Dragon scales fluttered, and Kaidou's figure became a lot more agile.
Shed scales are a way for Dragon Type Pokemon to remove their armor temporarily, sacrificing their scales to gain faster mobility. This doesn't affect their bodies, as their regeneration speed is quite rapid. It won't take long for them to recover as before.
This is even more true for Kaidou. In this world, whether it's bone fractures or tooth loss, a glass of milk can restore everything to normal.
So for Kaidou, the duration of this state entirely depends on him. Whenever he wants to replenish his defense, the missing scales will naturally grow back.
"Oh, by the way, that subordinate of yours who betrayed you has already been killed by my men. That peculiar life's resilience was truly tenacious."
In the midst of battle, Kaidou suddenly recalled the matter about Blackbeard and casually mentioned it to Whitebeard.
"Gurararara, that's really a thank you, but Kaidou, your tone seems to assume you've cornered me."
Blackbeard is dead, which is also good news for Whitebeard. That pirate who could cruelly kill companions was a thorn in Whitebeard's side. If not dealt with, he would continue to be a menace.
But Kaidou's tone gave Whitebeard a strange feeling, as if he was afraid he would leave with insecurity and had to explain a key fact.
He admitted Kaidou was strong, but that attitude still made him displeased.
"Your character is not what Roger wanted to see!"
Boom!
The fist scattered the scales fired by Kaidou, and Whitebeard once again brought up Roger. Unknowingly, he already placed the former intern and the once Pirate King on the same level.
After returning from Laugh Tale, Roger had a long talk with Whitebeard and even planned to share the route to Laugh Tale with Whitebeard. But Whitebeard never had any interest in being the Pirate King and thus rejected Roger's offer.
However, he still received many secret messages from Roger and had some understanding of Roger's expectations.
"Those things don't matter at all. I don't need his acknowledgment. His views have nothing to do with me!"
Facing Whitebeard's fist directly, Kaidou was filled with disdain for Whitebeard's words.
"I don't believe in destiny. If destiny says something, then I must shatter it! Newgate, you seem to have said before, you're a relic of the old era, there's no ship in the New World that can carry you, right?"
"That's true. Of the old folks back then, only a few are left."
"So, Newgate, ultimately, you're old. Although your body has rejuvenated, your mindset hasn't.
If you count this way, I'm a person of the same era as you. Since the era no longer has a ship to carry, let the era become the new ship! In the upcoming era, I will be its master!"
Predetermined fate, these are things Kaidou detests. Choosing Wano Kuni as his territory also relates to this. He wants to prove with facts that this so-called fate is nonsense.
In this regard, Kaidou has a strong rebellious mindset. Whitebeard's surrender to the idea of time disappointed him. Mastering the era, making the era follow his lead, is now Kaidou's goal.
The position of the Pirate King is a process but not the ultimate goal; for Kaidou, that position is merely a stepping stone.
".....Gurararara, I really underestimated your ambition, Kaidou."
After a moment of silence, Whitebeard felt a sense of unfamiliarity with Kaidou. He was vastly different from that intern back then.
"Well, I'm Whitebeard after all... Kaidou, let me, the tail end of this era, give you one more push. Don't die here, kid."
A white halo emerged from Whitebeard's body, not gathered solely on his limbs or weapon this time, but enveloping his whole body. This power gradually got absorbed by Whitebeard's body and then vanished without a trace.
Yet that vibrating power still remained. You could see it from the land at Whitebeard's feet. The rocks by his feet kept trembling, ultimately turning into powder in the vibrations.
Resurrection Grass healed the body, but Kaidou's words awakened his spirit. When both body and mind simultaneously rejuvenate, what manifests is the true Whitebeard, which was precisely what Kaidou desired.
As an unconventional "education expert," battling him always yields fruitful results. If Kaidou had any natural enemy, Oden's Diary would undoubtedly be among them.
However, Whitebeard's own resistance wasn't poisoned by Oden, or rather, Oden's silent return to Wano Kuni after Roger completed his voyage disappointed Whitebeard greatly.
The once ambitious intern still harbored ambitions, which profoundly affected Whitebeard.
Hassaikai and Murakumogiri collided once more. This time, there was no visible power of the Quake-Quake Fruit on Whitebeard's blade, only Haki flowing externally. Yet, at the very moment of true engagement, Kaidou felt a vibrating power far surpassing previous encounters.
Unlike the burst of power after Whitebeard's awakening, if Whitebeard's earlier attacks were terrifying external explosions, now it was inaudible internal destruction. At this moment, Whitebeard had transformed into a true "quaking man."