"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.)