🎊🎊🎊HST: Chapter 210/215

Chapter 210: Hatred Has No End

Dragon looked at Caelan, eyes filled with burning fighting spirit.

Since rebelling against the Marines and founding the Revolutionary Army, he hadn't experienced a truly even match. Every opponent he'd encountered had been weaker, crushed like dead wood.

Even though he'd trained diligently and steadily improved his strength, the lack of worthy opponents was a constant frustration.

Now, facing a battle with Caelan, all the fighting spirit that had been building over the years erupted, as if he had returned to those glorious days of chasing down pirates.

Dragon took a deep breath.

Air surged around him as his strength exploded outward.

In an instant, his muscles swelled, and the once-loose cloak stretched tight over his body, revealing his powerful frame.

"I'm coming!"

Dragon roared and shot forward like lightning.

In just a blink, he closed the distance and arrived before Caelan.

A powerful straight punch, brimming with Haki, blasted toward Caelan's chest.

The punch tore through the air with a sharp sound.

"It's been a while since someone's thrown hands with me like this. I like it."

Caelan smirked slightly and raised his right fist, meeting the blow head-on.

Since completing the template of Heracles and raising his Strength attribute to A+, he hadn't had a chance to test it in combat. Now that Dragon wanted a fistfight, it was just what he was hoping for.

Boom!

The fists collided with an explosive sound.

The impact sent shockwaves through the air, forming rings of compressed wind.

Dragon was knocked back uncontrollably, his feet carving two deep trenches into the ground before coming to a stop a hundred meters away.

"…?!"

Dragon stared at Caelan in disbelief, deeply shaken by the overwhelming power.

That strength was almost a joke.

The gap between them wasn't just large—it was more than double.

If he hadn't experienced it firsthand, he never would've believed it.

As Garp's disciple, he was confident that his fist strength ranked among the top in the sea, capable of contending with even the Yonko.

So why was there such an enormous gap against Caelan?

"Again!"

Dragon gritted his teeth and charged once more, refusing to accept defeat so easily.

Boom!

Their fists collided again. Dragon was sent flying once more.

This time, the difference was even more obvious.

At the moment of contact, it felt like he was punching diamond barehanded. Not only did he fail to deal any damage, but the recoil also made his own fists ache.

Then, a sudden force surged through him, flinging him away without resistance.

Against that kind of strength, he felt like a lone boat in a vast sea—helpless.

Dragon stared at Caelan like he was staring at a ghost. He couldn't accept the overwhelming power gap.

Everyone knew there were limits to human strength, and he believed he had nearly reached that threshold.

Even if Kaido's Oni lineage hit the upper limit of power, the gap wouldn't be this wide.

But Caelan was more than twice as strong as him. This wasn't a level human beings could reach.

"Are you even human?"

Dragon looked at Caelan, his voice filled with suspicion, as if trying to see through what was beneath the surface.

"Of course, I'm human." Caelan paused, then continued. "But if you prefer, you can call me a god."

With the Divine A Synchronization template, he had transcended the ordinary. If anyone in this world qualified to be called a god, it was him.

"God…"

Dragon murmured, briefly stunned.

Maybe only a god could possess this kind of power.

But the next moment, his conviction returned.

Even if Caelan was truly a god, he still had to challenge that power. He had to know how strong Caelan truly was.

Dragon exhaled slowly, his gaze firming up.

Adjusting the strength in his muscles slightly, he charged again.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Even though he was knocked back each time, Dragon refused to give up. He kept rushing at Caelan over and over.

The two clashed repeatedly across the kilometer-wide duel arena.

Their speed, enhanced by power, broke the sound barrier. Afterimages trailed behind them in rapid succession.

Each shockwave from their clashes had barely faded when another exploded into being dozens of meters away.

At this point, they were moving too fast to be seen by the naked eye. Only the deep footprints etched into the ground served as proof that this was a fight between two humans.

Fists collided over and over, sonic booms echoing one after another.

It was a brutal, overwhelming battle.

Calling them beasts would be too kind—only the devils of hell could match this level of ferocity.

…

In the stands, Aokiji and Borsalino both looked on with wide eyes, visibly shaken by the duel.

"Dragon's fists aren't much weaker than Garp's," Aokiji said, watching Dragon's performance closely.

"He really is Garp-san's son. His boxing technique is quite the headache. Seems he's improved a lot over the years," Borsalino replied, trimming his nails with a bored expression.

"But compared to that, Caelan is even more insane. Is he really just batting Dragon around like a toy?"

Aokiji looked toward the arena, his expression a little sympathetic as Dragon was sent flying again.

He had once fought Caelan for five days and nights straight. But even that wasn't this bad.

"Back at the Sabaody Archipelago, he wasn't like this. Even Garp could land a hit on him. But now, someone on Dragon's level can't even touch him."

"To get this strong in less than a month?"

Borsalino's mouth twitched. He was speechless.

All three admirals were veterans in their forties or fifties. They had already reached their peak. There wasn't much room left to grow.

Now facing this increasingly monstrous Caelan, there was nothing they could do.

The idea of going up against him again made Borsalino seriously consider retiring.

But then he remembered his cushy, high-paying job… and found himself reluctant to leave.

"…Sigh."

Borsalino let out a long sigh, torn.

…

Elsewhere in the stands.

"Koala, I told you Caelan is the strongest!"

Uta said proudly, smiling as she looked at Koala.

As expected, Caelan had crushed Dragon with no effort, completely overwhelming him.

Koala bit her lip, unable to say a word.

She hadn't expected that the leader who was once unstoppable in liberating small nations would be dominated like this by Caelan.

It wasn't that the leader was fake. His strength and achievements were acknowledged by the entire Revolutionary Army. Even what he'd just demonstrated was unquestionably powerful.

But he was still completely suppressed by Caelan.

She was stunned. And more than a little shaken.

It wasn't the leader's fault. It was the enemy who was just too powerful!

That's what Koala told herself.

At that moment, her eyes lit up as she noticed something in the arena.

"He's about to use his ultimate move! This could be the turning point!"

Koala exclaimed, filled with hope.

"A special move?"

Uta curled her lips, clearly unimpressed.

What kind of ultimate move could possibly compare to the God-Slaying Spear that defeated the Demon King of Songs?

After witnessing Caelan's strength, she no longer paid much attention to anyone else.

Still, she shifted her gaze back to the arena, prepared to see whether anything would change.

(To be continued.)

Special thanks to Anime fan123456 for sponsoring this extra chapter 🎉🎉🎉

Chapter 211: Death Penalty of Light

After being knocked away by Caelan once again, Dragon's fist was already trembling.

Even with his well-tempered body, he couldn't withstand such a short exchange.

But Caelan, standing opposite him, remained calm and unscathed.

After cursing this monster silently, Dragon realized that dragging things out would only end the same way. He had no choice but to use his ultimate move.

Dragon took a deep breath.

His five fingers clenched into a fist, veins bulging along the backs of his hands.

His entire body coordinated in unison as he released all his strength at once.

At the same time, a layer of pitch-black Armament Haki coated his arm, doubling the power of his punch.

Dragon stamped both feet into the ground and leapt dozens of meters into the air.

Then, he descended from above, carrying the full force of gravity and momentum, aiming straight for Caelan.

The force from his fist stirred the air, creating a massive windstorm that swept through the kilometer-wide arena.

The momentum was overwhelming—strong enough to crush an entire army.

"Not bad."

Facing this all-out strike, Caelan showed a pleased expression.

The force behind this punch was already equivalent to seventy percent of his own.

Clearly, Dragon had gone all out.

"In that case…"

Caelan clenched his right hand into a fist and lightly swung it upward.

"A Serious Punch."

All of his power surged instantly.

A violent hurricane erupted upward.

Like a raging dragon ascending into the sky, it met Dragon's crushing descent head-on.

Boom!

The first sound was a deafening roar, as if the gods themselves were thundering in rage.

In the audience, thousands felt their heads ringing, blood surging uncontrollably in their chests and guts.

Beep—

Then silence.

The spectators were completely stunned by the blast. They couldn't tell up from down and heard nothing but static.

"Puff!"

Dragon crashed to the ground.

He looked at Caelan in horror, a bitter expression on his face.

He had more than just his boxing skills, but boxing was one of his strongest weapons. If even that couldn't win, then nothing else could either.

Against Caelan, he was simply no match.

…

"How about that? No comeback, right?"

Uta smiled smugly.

"Mm."

Koala nodded gloomily.

Even after unleashing his ultimate move, hrr leader couldn't do anything to Caelan.

It left her feeling genuinely defeated.

Looking at Uta beside her, Koala couldn't even raise her head.

Her boss wasn't as good as someone else's boss, embarrassing for any subordinate.

Still, remembering that Caelan had just been named deputy leader of the Revolutionary Army made her feel a bit better.

With someone that strong joining, their revolution would go much more smoothly.

At the seats of the three Sweet Commanders.

"Big bro… he won, and it was so easy!"

Smoothie muttered in disbelief.

His opponent was the leader of the Revolutionary Army, a man no less powerful than a Yonko, and yet Caelan had defeated him with ease.

What's more, the leader had practically gone all-out in that fight.

If it had been them fighting Dragon, they'd have been flattened.

"Yeah, I know. Seems the rumors were true. Caelan really is that powerful."

Katakuri, wearing his signature scarf, spoke with a deep voice.

He hadn't fully believed it until he saw it for himself.

Now that he had, there was no doubt.

That meant some of their previous plans needed to be scrapped.

They had to be more cautious. Causing trouble for Caelan was no longer an option.

Thinking this through, Katakuri turned to those around him.

"Be careful over the next few days. Don't cause trouble in Dressrosa."

He paused for a moment, then continued.

"Even if we plan to steal the artificial Devil Fruit technology, wait until the buyer leaves the country. Got it?"

"Got it, bro!"

"Understood, Boss!"

Smoothie and the other pirates answered in unison.

After witnessing Caelan's power, their minds were clear.

…

In the arena.

"I lost."

Dragon lowered his head and admitted defeat without hesitation.

There was nothing to dwell on. A loss was a loss. It wasn't like he lost to the World Government.

He lost to an ally. There was no shame in that. In fact, he was happy to have gained such a powerful comrade.

"That's it? Don't you have more than just boxing?"

Caelan still seemed unsatisfied.

As a sparring partner, Dragon really was top-tier—durable and heavy-hitting.

And yet, he hadn't even gotten to test out his infinite mana pool yet.

"None of the other methods could defeat you, so there's no point showing them."

Dragon shook his head, turning down the invitation for another round.

"Alright then. But before we leave, how about a little performance?"

Caelan said with a grin.

He'd promised to show off his infinite mana. A promise was a promise.

"Performance?"

Dragon looked at Caelan suspiciously, the corner of his mouth twitching.

Are we really celebrating after beating me? That's embarrassing.

But seeing Caelan's expression, he knew Caelan wasn't that type of person.

"Please."

Dragon gestured forward, curiosity piqued.

He wanted to see what kind of performance was worth putting on at a time like this.

"Spear."

Caelan whispered softly.

Instantly, a golden Sun God Spear condensed in his hand.

Then, Caelan pointed the spear toward the sky as immense magical energy surged out.

"The Execution of Light."

As Caelan muttered the words.

Dozens of pale golden beams, each as thick as a thumb, descended from the heavens. Holy and dreamlike, as if to purify the filth of the world.

But the moment they struck the ground, they created bottomless craters, each melting the terrain into magma.

With each beam, the molten lava expanded outward, radiating from the impact sites.

In under ten minutes, the entire kilometer-wide arena beneath Caelan and Dragon had become a bubbling sea of lava.

Dragon's pupils contracted. He sensed immense danger.

This wasn't divine purification—it was divine annihilation.

The destructive power of this move was on par with his previous move, which itself was a mid-tier Yonko-level move.

He could tank one or two of those beams without a problem.

But facing over a dozen at once? That was impossible.

Still… using such a move repeatedly, wasn't this costing him stamina or energy?

(To be continued.)

Special thanks to Anime fan123456 for sponsoring this extra chapter 🎉🎉🎉

Chapter 212: My Energy Is Endless!
In the audience.

"What a beautiful sight!"

"It feels divine!"

"Like a pillar of light from the sun… A miracle from a god!"

The crowd in the stands was utterly captivated by the scene in the center of the arena.

Many people even began making wishes to the dozen or so light pillars connecting heaven and earth, sincerely treating them as divine miracles.

"Fools."

Katakuri glanced coldly at the awestruck spectators.

These ordinary people had no idea what they were really witnessing.

Behind the magnificent appearance of those beams of light was a killing intent more terrifying than anything else.

As the strongest officer under Big Mom, Katakuri clearly sensed the terrifying energy condensed within each beam.

Even if Caelan didn't aim them precisely, just a slight loss of control would be enough to wipe out most of the audience in a heartbeat.

"Brother, let's leave first."

Smoothie's expression was serious.

Standing before a dozen golden beams of light, she felt genuine fear.

Just like her brother, her Observation Haki was screaming in alarm.

"No need. He is just issuing a warning. He doesn't intend to harm us."

Katakuri raised his hand, calmly rejecting her suggestion.

In the future he had foreseen, there was no scenario where Caelan slaughtered indiscriminately. Otherwise, he wouldn't remain this composed.

"A warning?" Smoothie murmured, then gave a bitter smile. "Using such a powerful move just to warn people… He is really willful."

Each of those beams carried more destructive power than her full-strength attacks.

If even one of them hit her, she doubted she would survive.

Katakuri stared at Caelan in the center of the arena.

He had just witnessed the ferocious exchange between Caelan and Dragon.

And now, these dozen beams of destructive light revealed his mastery over energy to be just as overwhelming.

He was perfect in every way. Unshakable. Incomparable. No one beneath the Yonko level was even qualified to touch him.

This was a Yonko. And beneath the Yonko, was an entirely different dimension.

"They're both Yonko… but why do I feel like he's even stronger than my mother?"

Smoothie whispered something nearly blasphemous.

The strength Caelan had shown just now seemed to surpass even her mother, Charlotte Linlin.

"Don't just feel it… accept it. It's the truth."

Katakuri looked calmly at the glowing battlefield.

Just from what they had seen, Caelan's overwhelming physical strength and those divine beams of light—Charlotte Linlin couldn't do that.

Even among the Yonko, there were clear differences in power. And Caelan was near the top.

Perhaps… the title of Yonko wasn't even enough to define him anymore.

Only the former Pirate King of an era, Rocks D. Xebec, might match him.

…

"Hey, Kizaru… is that your Yasakani no Magatama?"

Aokiji nudged Kizaru's arm, clearly curious.

The dozen golden light beams did resemble the Admiral's ability somewhat.

"No. It's way better than mine."

Kizaru adjusted his glasses, sounding a bit sulky.

His Yasakani no Magatama beams weren't nearly that thick. Compared to Caelan's, his looked like toothpicks while Caelan's were battering rams.

Even at full power, his technique couldn't produce even half of this.

If he had that kind of firepower, he would be Fleet Admiral. Akainu and Aokiji wouldn't have had to fight for the position. They'd just follow his orders.

"You might not believe it, but Caelan not only surpassed me in quantity, the quality of his light beams is also way beyond mine."

Kizaru said bitterly.

His Glint-Glint Fruit simply emitted ordinary light beams.

But Caelan's beams… they were radiant like the sun itself.

Could it be that there's a higher-level Light-type Devil Fruit?

A Sun Fruit?

But he'd never heard of Caelan eating any Devil Fruit at all.

Kizaru's narrow eyes were filled with confusion.

"This is such a headache…"

Aokiji sighed, resting his head on his arms.

They couldn't win before, and now the gap was even more hopeless.

If this keeps up, it's the end for the Marines.

"It's a bit troublesome, but at least this mission isn't to fight him."

Kizaru felt a little relieved.

If they were ordered to face Caelan head-on, they'd be obliterated.

Aokiji nodded, though he glanced toward the center of the arena in confusion.

"…Is he really just going to keep firing like that?"

The golden light beams still connected the sky and earth, unmoving and radiant, with no sign of stopping.

"That can't be, right?"

Kizaru said uncertainly.

His Yasakani no Magatama consumed an enormous amount of stamina and could only be maintained briefly.

Caelan's attack was clearly much more powerful.

If he could maintain that output indefinitely… he wouldn't be human.

…

But…

Ten full minutes passed, and the radiant pillars of light still continued.

The Colosseum, over a kilometer in diameter with more than 70,000 square meters of space, had been completely transformed.

The previously solid yellow terrain had melted entirely beneath the relentless light, turning into a boiling sea of lava.

The bright, molten magma rolled violently, casting a red glow on Dragon's face.

At this moment, his feet were coated in Armament Haki, keeping him from falling into the magma.

But while the lava could be blocked, the heat could not.

The temperature in the air had risen past 100 degrees. The space shimmered and warped under the extreme heat.

"…It's a little hot."

Sweat the size of beans rolled down Dragon's face. He had no doubt that if someone cracked an egg here, it'd be cooked instantly.

He couldn't help but glance at Caelan—the one responsible for this scene.

And there he was.

Floating silently above the molten lake, completely unfazed by the heat and chaos beneath him.

The dozen or so divine golden beams surrounded him like an eternal halo, bathing him in light like a deity.

"So this… this is the true deterrent you meant?"

Dragon's expression grew complicated. Only now did he understand what Caelan meant by deterrence.

Other than the Yonko and their strongest lieutenants, no one could survive even one of these beams.

If a hundred or a thousand people caused trouble, a ten-minute rain of this light would obliterate them all.

The idea that "the law doesn't punish the masses" would be meaningless.

They wouldn't survive to even break the law.

"How does it feel?"

Caelan asked with a smile.

The Execution of Light was a variation of Karna's Noble Phantasm: Brahmastra Kundala.

In essence, he was firing his Noble Phantasm dozens of times in succession, continuously.

Such a massive drain on magical energy was only possible now that his mana bar had been deleted.

Before, he would've gone with a one-punch mountain-shattering spectacle for deterrence.

After all, magic was a resource to conserve.

But now?

Now that he'd deleted the blue bar, he didn't care about costs.

"Very powerful. Anyone with common sense would be scared sh— I mean, terrified."

Dragon gave a thumbs-up in admiration.

Whatever reaction Caelan wanted from the crowd, he'd definitely gotten.

As for himself… he was honestly on the verge of wetting his pants.

He had always envied birds—those who could fly freely.

But now, if he had this kind of power, he would've taken the fight directly to the World Government years ago. No more hiding or scheming.

No wonder Caelan dared to openly challenge the World Government.

He had the power to back it up.

Still… could he stop now?

Dragon was starting to feel roasted.

"This technique… is it really always active? Don't you need energy to maintain it?"

He felt increasingly uncomfortable in the intense heat and hoped Caelan would stop soon.

A move like this should burn through stamina like crazy.

Even one or two beams would be exhausting to maintain. But right now, Caelan had over a dozen, and they hadn't stopped.

If he tried this, he'd have collapsed long ago.

And yet Caelan was still calm, as if it cost him nothing.

This was terrifying.

He just hoped Caelan wasn't bluffing. If he collapsed later from mana overdose, it would be miserable.

Dragon kept that thought to himself.

"Energy? That's one thing I'll never run out of."

Caelan admired his handiwork. The sea of lava beneath them was so vast that even Akainu would be stunned.

"How… how is that even possible?"

Dragon was utterly confused. He couldn't help but suspect Caelan was just flexing.

"My energy is endless."

Caelan calmly placed his hands in his pockets.

As soon as he said it, magical energy surged again.

Another round of golden beams rained from the sky, melting the magma even further.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 213: Being Restrained

"Damn!"

Dragon stared at the dozen or so additional beams of light filling the arena, completely dumbfounded. His heart was overwhelmed by a kind of shock he couldn't put into words.

To launch a large-scale attack like this just from a small disagreement, wasn't this a bit too aggressive?

He had truly come to believe that even if Caelan's energy wasn't infinite, it was at least as vast and bottomless as the sea.

But still, please—put the magical power away!

The temperature had already passed 100 degrees. This wasn't a battlefield anymore—it was a barbecue pit!

Dragon, drenched in sweat, looked at Caelan in despair.

…

"Caelan-sama is too powerful. Just looking at him is overwhelming."

The thousands of spectators were captivated, staring at the center of the arena in awe.

In just a short amount of time, the 70,000-square-meter arena had been transformed into a sea of magma. It was truly divine power.

Under the extreme heat, those seated closest to the arena had already moved far away.

The first few dozen rows were completely empty.

Even those farther back were struggling against the heat but still refused to miss the spectacle. So they kept retreating while watching the burning center.

Once in a lifetime!

They had never imagined they would witness something like this in the Colosseum, a literal transformation of the ground into molten lava!

They were shaken—deeply, completely.

Even if they couldn't grasp how strong Caelan really was, they knew one thing for sure—he wasn't human.

He was like a god.

Gulp!

Smoothie swallowed hard as she stared at Caelan in shock.

Under his influence, the temperature around her had risen to nearly 50 degrees. Her entire body was drenched in sweat, her curvaceous figure clearly outlined.

But she didn't care and no one around her was in the mood to appreciate it. Everyone was frozen in collective disbelief.

To reshape the terrain and mold the environment like this was typically the domain of awakened Logia or Paramecia users.

But those were effects of Devil Fruit powers.

They'd never heard of Caelan eating any Devil Fruit.

Moreover, even Devil Fruit users reshaped the terrain through assimilation not through this kind of outright destruction.

To transform 70,000 square meters of earth into lava purely through one's own strength… it was madness.

The amount of energy required was unimaginable.

And yet, they saw it with their own eyes.

They had no choice but to believe it.

"…He has too much energy."

Katakuri furrowed his brows. He didn't dare to estimate how vast Caelan's energy reserves really were.

His own Mochi-Mochi Fruit could assimilate surroundings into sticky mochi—a pseudo-Logia ability.

But compared to Caelan turning tens of thousands of square meters into magma in one go, it was like a crow standing next to a thundercloud—completely different levels.

Even his sticky mochi would melt instantly from Caelan's extreme heat.

If they ever picked a fight with someone like him, it would be absolute suicide.

Katakuri and Smoothie exchanged looks, then nodded in unison.

"I've said this before, but..."

"We must not provoke Caelan. No one is allowed to cause trouble in Dressrosa."

…

"We must not cause trouble in Dressrosa!"

Aokiji and Borsalino looked at each other and spoke in sync.

That devastating beam attack had lasted over ten minutes, turning the entire Colosseum into a sea of magma.

The power behind it was beyond imagination.

"Agh… I'm completely restrained."

Aokiji sighed as he gazed out at the lava.

The beam that had melted solid earth into lava was clearly of an extreme temperature.

Even with his Ice-Ice Fruit and its special freezing abilities, under such conditions, his powers would evaporate the moment they activated.

He had once traded blows evenly with Akainu's magma, but in the face of Caelan's pure high-temperature energy, he would be utterly suppressed.

He wouldn't even be able to deal damage.

"…Do you think Sakazuki would fare any better? Maybe he could stand his ground in a place like this?"

Aokiji, trying to console himself in this bleak situation, thought of his old rival Akainu.

Akainu, who wielded the Magma-Magma Fruit, would have a home field advantage in this sea of magma.

"Impossible. He'd lose just as badly."

Kizaru answered without hesitation.

Creating a sea of magma with a wave of the hand—Akainu couldn't even do that.

If high temperature meets even higher temperature, it's obvious who would win.

"In that case… it makes sense that the three Admirals of our generation can't beat Caelan."

Aokiji suddenly had a realization and said calmly.

"What do you mean?"

Kizaru asked, raising an eyebrow.

"My Ice Fruit is nullified by extreme heat. Your Light isn't as strong as Caelan's. And Akainu's magma isn't hot enough."

Aokiji continued, "The three of us are all being restrained."

…Was that really a valid excuse?

Kizaru was stunned for a moment. He hadn't expected Aokiji to be this honest or… funny.

But when he thought about it, it did make sense.

Against Caelan, the three strongest Logia fruits were basically useless.

If that wasn't being restrained, then what was?

"Yeah… we're being restrained. So it's not our fault we can't win."

Kizaru said with mock seriousness.

And if you have an excuse, you can slack off without guilt.

As long as I admit I'm weak… I'm unbeatable!

(To be continued.)

Special thanks to Anime fan123456 for sponsoring this extra chapter 🎉🎉🎉

Chapter 214: Law-Abiding Good Citizen

In the arena.

After seeing the dozen or so beams of light released by Caelan, Monkey D. Dragon was completely convinced.

"Caelan-sama, please put away your magical powers."

Dragon looked at him with a wry smile.

The temperature around him had exceeded 100 degrees. It felt like he was being grilled alive.

He wasn't in any immediate danger, but it was extremely uncomfortable.

Caelan glanced around.

Wherever he looked, the people of Dressrosa were shouting his name, pirates avoided his gaze, and members of various factions were visibly shaken.

Clearly, the warning had served its purpose.

So, Caelan cut off the flow of magical energy. The dozen beams of light bombarding the ground from the sky dissipated instantly.

The oppressive, scorching heat also lifted.

"Hahhh~"

Dragon let out a long breath of relief.

Standing amidst dozens of beams of light—even without being hit—had still given him goosebumps.

"It's just a shame that the venue is ruined."

Dragon looked down at the sea of magma beneath his feet with regret.

The beams had disappeared, but the molten sea wouldn't cool off anytime soon.

Ten meters deep and covering the entire central arena, over 700,000 cubic meters of molten lava churned below.

For the next several years, this Colosseum would be completely unusable. You could call it destroyed.

"That might not be the case."

Caelan smiled faintly.

This arena cost a fortune to build. He had no intention of simply destroying it.

"Hm!?"

Dragon looked at Caelan in surprise.

Then, to his astonishment, Caelan plunged the golden spear into the magma.

In an instant, the heat from all 700,000 cubic meters of lava was sucked away.

Starting from Caelan's position, a deep black hue began to spread across the sea of magma, quickly covering it all.

In mere moments, the heat of the entire lava field was devoured by the golden spear.

The fiery red magma cooled rapidly.

The red turned to black. The blazing heat turned to a deep chill.

The sea of magma vanished, replaced by a field of smooth obsidian.

The surface was pitch black and polished like glass. Looking down, one could clearly see their own reflection.

Dragon gave him a big thumbs-up, sincerely impressed.

Not only was the Colosseum not destroyed, it had actually been upgraded.

Seventy thousand square meters with a ten-meter-thick obsidian foundation.

Durable, elegant, and steeped in story—it was a perfect arena surface. And with today's events as its backdrop, it was even more priceless.

"Thank you, thank you."

Caelan accepted the praise modestly.

Having both overwhelming power and control—that was the ideal.

Then, facing the audience, Caelan raised his voice.

"We welcome guests to Dressrosa, but I hope certain people can keep quiet. Don't cause trouble for me—and don't cause trouble for yourselves."

His voice wasn't loud, just enough to reach everyone in the Colosseum.

With that, Caelan ignored the audience's reactions and left with Dragon.

"Caelan-sama is so strong!"
"Caelan-sama is compassionate and protective of the people!"

The people of Dressrosa erupted in cheers.

They knew very well that it was Caelan maintaining the peace here. With someone like him watching over them, they felt secure.

As they cheered, they didn't forget to glare at the shady outsiders nearby.

"I'm warning you, don't try anything in Dressrosa, or you'll regret it!"

A local passerby shouted at Katakuri's group.

This was the same group who had stolen his seat earlier and slapped him for it. Too much!

"You little—"

Katakuri's subordinates glared, itching to retaliate.

"Don't."

Katakuri stopped them with a frown.

Caelan had just issued a warning. If they were the first to act out, they'd be the first to die.

He casually tossed a few Berry cards to the passerby and walked away with his crew.

They would stay hidden. No action until the artificial Devil Fruit technology left Dressrosa.

…

At the same time, what had just happened in the arena was already being exaggerated and broadcasted.

Morgans, who had sided with Caelan, published high-definition photos in the next edition of the World Economy News, putting Caelan's warning on full display for the world.

"What the hell!? The Revolutionary Army's leader was defeated that easily?!"
"Seriously? That has to be fake!"

The underworld and black market networks couldn't believe their eyes.

While the Revolutionary Army wasn't as well-known to the average citizen, it was very famous in the criminal underworld.

Their leader was widely considered one of the most formidable forces outside of the Yonko.

And now he had been easily defeated by Caelan. It was terrifying.

"He turned a 70,000-square-meter arena into a sea of lava, and then into solid obsidian?!"
"If you're that strong, just go beat everyone to death already!"

Holding the newspapers in disbelief, agents and mercenaries from various factions all gasped.

In the photo, dozens of golden beams connected heaven and earth, turning the entire Colosseum into what looked like divine punishment.

This power—enough to rewrite terrain—shattered their will to resist.

He was worthy of the titles God Slayer and New Yonko.

With fear and awe in their hearts, they quietly buried whatever schemes they had.

What were they even thinking before? Stirring up trouble? Fishing in troubled waters?

The thought of causing trouble completely vanished.

Trying anything under the nose of someone like Caelan? Not even ten lives would be enough.

In fact, they weren't just afraid to act themselves. They also became wary of others stirring things up.

"Hey, watch yourself. If you start anything, I'll cut you down myself for justice's sake!"
"Same to you. Don't blame me if I turn on you the moment you act up!"

Two rival factions, now acting like close allies, warned each other seriously.

Eventually, a silent agreement formed across all factions in Dressrosa.

Whoever caused trouble would be hunted down by the rest, restrained, and offered up as an apology to Caelan.

No one wanted to die because someone else decided to act stupid.

For a while, all the mixed forces quieted down.

No one dared to cause a single disturbance after Caelan's warning.

No matter how cutthroat or ambitious they might have been in other places, everyone here had the same thought:

In Dressrosa, under Caelan's watch… we are all law-abiding citizens.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 215: Incompetent

When all the forces that had gathered in Dressrosa fell silent…

After leaving the arena, Caelan and Dragon were already seated in the office, chatting. As for Koala, she had already been dragged away by Uta.

"You really are too powerful."

Dragon sat across from Caelan, speaking with heartfelt emotion.

The performance earlier had completely reshaped his understanding of strength.

He still hadn't fully recovered from the blow of that powerful punch, and his arm continued to throb.

The beam of light filled with seemingly endless energy, piercing through heaven and earth, left an unforgettable impression.

It was hard to believe that this was the power of a single man.

"It's nothing special."

Caelan took a sip of his fragrant tea, his expression relaxed.

After stretching his muscles in battle, his whole body felt loose and refreshed.

It would be great if he had a sandbag like this every day.

Caelan looked at Dragon with slight regret.

"If that's nothing special, then what is? Do you have any idea how hopeless it feels to be your enemy?"

Dragon exaggerated slightly.

Although it had been just a friendly duel, the pressure Caelan gave off was all too real.

Facing someone like Caelan made him feel utterly powerless.

It was like being twelve again, standing helplessly before Garp's iron fists.

But he wasn't going to say that part out loud.

"Alright, enough flattery. Just say what you really came to say."

Caelan could tell immediately that Dragon was putting on an act.

About thirty percent truth, seventy percent performance—almost impossible to detect for most.

But for the leader of the Revolutionary Army to be this humble? That wasn't normal.

The man who had been labeled the most dangerous criminal by the World Government wouldn't show such deference just because he'd lost a fight.

If he were really that soft, he wouldn't have raised the banner of rebellion in the first place.

"Haha, you caught me!"

Dragon laughed, completely unashamed.

Clearly, this feigned humility had an agenda behind it.

Rubbing his hands together, Dragon asked cautiously, "Caelan, we're allies now. You used me as a warning back there. So… can we discuss something?"

"Just say it. With our relationship, I'll help out if I can."

Caelan replied casually.

He'd just used Dragon as a punching bag and was in a great mood. As long as the request wasn't over the top, he'd consider it.

He was curious what could make the usually firm Dragon act like this.

"Ahem. Alright, I'll just come out with it."
Dragon coughed twice and said seriously,
"Would you be willing to share your artificial Devil Fruit technology with us?"

So that was it.

Caelan nodded in understanding.

No wonder he'd been hesitant. Turns out he'd been eyeing the prize all along.

Of course, Caelan had no intention of giving it away for free. But considering that Dragon had made him happy once and was technically an ally, a discount was negotiable.

"Tell me. How much can you offer?"

Caelan asked leisurely.

They were family now. A hundred or two hundred million discount wasn't a big deal.

There would be future costs anyway—raw materials, processing. It could all be bundled in.

"We're such close allies… wouldn't talking about money hurt our relationship?"

Dragon gave an awkward smile, clearly uncomfortable.

He understood how valuable the artificial Devil Fruit technology was. Asking for it free of charge was asking too much.

But the Revolutionary Army's funds were limited. The tech was too tempting to pass up, so this was his last resort.

"You want to get laid for free?" Caelan stared blankly, then scowled.

"Only women can do that with me."

"Don't want to talk about money? Want to talk about fists instead?"

"Let's play something new. First one to faint loses!"

As he spoke, Caelan rolled his wrists, faint black mist rising from his body.

His bones and muscles had just been stretched and were starting to itch again.

If Dragon was saying things like this, it meant he still didn't understand Caelan's strength.

"Whoa, whoa! Misunderstanding! Just kidding!"

Dragon waved his hands quickly, smiling awkwardly.

He could tell that if he really fought Caelan again right now, Caelan wouldn't stop until his ribcage was in pieces.

"I knew you were joking. But your acting was pretty convincing. I almost believed you were trying to take advantage of me."

Caelan retracted his Haki and chuckled.

"Haha… You're hilarious."

Dragon laughed awkwardly, knowing full well Caelan was mocking him.

"But seriously, can you really not share the artificial Devil Fruit tech with the Revolutionary Army?"

Dragon asked again, unwilling to give up.

The artificial Devil Fruit could drastically improve the Revolutionary Army's lack of powerful fighters.

It was the ultimate fix. If it worked, it would be like gaining 800 years of power in one go.

"If you can't afford it, you can't use it either. Just having the technology isn't enough. You still need the equipment, the materials, and a massive budget."

Caelan gave Dragon a side glance, as if looking at a beggar.

The tech wasn't plug-and-play. The maintenance and production costs far exceeded the price of just acquiring the method.

Production costs were high, and output was inconsistent. This was tech only the truly rich could afford to touch.

"Is that so?"

"Makes sense. I should've known… Some things have a user threshold."

Dragon smiled bitterly, Caelan's words bursting his bubble.

The allure of the technology had clouded his better judgment.

To have it right in front of him and still not be able to use it… That was truly frustrating.

"Don't get too discouraged. Artificial Devil Fruits aren't really suited for your army's situation. They have a usage threshold too."

"The user must have an extremely strong will and physical endurance. Otherwise, they'll most likely die. And even survivors will lose all emotions except laughter."

"With such serious side effects, it's not a good fit for you."

Caelan said calmly.

That was also why he didn't hoard them for himself.

They weren't efficient. The side effects were significant. Only those who had never tasted quality would mistake it for treasure.

Dragon should have had connections with Vegapunk. If it were the world's number one scientist's artificial Devil Fruit technology, that was something worth pursuing.

Maybe Vegapunk hadn't mentioned it to Dragon?

Well, perhaps Vegapunk considered it a basic-level invention, nothing worth bragging about compared to something like infinite energy.

"That actually makes me feel better."

Dragon's expression eased, and he finally looked at peace.

It was the classic "sour grapes" situation. Even if he still wanted it deep down, hearing those side effects helped suppress the obsession.

"Sounds like you don't think very highly of this tech. So, how much are you planning to sell it for?"

Dragon asked curiously.

"Five billion Berries."

Caelan held up five fingers, speaking casually.

"You just trashed it completely, and you're still asking for five billion?!"

Dragon's eyes widened in disbelief.

After all that talk about how flawed it was, he thought Caelan was about to give him a friend discount.

"Haha, everyone has different standards. To me, it's trash. To others, it's a treasure."

"Just like you right now. You're practically drooling for it, even though you're trying to comfort yourself with my words. If you had the money, you'd already be throwing it at me."

Caelan said, jokingly.

"Ugh…"

Dragon's face twitched.

That was how he felt… but did Caelan have to say it out loud?

(To be continued.)