Kaido transformed into his Blue Dragon form, feet stepping on flaming clouds as he charged straight at Good.
"Reckless Maniac!!"
His roar split the heavens.
"I'll wash away my shame in blood!!"
The world's strongest creature, defeated in just one minute—this humiliation would stain his name forever.
Unless Reckless Maniac died, Kaido could never reclaim his pride.
Good turned his head lazily at Kaido's bellow.
The magma blade in his hand dissolved. He simply raised his palm—then slapped.
That colossal dragon was swatted from the sky in one blow.
Kaido's fanged grin froze into horror as his dragon body shattered, collapsing back into human form.
He was sent tumbling like a kite with a snapped string, crashing into the earth beside his crew.
Coughing blood, Kaido glared at his men.
"Didn't you say he was exhausted!? That wasn't exhaustion! That was a nightmare!!"
Fear crept into his bones. His shame deepened—now the world would know he was slapped out of the sky by Reckless Maniac.
This scene crushed the pirates' final sliver of hope.
If even Kaido, the terror of the seas, was swatted like a fly, what chance did anyone else have?
Their morale collapsed.
Marco shouted desperately:
"Quickly! Everyone, focus on retreating! Get our men out alive!!"
Using their Zoan forms, Marco and Kaido's officers tried dragging battered ships into the air, desperate to escape.
Shiki, Bullet, and Redfield's flight had already shown retreat was possible—now the survivors scrambled for the skies.
Kaido shifted into his wyvern form, hauling his crew aloft with flame clouds.
Dragon's howling winds swept more escapees skyward.
The battlefield broke apart, pirates fleeing in every direction. Many were abandoned, left to fate.
At the center, Good attempted to form another magma blade in his giant's grasp.
Fear spiked in the pirates' hearts as they saw it begin to take shape.
But before the weapon could manifest fully, the magma splattered apart, hissing as it melted the frozen ground.
The Clank-Clank giant itself began collapsing into rubble.
Amid the falling fragments lay Ace and Luffy, too injured to stand.
And there—Good emerged.
His admiral's coat hung in tatters, his body riddled with wounds that writhed and struggled to heal. Even his immortal flames flickered like a candle in the wind.
He had finally reached his limit.
Yet he did not fall.
He staggered forward—until a gloved hand gripped his shoulder.
Turning, he saw Akainu.
For once, the admiral's stern face softened with admiration.
"Good. Rest. Leave the rest to us. You've already done enough."
Gasps rippled through the marines.
Sakazuki—the man of stone—showing respect? But to them, it made sense. Reckless Maniac had carried the entire war on his shoulders.
Then, a gentle hand brushed his back.
"Admiral Good," Momousagi whispered, "you've done more than anyone."
Good exhaled slowly, then flashed his foolish grin.
"From here… it's all yours."
With that, he collapsed. Momousagi caught him, cradling his bloodied body.
Still grinning faintly, he asked her:
"Momousagi… I'm strong, right? Pretty fierce?"
She smiled through tears, wiping his blood away.
"Fierce. Strong. I like that."
It was an odd exchange for such a battlefield, but to her, Good was the purest kind of man. Foolish, reckless, but a wall that made her feel safe no matter what.
The other admirals and even Kong took the field, but the marines' cheers were not for them.
Amid the smoke and ruin, the soldiers raised their voices as one:
"Reckless Maniac!!"
And across the world, the name of Admiral Reckless echoed louder than ever.
(End of Chapter)
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