High above the sky, Rocks and Kaido clashed in their beast forms.
Though the Phoenix Fruit was a Mythical Zoan, it couldn't quite match the might of the Azure Dragon Fruit in pure combat. If not for Rocks's exceptional hand-to-hand skill and physical prowess, the two of them could never have fought to such a standstill.
Boom!
Dragon breath and blue flames collided, tearing apart the dark storm clouds over Onigashima, revealing the two massive beasts locked in battle.
Rocks folded his flaming wings, his whole body transforming into a streaking blade of fire as he dove toward Kaido. Kaido didn't flinch—his dragon horns glowed with Conqueror's Haki as he clashed head-on with Rocks's beak.
In an instant, red and black lightning erupted, raging across the sky and sending towering waves crashing over the surrounding seas.
When the impact finally ceased, Rocks reverted to human form and plummeted toward the ground.
His lips were swollen red—like a pair of sausages.
Even with the healing power of the Phoenix Fruit, the damage caused by Conqueror's Haki was difficult to recover from in a short time.
Kaido, too, had dropped out of his beast form, and a massive lump bulged from his forehead—clearly, he'd taken the worse of it.
Rocks exhaled slowly, then said,
"Kaido, I have to admit—you've improved a lot over the years. No wonder you kept rejecting every invitation I sent."
Kaido let out a cold snort.
"Don't treat me like the rookie I used to be. I am now the world's… Kaido of the Beasts!"
He nearly blurted out "strongest," but the word stuck in his throat. After all, with Kaito around, no one in the world dared to call themselves the strongest.
Rocks noticed that hesitation, but he didn't mock him. Truth be told, his own fear of Kaito was no less than Kaido's.
If Kaito hadn't mysteriously vanished, Rocks wouldn't have dared to move so freely across the seas these past years.
Rocks shook his head and stared hard at Kaido.
"I'll ask you again—will you follow me to conquer the world?"
Kaido smirked, his tone mocking.
"Conquer the world? This world belongs to that man. How many rounds do you think you could last against him?"
"Hmph, I admit I can't beat him yet. But I've got the Warp-Warp Fruit. Even if he comes back, I can escape as many times as I want! And with the Munch-Munch Fruit, who's to say who'll be stronger in the end?"
Kaido burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! You can't seriously think his power comes from a mere Devil Fruit, do you? Have you even heard of eyes called the Rinnegan?"
Just recalling those eyes made Kaido's stomach tighten. That was something that shouldn't even exist in this world.
Rocks fell silent.
He'd studied countless records, but there was no real information about the Rinnegan—only what he'd seen with his own eyes when Kaito used its power.
And to be honest, the thing he coveted most was those very eyes.
He'd even fantasized—if he devoured Kaito, could he gain the Rinnegan too?
Of course, that was just a thought. If he actually ran into Kaito now, he'd use his Warp-Warp Fruit to flee without a second's hesitation.
The two of them lapsed into silence again at the mention of Kaito. After a long pause, Rocks raised his head.
"Regardless, Uchiha Kaito's been gone for over two years now. If we don't expand pirate power while he's away, we'll lose the chance forever when he returns!"
Kaido frowned.
"Why do you even care about growing pirate power? Isn't the world fine as it is? The Celestial Dragons are all dead, and the new World Government is far stronger than the old one. Do pirates even have a place anymore?"
Rocks was stunned. He couldn't believe those words came out of Kaido's mouth.
"Do you even hear yourself? If pirates shouldn't exist, then what does that make you?"
"Me?" Kaido smirked. "I'm now the officially recognized king of Wano. As for pirates—let whoever wants to be one waste their life at sea."
"Nani!? Since when did Wano get a king?"
"Tch. You're still stuck in the old days, huh? Keep playing your pirate games if you want, but let me give you a bit of advice—there's no future in piracy. If you love the sea so much, just get registered as an explorer. Then you'll be a legal pirate! Hahahaha!"
Rocks's face turned green with fury. He stomped his foot hard—instantly, the ground beneath Kaido turned into a swamp.
From it rose a massive muddy maw, snapping open to swallow Kaido whole.
Kaido might look carefree, but he'd been on guard the entire time. The moment the mouth appeared, he swung his kanabo with all his might, smashing the swamp creature into flying mud.
But more and more mud mouths appeared, lunging toward him.
Kaido roared, spinning his kanabo in a storm of lightning-laced wind, scattering the attacks in all directions.
Rocks seized the moment, striking with an invisible wave of Conqueror's Haki.
Kaido was caught off guard and froze for a split second—just long enough for one of the mud mouths to swallow him whole.
But Kaido's physical strength was monstrous; mud alone couldn't hold him. Within seconds, he burst free again.
Just as he emerged, Rocks—who had been waiting all along—rushed forward, mouth gaping wide like a black hole.
Kaido barely had time to brace himself. He pressed both hands against Rocks's open jaws, veins bulging on his neck as he pushed back with everything he had.
Even with his mouth wide open, Rocks's laughter echoed through the air.
"Jieh-jieh-jieh… Kaido, this is what happens when you refuse me! Give it up! No matter how strong you are, you can't resist the power of the Munch-Munch Fruit!"
The fruit's power massively enhanced his bite force, and Kaido had to summon every ounce of strength just to slow the jaws from closing completely.
Far away, King—locked in combat with the Rocks Pirates—caught sight of the scene and panicked. He tried to rush to Kaido's aid, but a bald dwarf wielding a massive silver axe stepped in his way.
The dwarf grinned darkly.
"Where do you think you're going?"
King cursed under his breath. Kaido had told him about this man—another of Rocks's old crewmates, known as Silver Axe.
Nearby, another giant warrior—Ochoku—was battling Queen and Jack, keeping them too occupied to lend any help.
Kaido's situation grew increasingly dire. He was already forced to one knee, and at this rate, Rocks would devour him completely.
Rocks was already laughing triumphantly.
"Jieh-jieh-jieh! The Azure Dragon Fruit is mine!"
----------------
Fanfic is finished on Patreon (516 chapters in total.)
Patreon(.)com/Jixo (for only $4.50, read this entire fanfic)