Clash on the Winter Island
Fulo, who had just finished directing workers to unload cargo at the Winter Island dock, saw a fire erupt to the west. Ear-piercing shouts of battle and the sounds of gunshots and cannons reached him. He exclaimed in shock, "A mutiny, or invaders?"
Fulo was filled with doubt and apprehension, fearing the attackers would head his way and he'd be caught in the crossfire. He immediately ordered his men to pull up the anchors and set sail.
Benn, the foreman, rushed over and said anxiously, "Boss, two employees haven't boarded the ship yet!"
Fulo suppressed his anger. "If they haven't boarded, why aren't you looking for them?"
Benn lowered his head, his expression dim. "We've searched everywhere, but we couldn't find them."
A massive cannon blast echoed from a distance, making Fulo tremble. He gritted his teeth and said, "Never mind them! Set sail immediately! The customer needs this cargo urgently; we can't afford any delays!"
Stopping Benn from speaking further, Fulo ordered the sailors to hoist the sails and turn the rudder.
The Western Warehouse
At the western warehouse, Kaido, having drunk too much, stumbled as he ran, knocking down several buildings. He was covered in sweat, his skin glowing with a reddish luster as steam rose from his body. He sped along like a rampaging prehistoric beast, leaving deep imprints on the hard streets.
Then, he saw them—the two invaders!
"Wororororo! To dare invade Winter Island, you've got some nerve!!" Kaido laughed loudly, leaping high into the air. He pulled his spiked club, Hassaikai, from his haori and swung it in a wide arc above his head.
Crack!!
Violent black lightning crackled around the weapon. He swung it down with all his might, smashing it toward Zephyr and Wellen!
Zephyr's face paled in shock. He quickly grabbed the stunned Wellen and retreated more than ten meters away.
Bang!
Like a bolt of lightning striking the earth, countless ice shards and bricks flew in all directions, kicking up a large cloud of dust. The destructive force tore through the street, and nearby buildings collapsed with a rumbling sound. In the dust, two streaks of crimson light suddenly shone—Kaido's eyes—looking extremely eerie.
Kaido leisurely walked out of the dust, his cheeks slightly flushed and a smirk on his lips. Zephyr watched him cautiously. Beside him, Wellen was breathing heavily, his face pale as he stared blankly at the massive crater Kaido had created.
"Purple hair..." Kaido looked at Zephyr with a hazy gaze and let out a burp. "Black Arm Zephyr... to think you could infiltrate all the way here. It seems my guards aren't strict enough."
"Kaido!" Zephyr's eyes flickered. He gritted his teeth and said, "Attacking the Oren Kingdom, murdering civilians—the seas are unstable because there are too many people like you. You're the ones preventing people from living peaceful lives!"
"Hey, hey, hey, I don't need you to lecture me!" Kaido covered his face and laughed. "Do you really think of yourself as a hero saving the world? I've seen far more than you ever have. Don't stand on the moral high ground to judge me! This world is chaotic, dirty, and despicable. As long as there's desire, it'll never end. Human greed is infinite!"
Kaido's expression turned cold. "Peace? Stability? Save those laughable words for the ignorant civilians!! The Celestial Dragons are the absolute scum of this world. If you truly want everyone to live well, they're the ones who deserve to die the most!"
Zephyr trembled with anger, momentarily at a loss for words. Indeed, as descendants of the Creators, the Celestial Dragons possessed supreme power. From birth, everyone was destined to live for them. Humans were merely playthings to those people.
It wasn't that Zephyr hadn't witnessed the tragic state of humanity enslaved by the World Government; on the contrary, it was precisely because he knew the government's power that even a strong individual like him felt as insignificant as a grain of rice before that behemoth. He had seen people resist, but they were eventually purged, and their entire families suffered. From then on, Zephyr believed that only by complying could losses be minimized.
Zephyr snorted, "Nonsense. This world was created by the Creators. Without them, who knows how many more people would be living in misery. Your words won't shake my resolve!"
Among the mandatory courses for joining the Marines, there was one specifically dedicated to studying the history of the Creators. Under constant indoctrination, protecting their descendants became a deeply ingrained belief for most Marines.
Kaido sneered, "Hmph, more talk is useless. Once you're used to being a dog, you can't stand like a human. Make your move, Black Arm Zephyr. I hope your strength is as formidable as your mouth!"
Zephyr's eyes sharpened. He threw off his Marine coat, revealing a light purple shirt. He unbuttoned his collar and adjusted his tie. He clenched his fist fiercely, and with a hum, his arm from the fist to the elbow became wrapped in Haki, turning pitch black and hard. The overflowing energy transformed into two dark ribbons, rotating and fluttering around his arm.
Wellen had also regained his composure. He took out his brass knuckles, put them on, and hardened them with Haki. However, compared to Zephyr, the amount of Haki he could channel was not enough to flow outward.
Kaido narrowed his eyes, unmoving. He held his club with one hand, standing in the wind and snow, his long black hair fluttering. Goose-feather snow danced like silver flakes pouring from the sky, making the world a vast expanse of white.
Suddenly, Zephyr moved! He clenched both fists and stepped forward. Haki surged from his body, and as he strode, the ground beneath his feet cracked and collapsed!
Clang!!
Zephyr transformed into a purple stream of light, shooting toward Kaido. With Haki ribbons flowing around his fists, he unleashed a punch imbued with infinite momentum.
"Fist Mountain · Great Explosion!"
Kaido dared not underestimate him. With a sinister grin, he swung the Hassaikai, stirring up blazing Conqueror's Haki.
"Thunder Bagua!!"
Zzz, zzz!!
Fists and club collided. Streaks of crimson-black lightning splattered outward like bolts of silk, emitting a thunderous explosion. Two vastly different powers—one purple and one red—locked in a fierce stalemate. The ground beneath them collapsed. The residual force transformed into deadly blades, tearing the earth into pieces and shaking up clouds of ice dust!
Boom!!
The forces exploded, sending a terrifying shockwave through the area. The surrounding streets and buildings seemed to twist and deform. A transparent wave of air erupted like a typhoon, sweeping over the warehouses and causing all the windows to explode simultaneously!
The heavy snow was churned into a chaotic dance as a fierce wind swept across the area, leaving horrifying cracks through half the street.
Vice Admiral Wellen stared blankly at the scene, realizing he had no way to intervene in a battle of this level. He looked down at the brass knuckles on his hand, his mouth twitching.
Suddenly, pirates began surging from a distance. Wellen's eyes lit up; he finally had something to do. He immediately charged toward the swarming pirates.
"You pirate brats, let me give you a taste of my caress!!"