A powerful slash struck directly across King's chest.
Yet aside from deepening the crater beneath him, it didn't seem to have any other effect.
"Oh?"
Perhaps it was the sting of mockery. Or maybe it was because he'd finally encountered a swordsman of worthy strength.
From the edge of the black blade Yoru, a pair of icy eyes emerged, locking coldly onto King.
"Nani?!"
Already caught off guard by the blow, King was now utterly dumbfounded his opponent's sword had just spoken.
But before he could react further, a sensation he hadn't felt in years pain shot through his nerves and flooded his brain like a lightning strike.
He... was breached?
The slash that had once been held at bay now flickered past his front. Blood arced into the air, just like the gash carved earlier across Kaido's chest.
"This... this can't be!!!"
Engulfed in searing flames, the wounded King roared, forcing Mihawk to withdraw momentarily with a wall of heat.
But Mihawk's attention wasn't on King anymore. He was staring at Yoru.
Those piercing eyes this was the first time he had ever heard Yoru speak.
By the time King climbed to his feet, what greeted him were not one, but four glacial pupils, each radiating the killing intent of a master swordsman.
…
"Not bad... not bad at all, those two."
Within the range of his Observation Haki, Ozz could see the battle unfolding between Little Sand and Little Hawk, as well as the new recruits from the criminal underworld.
There was a subtle but undeniable shift they were actually beginning to look like a force capable of clashing with the Emperors' crews.
Sure, the other lead performers of the Beasts Pirates weren't present. But neither had Ozz unleashed his full might.
Take Doflamingo alone he was more than enough to mop the floor with the Flying Six.
Of course, Ozz was simply pleased, not surprised.
To him, anyone below an Emperor's right-hand was just cannon fodder. He could wipe them out in a blink. There was no need to dump that pressure onto his subordinates.
Still, he had no intention of doing everything himself. Watching his forces grow wasn't that half the fun?
Right?
"HEY!!! OZZ!!! You bastard! Still daydreaming in the middle of a fight?!"
Kaido, already battered and bloodied, flew into a rage seeing Ozz's focus drift. With a roar, he swung his spiked kanabo straight at Ozz's head.
The air cracked from the sheer speed of the swing. Coated in Conqueror's Haki, the club roared through the air like thunder in the hands of Kaido's dragon-human form its power and speed reaching monstrous levels.
Big Mom, too, had been driven into a frenzy. Ozz's wide-arcing, devastating attacks had left her beloved Cake Castle in ruins, and the intense fighting had triggered her craving for sweets.
Her body was rapidly shedding fat. For a brief moment, she looked just like she had in her prime.
Though neither Kaido nor Big Mom had yet reached the peak of their future might, they already stood firmly at the threshold of Emperor-level power.
Don't let Kaido's struggle with Oden fool you into thinking he was weak.
As someone who'd once sailed with Roger, Ozz knew the truth.
Oden might've been a blockhead, but his strength was undeniable. He took a strike from King-tier Roger head-on and lived, even managing to battle Prime Whitebeard and retreat with his life.
He was far from the level of a King, but he had definitely set foot into the realm of an Emperor's right-hand just as Oda intended for his heroic image. The character arc may've been fumbled, but the power scaling was airtight.
Even if Kaido and Linlin weren't true Emperors yet, they were more than enough to rule over this sea.
Now facing the full onslaught of two future Emperors, Ozz wasn't alarmed he was thrilled.
This was battle.
Not the flashy, elemental barrages of the three Admirals. That type of combat demanded absolute dominance in Haki to resist the intangible onslaught.
Kaido and Big Mom were different.
Their style was raw, visceral pure muscle and Conqueror's Haki.
And this? This was exactly what Ozz had been itching for.
He clenched his fist.
His posture tightened, his arm coiled back. Crimson cross-shaped light began to pulse around his hand.
The earth beneath him caved in, forming a crater a hundred meters deep.
He flashed away in an instant, dodging Big Mom's wild slash.
Then bam his fist collided head-on with Kaido's kanabo.
The resulting burst of Haki crackled with black lightning, the shockwaves spilling into nearby battlefields and drawing stunned glances from all around.
Their clash of Conqueror's Haki surged skyward in a storm of force.
But unlike Ozz's gleaming smile, Kaido's face was taut with pressure.
It didn't last long.
A moment later, Ozz gave another mighty shove.
Kaido's Thunder Bagua was pushed back visibly.
That was Ozz's monstrous gift Unmatched Might.
Raw strength surpassing even Big Mom's. The kind of strength that could turn a dragon claw into powder with a single squeeze.
At this level of combat, unless your Conqueror's Haki was leagues above, clashes came down to raw physicality.
And when that was the case Ozz tipped the scales.
He grabbed one of the spikes on Kaido's kanabo.
His stance sank.
Then with a roar he yanked Kaido off his feet.
"?!"
Kaido's hulking, draconic body flew backward right into the charging Big Mom.
Crash!
The two titans collided violently, and in that exact moment.
Click!
A camera shutter snapped.
Ozz glanced up toward the heavens.
A News Coo hovered overhead.
Meeting Ozz's gaze, the bird did something unexpected it saluted.
Ozz couldn't help but laugh.
He waved it off, and once more charged in, blade in hand.
Across from him, Kaido had just recovered.
Since leaving the Rocks Pirates, this was only the second time he'd felt so utterly outclassed.
The last time?
That was against an old white-haired monster with freakish strength.
Back then, he couldn't block a single hit.
Just like now.
This guy... is just like our old captain... Dotor Ozz.
But Kaido was a war-crazed beast.
A drunken grin broke out across his bruised face.
"Orahrahrahrah!! More! Let's have more of this glorious slaughter, Ozz!!!"
Big Mom had come to the same conclusion. If they were going to turn the tide, teaming up was their only option.
Even if it wasn't what she wanted.
Fine. Once Ozz was beaten into submission, she'd just take him by force.
Now, with her fat burned away and her figure returned to youthful grace, Charlotte Linlin's eyes burned crimson. In her mind, the calculations had already begun.
"Prometheus! Zeus!"
"Yes, Mama~!"
The little sun and cloud zipped to her side, transforming into blazing fire and swirling storm clouds.
After a few experimental blows, Kaido and Big Mom exchanged glances.
The scene... was eerily reminiscent of the old days back when the bold little brother and the daring big sister had fought side by side on the Rocks crew.
"Oi, Kaido. Just so we're clear. I get dibs on his body after we win."
"Don't forget you still owe me one."
"Tch... you nagging old hag..."
Their eyes met.
And Ozz's hairs stood on end.
A crushing sense of danger washed over him.
"No way..."
Red light flashed in his eyes. Cold sweat beaded down his brow.
Then, in perfect unison, the two Emperors roared.
"Let's go!"
Their weapons crossed.
Black lightning of Conqueror's Haki spiraled around them, charged with enough power to obliterate everything in its path.
Ozz had felt this kind of pressure before.
But never this strong.
Even Roger and Whitebeard's legendary clash hadn't been this overwhelming.
"Hakoku: Sovereignty of the Sea!!!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The tides are shifting, and secrets linger in the dark... Step into the shadows early on P@treon, where the next chapter awaits before the world sees it.
p@treon.com/_theon
Change @ to "a"