"Wororororo... Zephyr, the warm-up's over."
As Kaido's voice fell, his form began to change. In an instant, Kaido transformed into a ferocious, robust physique. His entire body was covered in azure scales. His wild, unruly hair bristled with terrifying power. Four fierce horns, gleaming darkly, pointed toward the heavens. His two long legs, from the thighs down, bent backward, supporting his massive frame. His feet became a fusion of eagle talons and tiger paws, constantly treading on air. A thick, long tail swished behind him.
"As expected, dealing with someone like you requires going all out!" Kaido, now in his Human-Beast hybrid form, spoke to Zephyr after feeling the sharp pain in his arm rapidly fade.
Truly worthy of a Navy Admiral. Even without Haoshoku Haki, relying on his tempered-to-perfection Busoshoku Haki, combined with the advanced application of internal destruction, he could still inflict some damage on my arm even through the Hassaikai.
If not for my current physicality being far beyond what it was, I'd probably be back on the operating table for a while.
"This is... the Human-Beast form?" Zephyr, though somewhat surprised by Kaido's transformation, immediately pressed his attack.
Zephyr stepped on the air, vanishing from his spot, then reappeared not far from Kaido. His pitch-black fist shot directly toward Kaido.
"Wororororo... Bring it! Let me see your true strength!" Kaido immediately counterattacked without backing down.
BAM——!
Their attacks met again, unleashing another powerful roar.
The difference this time was that Zephyr was actually forced back a short distance by Kaido's immense strength. Even if it was only a very small distance, the gap was immediately noticed by both combatants.
"Wororororo... I am invincible!" Kaido laughed heartily.
Then, terrifying Haoshoku Haki erupted continuously from Kaido's body. Black and red lightning ran rampant across this stretch of sea.
As Kaido's Haoshoku Haki washed over them, the first to suffer were the sailors on the nearby Navy warship. One by one, marines began losing consciousness, collapsing onto the deck.
"Quick! Start the engines, retreat immediately!" Some officers on the warship reacted swiftly, issuing commands.
"Dammit, this brat... he already possesses Haoshoku Haki of this level?!" Zephyr thought to himself, inwardly shocked as he watched Kaido unleash his Conqueror's Haki.
Kaido, carrying an unstoppable momentum, continued his assault.
"Daidai: Raimei Hakke!!!!"
"Don't get too cocky, brat!" Despite being somewhat stunned by Kaido's current power, Zephyr fearlessly engaged him once more.
"Black Arm: Blazing Star!"
The two men, moving at speeds difficult for the naked eye to follow, continuously attacked each other in mid-air.
BOOM——!
BOOM——!
BOOM——!
Now, no figures could be seen in the sky—only the constant thunder of impacts, churning the surrounding sea into massive waves.
....
"Dammit, how is this possible? Kaido only escaped from the lab not long ago! How can he be this strong?!"
"Is this a joke? With this kind of power, how did they manage to put Kaido on the operating table in the first place?!"
On the warship, some officers stared dumbfounded at Kaido, who was fighting Admiral Zephyr without showing the slightest disadvantage.
On Kaido's pirate ship, those watching the battle had similar reactions.
"That's Admiral 'Black Arm' Zephyr, right? Big Brother Kaido is fighting him to a standstill... How is this possible?" Queen, watching the relentless aerial exchange between Kaido and Zephyr, muttered in stunned disbelief.
King beside him didn't respond, but his pupils were equally filled with shock.
Both of them knew Kaido's strength had improved greatly recently, but neither imagined he could now fight on par with a Navy Admiral. That was a Navy Admiral! Among the strongest fighters in the entire world.
The current Zephyr was at his peak. And Kaido? At just twenty-seven years old, he was still in a period of rapid growth. If this continued, how powerful would Kaido become in the future? It completely surpassed Queen and King's imagination.
"Not good! Big Brother Kaido is in danger! King, go help!"
As they watched the fight, they suddenly noticed Kaido's situation seemed to take a turn for the worse. Queen immediately spoke up.
"I don't need you to tell me!" King retorted instantly. The wings on his back began to vibrate as he prepared to fly toward Kaido.
...
In the distance, Zephyr and Kaido continued their high-speed collision and combat in the air.
Finally, Zephyr found an opening, appearing directly above Kaido.
"Kaido! Sink to the bottom of the sea!"
"Black Arm: Star Destroyer!"
Zephyr then attacked Kaido with all his might. Zephyr believed even if Kaido could block this blow, the immense force would still drive Kaido into the ocean.
And once a Devil Fruit user falls into the sea, they're a fish on the chopping block—to be dealt with as one pleases.
But just as Zephyr's fist was about to connect with Kaido's head, Kaido seemed to foresee it. He tilted his head, narrowly avoiding the fatal strike.
Then, Kaido's body began to expand rapidly. In mere moments, he transformed back into the kilometer-long dragon.
"Dragon Tail Sweep!"
Kaido's body rotated, his enormous tail now sheathed in jet-black Busoshoku Haki, sweeping directly toward Zephyr.
Facing the sudden assault of the massive draconic tail, Zephyr didn't hesitate either. Clenching both fists, he struck back directly.
BOOM——!
The colossal dragon tail and the pitch-black fists collided, producing an ear-shattering roar.
With the advantage of sheer size, Zephyr was sent flying back hundreds of meters.
Of course, Kaido didn't get off unscathed. Two clearly visible fist imprints were left on the massive tail.
As Zephyr flew backward, he kept thinking: Was that a coincidence just now, or... foresight through Kenbunshoku Haki?!
Zephyr looked warily at the terrifying, god-like beast in the distance.
If he remembered correctly, Kaido should only be twenty-five this year. If left unchecked, this Kaido would undoubtedly become an unstoppable force.
"Kaifu!"
Kaido opened his enormous maw. Dozens of gigantic wind blades, capable of cleaving mountains and splitting rocks, shot toward Zephyr.
"Hmph!"
Facing the incoming wind blades, Zephyr grunted lightly. He continuously moved through the air, dodging when he could, and simply smashing any he couldn't avoid with a punch.