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To give up half the power of a Zoan-type fruit just because it "looks ugly", what kind of absurd reason is that?! Even looks-obsessed people should have their limits!
Boom!
Thunder surged through his legs as Rowen launched a kick that exploded with a sonic blast and a cloud of dust. Kaido's scale-covered head jerked to the side before he was violently sent flying.
Laser!
Just then, a golden beam of light shot down from the sky and blasted into the airborne Kaido, driving him deep into the ocean.
"Not good, Rowen. You actually forced him into that form."
Looking at the churning whirlpool on the ocean surface, Kizaru appeared beside Rowen, blood at the corner of his mouth, a rare trace of seriousness on his usually lecherous old face.
"Oh? It's that troublesome?"
Rowen glanced sideways, tightening his grip on the Thunder Dragon Crescent Halberd in his hand.
"Indeed!"
Kizaru nodded and explained, "Whether in humanoid form or full beastification, Kaido's previous forms still had exploitable weaknesses. But this form, though it's only mid-tier in raw power, makes him far more complete. He becomes exponentially harder to deal with."
"Looks like your plan's about to fall apart, because, "
Before he could finish speaking, the whirlpool, over a hundred meters in diameter, suddenly erupted. It was as if tons of explosives had detonated beneath the ocean, launching a massive white spray into the sky.
The layered mist and clouds before them resembled a mythical realm, and the raging ocean momentarily formed a vacuum zone.
Kaido stood tall on a coral reef, a wild grin on his face. His left fist, now completely armored in dragon scales, punched outward.
BOOM!!
The recoiling seawater smashed against an invisible, indestructible wall and was forcefully halted. But what was even more shocking, even after Kaido lowered his arm, the seawater stayed frozen in place, as though time itself had stopped.
"This is… the power of air?!"
Rowen's pupils contracted in disbelief as he stared at the ocean.
"That's right. Don't forget, Kaido's Azure Dragon Fruit is a Mythological Beast-type Zoan... and Mythological Beasts always come with unique special abilities."
Just like:
Marco's Undying Blue Flames from the Phoenix Fruit,
Sengoku's Buddhist Light Shockwaves from the Great Buddha Fruit,
And "Red the Aloof," who escaped from Impel Down and vanished, possibly having consumed a Vampire Fruit to regain his youth by draining blood.
Mythological Beast = Zoan + Paramecia + potentially Logia traits combined.
Such is the terrifying power they wield!
"The special ability of the Azure Dragon Fruit is atmospheric control. We only managed to confirm this after much effort."
"I see now. I always wondered what kind of power allowed such a massive body to float... He's not the flying ship 'Ark Maxim,' and he doesn't even have jet propulsion on his butt."
Rowen nodded in realization, cracking a joke, only to suddenly shove Kizaru aside and retreat at high speed the next moment.
Right where they had stood, a razor-sharp gust of wind tore through the air with a shriek, carrying Kaido's terrifying Armament Haki. It was like an enormous iron pillar had been launched, shaking and shredding the air as it passed.
"Feel despair, you worms!"
Kaido's punch landed, his legs stamping down and shattering the coral reef beneath him. Then, like a blur, he blinked and appeared directly in front of Rowen.
"Two puny men dare oppose me? Know your place!"
BOOM!!
In single combat, Kaido has absolute confidence in victory, no matter who his opponent is. The only variable is how badly injured he might get.
But even with one extra enemy… the outcome remains uncertain.
His fist hadn't even reached Rowen yet, but the sheer force of the wind pressure had already stretched Rowen's Justice cloak straight behind him. His entire body felt like it was being crushed by molten iron, bones and muscles creaking under the pressure.
This incredible force, Rowen had only ever felt it once before, from Garp.
And this might even exceed that!
Kaido's devastating punch wasn't just the result of his insanely trained body, it was also enhanced by the Azure Dragon Fruit's atmospheric control. If this hit connected, even an entire island could be smashed into the sea!
Unlike Rowen's God's Cry Shot, which deals thunder-type damage, Kaido's pure brute force alone was enough to destroy an island.
But Rowen wasn't the type to just stand there and take a beating. It was too late to dodge now, so he exhaled deeply, and drew back his fist mid-air…
And then, with a late start but faster speed, Rowen swept up a thunderstorm that shook the heavens and the earth, slamming it downward.
Military Wrist: Deep Gate!
"Naïve!"
Kaido watched the scene unfold, nostrils flaring with heavy breaths, and accelerated the descent of his fist.
Soon, the ultimate techniques collided.
For a moment, the entire world fell silent.
The wind stopped, the waves calmed, and even the falling droplets of water hung suspended in midair, unmoving.
But quickly, one droplet began to quiver violently, like boiling water bubbling with intense energy, then exploded into mist.
BOOOOM!!
A blinding white explosion bloomed between heaven and earth like a massive flower.
The terrifying shockwave spread out like a disc from the center.
Wherever it passed, the ocean surged back uniformly,
like a gentle breeze sweeping across a lake's surface,
or like an enormous comb brushing through waves.
Smooth, clean, and orderly.
Ka-cha...
(Random spam text about a novel site appears here , can be ignored.)
"Pffft!!"
With a crisp sound, Rowen couldn't hold back a mouthful of clotted blood, which he spat deep into the ocean, causing a massive wave to rise.
Clearly, in this clash of ultimate moves, he had fallen into a disadvantage.
"Well, I figured as much..."
Yasakani no Magatama!
At that moment, a curtain of light bullets rained down from the sky.
Kizaru transformed into particles of light and launched devastating energy orbs one after another.
Meteor Shower!
And not just that, Kizaru stayed in place, fists and legs flying like a war machine, firing ultra-condensed laser beams one after another.
Mixed within the light rain, the attacks were unpredictable and unavoidable.
However, despite the overwhelming barrage, Kaido didn't dodge or flinch.
He crossed his arms in front of his face and chose to take it all head-on.
Boom boom boom! Boom boom!
A barrage of explosions echoed relentlessly as thick smoke instantly enveloped Kaido in a sea of cannonfire.
But Kizaru did not look pleased.
He frowned slightly and in the next second, projected a golden prism, teleporting himself far away.
As expected!
The moment he left the spot, a terrifying shockwave exploded from where he'd just been.
Had he stayed, the consequences would have been obvious.
The smoke was ripped apart into a cylindrical path.
And standing in the center of the light rain, Kaido held a straight-punch pose, like a boxer mid-strike.
Around him swirled immense, oppressive Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki).
Glancing at the slightly reddened scale armor, Kizaru pursed his lips.
"As I thought... you've gotten stronger, Kaido. A truly terrifying guy... Even at this level, you're still getting stronger?"
If it were the old Kaido, taking such high-intensity attacks would have at least left wounds on his body.
But now, aside from the scale armor glowing red, like iron heated in a forge, there were no other effects.
Keep hitting, and the defense would eventually crack. But Kaido wasn't some stationary target.
And the most unfair part...
"If I take one more punch like that from you... I'll probably be out of the fight."
To break Kaido's defense, Kizaru needed time to build up cumulative damage.
But Kaido? Only needed one punch.
Their offensive capabilities were on par, but in terms of durability, the gap was immeasurable.
"Kizaru... It's time we settled our score from twenty years ago!" Kaido sneered coldly, brushing dust off himself, and stomped forward.
"I don't remember owing you anything. You should be looking for Vegapunk."
With that, Kizaru flashed away again, widening the distance between them.
(End of Chapter)