"AHHH~~~"
A mournful, tragic howl echoed through the heavens and the earth. Kaido's massive body twitched and convulsed violently before finally becoming charred black.
"Sssshh"
Withdrawing his longsword, Leno glanced at Kaido, who had collapsed on the ground like a piece of charcoal. He had intended to behead him with a single slash, but considering Yamato in the distance, he gave up the idea. Instead, Leno floated the remaining half of the island into the air, and with a wave of his hand, threw it directly at the barely-breathing Kaido below.
"If you can survive even this, then it can only mean that you're not fated to die here."
"RUMBLE" "RUMBLE"
As the island crashed down, the sea surface suddenly exploded, and waves dozens or even hundreds of meters high surged in all directions.
After a moment, Leno, in the air, glanced at the refilling sea and vanished from the spot.
"Swish"
The moment he appeared, Leno was hugged by Nami, who wrapped her arms around his neck and rubbed her head against him, her face slightly flushed.
"You dummy, you're amazing! That was Kaido—you actually beat him."
Supporting Nami's slender waist, Leno whispered in her ear: "I can be even more amazing. Want to try?"
"Are you out of your mind? Can you be normal for once?"
Nami huffed, punching Leno in annoyance and glaring at him. 'Honestly! I come over excited to congratulate you, and what do you do? You start making lewd jokes at the drop of a hat.'
Robin and the others also gathered around, carefully observing Leno's condition. Seeing he was uninjured, they sighed in relief and became cheerful.
"Even Kaido in his prime is no match for you. You are now one of the top powerhouses on this sea," Kuina said as she walked over, her expression unable to remain calm. Unknowingly, the gap between herself and Leno had grown wider and wider. Although she was still very confident in herself, this visible, massive gap still put a lot of pressure on her.
Leno reached out, ruffled Kuina's hair, and said with a smile: "Don't be anxious. You'll catch up too."
"Mhm~"
At this moment, Carmen suddenly pushed her way in, looking at Leno with a face full of admiration, and spoke, a bit incoherently.
"Captain, you're the strongest! You have to take good care of me from now on! I'm very delicate."
Looking at the goofy Carmen, the group burst out laughing.
"Kaido... is he dead?"
Yamato looked over with a complicated expression. Hearing her words, Robin and the others fell silent. Even Carmen stood obediently to the side. After all, Kaido was Yamato's father. Even though he had imprisoned her for so many years, the bond of blood was not so easily severed. The group didn't know what Yamato was thinking now and just stood by quietly.
"Who knows? If he can survive that, then he's damn lucky!"
"Phew~ Thank you, Leno!"
Yamato let out a soft sigh of relief and looked at Leno with gratitude, thanking him sincerely.
Leno patted Yamato's shoulder and said with a smile: "What are you thanking me for? We're partners."
"Mhm~ partners." Yamato's voice was a bit choked, and her big eyes were filled with tears. 'So this is what it feels like to be cared for. It's so nice!'
"Carmen, I'm hungry!" Turning his head, Leno said to the giggling Carmen.
"At your command~ Captain! Leave it to me!" With that, Carmen skipped off to the kitchen.
Leno shook his head helplessly, then looked at Nami, who was still clinging to him, and patted her small butt.
"Aren't you getting down?"
"Hmph—what's wrong with hugging you a little longer? Don't act like you aren't enjoying it."
"Fine, fine. I'm all sweaty and uncomfortable right now. I want to take a bath. Shall we go together?"
Leno asked with a mischievous smile, looking at the pouting Nami.
'Swoosh'
In an instant, Nami escaped from Leno's embrace and looked up to glare at him.
"In your dreams! You big pervert, is that all you think about all day?"
"If you don't want to go, that's fine. I'll ask Nojiko to go with me. Right? Nojiko?"
Ignoring Nami's scolding, Leno turned to look at Nojiko beside him.
"Whoosh"
Nojiko's face instantly turned beet red, and steam rose from the top of her head.
"I... I'm not going! It's still broad daylight."
Leno's eyes lit up, and two puffs of white air shot from his nostrils: "So, it's okay at night?"
"You... you... I'm not talking to you anymore."
A stuttering Nojiko said, covering her face and running away.
"Nojiko~ can't you have a little more backbone? Looking at you, you'll give yourself away for nothing sooner or later, just letting this bastard have his way for free," Nami's frustrated scolding, like someone hating iron for not becoming steel, came from behind.
Nojiko stumbled and almost fell, hurrying into the cabin.
"Hahahaha..."
Meanwhile, in Totto Land, on Whole Cake Island.
Big Mom was holding her tea party, hosting the six 'Emperors' of the Underworld. Stussy was chatting with Big Mom; it was unclear what they were talking about, but both were smiling sweetly.
Just then, Katakuri entered, looking disheveled, with his younger siblings behind him.
"Forgive me, Mama. The mission failed!"
Upon entering, Katakuri immediately dropped to one knee and reported the mission's outcome to Big Mom. The others behind him also knelt down neatly.
Big Mom, who had been laughing and talking, suddenly stopped. Her huge head slowly turned, and a fierce light flashed in her eyes.
"Failed? Did Kaido return?"
"No. We were stopped at the entrance to Wano Country. Due to the terrain, fighting them was very disadvantageous for us. This prevented us from landing in Wano. Therefore, to reduce unnecessary losses, I judged the mission a failure and impossible to complete."
After reporting the course of events, Katakuri lowered his head, his expression hidden. His three siblings behind him kept their heads down, not daring to speak. They knew their mother's temper, especially after a failed mission.
As expected, after hearing Katakuri's report, Big Mom's face instantly became incredibly gloomy. She didn't even put the pastry in her hand into her mouth.
"Then... Katakuri, you tell me, besides Kaido, who else in the Beasts Pirates could have stopped you?"
"It wasn't a member of the Beasts Pirates. It was Leno, the captain of the adventurers."
"Mama mama..."
Big Mom suddenly burst out laughing. Conqueror's Haki shot up into the sky, and she crushed the pastry in her hand.
"Good, good, good! A mere kid managed to stop your entire fleet outside Wano's gate! Is he that strong, or are you all just useless? Hmm?" She glanced at Oven, Daifuku, and the others, who had turned pale under the pressure of her Conqueror's Haki, and finally fixed her gaze on Katakuri.
"Katakuri, you are the most perfect masterpiece of my Charlotte Family, but you have greatly disappointed me!"
"Yes, Mama. I'm sorry for disappointing you!"
"I don't want your apologies! What I want is for you to bring back the glory of the Charlotte Family!" Big Mom shrieked, her anger flaring at Katakuri's performance.
"Yes! Mama! I will definitely kill Leno and reclaim the family's glory!"
T/n:
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