"Wait... That sound—drums? But this is the Null Realm! How can there be drumming echoing here?!"
"Listen closely, the sound is coming from the arena!"
"It's… it's coming from the direction of that crater on the right side!"
Everyone instinctively turned toward the source.
Sure enough.
From the depths of the crater where Luffy had fallen—
A rhythmic, thunderous drumming echoed upward from the earth.
The sound grew louder, heavier, and faster with each beat.
One beat!
Two beats!
Countless beats!
Each strike pounded deep into their hearts, like a war drum shaking their very souls.
And then—
They all realized it.
This wasn't just drumming—
It was the sound of a heartbeat!!!
Luffy's heartbeat!!!
As everyone stood in shocked silence—
Joyous laughter once again rang out.
"Ahahaha!!"
"This heartbeat… it's so damn fun!!"
Luffy grinned, rubbing the center of his chest as he looked at Naruto, his smile genuine and wild.
"Oi! You're a pretty interesting guy, y'know?! Hahaha!!"
"You're the strongest opponent I've ever faced! Wanna join my Straw Hat Pirates?"
"Eh?"
Naruto was still confused—how had Luffy survived?
Wasn't he just a dried-up husk a moment ago?
He hadn't even had time to react before Luffy started complimenting him.
Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, Naruto chuckled.
"Am I really that strong… in your world?"
"And hey! If we're doing invitations, how about you join the Hidden Leaf Village instead?"
"Pfft—"
Naruto and Luffy burst out laughing as they locked eyes.
After such a long battle, they could feel it—
A connection.
They had sensed the same spirit in each other.
Both were chosen among billions in their worlds.
Both had broken the limits of their abilities—fighting in near game-breaking forms.
Both possessed limitless recovery, and unshakable willpower.
Maybe… just maybe… this guy is me from another world.
Luffy stared at Naruto, power swelling from within as he once again entered his Nika Form.
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy! My dream is to become the Pirate King!"
"This is my ultimate form! My pinnacle! The Dawn Incarnate!!"
He pointed to the center of his chest.
"As long as the drums don't stop—life won't stop!"
Naruto adjusted his forehead protector, his face resolute.
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto! And I'm the man who'll become Hokage!!"
"This is my strongest form—Six Paths Sage Mode!"
He raised his hand, summoning a black staff formed from Yin-Yang Release.
"Energy unending! Will indestructible!"
By now, Naruto understood what Luffy intended.
A final clash—one blow to decide everything.
Just what he wanted!
Suddenly, flames of battle spirit roared in Naruto's eyes again.
"This strike—I won't hold back. I'll shatter your heart completely!"
Hearing that, Luffy glanced at his battered straw hat.
His gaze sharpened.
"Perfect! I'm bringing out my final trump card too—gonna blast you right off the stage!!"
Across the arena, the air stilled.
Then—
a sudden breeze whipped across their faces.
Both stood firm, filled with unshakable resolve and confidence.
One second later—
Luffy poured every ounce of strength into his right arm.
In an instant, his arm grew impossibly massive—larger than anything seen before.
It engulfed the entire sky above the arena.
That arm, which blotted out the heavens, suddenly burst into blazing white flames.
Sakura petal illusions gently fluttered around him.
Then—
Black lightning crackled wildly around the flames.
Sun God Red Flame + Ryuo Haki + Haoshoku Infusion—
Triple Buff Activated!!!
Luffy's aura surged with terrifying momentum.
The air around him rippled in wave after wave of power.
Across the arena—
"Kurama! Channel every ounce of natural energy into me!"
"Tch! I've been waiting for you to say that!"
A colossal surge of energy burst through Naruto, pulsing out into the air in tidal waves.
BOOM!!!
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!!!
Suddenly, Naruto's Nine-Tails cloak transformed into a demonic, six-armed Asura-like form.
Ashura Kurama Mode!!!
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ!!!
In that instant—
Two colossal, divine energies—one light, one dark—spiraled into existence.
Their aura warped and twisted the very space around them.
The arena trembled like an earthquake under their might.
At this moment—
Countless cosmic-level powerhouses trembled with wide eyes and clenched fists.
Their hearts roared. Their minds exploded.
Everyone held their breath.
Awaiting the ultimate clash between these two titans.
The clash that might just destroy the world.
"That power'd slice Muzan in one swing!"
—Tanjirō stared at the sky, awe in his eyes.
"If something like this happened in our world… I think it'd just be the end, right there."
—Zenitsu gaped, horrified.
Seven Deadly Sins universe. The night was falling.
"Holy crap! That's so strong, I'm freakin' shaking!!"
—Escanor clutched his head, terrified.
He couldn't even look at the screen anymore.
Fate universe—
"Those two brats… they're worthy of being my comrades."
—Gilgamesh swirled his wine, arrogant as ever.
One Punch Man universe. After the meteor threat was just resolved—
Bang looked at Saitama's back, then back to the screen.
"I wonder… between these two and Saitama, who's truly stronger?"
Under the stunned gazes of everyone—
Above the arena—
Two godlike auras exploded.
The kind of pressure that made even souls struggle to breathe.
Then came the war cry.
"Gomu Gomu no—BAJRANG GUN—CHAOTIC STRIKE!!!"
—Luffy's right arm swelled, blotting out the sky, white flames roaring.
"Six Paths—Ultra-Big Ball Rasenshuriken!!!"
—Naruto morphed—six-armed, demonic Ashura Kurama Mode. A colossal Rasenshuriken spun, pulsing with Tailed Beast chakra.
BOOM BOOM....!!!