew into rage, stomped hard—and was instantly grabbed by Barrett, then hurled into the ground, his bones feeling as if they’d shatter!
Of course, it was an illusion.
As the pinnacle of Germa technology, Sanji had now pushed his bloodline factor to unprecedented heights.
A blow that would cripple a normal man gave him only pain—next instant, he wrapped his legs around Barrett’s arm.
“Huh?!”
Barrett narrowed his eyes—and saw Zoro’s slash incoming!
Ding—!
The ultimate sharpness, the ultimate speed of Zoro’s strike struck Barrett’s body, tearing through his Armament Haki—but could advance no further!
Such a physique made Zoro curse his difficulty!
Two months ago, such a slash could still pierce Barrett’s defense; now it left only a thin line of blood on his chest—nothing more.
This guy’s growth is greater than I imagined!
“Eyebrows, stop your circus tricks—go all out and knock this arrogant bastard down!”
“Got it!”
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The three’s battle ignited wave after wave of earthquakes on the beach, sending countless birds and beasts fleeing in panic!
In Camelot City.
Tenghu sat outside a tavern, gazing toward the direction of the battle, his hand unconsciously brushing the black wire at his waist.
“Oh my~”
Even I’m feeling a bit eager to join in~
But if I go over there now, the captain—no, the boss—will catch me and drag me into service again~!
Never mind.
Better to sip some wine and bet a little gold—life’s more carefree that way.
Hehehe~
I wonder where the captain is now… and what exactly is OnePiece?!
As a member of the Round Table Knights, Tenghu naturally understood Gao Wen’s purpose in this journey.
He too was deeply curious about what the legendary OnePiece truly was.
After all, it was something capable of changing the world!
Perhaps… it was a weapon powerful enough to reshape the world’s balance, turning the entire world into modern Britannias!
…
OnePiece?
Sabaody Archipelago.
Lei Li looked at Luffy’s curious face with a strange expression:
How to put it…
It’s… uh… it’s…
End of Chapter
