Kaido's eyes flashed with a savage glint.
In an instant, he transformed into his hybrid form, his body swelling taller and broader. The ferocious dragon head locked onto Shanks like a predator eyeing its prey.
He yanked his kanabo, Hassaikai, from his waist in one swift motion and raised it high.
"Your life will do nicely!"
Electricity coiled around the weapon as he brought it down toward Shanks. This kind of man is best crushed early.
At some point, Shanks had already drawn Griffon. He stepped forward.
His overwhelming Conqueror's Haki erupted like a raging storm, sweeping across the battlefield. Red lightning raced along the blade as it crackled with power, carrying a sharp killing intent as he swung.
"Then try me!"
Clang!
The club and blade never touched, yet the sound of clashing metal rang out. Their near-tangible Haki collided between the weapons, compressing the air.
Violent gusts and bolts of lightning burst outward.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The island shook. The ground split open as a strange energy surged from below. Pillars of light shot into the sky, tearing through everything around them.
The earth beneath them turned red as the sheer force of their Haki clash distorted reality. Cracks spread like spiderwebs under their feet.
Boom!
A jagged column of light blasted skyward and exploded above the island, sending a wave of destructive energy across heaven and earth. The clouds in every direction were blown away.
* * *
Whoosh!
A beam of light appeared at the top of the Red Hair Pirates' mast and formed into a man.
The moment he appeared, Beckman, Yasopp, and the others raised their weapons toward him.
Borsalino let out a dramatic sigh. "How scary~ Such quick reactions. I haven't even done anything yet~ Really~ Everyone here's as strong as monsters~"
Click, click.
Beckman cocked his gun twice. "That's no place for you to stand. Very rude. New admiral of the Marines, Kizaru."
Borsalino lifted both hands. "Oh, it's loaded~ I don't mean any harm~ I just came to see what one of the Three Emperors, Kaido of the Beasts, is doing meeting with Roger's remnants~"
Beckman clicked his tongue. "Done watching now?"
Borsalino scratched his cheek with one hand still raised. "Mm-hmm~ Looks like this isn't a partnership~ In that case, I'll go make my report~"
Golden light shimmered across his body as he began to disperse into glowing particles.
Beckman's eyes flashed. He pulled the trigger, coating the bullet with Haki as it shot toward the spot where Borsalino hadn't fully vanished.
Whoosh!
The bullet tore through the air. It was fast, but the light was faster.
Even over just a few meters, it missed. The scattering light seemed almost conscious, opening a gap to let the bullet pass through.
Still, Borsalino staggered slightly as he reformed. "How scary~ That almost hit~"
Beckman's lips curled into a faint smile. He stared him down. "Don't lie. You're an admiral."
Borsalino pointed downward with his index finger, light gathering at the tip. "Oh? And what exactly are you planning~"
Beckman laughed lightly. "Of course I want to see how strong an admiral really is. The boss's fighting with everything he's got. As his first mate, how could I slack off?"
A troubled look crossed Borsalino's face. "Such a pain~ Honestly~ You're all so full of energy~"
Whoosh!
Bang!
The sound of a laser slicing through the air overlapped with gunfire without any warning.
* * *
Back on the island.
In moments, every structure had been obliterated by the shockwaves.
Kaido gripped his kanabo tightly with both hands and shifted it to his right. Thin streaks of lightning coiled around the weapon. He stomped down and shot forward, leaving several afterimages in the air as he lunged toward Shanks.
"Roaring Thunder Bagua!!!"
Shanks drew a deep breath. He stepped forward with his left foot, braced his right foot firmly against the ground, then flipped Gryphon in his right hand and pulled it back.
For a split second, Kaido froze. That stance…
Crimson lightning crackled along the blade. Shanks' eyes blazed red as he spun, channeling the momentum into a single powerful swing. Gryphon released a sharp crimson slash that collided head-on with Kaido's kanabo.
Their weapons clashed. Kaido's immense strength, amplified by his body and Devil Fruit, gave him the upper hand. His kanabo pressed down hard against Shanks' sword, pushing it lower bit by bit.
"I almost thought Roger had come back to life. You've inherited his swordsmanship and spirit perfectly. You're practically another Roger."
Though it sounded like praise, his tone dripped with mockery, and the killing intent in his eyes grew even stronger.
Shanks, who was being forced back, only laughed. "Thanks for the compliment."
He was originally left-handed, and although he had retrained himself to fight with his right hand, under pressure from such a powerful opponent, the unnaturalness became obvious. His right arm trembled slightly as he held back the kanabo.
Still, the awkwardness didn't shake his resolve.
Kaido narrowed his eyes. His words had failed to unsettle his opponent.
Boom!
Their clashing Haki spiraled out of control, detonating and carving a massive crater hundreds of meters wide into the ground.
Both were thrown back at high speed.
Roar!
A deep dragon's cry echoed.
Kaido transformed fully into his azure dragon form, circling in the sky. Heat gathered in his maw, then he unleashed a blazing red energy beam toward Shanks' position.
The pirate raised Gryphon and swung it down vertically.
No visible blade aura appeared, but the energy beam split cleanly in two. An unseen force drove the divided blast away, redirecting it toward the mountains behind him.
Boom!
The dragon rose higher, inhaling deeply. His massive body spun like a top, whipping up a violent storm. His chest swelled like a balloon, and emerald light gathered in his jaws.
"Dragon Twister Demolition Breath!"
Countless sharp green wind blades, infused with Haki spun toward Shanks like a colossal meat grinder.
He furrowed his brows. "That won't work."
A powerful surge of energy burst from his body, blowing away debris and trees. He shifted his blade behind his left side, then swung diagonally upward.
A giant flaming slash swept across the sky, cutting through the dense storm of wind blades.
Clang!
The slash struck Kaido's chest scales, throwing sparks but causing no real harm.
Meanwhile, the wind blades below suddenly glowed red before they reached Shanks and exploded all at once. Flames and emerald light bloomed in the sky like dazzling fireworks.
The exchange revealed exactly where Shanks still fell short.
Kaido's dragon eyes fixed onto him.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Flames erupted across his body, spreading rapidly from head to tail.
**
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