Chapter 89: Alliance
The sheer magnitude of their battle had reshaped the island. Once a barren desert-like terrain, it was now a chaotic battlefield marked by deep craters, jagged cliffs, and fissures leaking steam from the ground. The sky above was dark, not from clouds, but from the dust and debris their attacks had thrown into the air.
Whitebeard's laughter echoed as he swung his bisento, creating another earth-shattering tremor. "Gurarara! You've got spirit, boy! It's been decades since I've had a fight like this!"
Dave, his shirt torn and his blade glowing faintly with energy, grinned back. "And here I thought you'd be slowing down by now, old man. Guess I underestimated your endurance."
Whitebeard planted his bisento into the ground and cracked his knuckles. "I'm just getting warmed up! But I can't say the same for this poor island."
Dave laughed. "True. If this keeps up, we'll have to find another place to settle the score."
Despite the wear and tear, both fighters seemed invigorated, their fighting spirit shining through. They had pushed each other to their limits, each strike, parry, and counterattack a testament to their skill and strength.
Meanwhile, Marco and the crew were amazed. Jozu, arms crossed, muttered, "I've never seen Dad fight this hard before. That kid really is something."
Marco nodded, his phoenix flames flickering as he leaned on the ship's railing. "It's not just strength. It's like he's testing Dad, pushing him to see how far he can go. But there's something else..."
"What do you mean?" Vista asked, adjusting his hat.