The two locked eyes for several seconds before Kaido took the initiative. He swung his kanabo, crackling with purple energy, and charged at Kaito with a thunderous roar.
"Thunder Bagua!"
Facing the same attack that had once nearly knocked the wind out of Luffy, Kaito flicked his right wrist. A black rod, forged from Yin-Yang Release, appeared in his hand, followed immediately by the ascension of his Armament Haki. The rod gleamed with a deep, obsidian luster.
Just as the black rod and the kanabo were about to collide, arcs of purple-black lightning burst forth.
Although Kaito hadn't mastered Advanced Conqueror's Haki infusion, his Armament—far more potent than standard Armament—was enough to clash on equal footing with Kaido's Conqueror's coating.
As the two weapons ground against each other in a deadlock, Kaido frowned. With his years of mastery over Haki, he could tell Kaito wasn't using Conqueror's Haki at all—only Armament.
But this Armament… it was unlike anything he'd ever seen. Its form, its density—everything about it far surpassed normal standards.
Still, there was no time to dwell on the mystery. Kaido's muscles tensed, and the purple energy on his kanabo surged wildly. Kaito, too, could feel the rising pressure and realized that his Armament alone might not be enough to hold him off.
Just as Kaido's overwhelming force was about to tip the balance—
Kaito narrowed his eyes.
Four arms shot out from his back, transforming instantly into cannon muzzles, all trained on Kaido.
"Ashura Barrage!"
Four massive energy spheres roared to life and blasted toward Kaido.
It was a shameless move—pure brute force without finesse. Kaido's pupils shrank as he quickly abandoned his offensive and crossed his kanabo over his chest in defense.
The barrage slammed into him, sending him flying across the battlefield.
His feet carved deep furrows into the ground as he skidded back, finally landing on one knee, bracing himself with his kanabo. For a rare moment, a trace of apprehension flickered in Kaido's eyes as he looked at Kaito.
It hadn't been that long since the brat left Minion Island, and yet he had already grown this much.
In a head-on clash of raw strength, he wasn't losing—hell, he was even gaining the upper hand.
But more than fear, Kaido felt admiration. He valued talent, and Kaito—so young, yet so powerful—was exactly the kind of warrior he respected.
From the look of it, Kaito's current form was likely the result of a Zoan-type ability. Kaido had already tasted its power firsthand.
That thought prompted him to throw out the olive branch once again.
"Hey, you're Uchiha Kaito, right? I'll ask you one more time—how about joining my crew?"
Kaito paused, momentarily caught off guard.
Even after taking that much punishment, this guy still wanted to recruit him?
Kaido really was a "softie" at heart.
That's what Kaito thought, though he said nothing aloud. Instead, he stared at Kaido, and in his right eye, a tremendous surge of ocular power began to stir.
Kaido's Observation Haki flared with warning.
Without hesitation, he vanished from his spot using his maximum speed.
The moment he disappeared, a swirling grey vortex manifested where he'd just been, rotating clockwise for a few moments before fading.
A bead of cold sweat slid down Kaido's temple.
He hadn't seen exactly what that vortex was, but for it to trigger such a visceral reaction from his Observation Haki... that thing could definitely kill him.
The grey vortex had been a manifestation of the Tensō Seijin—a Rinnegan ocular technique in Kaito's right eye. If Kaido had taken the hit, not even his monstrous body would've lasted long before being reduced to a pile of bones.
Kaito wasn't frustrated that he missed.
He knew Kaido's Observation Haki was sharp. That move had been a gamble, hoping to catch him off guard while he was still distracted by thoughts of recruiting him. If it worked—great. If not—no big deal.
Besides, from their recent clash—Advanced Armament versus Advanced Conqueror's infusion—Kaito had gained some insight into how that mysterious Haki worked.
His own Conqueror's Haki wasn't weak, and with the Rinnegan's enhancement, all he'd needed was a real battle to push him over the edge.
Back at Sabaody, he'd gotten a taste of it from Rayleigh, but he hadn't dared to face that power head-on at the time.
Now, after a hands-on "training session" from Master Kaido, he finally grasped it.
And the experience? Chef's kiss.
Kaito tossed aside the black rod in his hand and extended one arm.
Kaido furrowed his brow in confusion. What was this brat doing, throwing away his weapon?
Sure, his Armament Haki was strong, but if he thought he could go toe-to-toe with his Conqueror's infusion using just his bare body, he was dreaming.
Then—
Purple-black lightning began crackling across Kaito's arm.
The Armament markings covering his limb darkened, infused with a sinister violet glow.
The moment it appeared, the space around Kaito's arm twisted.
This was the fusion of his Advanced Conqueror's Haki and Ascended Armament.
A destructive power far surpassing either individually.
Kaito had a name for it: Destruction Armament.
With a thought, the energy spread.
Within seconds, his entire upper body was enveloped in that ominous web of purple-black markings.
At the center of his chest, the markings converged into a pulsating circle. Each throb sent a flicker of light dancing across his body.
Kaido was stunned.
The moment that lightning had appeared, he'd been speechless.
He knew the signature of Conqueror's Haki—he'd seen and felt it countless times.
But this?
This wasn't just Conqueror's infusion.
What the hell was this form?
The Destruction Armament radiated a terrifying force that made even Kaido's heart tremble.
Kaito retracted the four arms behind his back and closed his eyes, silently absorbing the overwhelming power.
Gradually, the circle on his chest began pulsing rhythmically, no longer erratic. That meant he was fully adapting to the force.
Kaito opened his eyes and smiled at Kaido.
The more he looked, the more he found Kaido adorable.
Who would've thought that from fighting him, he'd not only master Advanced Conqueror's Haki but also awaken this new state?
He'd have to properly thank Teacher Kaido for the lesson.
With that thought, Kaito pulled both fists to his waist.
Then launched them forward with explosive force.
A barrage of tightly packed, purple-black fists crackling with lightning shot forward, warping the very space they passed through.
There was no way to dodge.
Kaido's expression turned grim.
He rose to his feet and faced the oncoming storm head-on.
His kanabo surged with Conqueror's Haki as he poured every ounce of strength into a devastating counter.
BOOM!!
A deafening explosion rocked Onigashima.
The entire island was swallowed by purple-black lightning, turning the landscape into something straight out of hell.
...
On the ships nearing the shore, the members of the Beasts Pirates stared at the island in shock.
The power radiating from that clash made their skin crawl.
Even Jack, usually the most hot-headed of them all, held back from rushing forward. He bared his teeth and muttered under his breath,
"Is... is Kaido-sama gonna be okay...?"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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