The naginata, wrapped in jet-black Armament Haki, was suddenly swung.
In an instant, a terrifying blue-purple electric current surged around it.
As it was unleashed, it stirred up a fierce wind that blew away all the dust, carrying with it the pride of a Yonko who looked down on everything.
Kaido's fierce demon-like face was cloaked in an Asura-like divine aura, radiating absolute might.
Carrying the heavenly wrath of thunder, the naginata came crashing down, purging all life in its path.
Boom!
Akainu's magma fist clashed with the naginata, producing an earth-shaking roar.
But the difference in power between the two was overwhelming.
Akainu had never been Kaido's match to begin with, and after sustaining serious injuries during the battle with Whitebeard, while Kaido had Caelan's support, the gap had only widened.
With Kaido gaining strength and Akainu weakened, his current power was less than half of Kaido's.
The naginata split the magma-formed dog's head apart, scattering dark red magma across the sky.
"How is he this strong!?"
Akainu stared at Kaido in disbelief.
In his memory, Kaido had never been this powerful.
Even if he couldn't beat him, the gap shouldn't have been this wide.
Something had gone terribly wrong.
Akainu felt a chill at the back of his head. The moment they clashed, he knew that just like Aokiji, he couldn't stop this attack.
This strike was even more savage than the one Aokiji had faced moments ago.
He immediately tried to elementalize, but his serious injuries from the previous battle made it impossible to completely evade.
He twisted his body as much as he could and hardened his chest with Armament Haki in a desperate attempt to avoid a fatal blow.
Slash!
Kaido's blade sliced across Akainu's chest, splitting it open.
Though Armament Haki blocked part of the damage, it couldn't stop the full force.
Akainu was blown away and crashed to the ground, unable to rise.
"You're seriously injured and still dare to show off in front of me? With that ridiculous fruit power of yours?" Kaido sneered and charged forward, ready to finish him off.
He had once thought Akainu was powerful. He hadn't expected he'd turn out to be a wounded man relying only on his Devil Fruit.
In the face of true strength, such arrogance was meaningless.
"Big Buddha Impact!"
"Yata no Kagami!"
A golden palm-shaped shockwave and dozens of laser beams suddenly burst forth, blocking Kaido's path.
"Aokiji, take Akainu for treatment. We'll hold him off here."
Sengoku gave Aokiji a grave look.
With that, he and Borsalino joined forces to face Kaido.
Although they didn't know why Kaido had suddenly become so much stronger, holding him off was still possible. Once Aokiji returned, they would have the upper hand again.
But it was now impossible to send reinforcements to the Five Elders.
Aokiji quickly picked up Akainu and withdrew to a safe zone.
He froze the wound over Akainu's chest and handed him off to the medics.
Before leaving, he whispered near Akainu's ear, "Now you know I wasn't faking it. If you tried, you'd be dead."
Whether or not he would join the Neo Navy, Aokiji had already made up his mind not to stay in the Marines. His tone carried a mocking edge.
"You..."
Akainu coughed up blood, his expression dark and frustrated.
He hadn't expected Kaido's power to grow this much. And why was Aokiji mocking him?
On the other side, the Five Elders watched as Aokiji and the others were held off by Kaido, with Akainu already taken out of the fight. Their expressions turned grim.
They hadn't anticipated that Kaido alone could tie down all three admirals and Sengoku.
"Now, it's your turn." Caelan looked at the Five Elders and laughed loudly. "Impress me as much as you can. That way, your deaths will have more meaning."
"Arrogant!"
Saint Nusjuro roared.
"Even without their help, the five of us can kill you."
The transformed form of Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, charged forward first, followed by the other Five Elders, each in their Mythical Zoan forms.
A poisonous octopus with a massive, twisted bull's head in the center.
A monstrous bird with a human face and a snake tail.
A boar-shaped beast with four tusks, covered in tough leather-like armor.
A half-human, half-skeleton centaur holding a cursed blade.
And a massive sandworm with square teeth lining a circular maw.
The five grotesque demonic beasts radiated a terrifying black aura. Purple-black lightning crackled around them, and dark flame-like clouds surrounded them, signs of fully awakened Zoan abilities.
The entire scene resembled an apocalyptic vision straight from hell.
Five top-tier warriors, fully awakened Mythical Zoan users wielding Haki, roared as they launched a joint assault on Caelan.
"I already feel the thrill."
Caelan held the black blade Shusui in his left hand and gripped the Sun God Spear tightly in his right, facing the five beasts head-on.
Purple-black lightning coiled around Shusui, while golden-red flames surged on the spear.
The first to arrive was the ox demon, Saint Saturn, shrouded in inky black poisonous mist.
Alongside him was the centaur, Saint Nusjuro, wielding the First Generation Kitetsu.
Though he moved a step later, his skeletal horse lower body gave him greater speed than the ox demon.
The cursed blade was wrapped in purple-black Haki, exuding a chilling blue mist.
As he charged, he swung the Kitetsu downward in a vicious slash.
Caelan leaped into the air. Shusui clashed with the centaur's Kitetsu, while the Sun God Spear thrust toward the ox demon's head.
Boom!
The cursed blade was suppressed. Shusui embedded itself into Nusjuro's shoulder, surrounded by entangled Haki.
A cold energy surged from the Kitetsu into Caelan's body through the blade.
He activated his magical flame.
Golden-red flames burst forth, burning away the freezing aura.
Compared to the flames of Karna, the son of the Sun God, this chill was insignificant.
On the other side, the spear in Caelan's right hand pierced into the ox demon's head.
In an instant, half the beast's skull shattered and its massive body was slammed to the ground.
(To be continued.)