301-305

Chapter 301: Snapshot King and Bulma's Fury 

On their way through town, Eri and Naruto were like two curious kids, darting toward every unfamiliar stall to check it out. Eri even pulled a black credit card from her miko skirt pocket, eager to buy something, only to be gently dragged back by Hikari Uchiha with a helpless sigh. 

“Eri, it’s great that you’re learning to spend money, but the currency from one world doesn’t work in another. Just tell me what you want, and I’ll get it for you later,” Hikari said. 

“And Naruto, put that frog wallet away.” 

In the One Piece world, the common currency was Berries. Hikari didn’t have much of it—just some looted from a few pirate ships they’d encountered before. In theory, Kaido and the Beasts Pirates probably had a ton, given their arms-dealing business with Doflamingo. But since Hikari had already whisked Yamato away, taking their money too felt a bit too shady. 

So, her plan? 

“I’ll have Leone and the others check out the local black market later. We can sell some gold or gems,” Hikari mused. 

Those were universal currencies in any world. And with a literal mountain of gold at her disposal, Hikari didn’t mind dipping into her own pockets. 

A few hours later, the group stopped at an open-air restaurant, ordering food and drinks to recharge. 

That’s when Bulma brought up Ace. 

“Hey, we’ve been with Yamato for a few days now. Shouldn’t we start looking into Ace’s whereabouts? He’s her friend, after all, and he seems like a decent guy. If something happened to him after we showed up, Yamato would be crushed,” Bulma said. 

“Don’t worry, I’m already on it,” Hikari replied, taking a bite of her steak with a casual shrug. “We’re in the year 1520 of the Sea Calendar, the same year the One Piece manga kicks off. If things are on track, Luffy’s already set sail, and Ace is likely chasing Blackbeard. The ‘Summit War’ is still a bit off. If we can find Whitebeard within the next couple of weeks, we’ll have a clear picture.” 

“Hmm… but where is Whitebeard? The manga doesn’t exactly say where his territory is, right?” Bulma pulled out a copy of One Piece from her bag and started flipping through it at the table. 

Naruto leaned over, curious. Esdeath, sitting nearby, was also intrigued. As outsiders to the group, they’d traveled across worlds with Hikari but didn’t know these worlds were based on anime. Esdeath seemed to have some suspicions but kept quiet, only clearing her throat to say, “Someone’s been watching us for over an hour.” 

“Huh?” Bulma looked up, scanning the area before turning to Hikari and Esdeath. “Hikari, you—” 

“I know,” Hikari nodded lightly. “Go invite our ‘guest’ over, Esdeath. Tell him we’d like to treat him to coffee.” 

“Got it.” Esdeath stood and strode toward the restaurant’s outer edge. 

A faint commotion followed. Less than thirty seconds later, Esdeath returned, casually tossing a man in a beige shirt and top hat onto an empty chair by the table. She placed a camera on the tabletop. 

“What’s this?” Bulma asked. 

“Found it on him,” Esdeath said bluntly. “Looks like he’s been tailing us and snapping photos for a while. He’s got shots of all of us.” 

“What?!” Bulma grabbed the camera, flipping through the photos. Then, as if struck by a thought, she dove back into her One Piece manga. 

After a moment, the blue-haired girl looked up at the top-hat guy, her tone uncertain. “You’re… Snapshot King?” 

“?!” 

The man, who’d been nervously explaining that he was just a hobbyist photographer taking crowd shots as usual, froze. His eyes widened in shock and fear. “H-How do you know who I am?” 

Bingo. This top-hat guy was indeed the infamous Snapshot King, also known as the “Flaming Snapshot Hero.” In the original One Piece story, he was the head of the Navy’s photography department, tasked with taking bounty poster photos. But his habit of forgetting to remove the lens cap got him fired, and he later joined Morgans’ World Economy News Agency as a reporter. 

His presence here meant… 

(Has the Straw Hat crew already been through the Judicial Island arc?) Hikari wondered, analyzing the situation. 

Bulma, meanwhile, had confirmed his identity from his reaction. She slammed the table, fuming. “You! You look all honest and innocent, but you’re out here secretly photographing girls? That’s low, like something that pervy old Turtle Hermit would do! And these photos make me look awful!” 

“Awful?” Snapshot King echoed. 

“Yeah, awful! Look at these shots—total amateur work! And you call yourself ‘Snapshot King’?” 

That did it. Snapshot King stood up, indignant. “You can call me a creep, but don’t you dare question my skills! I was the Navy Headquarters’ photography chief and now a full-time photographer for the World Economy News Agency. Nobody knows photography better than me!” 

“Oh yeah? I’ll make you eat those words,” Bulma shot back, dragging her chair closer and launching into a heated debate with him about lighting, focus, and composition. 

Hikari could barely follow the jargon. Esdeath, Eri, and Naruto just stared, completely lost. 

But Hikari was starting to pick up on Bulma’s plan. “Bulma, are you thinking…?” 

“Exactly!” Bulma nodded firmly. “Snapshot King, I demand you delete these photos and reshoot them properly, following my instructions. I’ve got professional lighting equipment on the ship. When Yamato and the others get back, we’ll head there and do it right. Oh, and stop with the sneaky side profiles and back shots—they’re creepy and not flattering at all!” 

Snapshot King was speechless. In the One Piece world, technology lagged far behind Dragon Ball’s, and Bulma, the genius with a touch of vanity, was a photography expert in her own right. Their brief exchange had already left him in awe. 

But… he was a paparazzo. His whole job was about being sneaky, not “sunny.” Taking bounty photos of big-shot pirates often got him chased or attacked. And now someone was inviting him to their ship for a photoshoot? Were these pirates for real? 

As Snapshot King sat there, flustered, Hikari coughed and started questioning him about his background. As a former Navy employee, he was tight-lipped, but Hikari’s intel network was far superior. With some clever probing, she got key details out of him. 

Just as she’d suspected, the Straw Hats had already gone through the Judicial Island arc. Based on the manga’s timeline, they were likely en route to the Florian Triangle, where they’d face Moria, then head to Sabaody Archipelago, punch a Celestial Dragon, and get scattered by Bartholomew Kuma, kicking off the mission to save Ace. 

“Good,” Hikari thought, calculating. There was still time. If things went smoothly, she might even take Esdeath to Sabaody to see what a Navy Admiral was made of. 

That evening, Yamato, Kikyo, Brand, and the others arrived at the town center to meet up with Hikari’s group as planned. Snapshot King was visibly on edge. Esdeath’s icy killing intent was overwhelming for a regular guy like him, especially since her sneaking photos of Hikari had rubbed her the wrong way. If he weren’t used to dealing with pirates worldwide, he’d probably have fainted by now. 

“Alright, everyone’s here!” Bulma clapped her hands. “Let me introduce our guest: a professional photographer we’ve invited to take solo and group shots for our ‘Dimension Pirates’ crew. Give him a warm welcome!” 

Clap, clap, clap! Yuji Itadori and Tanjiro, ever earnest and clueless, started applauding first. Yamato and Nibei joined in enthusiastically, followed by a slightly confused Kikyo and the others. 

In the midst of the applause, Snapshot King tried to speak. “Um, actually, I’m—” 

“No need to be shy! You’re among friends,” Bulma said, patting his shoulder as he broke into a nervous sweat. She turned to the group. “When we get back, everyone take a shower and change into something nice. If anyone wants a haircut, I saw a salon nearby. This is a rare chance, so let’s take our time and get the best photos possible!” 

At that moment, Snapshot King realized he’d definitely boarded a pirate ship—metaphorically and maybe literally. Pirates bold enough to make waves on the Grand Line… were always a little unhinged. 

Chapter 302: The Cost of Buying Information 

Meeting the Snapshot King was, without a doubt, a total fluke. 

But when it came to “making a name for themselves in the pirate world,” Bulma was more than ready. 

With the help of Uchiha Hikari and the others, she spent half a day setting up a full-on photography studio aboard the Blue Planet. She got all the lighting equipment perfectly arranged and then pulled out a stack of matching outfits from the warehouse—or, more accurately, from her trusty Universal Capsule. 

From captain to vice-captain, boatswain, ship’s doctor, lookout… each role had its own distinct uniform style, tailored to fit each crew member perfectly. 

“…Wait, our pirate crew has uniforms now?” Uchiha Hikari asked, a bit stunned. 

“Of course!” Bulma chirped. “I designed these based on the Frieza Force’s battle suits. You can wear them if you want—no pressure! But…” She leaned in with a sly grin, “it’d be awesome if you did, since these photos might end up on our wanted posters one day, circulating worldwide. Gotta make sure our crew looks sharp, right?” 

“…” 

So, you’re actually aiming to become the Pirate King? 

They’d barely set sail, and she was already scheming to get them on the Navy’s wanted list? Hikari muttered under her breath but grabbed her “vice-captain outfit” and headed to the changing room. 

The group photo shoot took the whole day. 

Aside from Yotsuya Miko, who was just a regular human, and the younger crew members Nezuko and Naruto, everyone—including Esdeath—took their turn snapping “ID photos.” 

By the time they were done, the Snapshot King’s film rolls were nearly used up. 

But the results? Pretty darn good. 

Bulma was thrilled. 

One thing worth mentioning: during the shoot, the Snapshot King seemed really curious about the Blue Planet. He even mentioned that he hadn’t seen many ships this impressive, even at Navy Headquarters. 

So, during a lunch break, he casually probed Hikari and the others about the crew’s background. 

Specifically… 

He asked if there was a mysterious crew member who hadn’t shown up yet—someone skilled at controlling ice and snow, fond of riding a bicycle on ice, and known for “lazy justice.” 

“…Huh? Aokiji? Never heard of him, no comment!” Hikari replied, deliberately avoiding eye contact and putting on an obviously lying face. 

Here’s the thing. 

She hadn’t planned for this. 

But when the Snapshot King dropped those hints, Hikari quickly pieced together what he and Morgans were thinking— 

They’d mistaken Esdeath for Aokiji! 

And, well, without knowing about the whole “otherworlder” situation, it wasn’t a huge leap. Esdeath and Aokiji did have some similarities. 

No need to clear up the misunderstanding, though. 

Aokiji’s fame far outstripped the “Dimension Pirates” right now. One of the Navy’s three admirals, a top contender for the next Fleet Admiral—his name was known across the seas. Borrowing a bit of his spotlight? Not a bad move for the crew. 

And, worst-case scenario? 

If this report made the World Government suspicious of Aokiji and pushed him to defect from the Navy early… 

Hikari wouldn’t mind recruiting him. After all, in the original story, he ended up siding with pirates anyway. Joining their crew would be way better than ending up with Blackbeard, right? 

After lunch that day, Hikari and Bulma politely escorted the Snapshot King off the ship, waving goodbye. 

“…Such a shame,” Bulma sighed as she watched him disappear into the distance. “I was hoping to snag Sanji as our ship’s cook, but he’s already joined the Straw Hats. Guess that’s off the table…” 

“No big deal,” Hikari said with a grin, brushing it off. “Sure, that guy’s solid in the kitchen and in a fight, but his flirt game’s on par with Master Roshi. If he joined, you’d probably have to lock the bathroom door just to shower in peace. We’ll find someone else.” 

Lately, Tanjiro and Nezuko had been handling the cooking duties on the Blue Planet. 

No other options, really. 

Esdeath could cook, but with her personality? No way she’d play chef for the crew. Brand and Leone, being assassins, only cared about food being “edible” and “filling.” Kikyo’s clay body didn’t mix well with water… 

So, the job fell to the Kamado siblings, who’d grown up fending for themselves. 

They didn’t mind, though. They said it was their way of paying the crew back for dealing with Muzan and his goons. 

Still, it’d be better to leave cooking to a pro. 

“Oh, by the way, Hikari,” Bulma said, turning to her. “I saw you slip the Snapshot King a gold bar. Was that payment for the photos? You didn’t have to—” 

“Nah, that was for buying intel,” Hikari said, stretching her arms behind her head. “I asked him to check with Morgans about Whitebeard’s exact location. If all goes well, we should be meeting ‘Pops’ pretty soon.” 

In Hikari’s eyes, Morgans was a seriously underrated player in the pirate world. 

On the surface, he was just a news agency boss with average strength, no mastery of Haki, and only a handful of decent fighters under him. 

But in reality? 

The guy had a stranglehold on nearly all the latest intel in the pirate world. Even top-secret stuff like Luffy and Law’s alliance got scooped and reported by him almost instantly. His reach was insane. “News King”? Nah, “Intel King” fit him better. 

So, the gold Hikari gave the Snapshot King? Part of it was for Whitebeard’s whereabouts, but the real goal was to open a line to Morgans for future intel deals. 

“Alright, enough scheming for now,” Hikari said. “It’s getting late. Let’s head back to the ship and rest. If things go as planned, Morgans should have someone deliver Whitebeard’s location in a day or two.” 

… 

And just as Hikari predicted— 

A few days after the Snapshot King left, a snow-white seagull landed on the Blue Planet’s deck, carrying Whitebeard’s intel and a stack of newspapers. 

Chapter 303: Blue Planet, Flight Mode! 

“Thanks.” 

Hikari Uchiha patted the fluffy head of the seagull, pulled a newspaper from its satchel, and slipped some Berries back as a tip. The bird flapped its wings, soaring into the sky and vanishing in moments. 

Only then did Hikari sit down and start flipping through the stack of newspapers in her arms. 

Yup, that’s right. 

When Hikari sent Snapshot King off earlier, she’d casually mentioned wanting some recent newspapers. They weren’t expensive—about 100 Berries per issue, or 5,200 Berries for a whole year, roughly the price of a few grams of gold. Morgans, knowing this, had sent a year’s worth of papers her way in one go. 

[Sea Calendar 1520, April: Straw Hat Pirates wreak havoc on Judicial Island, declaring war on the World Government…] 

[Sea Calendar 1520, February: Straw Hat Pirates defeat Warlord of the Sea, Sand Crocodile…] 

[Sea Calendar 1519, September: Fire Fist Ace’s identity exposed, suspected to be the posthumous son of Pirate King Roger…] 

[Sea Calendar 1519, May…] 

[…] 

Each article chronicled major events in the One Piece world, making up the front-page headlines of every issue. 

The latest headline, though, was about them. 

[Navy Admiral Aokiji reportedly spotted on the Grand Line, teaming up with the ‘Dimension Pirates’ to take down Drought Jack!] 

Below was a detailed write-up, accompanied by a picture of Aokiji and a tiny photo of Bulma. 

“…Seriously? We took so many photos, and they only used one?” Bulma, now on the deck, peered over Hikari’s shoulder as she flipped through the papers. “And what’s with this huge shot of Aokiji? It’s like he’s the star of the show!” 

“We’re just riding his coattails for now,” Hikari said with a small smile, brushing it off. “Don’t worry. Keep making waves in this world, and we’ll be the ones in the spotlight soon enough.” 

“…Fine,” Bulma grumbled, still a bit miffed. 

Hikari didn’t say more, just kept scanning the recent issues. There were no reports yet of “The Pirate King’s son being sent to Impel Down” or “Straw Hat Pirates causing chaos in Sabaody Archipelago.” That meant the Summit War was still a ways off. 

Meanwhile, Esdeath held a slip of paper with coordinates, her eyes narrowing. “This is where the so-called ‘world’s strongest man,’ Whitebeard, is right now?” 

She emphasized “strongest” with a hint of challenge. 

Hikari knew exactly what she was thinking. Esdeath hadn’t had her fill fighting Kaido last time. 

“Well, back in his prime, Whitebeard was a beast—probably stronger than Yamato’s dad by a good margin. But now? He’s pushing seventy and riddled with illness,” Hikari said. “If you want to take him on, go for it, but take it easy. At least don’t kill him.” 

“…Got it,” Esdeath replied. 

At this point in the timeline, Whitebeard was already on death’s door. Even without the Summit War, he likely only had a few years left. That war just sped things up. But if Esdeath took him out before he could save Ace? That’d stir up some serious trouble. 

Still, with the Tremor-Tremor Fruit’s raw power, Whitebeard wouldn’t go down easily unless Esdeath pulled out something like her “Mokobotmo” technique. Just to be safe, Hikari figured a heads-up was in order. 

“Let’s move,” Hikari said, shaking out the newspaper and standing. “Morgans’ coordinates are probably a bit delayed. If we’re too slow, we might have to track down the Whitebeard Pirates all over again.” 

The coordinates Morgans provided weren’t too far from their current location—about 300 kilometers. A top-speed Navy warship would take five or six hours to cover that distance. 

But the Blue Planet wasn’t your average ship. 

As Bulma headed to the captain’s cabin and worked her magic at the control panel, the destroyer’s propellers began to spin. The side panels of the ship opened, blue flames burst out, and the entire vessel slowly lifted off the sea. After hovering for a moment, it whooshed into the air! 

“Whoa!” Even Hikari was caught off guard. 

Yuji Itadori, Tanjiro, Naruto, and the others on the deck were downright freaking out, shouting and laughing as their hair whipped in the humid sea breeze. Drinks on the table went flying until Hikari activated her “Blood Jade Barrier” to block the wind. 

“Big Sis Hikari, what’s… what’s this?!” Naruto clung to her sleeve, equal parts curious and nervous. 

Naruto wasn’t the clueless kid from two years ago anymore. Thanks to books Hikari brought back from other worlds, he’d learned a bit about things like “ships” and “oceans,” even though he hadn’t been allowed to leave Konoha yet. He’d adapted to the Blue Planet faster than Nezuko. 

But… what was this? The books never mentioned ships could fly! 

“That’s the power of technology. Pretty cool, right?” Hikari ruffled Naruto’s hair. “Stick with your Big Sis Bulma and learn a thing or two. This stuff’s way more useful than that ‘Will of Fire’ nonsense. Later, I’ll introduce you to some friends your age. You can swap ideas and grow even faster.” 

She was talking about Karin, Kimimaro, and others who’d been studying under Orochimaru for a while. Their scientific knowledge had probably come a long way. 

For now, Hikari didn’t elaborate. She just narrowed her eyes, gazing ahead. 

In the distance, the outline of a massive ship was coming into view. 

Onboard the Whitebeard Pirates’ ship, Marco, the First Division Commander, rubbed his eyes, staring in disbelief at the approaching vessel. “What… what the hell is that?!” 

A… flying pirate ship? 

Chapter 304: A Serious Basic Attack 

Switching the Blue Planet to flight mode and crossing hundreds of kilometers to reach Whitebeard’s fleet took less than an hour. 

A massive “spaceship” like that approaching? Yeah, it caused quite a stir. 

Besides Marco, others like “Diamond” Jozu and “Flower Sword” Vista gathered at the bow, eyeing the newcomers warily. 

Under their watchful gazes, the Blue Planet slowed down, hovering about a kilometer from Whitebeard’s fleet before descending and switching back to “ocean mode.” 

“…So this is Whitebeard’s fleet? It’s pretty impressive. Feels totally different from seeing it in the manga!” Bulma said, clearly amazed. 

Uchiha Hikari nodded in agreement. 

No kidding. 

Whitebeard’s pirate crew was probably the largest in this world. Just the core members—Whitebeard’s “sons”—numbered over 1,600, split into 16 squads. Add in the 43 affiliated crews, and the total headcount was close to 50,000. 

Right now, sailing in this sea was their flagship, the Moby Dick. 

The ship was massive, bustling with activity. Not everyone was visible, but there had to be a few hundred people on board at least. 

“Hey! Who are you guys?!” a burly, tiger-faced guy shouted from the edge of the deck. 

Hikari took a deep breath before responding with a clear, booming voice: “Bulma, captain of the Dimension Pirates, along with her crew, requests an audience!” 

Wrapped in her “ki,” Hikari’s voice carried far and wide, easily reaching Marco and the others a kilometer away. 

“…A woman?” was Marco’s first thought. 

“…And a skilled one,” was his second. 

As for the “Dimension Pirates” name? It didn’t ring any bells. New pirate crews popped up like weeds in this sea—Ace’s Spade Pirates being a prime example. So, a few ambitious rookies showing up wasn’t exactly shocking. 

But… 

Whitebeard, one of the Four Emperors, wasn’t someone you could just waltz up and meet. 

Marco didn’t think this crew had the chops to match someone like Ace. Sure, a “flying pirate ship” was wild, but still… 

“Pops doesn’t meet just anyone. Head back,” Marco said, waving them off. 

Hikari smirked. “Oh? So what’s it gonna take to see your Pops? If it’s about strength… how’s this?” 

Before her words even settled, Hikari raised her right hand, a broken blade materializing in her palm. 

—The Dragonbone Blade. 

It had snapped during her clash with Kaido, and since she’d been stuck in the pirate world, she hadn’t gotten it fixed by Totosai. But for showing off a bit of power? A broken blade would do just fine. 

“One Hundred Eight…” 

A low chant rumbled as highly condensed chakra and “ki” flowed from Hikari’s palm, wrapping the blade in layers of energy. 

A faint crimson aura flickered. 

Knowing she was up against Marco, Hikari didn’t go all out like she had with Kaido—no “Time Zero” charge-up or “Spirit Weapon: Fire Thunder God.” Just a touch of her ocular power mixed into the sword’s momentum. 

“Haa…” 

With a soft exhale, Hikari swung the blade downward in a clean, slicing motion! 

Swish—!!! 

In an instant, a pale red crescent of sword energy tore through the air, screeching as it hurtled toward the Moby Dick! 

“…Half-Moon Slash!!” 

One strike, splitting the sky! 

The moment Marco saw the attack, he knew something was off. He leaped forward, transforming mid-air into a massive bird wreathed in deep blue flames, his body shifting into a half-human, half-bird form as he intercepted the slash! 

Zoan Fruit: Mythical Type—Phoenix Form!! 

From Hikari and Esdeath’s perspective, this “Half-Moon Slash” wasn’t all that fast or powerful—just a “serious basic attack.” 

But Marco’s face was grim. He spread his wings to block the slash, then used his flame-covered body to absorb the impact a second time, barely neutralizing it. 

As the shockwaves faded, a long, narrow gash was visible on his chest, healing rapidly before their eyes. 

“…What’s that?” Esdeath glanced at Hikari. 

“Yep… he’s a Devil Fruit user, just like Kaido and his crew. His ability, ‘Flames of Regeneration,’ is those blue flames you see. As long as they’re burning, any injury he takes heals almost instantly,” Hikari explained. “Think of it like a supercharged version of Leone.” 

—To be precise, those “Flames of Regeneration” could even heal others, curing viruses or diseases. But that wasn’t relevant to the fight, so no need to dwell on it. 

“Got it,” Esdeath said. 

Meanwhile, Marco, still in his Phoenix form, soared toward the Blue Planet, his massive wings propelling him like an arrow! 

Before Hikari could react, Esdeath stepped forward. A sheet of ice launched her skyward, and she threw a punch wrapped in frost! 

—Ice Demon: Simplified Bombardment Fist! 

“Bring it!!” Esdeath roared. 

A pale blue figure was sent flying from the clash, barely regaining flight just before hitting the sea. Marco stared at Esdeath in shock. “Are you… the captain, Bulma?” 

“Come again!” Esdeath answered with a fist that grew larger in his vision as it rocketed toward him! 

Chapter 305: Whitebeard’s Conqueror’s Haki 

Boom! 

Boom, boom! 

From the moment Esdeath’s first icy punch landed, Marco had been on high alert, treating her as the toughest opponent he’d ever faced. But even with his full focus, he couldn’t dodge a single one of her follow-up strikes. Time and again, she sent him crashing from the sky, only for him to barely claw his way back up each time. 

Unlike Jack, who had Fish-Man blood, Marco wasn’t built for the sea. If he fell in and got soaked, he’d lose his fighting ability in no time—maybe even his life. 

So, the shock in Marco’s heart grew heavier with every hit. 

“Who are these people?” he thought. “That sword-wielding girl earlier was already crazy strong, but this blue-haired woman… When did the New World get a crew this powerful?!” 

If a crew like this popped up in the Four Seas, it might make sense. But on the Grand Line? It was like they were stomping all over the intelligence networks of every Emperor crew. 

Meanwhile, Esdeath remained calm, almost bored, fending off Marco’s full-on assault with just one hand. She even had the leisure to toss out some pointers mid-fight. “Your attacks have decent force, but they’re way too slow. With those sluggish, half-hearted punches and kicks, you think you’re hitting anyone?” 

“And your use of your ability? Pretty basic. Reminds me of that masked guy.” 

“…Masked guy?” Marco was clueless that she meant Jinbe. 

In truth, Marco and Jinbe were cut from the same cloth: both right-hand men to an Emperor, fiercely loyal, with flight and fire-based abilities. Even their bounties were neck-and-neck—1.39 billion for Marco, 1.37 billion for Jinbe. They were practically brothers from another mother. 

Jinbe had been crushed by Esdeath in seconds. Marco, theoretically a tad weaker, wasn’t faring much better. 

To Bulma and the others, who hadn’t seen the Ghost Island battle and didn’t know the full extent of the power gap, this fight was still a spectacle. Bulma even whipped out her camera, filming away. 

“Do we really need to record this little sparring match?” Hikari Uchiha glanced at her. 

“Absolutely!” Bulma said, dead serious. “This is our ‘Dimension Pirates’ going head-to-head with the Whitebeard Pirates—a historic moment! We’ll make a copy for Morgans to publish. No way we’re letting them make up stories without seeing this for themselves. Hey, Hikari, wanna jump in and steal the spotlight?” 

“Nah, I’m good,” Hikari said, shaking her head. 

She wasn’t big on fame. Using Snapshot King to piggyback on Aokiji’s hype before was just a strategic move. With Esdeath handling things up front, Hikari, as “vice-captain,” saw no need to get involved. 

Unless… 

“Whitebeard’s on that ship right now, isn’t he? Guy’s got some serious patience,” Hikari mused. 

Just then, Esdeath seemed to have sized Marco up and lost interest in toying with him. She landed a particularly heavy, deliberate punch, knocking him out of the sky again. As he plummeted toward the sea, she snapped her fingers. 

Whoosh! A biting gust roared. 

In that instant, everyone felt the light above warp slightly. Looking up, they saw a massive ice meteor forming in the sky directly above Esdeath. In a blink, it ballooned from a few meters to nearly a hundred meters wide! 

“That’s enough,” Esdeath said coolly, eyeing Marco below. “You’re nowhere near Hikari’s level, but your strength’s decent enough to earn a nod from me. As a reward, I’ll show you a taste of my real power—let’s see the gap between us.” 

She took a deep breath and declared, “This move is called… Ice Meteor!” 

With that, she sliced her hand downward like a blade. 

The colossal ice meteor hurtled toward the sea. Even before it hit, the surrounding air was blasted aside, whipping up a ferocious gale. A ring of milky-white shockwaves rippled outward in all directions! 

Marco, who’d just clawed his way out of the water, had used his Devil Fruit to create a shockwave beneath him at the last second, pushing the sea apart to form a shallow crater—seven or eight meters below sea level—keeping him dry. 

But before he could catch his breath, the ice meteor was already formed and hurtling down, thrown by Esdeath’s command! 

Above, a city-crushing meteor loomed. Below, the deep sea waited. All around, walls of water from the parted sea were collapsing back into the crater. 

Marco had no time to dodge. In a desperate move, he spread his wings, wrapping them around himself to shield against the blow. If he could survive this hit, his crew would surely pull him out. 

But at that critical moment, an overwhelming aura erupted from the deck of the Moby Dick—a tidal wave of power that swept across the battlefield! 

Even Hikari felt her shoulders sink under its weight. Weaker fighters like Bulma, Tanjiro, Naruto, and Yuji Itadori were floored, collapsing onto the Blue Planet’s deck. A trembling, instinctive awe surged in their hearts. 

Then, a massive naginata slashed through the air. 

The blade tore the atmosphere apart, sending terrifying cracks spiderwebbing through the sky, aimed straight at the descending ice meteor! 

“…The main event’s finally here, huh?” Hikari exhaled softly. As she spoke, her eyes blazed scarlet, her Mangekyō Sharingan activated to its fullest. 

She was ready to see just how this “World’s Strongest Man” stacked up against Kaido’s Conqueror’s Haki. 

(End of Chapter)